Chapter 4
When Miranda was born, she was diagnosed with thalassemia, and the doctors said she might not make it.
Ronald waited anxiously at the hospital and encouraged her, "Back when I fought in the war, I took a bullet to the lung and still made it through.
"There are no cowards in the Guerrero family. I believe in you, Miranda. You're going to pull through."
Vita shot back angrily, "Keep your filthy mouths shut. Don't you dare talk trash about my Miranda."
She pulled Miranda into her arms and softly reassured her, "Don't be scared, Miranda. I have already had Hadley call the cops. Once the police arrive, they'll lock up these bad guys."
Miranda burrowed into Vita's arms, her voice trembling with hurt. "Mommy, they're being mean to me and you. Can Daddy come home?"
"Miranda, Daddy's busy at work right now," Vita said softly to her.
Vita carried Miranda upstairs, not wanting to talk to Curtis or Barbara at all. She kept her voice gentle. "Go upstairs and take a nap. When you wake up, Mommy will make sure that the bad people are gone."
Curtis shouted after her, his voice burning with rage, "Vita, where do you think you're going with that little bastard?"
Curtis was selfish by nature. Even if he didn't love Cita, even if they never got married, he just couldn't stand being cheated on.
He didn't know where Miranda came from. Curtis felt that she was probably another bastard born out of wedlock, just like Kieran.
Curtis couldn't accept that Vita, who used to swear she loved him, who gave up her studies for him, who was willing to be a housewife, had actually gotten involved with one of his relatives when he was gone.
He wondered how desperate the Holden family was ten years ago that she'd swallow her pride and do something so humiliating and ridiculous,
Vita ignored Curtis and kept heading upstairs with Miranda in her arms. Her voice was icy. "Miranda isn't some bastard. She's a rightful member of the Guerrero family.
Curtis said, "We have gotten our marriage certificate, so I'm legally your husband. I've been gone for ten years, and now you suddenly have a daughter. Of course, you'd register her as mine."
To Curtis, the Guerrero family had always been strict about their reputation.
There was no way they'd tolerate an affair between Vita and Ronald. Even if they did hook up, they'd just claim the kid belonged to Curtis, born after he died, to avoid gossip.
Curtis couldn't find any other explanation as to why Miranda carried the Guerrero name.
Miranda was dressed like royalty. Every piece she wore was a designer label. Even her shoes were the same model as the princess had. They came straight from the ultra-exclusive brand, Marlene Dahl.
Seeing Vita ignore him, Curtis stormed after her, grabbed her arm, and spat, "Vita, don't tell me you were already knocked up with that bastard before we even got married."
Hadley shouted while hurrying over, "Mr. Curtis, Miss Guerrero is Mr. Kieran's daughter.
He turned to the servants. "What are you all standing around for? If Mr. Kieran comes home from the office and sees Mrs. Guerrero or Miss Guerrero with a scratch, we'll all be in deep trouble!"
Hadley and the maids scrambled forward, trying to break up Curtis and Vita with Miranda.
Barbara couldn't help but butt in, making things even messier. "Curtis, you know, they're saying that kid is Vita and Kieran's. Isn't Kieran your dad's illegitimate son?
"That girl looks about nine. Maybe Vita hooked up with Kieran before you two even got married and ended up pregnant.
"Who knows, maybe those two were even behind that speedboat accident at your wedding."
Curtis was strong as an ox after ten years of hard labor. Blinded by rage, he pulled Vita down the stairs.
Vita suddenly lost her footing and tumbled down the steps.
Even as she fell, Vita clutched Miranda protectively, crashing to the floor with her arms wrapped around Miranda's head, desperate to keep her safe from any harm.
With a heavy thud, Vita crashed to the floor, her back and waist screaming in pain. As she looked up, Curtis swung a slap straight at her face.
Curtis snapped, "Vita, I nearly got torn apart by a shark just to get out of that wedding. If Barbara hadn't thrown herself to save me, I wouldn't even be standing here in front of you!"