Chapter 3

I arrived at the cruise ship with my daughter in my arms and my parents by my side.

But I didn't expect to bump into those two who just won't leave me alone the moment I stepped on board.

"Eloise, you're running off without telling me again!" Damarion's face was dark as he strode over. "I already gave you money, didn't I? Why are you taking a side gig here? This isn't where you belong. Let's go, now."

I didn't bother responding and just turned to leave.

But his bodyguards blocked my way.

"Don't you dare hurt my mom!" my daughter suddenly shouted, rushing straight into my arms.

My parents followed right behind, their faces darkening with anger as soon as they saw Damarion. "It's you! Eloise has nothing to do with you anymore. She's married and has a kid, so stop bothering her."

My parents' words were like dropping a bomb in the middle of everything. Damarion totally lost his cool and blurted out, "Is that my kid?"

I was so speechless that I could barely breathe. Seriously, he was dreaming.

My daughter? She didn't look anything like him, not even close.

Just as I was about to pick up my daughter and leave, Brylee made her way over from the crowd.

She glanced at my daughter, then covered her mouth in exaggerated surprise. "Damarion, this kid looks like she's mixed. She doesn't look anything like you."

Damarion's eyes widened as he fixed his gaze on my daughter.

The next second, Damarion clamped down on my wrist, his grip so tight it felt like he was about to crush my bones.

"Eloise, you even had a kid with some random guy?" Damarion snarled, his face drained of color, every word spat out through gritted teeth.

I'd had enough. I jerked my hand out of his grasp. "Who I have a kid with is none of your business."

Without another word, I took my daughter's hand and walked away.

Suddenly, footsteps rushed up behind me.

Damarion yanked my wrist hard. "We got married, Eloise. That makes you my wife! I don't care who the father is. This kid has to go. If my mom finds out, she'll come after this kid whose background she doesn't recognize."

"Whether your mom can accept it or not is none of my business. After you kept ditching me at our wedding, we're done. There's nothing left between us," I shot back.

My eyes were blazing with fury as I whipped my hand around and slapped him hard.

He forced himself to swallow the pain, then yanked me back with a brutal grip. "Not my business? Fine. You want your daughter back? Do as I say, and maybe I'll let you have her."

As I realized what he was doing, I fought desperately, but all I could do was watch in horror as his bodyguards ripped my daughter from my parents' arms right in front of me.

"Damarion, I know exactly what you're worried about. Why don't you just let me take her?" Brylee said, acting all understanding.

Once Damarion gave her the go-ahead, Brylee practically yanked my daughter into her arms.

In an instant, my daughter broke out into loud, desperate sobs.

Brylee shot me a provocative look, and I nearly saw red. Fueled by rage, I tore myself free and charged straight at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair.

"You think you can bully my daughter? Don't ever underestimate what a mother will do for her child!" I spat.

She shrieked in pain, and I landed a fierce slap right across her face.

Brylee immediately released my daughter, her grip vanishing in an instant.

I hugged my daughter tight and yelled at Damarion.

"Damarion, I know you're terrified someone will find out. Alright, I'll go now," I snapped.

Right now, I had no choice but to give in. I didn't bring any bodyguards because I thought it'd be too much trouble, so all I could do was hide and wait for William to come find me.

Without waiting for their reaction, I gave my parents a quick look, and we rushed off the third floor together.

After all that running around, my face was covered in sweat.

Seeing my parents and daughter in the crowd, I finally felt relieved enough to go fix my makeup.

But when I stepped out of the restroom, my heart dropped. My parents and daughter were nowhere to be seen.

I frantically searched all over the ship, running up and down, my heart pounding with anxiety.

Suddenly, my daughter's cries pierced through the air.

I rushed into the lounge and caught sight of my daughter being held tightly by a bodyguard, while my parents were pleading desperately with Marlee Mayer.

"Please, just let our granddaughter go," my parents pleaded.

When Marlee stayed cold as ever, they dropped to their knees, about to beg.

That scene shattered my heart. I rushed forward, throwing myself in front of my parents.

"Let go of my daughter, or the Donovan family will never let you off!" I warned angrily.

The bodyguards glanced at each other in shock, clearly unsettled by my warning.

"Keep dreaming, as if the Donovan family would ever accept you," Brylee smirked, leaning closer. "I already told Marlee about your kid. She'll help you find a proper family for her, so no one can mock the Mayer family for tainted bloodlines."

She finished, then burst out laughing in pure mockery.

Fueled by rage, I grabbed her hair again and gave her a brutal slap across the face.

She let out a shrill scream, and I released her, lunging for my daughter, only to be roughly shoved by a bodyguard. I hit the floor hard, pain shooting through me as I gasped for air.

"Eloise!" Damarion shouted, bursting onto the scene just in time. "Who touched her?"