Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty
Celeste’s POV
“I can’t believe I have to pick up this child myself while I’m pregnant!” Vanessa screeched loud enough to reach me from across the parking lot.
My eyes narrowed as she strutted to the reading corner.
Bonnie stood, carefully folding the cookie in the napkin. The way she brushed the crumbs into her hand like each one was precious made my heart ache.
“Hurry up for god’s sake! I don’t have all day.” Vanessa yelled as she waddled toward her.
My knuckles turned white from the force with which I held the iron bars. Was this how the bitch treated Bonnie when Damien and I weren’t around?
She was lucky this fence was between us.
“What’s that?” Vanessa asked, snatching the napkin from Bonnie’s hands.
The girl jumped to take it back, yelping as her scabs cracked open.
“Look what you did,” Vanessa scolded as she unwrapped the cookie. “And over this? Have some class.”
“No! That’s mine!” Bonnie yelled, but it was too late.
Vanessa ate the cookie, smirking as my daughter’s face fell.
“Delicious. Your baby sibling thanks you.” She said, rubbing her belly. “Now let’s get moving.”
Bonnie shook her head stubbornly. “That was my special cookie!”
Vanessa rolled her eyes and grabbed Bonnie’s arm.
“Who cares? Your baby sibling wanted it–get used to it.“.
She dragged the teary–eyed girl behind her. My rage hit a peak when Bonnie stumbled, complaining about her painful knees, but Vanessa just yanked her forward.
I was in the driver’s seat before I could think.
“Molly, I need to take care of something before we go to the studio.” I said as I started the engine.
“Where are you going, Auntie Celeste?” Molly asked, eyes wide.
I gave fer a reassuring smile through the rearview mirror.
“I’m going to teach an evil lady a lesson.” I said, zooming across the parking lot.
I halted smoothly in front of Vanessa’s car, blocking her way. She froze in the middle of shoving Bonnie into the back seat–stunned.
“Molly, please wait in the car.” I said, throwing open the door. “I’ll be back in a moment.”
I stormed up to Vanessa, guns blazing.
“How dare you hurt Bonnie and treat her like trash?” I spat coldly, face hard as stone. “I won’t allow it.”
Vanessa closed the backdoor and scoffed. “You won’t allow t? She’s my daughter now, Celeste, and I’ll treat her whichever damn way I like.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter Sixty
She moved to open the driver’s door, but I stood in the way
“We’re not done talking. Do you seriously think I’ll stand by while you harm Bonnie?” I asked, shaking with fury. “There isn’t a chance in hell.”
“You’re a powerless nobody.” Vanessa stalked closer to sneer in my face. “I can do whatever I want and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”
I heard the car door open and watched Bonnie limp out.
My voice was firm. “That’s not true. I’ll move mountains to protect my daughter from monsters like you.”
Vanessa’s face twisted into an ugly snarl. She violently pushed against my shoulder, shoving me out of the way of her door.
I stumbled, caught off guard, but a little set of hands steadied me.
“Don’t push my mommy!” Bonnie shouted from the top of her lungs.
I turned around to see her trembling frame shielding me from a stunned, red–faced Vanessa.
“She’s my mommy! It’s not okay to hurt people if you’re upset.”
I stared wide eyed as I heard my words repeated back to me. Bonnie had been listening after all.
Vanessa glared scornfully at the little girl. “Fine! If you care about her so much, then go home with her. I couldn’t care less.”
She flung the driver’s door open and shut it savagely behind her. I watched in horror as she pulled out, smirking maliciously as she scraped the paint off the side of my car.
Then she sped off, leaving me alone with my daughter.
“Bonnie, are you okay?” I asked, voice trembling.
Tears streaked her face as she sobbed. My heart broke seeing her like this, but a part of me couldn’t get over the fact that she stood up to Vanessa.
That my daughter chose me.
“Shall we go home?” I asked, gently wiping her tears away.
She nodded slowly, and I reached out, heart in my throat, to hold her hand.
Bonnie didn’t flinch or look at me with repulsion. I blinked back tears as I held my daughter’s hand for the first time in ages.
I led her to my car, wincing at the ugly mark the psycho bitch left on it. Molly’s brows furrowed with concern when I buckled Bonnie into the car seat beside her. She dug in her backpack as I got into the driver’s seat.
My body was still shaking from a whirlwind of emotions.
“For you, Bonnie.” Molly said, holding out a rainbow swirl lollipop. “It’ll make you feel better.”
She blinked at it blankly, tears clinging to her lashes.
I started the engine, a smile tugging on my lips as I watched the girls through my rearview mirror. Bonnie didn’t take the lollipop, but it felt like a start.
Chapter Sixty One
Chapter Sixty One
