Chapter 2
For seven days straight, I practically lived at the office, trying to drown out the pain with nonstop work.
My coworkers saw I was keeping to myself, and some started whispering behind my back.
"He's such a workaholic. His daughter just had a broken arm, and he's already back at work," someone muttered.
I didn't say a word, just buried myself in paperwork.
Leo walked by with a cup of coffee and deliberately stopped right next to me.
"Josh, you should take care of yourself. Don't push yourself too hard," he said.
His voice wasn't loud, but everyone nearby heard him anyway.
"He only cares about work, couldn't even keep an eye on his kid when she got scared by a dog," Leo added.
I gripped my pen tightly. Ava never bothered to explain why she let Snowball chase after Lacey.
She just let the rumors fly, making me the scapegoat for everything.
At the afternoon meeting, Madalyn, Ava's mother and the company's chairwoman, suddenly slammed a folder down on the table.
"Josh, don't think just because you're my son-in-law, you can do whatever you want!" she snapped.
"You worked overtime for three days straight on some project, and didn't even care when your daughter broke her arm. How could the Butler family ever want a heartless man like you?"
I looked up at Ava, but she avoided my gaze.
"Mom, about this..." Ava started.
"Shut up!" Madalyn snapped.
She slammed her hand on the table and stood up.
"This is what happens when you always let him get away with everything!" she shouted.
She stormed over to me and slapped me hard across the face.
"This first slap is for causing Lacey's broken arm!" Madalyn shouted.
I staggered back, my face stinging from the blow.
Everyone stared, and Leo, standing in the back, had a smug grin spreading across his face.
Just then, Lacey was dropped off at the office by the driver. She was here to see me.
She stood at the conference room door, and when she saw what was happening, her shoulders tensed in fright.
"Dad..." Lacey whispered.
Madalyn's hand shot up again, ready for another slap.
She shouted, "This second slap is for making us lose Leo's huge deal.
"Leo heard you didn't even care about your own daughter, figured the Butler family had no compassion, and pulled the plug on the contract this morning!"
This slap was way harder. My ears were ringing, and the metallic taste of blood hit my mouth.
Lacey ran over, crying, and threw her uninjured left arm in front of me, trying to shield me.
"Don't hit Dad!" she cried.
Ava finally got up from her seat.
"Mom!" Ava cried.
"What, you're still going to protect him?" Madalyn snapped.
Ava spread her arms wide, standing protectively in front of me.
"If you want to hit him, you'll have to go through me first!" she shouted.
Madalyn's voice shook with rage as she pointed right in my face and started yelling.
She yelled, "See? Ava's still defending you.
"I've spoiled you so much, now you think you can do whatever you want!"
She didn't land the third slap, but my legs were about to give out.
My vision went black, and I dropped to the floor.
When I came to, I was in the hospital. Ava was sitting by my bedside.
Lacey was curled up at the foot of the bed, fast asleep, her right arm still in a cast.
Ava swallowed hard, struggling to find her words.
She said, "Leo's really got it rough. If I told the truth, Mom would never let him off the hook.
"Just let it slide this once, okay?"
I closed my eyes.
"And what if I say no?" I asked.
She froze, her brows furrowing in concern.
"Don't be difficult," she said.
The sting on my face was still there.
"Get out," I said.
She finally ran out of patience.
"Get some rest. I'll come back later," she said.
She left in a hurry, and as the door closed, I heard Leo's voice.
Leo asked, "Ava, is Josh okay?
"It's all my fault. I shouldn't have let Snowball run around like that."
Ava's tone instantly softened.
"It's not your fault. He's just heartless, doesn't even know how to look after his own kid," she said.
I stared at the ceiling, tears slipping from the corners of my eyes and soaking into the pillow, silent and unseen.
When Lacey first broke her arm, I cried my heart out. I thought I'd already cried myself dry.