Sienna trailed Julian like a frightened kitten, looking at me with her trademark pitiful expression.

“Avery, I know you’re hurting. Julian rushed back as soon as his plane landed. Chloe missed him so much, we were just… I just wanted to make him happy. If you’re angry, take it out on me. How could you let people say those things about a child online?” Sienna cried, a single tear rolling perfectly down her cheek.

Julian’s face immediately filled with pity. “Don’t cry, Sienna. Some people are just twisted inside and can’t stand to see others happy,” he soothed.

His grip on my arm was painful, but my heart was already numb. Sienna’s daughter was alive, cared for, and protected.

But my daughter, my Lily, was gone. Marrying Julian Thorne was the greatest punishment of my life.

“Avery, your daughter is the one with the problem, not you! Stop acting like a victim! It’s disgusting!” Julian yelled.

His words were a poisoned knife, stabbing straight into my heart. He could insu