Page 120 of The Professor's Possession (Crystal River Billionaire Brothers)

“She isn’t unless you pay me,” Quinn retorts.

“I’ve paid you enough. I’ve given you all she ever wanted in the divorce settlement. I’ve given you enough for both you and Daisy to live on for the rest of your lives twice over.”

Divorce settlement?

Wait. Have I got this all wrong?

This is all starting to make sense. My slow-ass brain is finally beginning to understand what’s going on here, and why Spencer’s wife –ex-wife – is so angry.

Oh.

“It’s not enough,” she yells in a high-pitched shrill.

“I don’t even need full custody,” Spencer says to her calmly. It’s clear that everyone else – and me – have totally faded away from his attention, and this argument and little Daisy Penmayne by his side are the only things that matter now. “I just want to see my daughter, Quinn. That’s all. I don’t want anything else. I don’tcareabout anything else.”

Daisy is clinging to his waist, her face close to tears at the sight of her parents arguing.

Quinn is not satisfied with his answer. Instead of responding in any sensible way, she simply screams and grabs at their daughter. She pulls the little girl’s arms away from her father.

“Don’t you touch her,” Spencer growls menacingly, keeping his daughter back with one hand.

Quinn laughs maniacally. “You’ve got no rights, Spencer. Screw you. My lawyer is going to sue your ass through the courts for kidnapping her today.”

Her grip on Daisy doesn’t let go, and she successfully manages to prize her away from Spencer. He doesn’t do anything to stop it. It’s obvious he can’t, despite his size and strength. Like a gentleman, he doesn’t want there to be any violence in front of his daughter.

“She’s still my daughter, Quinn. I love her.”

“We’re not married anymore, so that gives up all your rights to see her.”

And then Quinn turns and seems to spot me for the first time. Her eyes dart from between me and Spencer. I see a snarl form on her lips.

“Who are you?” she asks me with venom.

“I’m Olivia...”

“I don’t care,” she spits back. “Are you with Spencer?”

“Um...”

Quinn lets out another laugh and forcefully pulls her tearful daughter toward her. Daisy is trying to escape her mother’s grasp and go back to her father, but Quinn isn’t letting that happen.

And Spencer just stands there, hopeless to do anything. Even when all this is going on – when his world is collapsing apart in front of him – he still has the civilized reserve not to approach a woman in a threatening manner.

“Of course you’re with him,” Quinn scowls. “Don’tumat me, you pathetic little girl.”

“Back away from Olivia,” Spencer growls at his ex-wife. “I can smell the alcohol on your breath, Quinn. It’s time for you to go home. Sober up.”

Quinn whips back to him and snarls again.

“You can’t tell me what to do,” she says.

“Please don’t be inebriated in front of our child...”

Daisy seizes her chance to escape. She runs back to her daddy, her arms securely wrapped around him tight this time. There’s no way she wants to leave his side.

“Give me my daughter,” Quinn commands, glaring at Daisy, who has buried her face against her dad.

“I can’t trust you with her now,” Spencer says calmly. “You can have her when you’re sober, but she isn’t going home with you when you’re drunk like this.”

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