The entire hallway fell completely silent as every bystander turned to listen.
Penelope’s heart ached with profound love at the sound of that name. Daisy’s biological mother had tragically passed away when the girl was only two years old, and Penelope had raised her with total devotion since she turned three. She had lovingly packed her school lunches, braided her hair every morning, sat up through scary night fevers, attended every single school play, and comforted her through the terrifying middle-of-the-night nightmares that only haunt children who have already lost a parent.
Gabriel had used that reality against Penelope whenever it suited his personal goals, but whenever it did not, he cold-heartedly reminded her that she was not the real mother.
Daisy took one brave step forward toward her father. “I heard you and Bianca talking inside the garage last week, Daddy, and you said that after the new baby came, Penelope would have nothing left and nobody would ever believe her because she cries too much!”
