Chapter 1 - THE HANDPRINT ON CHLOE’S CHEEKOlivia Carter knew something was wrong before she reached the dining room.
She heard Chloe crying.
Not the tired, irritated cry of a two-year-old who had missed her nap.
This was frightened crying.
“Chloe?”
Olivia hurried through Lorraine Whitfield’s elegant Chicago apartment and stopped in the doorway.
Her daughter sat beside the birthday table.
Chocolate frosting smeared one corner of the tablecloth.
A small plastic bowl lay overturned on the floor.
And on Chloe’s left cheek was a bright red handprint.
For a second Olivia could not move.
Then she saw Mark.
Her husband was sitting less than three feet away.
Phone in his hand.
Head lowered.
Scrolling.
“Mark.”
He glanced up.
Olivia pointed at Chloe.
“What happened?”
He opened his mouth.
Lorraine answered from behind him.
“She threw a bowl.”
Olivia stared.
“She’s two.”
“She needs to learn.”
Olivia crossed the room and dropped beside Chloe.
The little girl immediately reached for her.
“Mommy…”
Olivia touched the edge of the swollen cheek.
“Who did this?”
Chloe looked toward Lorraine.
That was enough.
Olivia stood.
Then looked at Mark.
“You were here?”
He said nothing.
“You saw her hit my daughter?”
“Olivia, Mom was upset—”
The slap landed across Mark’s face before he finished.
Exactly once.
“Coward.”
Olivia’s voice shook.
“You’re no man.”
Lorraine rushed forward.
“How dare you bully my son!”
Her open hand struck Olivia.
Olivia’s face turned sideways.
Silence.
Mark finally stood halfway—
then stopped.
He did not defend his wife.
Again.
Olivia slowly turned back.
There was no fury left in her eyes.
That frightened Mark more.
Only contempt.
“Mama’s boy.”
Lorraine gave a smug little smile.
She thought she had won.
Olivia picked Chloe up.
With her other hand, she grabbed the packed canvas bag beside the door.
Mark noticed it.
His expression changed.
“Why is that packed?”
Olivia headed toward exit.
“Olivia?”
He followed.
“Where are you going?”
She stopped with hand on door.
Did not turn.
“Somewhere my daughter is safe.”
The door closed behind her.
Mark stared at it.
Then at canvas bag that was no longer beside wall.
And suddenly understood something his mother had not.
Olivia had not packed after seeing Chloe’s cheek.
The bag had already been there.
May you like
She had been planning to leave before today.
The handprint was only the final reason.
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