Chapter 2 · During the Shooting, He Chose Another Child Over Me

"Evelyn, can we cut Olivia's tutoring sessions down to once every two weeks next quarter?"

It was Thursday night. Christian sat at the dining table, frowning as he flipped through our household finances.

"Her learning support costs too much right now. We need to be smarter about our spending."

I stopped wiping down the counter and looked at him. "The specialist said Olivia is finally making progress with her dyslexia."

He let out an impatient sigh. "You worry too much."

"My company is close to landing the Spruce Creek Estates contract. Once that deal goes through, we'll be able to afford the best schools and tutors money can buy."

"For now, Olivia needs to learn to manage on her own."

I didn't answer. The irony was almost unbearable.

Spruce Creek Estates was the most prestigious residential community in the city. Christian believed his company had impressed the board on its own.

What he didn't know...was that the chief landscape architect for the entire project had been my classmate back at Linnaeus College.

Three days earlier, he'd called me. "Evelyn," he'd said, "I'm only giving Christian's company a chance because you asked. Don't let him make me regret it."

I'd spent years quietly supporting my husband's career. Yet somehow...I still couldn't convince him to invest in our own daughter's future.

The next morning, things got even worse.

I was in Christian's study organizing the notes for an upcoming presentation when I accidentally knocked over a stack of reimbursement receipts beside the printer.

A document slipped out from the stack and landed on the floor. It was a quarterly membership bill from the Royal Pegasus Equestrian Club.

Member: Carter Davis

Amount: $12,000

Paid by: Christian

A handwritten note was clipped to the back—"Christian,Thank you for always being so generous. You're more of a father to Carter than anyone else ever has been. Sometimes I regret not choosing you when I had the chance. —Helena"

Twelve thousand dollars.

Enough to pay for an entire year of Olivia's specialized tutoring.

He wanted to save money when it came to his own daughter's education. But he had no problem paying for the most exclusive equestrian membership in the city for his first love's son.

I pulled out my phone. I photographed the invoice and the bank records showing Christian had used company funds to pay for it.

Then I opened an email account I hadn't touched in two years.

My inbox was still full of messages from executive recruiters.

Several of them were offering me positions as a Director of Landscape Architecture.

I clicked on the first email and began typing.

"Hello, This is Evelyn. Regarding the Director of Landscape Architecture position you previously offered me , I'm ready to interview."

Chapter 2

"Evelyn, can we cut Olivia's tutoring sessions down to once every two weeks next quarter?"

It was Thursday night. Christian sat at the dining table, frowning as he flipped through our household finances.

"Her learning support costs too much right now. We need to be smarter about our spending."

I stopped wiping down the counter and looked at him. "The specialist said Olivia is finally making progress with her dyslexia."

He let out an impatient sigh. "You worry too much."

"My company is close to landing the Spruce Creek Estates contract. Once that deal goes through, we'll be able to afford the best schools and tutors money can buy."

"For now, Olivia needs to learn to manage on her own."

I didn't answer. The irony was almost unbearable.

Spruce Creek Estates was the most prestigious residential community in the city. Christian believed his company had impressed the board on its own.

What he didn't know...was that the chief landscape architect for the entire project had been my classmate back at Linnaeus College.

Three days earlier, he'd called me. "Evelyn," he'd said, "I'm only giving Christian's company a chance because you asked. Don't let him make me regret it."

I'd spent years quietly supporting my husband's career. Yet somehow...I still couldn't convince him to invest in our own daughter's future.

The next morning, things got even worse.

I was in Christian's study organizing the notes for an upcoming presentation when I accidentally knocked over a stack of reimbursement receipts beside the printer.

A document slipped out from the stack and landed on the floor. It was a quarterly membership bill from the Royal Pegasus Equestrian Club.

Member: Carter Davis

Amount: $12,000

Paid by: Christian

Twelve thousand dollars.

Enough to pay for an entire year of Olivia's specialized tutoring.

He wanted to save money when it came to his own daughter's education. But he had no problem paying for the most exclusive equestrian membership in the city for his first love's son.

I pulled out my phone. I photographed the invoice and the bank records showing Christian had used company funds to pay for it.

Then I opened an email account I hadn't touched in two years.

My inbox was still full of messages from executive recruiters.

Several of them were offering me positions as a Director of Landscape Architecture.

I clicked on the first email and began typing.

"Hello, This is Evelyn. Regarding the Director of Landscape Architecture position you previously offered me , I'm ready to interview."