She sniffled, lowering her gaze in pitiful sorrow. "Since she can’t stand the sight of us, I’ll take Cooper and leave. It's better than waiting for the day she actually kills me... But I... I can’t bear to part with you."
Right on cue, Cooper began to wail, clinging to his father and crying about how much he didn’t want to leave.
Anthony wrapped an arm protectively around them both, his eyes cutting into me like ice.
"Diana, you’re even more heartless than I imagined. You lost your daughter—so now you want to see other mothers separated from their children?!"
"Vanessa is generous enough to overlook your past slander, and she’s still willing to have Cooper show you respect. Instead of being grateful, you repay her with malice. Are you even human?!"
A bitter, almost deranged laugh tore out of my throat. I suddenly lunged forward, snatching the pale-gray bracelet from Cooper’s wrist.
Tears burned my eyes as I screamed, "I’m not human? I’m the one without a heart?!"
"Anthony—open your damn eyes and take a good look! This bracelet is made from your daughter’s ribs. Twenty-four ribs, all torn from her body!"
"Vanessa killed Cherry and desecrated her body—she’s nothing but a—"