Page 166 of Role Play
“Was based on lies. You were a sex worker while caring for our child. I wonder what a judge would make of that.”
Dakota looks between us, confusion and distress clouding her features. “I don’t want to go,” she says in a small voice. “I live with Daddy and Sora now.”
Hannah crouches down to Dakota’s level, her expression softening into something almost sincere. “If you don’t come with Mommy right now,” she says, her voice gentle but her words venomous, “you will never, ever see me again. Is that what you want? To lose your mommy forever?”
“That’s enough,” I growl, stepping between them. “You don’t get to manipulate her like that.”
But the damage is done. Dakota’s face crumples, tears welling in her large eyes. “I don’t want to lose Mommy,” she sobs. “But I don’t want to leave Daddy!”
The sound of her crying guts me, a physical pain like someone’s reached into my chest and squeezed. The crying turns to wailing, and I can feel her sobs pulsing through my body like a wretched heartbeat. I can’t bear to see her torn apart like this, forced to choose between parents who should be putting her needs first.
I kneel down beside her, gently wiping her tears. “Hey, baby, it’s okay.It’s okay.” With Koda safely in my arms, I throw daggers at Hannah with my eyes. “You really want to do this?”
Hannah delivers back an ice-cold look. “I said what I said. Me or you. She can decide.”
Koda’s small body heaves with sobs that seem too big. “I don’t w-want to ch-choose.”
“You don’t have to,” I assure her, though each word costs me. “You can go with Mommy now, and I’ll come get you as soon as I can. I promise.”
Her tear-filled eyes search mine. “But what if Mommy doesn’t let me see you again?”
“That won’t happen,” I say firmly, glaring up at Hannah over Dakota’s head. “Daddy will always be here for you, whenever you need me. Nothing will ever change that.”
Sora bends down beside us, her face pale but composed. “Dakota, why don’t I help you pack Mr. Flops and some of your favorite things?”
Dakota nods miserably, and Sora takes her hand, leading her toward the bedroom.
“This is cruel, and you know it,” I say once they’re out of earshot, keeping my voice low but unable to hide my anger. “You abandoned her for Henry, and now you’re using her as a weapon because I rejected you?”
“I’m protecting my daughter from living with a man who sells his body for money,” she bites back. “Did you really think I’d let her just stay here?”
“She’s been happy here, Hannah. Safe and loved. You know that.”
“What I know is that you’ve been living a lie.” She glances around the kitchen with contempt. “Playing house with your little girlfriend while hiding your sick secrets.”
“At least I was here,” I counter, the words sharp with years of pent-up resentment. “I didn’t ship her off to boarding school so I could follow some cheater halfway around the world.”
Hannah’s eyes sharpen dangerously. “Don’t you dare judge me. You have no idea what it’s like to be a woman trying to secure a future in this world.”
“A future that didn’t include your own child?”
“A future I was building for both of us! Henry would have provided everything she could ever need.”
“Except what she needed most! A mother who put her first. A mother who was there for her.”
The barb lands, and for a moment, I see genuine hurt flash across her face before it hardens into resolve. “I’m taking her home with me today. If you want to see her again, you’ll need to go through proper legal channels.”
Before I can respond, Sora returns with Dakota, carrying a small backpack stuffed with Dakota’s essential comfort items—Mr. Flops, her favorite blanket, several picture books, and the dinosaur pajamas she insists on wearing at least three nights a week these days.
Sora kneels to give Dakota a hug. “I’ll miss you, sweetheart.”
Hannah makes a small, dismissive sound. “Not a threat,” she mutters under her breath, loudly enough for me to hear. “She’s not even pretty.”
Then, to me, “Don’t bother trying to see her. I’ll be contacting a lawyer first thing Monday. You’ll be lucky to get supervised visits once the court learns about your work history. This little arrangement we’ve had is over, Forrest.”
She takes Dakota’s hand, dragging her toward the door with barely disguised impatience. Dakota peers back over her shoulder, her face streaked with tears, her free hand clutching Mr. Flops.
“Bye, Daddy,” she squeaks. “I love you.”
