Chapter 0031 0
BAILEE
By the time I got into the car to end my day, I was hot and sweaty. My hair was sticking to my face, and my shirt was uncomfortably damp from walking the giant bouquets of roses up and down the street, giving them to other businesses.
Twenty-Six.
He had sent me twenty-six bouquets.
One of them was smaller than the others, and it had hurt to see it because I knew he had counted back to the exact day everything had blown up and come to an end… to the day he had shattered my heart.
What should have been a sweet yet over-the-top gesture had turned into another painful reminder of his betrayal.
Getting out of the car at the daycare, I rounded the vehicle and glared at the roses in the passenger seat before grumbling and opening the door.
I still had a few bundles at my office, but I figured it would be a good idea to bring them to the daycare for the teachers to enjoy,
too. 1
“Roses? You hate roses.”
Caleb’s voice from behind me made me jump, and I spun around with my hand on my chest, breathing heavily.
“What are you doing here?” I gasped, glancing around, hoping the one other parent loading their kid into the car would notice us and stay to witness anything that happened. Unfortunately, over their screaming kid demanding French Fries for dinner, they didn’t seem to be aware of anything else around them.
As soon as their kid was buckled in, they dove into the driver’s seat and rushed out of the parking lot, leaving me alone with my
ex-husband.
“Who sent them?” Caleb asked, his once comforting voice sending a chill down my spine and making my grip on the door tighten. With it open, I was cornered.
“That’s none of your business. Why are you here?” I glanced to the front of the daycare, wondering if any of the cameras were aimed at the parking lot or if they were only focused on the door.
“Bullshit, it’s not!” He stepped forward, and I flinched back. “It was him, wasn’t it? Damn it, Bailee! I want to know what’s going on with you and Kingston!”
Straightening my spine, I narrowed my eyes at him, not wanting him to see that he was affecting me. During our marriage, I learned that he fed off my fear and submission. It encouraged him to grow louder and more confident in his actions.
Grabbing the roses, I lifted them and stepped toward him, keeping them between us like a protective shield.
He didn’t move at first but eventually stepped back.
“Yes, Alexander did send them to me, and I love them.” I forced a soft smile on my face and closed the car door behind me. “He got me so many that I thought I would share them and spread some happiness, so if you’ll excuse me…”
“You’re just trying to piss me off, aren’t you?” Caleb stepped toward me as I stepped to the side so I wouldn’t have my car behind me and could run if needed. “You knew how much I hated him. What the fuck is your problem? As if you haven’t humiliated me and my family enough!”
“Stop playing the victim, Caleb! You cheated. You forged documents for court. You lied to the press. You gave up your rights to our daughter, and you are the one who tracked me down to harass me. How did you find me here anyway?” I watched him closely, but he didn’t react. It was like he hadn’t heard me at all.
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Chapter 0031
BUTTO
“To this shit hole? Is this really the place you put Brinley in? Are you insane? Do you know how many kids get molested in daycares?” Caleb asked, his voice low. “If anything happens to her, it will be all your fault.”
The vase slipped a few inches in my hands at his words, and I gaped at him before my anger consumed me.
I stopped short, turning to face him. “How dare you? After everything you put us through…. after you abandoned her, you don’t get to guilt me for doing what I think is best for my daughter! She is in there having fun and is safe! There are cameras in every classroom!”
“What’s best for her? You’re pawning her off on strangers every day!” Caleb’s hand shot out to grab my arm, and I crushed the giant bouquet tighter to my stomach and chest to prevent it from falling.
“Let go of me,” I whispered in anger.
I wanted to argue further, to demand my freedom but paused at the sound of a man clearing his throat.
“Ma’am, is this man bothering you?” He asked, and I nodded quickly. He was dressed business casual, but his large physique didn’t exactly scream ‘office worker.’ It was unsettling.
“Get lost!” Caleb snapped. “This is between me and my ex-wife.”
“I think it’s time for you to take your hand off her.” The man said. Caleb glared at me for a minute before reluctantly releasing
his hold.
“We are not done with this conversation,” Caleb warned, and I nodded because I hoped that was true.
I needed to collect evidence that his accusations against me in court had been false and that the pictures of his alleged bruises and the DNA test were all fake. Moving forward, I wouldn’t talk to him without my phone recording so I could catch him, and once I had all the proof I needed, I would take him back to court. I would take everything he had.
In the meantime, he had just given me the answer to getting under his skin.
It was the same man who got under mine. Alexander Kingston.
I typed in my code on the keypad and rushed into the daycare, watching through the window as Caleb got in his car and drove
away.
The man stayed put next to my vehicle, scanning the parking lot before taking out his phone and calling someone. It only took a few seconds before he ended it and walked away, sending me one last glance over his shoulder that sent a chill down my spine.
