I Married The Same Man As My Best Friend Chapter 03

I Married The Same Man As My Best Friend Chapter 03

Lily’s room was exactly how she left it.

Half-built Lego tower. Open coloring book on the little table. A crayon drawing of three people on the cover: a tall daddy, a smiling mommy, and a little girl holding both their hands.

I sat on the floor and traced the outline of the “daddy” with my fingertip.

I had no tears left.

Julian pushed the door open without knocking. He was carrying a luxury gift box.

He’d washed off the cologne and put on the one he used as “Julian”—wormwood. Polished. Wealthy. Untouchable.

“Your dress for tomorrow’s gala.” He tossed the box onto the bed full of kid stuff. His tone was dismissive, like he was talking to a servant.

“The Coles will be there. Don’t walk around looking like a ghost. You’ll embarrass the family.”

I turned my head slowly and looked at his face.

No guilt. No shame.

“Julian, where did you throw Lily’s other shoe?”

His jaw tightened.

“Elise, are you even awake? I told you. Security bought a doll from a store. They threw it out. Who remembers where rubbish goes?”

“Rubbish.”

I repeated the word softly.

It felt like someone had carved a hole in my chest.

“What, you miss the ‘prop’?” Julian walked over and grabbed my chin, forcing my head up. “I can buy you a hundred more if you want. Just behave. Don’t go near Vanessa again.”

He stared into my eyes, checking if I was really “fixed.”

Then his gaze dropped to my right hand.

It was clenched into a fist.

“What are you holding?”

He pried my fingers open.

In my palm was a tiny shoe.

Covered in dust and small stones.

The toe was worn through, exposing pink-stained cotton inside.

I’d picked it up off the road last night when he wasn’t looking.

Inside the shoe, one crooked word was embroidered: [Lily]

I’d sewn them myself on her third birthday.

Julian froze.

His face went white.

His hand started shaking.

For three seconds, he just stared at those two little words.

Evidence.

Proof that he had taken his own child from me.