Chapter 5

Marcus didn't come home last night.

The next morning, just as the sun was rising, a sharp scream echoed from downstairs.

I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling for three seconds. I hadn't slept at all.

I got out of bed, didn't bother putting on slippers, and walked downstairs barefoot.

In the living room, Lily was kneeling on the carpet.

In front of her lay a shattered pile of colorful porcelain and metal. It was her Swarovski music box.

"Mom..." she sobbed, her shoulders shaking violently.

I stood on the bottom step, watching her.

Hearing my footsteps, she whipped her head around.

The moment she saw me, her fake sorrow instantly morphed into pure hatred.

"It was you!" she screamed. "You did this!"

I said nothing.

"This is the only thing my mom left me before she died! Why would you break it?!" she shrieked. "How can you be so evil?!"

I walked down the final step and stood before her.

Bending down, I picked up a small brass key from the shards. It was the winding key for the music box.

I recognized it instantly.

On Lily’s tenth birthday, Marcus had given it to her, claiming her late mother had prepared it for her before she passed.

She had been thrilled.

But she didn't know that I was the one who had spent weeks picking it out.

"I didn't break it. And for the record, I was the one who bought this music box for you," I said, dropping the key into her open palm.

"You're lying!" She slapped my hand away, sending the key clattering onto the hardwood floor. "It was you! You're just jealous of my mom, so you destroyed her memory!"

The front door clicked open.

Marcus was back.

Lily’s eyes lit up, and her tears began to flow twice as fast.

"Dad!" She scrambled over, throwing her arms around Marcus’s legs. "Dad, look at her! She broke the music box Mom left me!"

Marcus froze mid-step while taking off his shoes.

He looked down at his sobbing daughter, then raised his head to glare at me with deep disappointment and anger.

"Chloe, what are you throwing a tantrum over *now*?"

*Now.*

In his mind, I was always the unreasonable villain. Lily was always the innocent victim who needed protection.

"I didn't touch it," I said flatly.

"She’s just a kid! Her mother is gone, do you have any idea how much that music box meant to her?!" Marcus’s voice boomed with rage. "Even if you hate her, you don't take it out on a child!"

I laughed. I laughed so hard tears almost came out.

"Marcus," I said, staring directly into his eyes. "In your mind, is she ever capable of doing anything wrong?"

Marcus was taken aback.

He helped Lily up and pulled her behind his back.

That single movement spoke volumes.

"Apologize to Lily," he demanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Why should I apologize?"

"Because you hurt her!" he yelled. "Apologize! Now!"

I looked at Lily, who was hiding behind her father's shoulder. She flashed me a smug, triumphant smirk.

Her lips silently mouthed: *You can't steal him from me.*

She was right. I couldn't.

And frankly, I didn't want to anymore. Who wants to fight over a piece of trash?

"Fine," I nodded.

Marcus’s expression softened slightly, thinking I was backing down.

"I’ll apologize," my gaze bypassed him and landed straight on Lily. "I apologize for ever expecting fairness from your father when you framed me."

"I apologize for thinking your father had a shred of decency while you played your cheap mind games."

"And," I paused, turning my eyes to Marcus, "I apologize to myself for ever marrying you."

Marcus’s face turned incredibly pale. "Chloe! What the hell is that supposed to mean?!"

"It means..." I took a deep breath, feeling the absolute resolve I had found last night. "Marcus, I want a divorce."

The anger on Marcus’s face froze.

Even Lily’s smug grin vanished.

"What... what did you just say?" Marcus stammered, unable to believe his ears.

"I said, we are getting a divorce," I said, pronouncing each word with crystal clarity.

"My lawyer will contact you today. This house was bought before our marriage; it's in my name. The Mercedes downstairs is in my name. I want both of you packed and out of here by tomorrow."

I looked at Lily.

"And your princess room, designed by a top professional that cost me eighty thousand dollars? Too bad. You don't get to live in it anymore."

"You have two options."

"One: pack your bags and get out today."

"Two: I call security and have them throw your trash onto the curb."

"Are you insane?!" Marcus finally snapped, pointing a trembling finger at me. "Over a stupid music box? You're divorcing me over *this*?!"

"A stupid music box?" I chuckled as if I had just heard the funniest joke in the world.

"When you made me drive three hours on Thanksgiving morning to get your daughter a specific cake, that was a 'small thing.'"

"When I sat in the principal's office taking the heat for Lily's behavior, that was a 'small thing.'"

"When your company went bankrupt and you casually took five hundred thousand dollars from me to cover your debts, that was a 'small thing.'"

"And yesterday, when you demanded another two million dollars as if it were pocket money, that was also a 'small thing.'"

With every sentence, I took a step closer to him. With every word, his face lost more color.

"Marcus, what actually qualifies as a 'big thing' to you?"

"Would I have to die for you to think, *oh, this is serious*? Though I suppose you’d just be thrilled to inherit my estate."

He backed up until his spine hit the door, completely speechless.

Behind him, Lily looked utterly terrified.

I didn't give them another look. I turned around and walked upstairs.

Behind me, Marcus’s panicked voice echoed, "Chloe! Wait, let me explain... I didn't mean it like that..."