Chapter 2: The Woman Everyone Thought They Could Humiliate
My palm struck Victoria's cheek.
The sound echoed through the dining room.
A woman near the fireplace gasped. Someone pushed their chair backward. Daniel stood halfway from his seat before freezing.
Victoria stumbled one step to the side.
Her hand flew to her face.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then she turned toward me.
"You HIT me?""
I held Lily securely against my side.
"You hit my child first.""
Victoria's eyes widened.
"You absolutely crazy woman!""
She reached toward me, but one of the guests quickly stepped between us.
"Victoria, stop!""
Victoria jerked her arm away.
"Get out of my way, Richard!""
Her carefully styled hair had loosened slightly. Her cheek was turning pink beneath her makeup.
She looked around the room, searching for sympathy.
"Did everyone see that? She attacked me!""
I didn't look at the guests.
I looked at Daniel.
He was standing now, both hands hovering uncertainly near his chest.
His expression wasn't concern for Lily.
It was embarrassment.
"Chloe," he said quietly.
I turned toward him.
"She hit our daughter.""
"I know.""
"You watched her do it.""
"Chloe, please—"
"Then why didn't you stop her?""
Daniel glanced toward his parents.
His father, Richard Bennett, sat at the head of the table with his jaw clenched. His mother, Eleanor, had one hand pressed against her necklace.
Daniel swallowed.
"Because I was trying to prevent this exact situation.""
I stared at him.
"Prevent what? Your sister facing consequences?""
Victoria immediately seized the opportunity.
"Daniel, are you going to let her speak to me like that?""
He looked exhausted.
"Victoria, just sit down.""
"Don't tell me to sit down! She slapped me in front of everyone!""
I felt Lily move against my shoulder.
"Mommy?""
I softened immediately.
"I'm here, baby.""
"Can we go home?""
The question almost brought me to my knees.
"Yes, sweetheart. We're going home.""
Daniel stepped toward us.
"Chloe, wait. Let's not make a decision while we're angry.""
I looked at him.
"She struck a five-year-old child, Daniel. What decision do you think I'm making?""
He lowered his voice.
"You're turning a family disagreement into something much bigger.""
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"A family disagreement?""
"Please, Chloe. Think about the consequences.""
I glanced at Victoria.
She had already taken a napkin from the table and was pressing it against her cheek.
"Your sister hit our daughter.""
Daniel exhaled sharply.
"And you hit my sister.""
"After she hit Lily.""
"That doesn't make it okay!""
His words hung in the air.
For a moment, I couldn't even answer.
Then I nodded slowly.
"You're right.""
Daniel looked relieved.
But I wasn't finished.
"Violence isn't okay. That's why I should never have had to defend our daughter from an adult in the first place.""
Victoria scoffed.
"Oh, spare us the speech.""
I turned to her.
"Don't worry. You won't have to listen to me for much longer.""
I shifted Lily into both arms.
Then I faced my husband.
"She's your daughter, Daniel. How could you just sit there?""
Daniel's expression tightened.
"Chloe, I was trying to handle it.""
"Handle it?""
"Yes.""
"By letting your sister humiliate her?""
"I didn't say that.""
"You didn't say anything!""
A few guests exchanged uncomfortable glances.
Richard finally stood.
"Chloe, I think everyone needs to take a breath.""
I looked at him.
"Mr. Bennett, would you tell me something? If Victoria had slapped another guest's five-year-old daughter, would you still be asking everyone to calm down?""
His mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Eleanor stood beside him.
"Chloe, Victoria made a mistake. But you have to understand that she has been under considerable stress lately.""
I stared at her.
"Stress?""
Eleanor nodded.
"She has been managing several family responsibilities.""
"And Lily has been managing being five years old.""
A guest at the far end of the table looked down, hiding a smile.
Victoria noticed.
"Don't you dare make jokes about this!""
I adjusted Lily's little cream dress, which had become wrinkled where she'd clung to me.
Daniel approached again.
"Chloe, please. Don't make this worse in front of everyone.""
I looked at him for a long moment.
That was the sentence he would repeat for the rest of his life.
Not, Is Lily okay?
Not, I'm sorry I didn't protect her.
Not, My sister had no right to touch her.
Just don't make this worse in front of everyone.
I took a slow breath.
"Do you know what the worst part is, Daniel?""
He frowned.
"What?""
"She was looking at you.""
He didn't respond.
"When Victoria raised her hand, Lily looked at you. She thought her father would help her.""
Daniel's eyes briefly moved toward our daughter.
Lily immediately buried her face against my shoulder.
I continued.
"And you looked at your plate.""
His jaw tightened.
"That's not fair.""
"Neither was what you did.""
Victoria stepped forward again.
"Daniel, if you let her walk out of here after what she did, you're choosing her over your own family.""
I turned sharply.
"Your family?""
Victoria lifted her chin.
"Yes. This family.""
I looked at the man standing between us.
"Daniel, I need you to answer one question.""
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"What now?""
"If Lily were not your daughter, if she were just a little girl at this table, would you have allowed Victoria to hit her?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
The silence was answer enough.
I turned away.
"Goodbye, Daniel.""
He caught my wrist.
"Chloe, wait.""
I looked down at his hand.
He released me.
"Let's talk privately.""
"No.""
"Please. We can discuss this at home.""
I shook my head.
"Home is where our daughter should feel safe.""
His expression changed.
"Are you saying she isn't safe with me?""
I didn't answer.
I didn't need to.
I carried Lily toward the entrance hall.
Behind me, Victoria's voice rose.
"You're making a huge mistake! You think you can just walk away from this family?""
I kept walking.
Then Daniel followed.
"Chloe!""
I reached the grand staircase leading toward the front entrance.
He hurried after me, his dress shoes striking the marble.
"Chloe, stop!""
I stopped near the enormous double doors.
He stood a few feet away, breathing harder than he should have been after such a short walk.
"Please," he said.
"Let me explain.""
I looked at him.
"Explain what?""
He glanced at Lily.
"Not here.""
I gave a tired smile.
"Everything happened here, Daniel.""
His face tightened.
I lifted Lily higher in my arms.
"I will not let anyone treat my baby like this.""
Then I reached for the door handle.
Daniel stepped closer.
"Chloe, don't do this.""
I opened the door.
May you like
The cool night air swept into the entrance hall.
And beyond the stone steps, under the golden lights of the driveway, something was waiting that made Daniel stop speaking.
