Payton caught my hands and held me down, his voice low and coaxing. “Don’t move. You just had surgery. Don’t be stubborn. Listen to me—there’s no need to go to court.”
My voice was hoarse, my teeth clenched as I forced out every word.
“Absolutely not. I will sue Sherree! She has to pay for what she did to our child!”
“Payton, our daughter isn’t even five years old! She’s our flesh and blood! And Sherree—she’s not related to you by blood. Why do you always protect her?”
His eyes darkened, his expression unreadable.
“I know you’re angry right now, but I’ve already punished Sherree severely. Look, she’s the sister I raised. I can’t let her carry out a crime like this for the rest of her life.”
“We can always try to have another child,” he added, his voice low.
“W-What did you just say?” I stared at him in disbelief. He spoke of our daughter’s life as if she were no different from a stray dog on the street.