Chapter 14 - The Birthday Cake
Six weeks later, we had a second birthday party.
Not because Isla needed another cake.
Because I wanted her to have the memory Philippa had tried to steal.
Renata baked a lemon cake.
It wasn't perfect.
One side leaned slightly.
The frosting was uneven.
Isla loved it.
She invited the same children.
This time there were more balloons.
More flowers.
And one enormous banner:
ISLA IS SEVEN!
Alexander stood beside me.
He had spent the previous weeks cooperating fully with the investigation.
He had signed everything necessary to restore the trust.
He had also moved out of the family house.
Not permanently.
But until he could prove he understood that being a husband and father meant protecting his family from everyone—including his mother.
When Isla blew out her candles, everyone cheered.
She smiled.
Then she looked at me.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“This birthday is better.”
I laughed.
“Why?”
“Because nobody is yelling.”
I hugged her.
Across the yard, Alexander watched us.
His eyes filled with tears.
Then Isla ran toward him.
“Daddy!”
He dropped to his knees.
She hugged him.
He held her like he was afraid she might disappear.
“I love you,” he whispered.
“I love you too.”
Then Isla looked at him.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Grandma said girls don't matter.”
Alexander closed his eyes.
“She was wrong.”
“Why?”
“Because you matter more than anything.”
Isla smiled.
Then she ran back to her friends.
Alexander stood beside me.
“I'll spend the rest of my life making that true.”
I looked at him.
“Don't promise me.”
He nodded.
“Then I'll prove it.”
For the first time in months, I believed he might.
Then Evelyn arrived.
She handed me an envelope.
“What's this?”
“From Charles.”
My heart stopped.
“Another letter?”
She nodded.
“He left instructions for one final document to be delivered only after the trust dispute was resolved.”
I opened it.
May you like
The first line read:
Claire, if you're reading this, Philippa has already lost control. But there is something you still don't know about Isla.
