Chapter 2
"I have a good mom, a good mom..."
The sweet, childish singing felt like medicine for Rita, soothing her heart in an instant.
She wiped away her tears and stood up.
'That's right,' Rita thought to herself. 'Trina is all I have.'
She had to stay strong for Trina.
*****
Meanwhile, on the other side, Jordan, whose call had just been cut off, wore a stormy expression so dark it could've scared off a thundercloud.
He stood alone in his empty office, slamming his fist hard against the floor-to-ceiling window.
The glass let out a heavy thud, and his hand throbbed with pain.
But that pain was nothing compared to the agony in his heart.
'Not fit to be a dad?' Jordan thought, his mind spinning. 'Did she really say that?'
His assistant knocked and entered, nervously handing over a file.
"Mr. Walters, this is what you asked for... all the information on Ms. Rita Moody from the past five years," the assistant said, his voice barely above a whisper.
Jordan snatched the file from him and waved him out.
Then, he settled onto the couch and began leafing through the thick stack of papers, page by page.
The file was hefty.
It recorded every move Rita had made in the past five years.
It started right after her divorce, when she rented a cramped studio apartment barely 300 square feet.
Then there were the days when she was heavily pregnant, working at a convenience store while teaching herself project management in her spare time.
After Trina was born, she spent her days as the lowest-ranking assistant at a small company, and her nights at home, caring for her newborn daughter.
The file included several photos.
One showed her cradling newborn Trina in the hospital hallway, her face exhausted yet tender.
Another captured her squeezed onto a packed subway, Trina strapped to her back, her gaze both bewildered and resolute.
And there was one of her at a project celebration banquet, dressed in a sharp business suit, holding a glass of champagne, her smile confident and poised.
'From a pampered, inexperienced heiress who always needed someone to look out for her.
'To a decisive, formidable businesswoman who handled everything herself.
'How much pain has she really endured these past five years?' Jordan thought.
He felt like something was squeezing his heart hard.
He'd always thought Rita wouldn't make it without him.
He'd even pictured her coming back, crying and begging him to take her back.
But he never imagined things would turn out like this.
Not only had she survived, but she was living such an amazing, beautiful life.
She'd erased him from her world, leaving no trace behind.
She didn't even want him to know he had a daughter.
The last page of the file was Trina's birth certificate.
The father's name was left blank.
Just blank.
That empty space seared into his eyes like red-hot nails.
He hurled the file to the floor.
The papers went flying everywhere.
An overwhelming surge of regret and fury he'd never known before swept through him.
'I was wrong, so wrong.
'I couldn't have been more mistaken.
'I'd lost the one thing that mattered most to me.
'No,' Jordan thought fiercely.
He was going to take her back—no matter what.
And he'd claim his daughter, too.
With that thought, he grabbed his phone and dialed another number.
"Hey, is this Mr. Abbott?" Jordan said.
"It's Jordan Walters.
"I heard your company's been talking to Daystar Ventures about a new project?
"Yeah, the one Rita's in charge of.
"I'm backing this project.
"Tomorrow, I'll be at your project meeting—as your lead investor," he said, making it clear he was calling the shots.
*****
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the blinds, filling the bright conference room.
Rita stood in front of the projector screen, dressed in a perfectly tailored white suit, her hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail.
She was confidently presenting the latest project proposal to the partners, her delivery polished and organized.
Her voice was crisp, her reasoning precise, and she exuded confidence and professionalism.
The partner company execs kept nodding in approval, clearly impressed by her presentation.
Rita had been hands-on with this project for more than six months.
From doing the early market research to designing the proposal in the middle phase, and finally planning the budget at the end, she was hands-on every step of the way.
If she nailed today's meeting and sealed the Prime Group investment, she'd finally secure her place as the company's vice president for good.
And she could give Trina the kind of life she truly deserved.
"So, we're expecting this project to triple your investment in just three years," Rita said.
"It's a win-win partnership for everyone involved."
As soon as she finished speaking, the conference room erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Marvin Abbott from Prime Group was all smiles.
"Ms. Moody, your reputation truly precedes you. This proposal is absolutely brilliant!" he exclaimed.
"I'm really excited about this collaboration."
Rita flashed a polite smile, just about to say some pleasantries.
But right then, the conference room door was pushed open from the outside.
A tall, upright figure entered, silhouetted against the sunlight.
He was wearing an expensive, custom-tailored suit, giving off a powerful, keep-your-distance vibe.
The room's lively atmosphere instantly turned icy.
Everyone's eyes were drawn to the stranger standing in the doorway.
The instant Rita recognized him, her smile vanished, replaced by shock.
'Jordan.
'Why is he here?' she wondered.
After a brief pause, Marvin quickly plastered on a big smile and hurried over.
"Mr. Walters? What brings you here? What a surprise; it's not often we see you," he said, his voice full of surprise and respect.
But Jordan didn't even spare him a glance.