Total pages in book: 102
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97921 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 490(@200wpm)___ 392(@250wpm)___ 326(@300wpm)
Bella’s room isn’t far from our bedroom. I should try to keep my voice down, but my anger has gotten the best of me.
“Dante, you must have lost your mind. Who the hell are you talking to? I’ve had this lunch on my calendar for months.”
I fist my hands at my side, trying to hold on to my temper. Enough is enough. Bethany completely forgot about Bella yesterday while on a call with a designer or some bullshit.
“I’m talking to you. Do you have any idea how it feels to be a child who only wants their mother’s love? Why can’t you stop being so fucking selfish?
“She’s the sweetest child in the world. She doesn’t even require much. Give her a book and your time and she’s happy.”
This witch has the nerve to sigh and roll her eyes. How did I miss that this is who my wife is? I feel like such a fool and now my daughter is paying for my mistake.
“Oh please, Dante. Stop imprinting your abandonment issues on Bella. I’m not your mother.”
I promise, I think my jaw just snapped. I told her those things in confidence, when I thought she cared for me. For her to throw them back at me now makes my stomach turn.
“You’re right, you’re nothing like my mother. She was kind and loving until the end. I only have good memories of the woman she was,” I seethe.
“Whatever.”
“You know what? None of that excuses how you keep harming our sweet baby girl.”
“She’s sweet until she asks you a million and one questions. My head hurts after fifteen minutes of that shit. You get to escape to your office and your restaurants. What do I get?”
“To spend the money,” I snarl.
“Dante, I’m not going to keep going back and forth with you about this. This isn’t what I signed up for.”
“Trust me, I understand. Neither did I. Maybe it’s time you leave.”
The gasp that comes from her lips proves to me how delusional Bethany has become. If she didn’t see this coming, she’s truly in her own bubble, soaking in her own self-absorbed juices.
“You can’t mean that. We’re going through a rough patch. Fine, I’ll cancel my plans. I can spend the day with Bella and tonight we can go out to dinner to reconnect. I heard you have a new chef at the new downtown location. We can go there.”
The hell we can. Instead of growling those words at her, I turn toward my daughter as she peeks into the room, calling for me. The scowl on my face disappears. I squat and wave her over to me.
“Hi, sweetheart.” I kiss her forehead and bring her into a hug.
“Hi, Daddy,” she whispers and peeks over toward her mother. “Can I come to work with you today? Uncle Gio and Uncle Jace will play with me. They promised if I wanted, they would.”
My heart feels like it splits in two. It’s clear Bella wants nothing to do with her mother. Maybe I’m the one forcing something that will never be.
I bite back my anger and nod my head. “Sure, you can come with me. Daddy would love that. I’ll text your uncle to let him know you’re coming to check on him and make sure he’s doing his job. You know he works better when you come to supervise him.”
I place a finger on my chin, pretending to be in thought. “He has been slacking a bit. Maybe we can check on an update for your party. How about that?”
“Yay,” she squeals. “I need to change. I have to look businesslike, you know?”
I chuckle at the serious look on her face. How can you not love this child? I kiss her cheek before I send her off to get ready.
“You spoil her. It’s more than parenting. That’s the problem.”
I stand and spin on my wife. I point a finger at her. “No, I spoiled you. That’s the only problem.”
I storm from the room before I say something I’ll regret. I text my brother because Bella will ask him if I did. Taking a deep breath, I pray for a better rest of the day.
Lizzy
“Dante’s bringing Bella to work with him. Do you think you can help out with keeping her busy?” Gio asks as he appears in front of my desk.
I look up and smile. Dante had sent me a text to let me know he was running late, so I should move all his meetings back. He didn’t mention Bella, but I’m more than excited for her to be here. I can pick her little brain on what she truly wants for her next birthday party.
Her mother is never very helpful. Dante always tells me to get creative and spare no expense. However, she’s getting older and I’m at a loss for the direction I should take this next one in. I realized that after talking to the cake maker I usually use for her parties.