Chapter 5
Claire frowned hard, instantly shaking her head in denial.
Edward said coldly, "Claire, when did you get so cruel?
"You accused Jessica of having her father kidnap you, and now you're trying to take her son out of jealousy."
He shot to his feet, snapped his fingers at the bodyguards outside, and pointed at Lily on the bed. "Take her away."
Claire sprang up, trying to stop them, her anger flaring. "Edward, I haven't done anything. What gives you the right to take Lily from me?"
Edward simply shot her a cold glance.
"Jessica is furious because you sent someone to hurt Tommy," he explained. "I'm bringing Lily to her so she can calm down.
"Don't worry. Jessica is kind and pure. She'd never mistreat a child the way you did."
Claire's face went ashen. Jessica had tied up Lily and shoved her into a closet. She was definitely not someone kind and pure.
Claire's voice trembled with tears as she pleaded, "Don't take Lily away. Jessica could kill her.
"Edward, I'm begging you. Don't take Lily away from me."
She ran after Edward and the bodyguards, crying and stumbling. Edward couldn't bear to look at her. He quickly bundled Lily into the car and sped off.
He thought Claire was demonizing Jessica, believing she was too kind to mistreat a child.
Claire watched Edward's Maybach speed off. Without a second thought, she rushed to the parking lot and got in her car.
Lily was all she cared about.
Her foot hit the gas. She had to get Lily back, no matter what.
*****
When she arrived at Bright Manor Estates, Claire was stopped at the gate.
She watched helplessly as Edward's Maybach drove inside. Just as she was about to rush in, a sharp voice rang out.
Jessica strutted over in her stilettos, lifted Claire's chin with a sneer, and said, "Claire, you're a total failure as a woman.
"Your man's already married and has a kid, and you still won't leave him.
"I'll be real with you. Five years ago, I had a crush on Edward, so I told my dad to have you kidnapped to threaten him."
Claire's eyes were wide with desperation. "Let my daughter go. I'll take her and disappear from Edward's world forever."
Thinking of Lily, Claire didn't care about her dignity anymore. She was practically begging Jessica.
She was hoping Jessica would show some pity, since they were both mothers.
But she had miscalculated.
Jessica's slender silhouette in the sunset was like a cold, venomous snake, and her words were colder, cutting right through.
She said, "Claire, I regret only having you whipped 99 lashes back then. I should've had you and your unborn daughter killed, so I wouldn't have to see you now.
"When Edward and I got married five years ago, you were willing to be his mistress for your daughter.
"Only when your daughter is gone will you finally leave, and then you'll lose your bargaining chip with Edward."
Claire's head snapped up, disbelief flooding her face as she clamped her hands around Jessica's neck. "What are you doing? What are you planning to do to my daughter? She's innocent."
Her grip tightened, her fingers digging in as Jessica glared back at her. Just as Jessica was starting to choke, a pair of strong hands suddenly pried Claire off her.
Claire was thrown hard against the icy door, pain radiating through her body. But nothing hurt more than her heart.
Edward tenderly helped Jessica up, then fixed a cold, unwavering stare on Claire as she steadied herself against the wall.
He shouted, "How did you come here? And how dare you hurt Jessica right in front of me?
"You had someone hit Tommy with a car. Jessica just wanted to take your daughter away for a few days, so you'd know what it feels like."
Claire's heart clenched in agony, her voice thick with tears. "She's out to hurt my daughter. Please, let Lily go. I'll do anything."
She collapsed onto the ice-cold floor, and blood oozed from her injured forehead.
Edward couldn't stand it anymore. He pulled Claire to her feet.
"Enough. Ms. Wynn, I'm taking you home right now," he said. "As for your daughter, we'll let her go in a few days."
Ignoring Claire's struggle, he grabbed her around the waist and forced her into the car.
"Let me go! I need to see my daughter. She can't be left there," Claire screamed.
Edward ignored her again. He stepped on the gas and sped off.
Just as Edward was about to take her away, Claire, panicked and desperate, suddenly yanked the car door open.
Without caring about the speeding car or the wild wind slamming into her, she clenched her jaw and jumped out.