Chapter 4

I looked at the toddler, then at the woman.

The way they looked at each other was dripping with unspoken intimacy.

I almost laughed out loud.

They weren't even trying to hide it anymore. He had literally brought his mistress and his illegitimate son right to my front door.

"An adoption? And you didn't think to consult me on something this massive?"

Tyler looked incredibly righteous. "I tried to call you a dozen times, Chloe. You didn't answer a single one."

Ah. I thought he was calling because he was worried about Stella.

"What about Stella? Are we just giving up?"

"We'll keep looking, but if we don't find her, we don't find her," he said casually as he took Leo from Hazel's arms.

"Don't waste too much energy on it. Plenty of parents search for their lost kids their entire lives and never find them."

*If we don't find her, we don't find her.*

*Don't waste too much energy.*

Was this really what a father could say about his own flesh and blood?

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my palms.

"Chloe, I am so sorry for dropping in like this," Hazel said, looking up at me with a perfectly crafted, apologetic smile.

"Tyler told me about your situation. I just felt so bad for this poor little boy, so I helped Tyler connect with the adoption agency."

"Felt bad?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. Leo has been in the orphanage since he was a baby. Nobody loved him."

Her eyes actually welled up with tears.

"Thank God he met someone as kind-hearted as Tyler, who is willing to give him a real home."

*Kind-hearted.* What a joke.

"Leo, call her Mommy," Tyler suddenly said to the boy.

The toddler looked up at me, puckered his lips, and immediately burst into tears.

Hazel quickly snatched him back.

"Don't cry, Leo. Auntie Hazel is right here."

"Enough," I said, unable to watch this pathetic theater any longer. "You guys stay here. I'm going out."

"Where?" Tyler demanded.

"To find my daughter."

Tyler’s face immediately darkened.

"Chloe, I told you, stop wasting your time. It’s late, and it’s not safe for a woman to be out alone."

"So?"

"So, stay home." His tone left no room for argument.

"Leo just got here. Help take care of him and get used to him. We're a family now."

*A family.*

I looked deep into his eyes, searching for even a shred of guilt or fear.

There was nothing.

Absolutely nothing.

He was dead serious.

He truly believed that replacing my "lost" daughter with his illegitimate son was perfectly reasonable.

"Tyler, I finally see you for who you really are."

"Let me tell you something. If Stella has even a single scratch on her, you better pray for your life."

The moment I stepped out of the house, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number.

"Ethan."

My brother's deep voice came through the speaker. "What's wrong, Chloe?"

"Crush that bastard," I said, staring back at the silhouette of our house. "And that startup project he's begging you to fund? Pull the plug on it. Completely."