Adrian looked over.
Lauren’s expression hardened.
That look again.
Emma immediately became quiet.
Adrian’s stomach turned.
“How many times?”
Lauren frowned.
“What?”
“How many times have you punished her like this?”
“I did not make her eat anything.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“She was sitting.”
“Beside the dog bowl.”
“I told you, I lost my temper.”
“How many times?”
Lauren crossed her arms.
“This is insane.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“How many times have you made my daughter afraid to tell me what happens when I’m not home?”
Lauren’s face changed.
Very little.
Enough.
Adrian knew.
“Oh God.”
Jonathan stood beside Emma.
“Adrian.”
He did not look away from Lauren.
“What have you been doing?”
Lauren’s eyes filled with tears.
It might once have moved him.
They had been married eleven months.
Together for almost three years.
Adrian had seen her cry at their wedding.
At Hannah’s memorial charity gala.
When Emma called her “my other mom” for the first time after the honeymoon.
Now he did not know which memories belonged to the woman in front of him and which belonged to the version she had built for him.
“I have been trying to parent a child you refuse to discipline.”
Adrian stared.
“Parent?”
“Yes.”
“You told her to eat dog food.”
“I did not!”
“You put it in front of her.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Lauren’s voice rose.
“To scare her.”
The honesty seemed to surprise even Lauren.
No one spoke.
She continued more quietly.
“I wanted her to understand consequences.”
Adrian almost laughed.
“She is six.”
“She is spoiled.”
Emma’s face crumpled.
Adrian turned instantly.
“No.”
He knelt in front of her.
“Do not listen to that.”
Lauren sighed.
“This is exactly what I mean.”
Adrian looked back.
“You can leave.”
She froze.
“What?”
“Leave the house.”
“Adrian.”
“Now.”
“You cannot throw me out of my home because of one bad afternoon.”
“One?”
He looked at Emma.
Then at Lauren.
“You said one.”
“I meant—”
“Was this the first time?”
Lauren hesitated.
That was enough.
Adrian stood.
“Go upstairs. Pack enough for tonight.”
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
“I am your wife.”
“And she is my daughter.”