On the Ruins of His Regret I Soar novel Chapter 14

The moment Lance heard his daughter cry, he rushed over. As he scooped Amy into his arms, his elbow jabbed hard into Jessica’s chest, sending her staggering backward.

He cradled the sobbing child, his furious gaze fixed on Jessica. “She’s a child! Can’t you act like an adult?”

“Why don’t you ask your daughter what she said?” Jessica shot back.

Amy’s cries grew louder. “Mommy said she hates me! She said she doesn’t want me and that she wishes I was never born!”

Shock, disbelief, and horror washed over Jessica’s face. She had always taught Amy to take responsibility for her actions and to never lie. A child’s memory wasn’t that short. It had been less than a minute.

Amy was knowingly, deliberately twisting the truth.

Catherine reached for the child, and as Amy lunged into her arms, Catherine theatrically stumbled backward. Lance’s expression changed. He lunged forward, his arm wrapping around Catherine’s waist, pulling both her and Amy into a protective embrace.

Catherine looked up at him with reproachful eyes. “Lance, you owe Amy an apology. Your eyes… you were doubting her. She’s your daughter, your own flesh and blood. How could you look at her like that? Do you have any idea how much damage that can do to a child?”

A flicker of guilt crossed Lance’s face. When he looked back at Jessica, his eyes were like chips of ice. “Amy is four years old! Is she capable of lying? You’re the one who needs to do some soul-searching, Jessica. Why has everyone in your life abandoned you? Why does even your own daughter despise you? You are completely rotten.”