I returned home with Willow and Ariel came running from the front door into my arms. I spun her around and placed her back on her feet. I’d be damned if I gave up Ariel this easy. Reputation my ass. The only thing I cared about right now was my renewed family.

“Willow! Daddy!” she cried. “I missed you two!”

Willow bent down to give her a hug and a kiss on the forehead. “Ariel, it’s so good to see you again. You’re just as beautiful as you were when I last saw you.”

“Why’d you leave? You didn’t say goodbye.”

Willow sighed and glanced up at me. “I had an emergency. But I’m back now and I’m not leaving.”

“Ah, Mr. Thrilling, I’m glad you’re back,” Mrs. Thompson, Jerry’s wife, said as she hobbled down the steps. She adjusted her glasses and smiled down at Ariel.

“I am too.”

The sound of a car approaching into my driveway came from behind me. I turned around and saw Morgan’s Rolls Royce drag itself toward us. Willow met her glare head on and folded her arms.

“No!” Ariel shouted, hiding behind me. “I don’t wanna go! Why is she here?”

Mrs. Thompson stepped beside me and sucked in a breath. “It’s too early. She isn’t supposed to be here right now. Especially without the sheriff.”

“Daddy, don’t let her take me away!” Ariel begged, gripping my arm. I remembered what she told me.

The locked rooms. The lack of food.

My jaw tightened as I struggled to not lash out at her like a wild beast. Willow was beside me, and that made me stronger. I wasn’t in this alone. She was invested in Ariel’s safety with me. We were there for each other.

Willow patted Ariel’s head and smiled. “Ariel, Daddy and Mommy will protect you.”

“Mrs. Thompson,” I said grimly, “take Ariel inside for me, please.”

“Yes. Come on, dear.” Mrs. Thompson said, holding her hand out so Ariel could take it. The two of them went up the stairs and disappeared behind the double doors.

Morgan got out of her car and slunk over with her overbearing perfume corrupting the surrounding air. I coughed and rubbed my temples.

Divorce couldn’t happen soon enough.

“Well, look at you two… walking,” she sneered.

“Look bitch,” Willow snarled. “Step one foot near Ariel and—”

“And what?” Morgan challenged.

“Willow, let me handle this,” I said, walking between them. I loved how fierce she was, but I couldn’t let her get hurt. “Morgan, I know you’re behind that car accident yesterday.”

“An accident. Oh heavens, not me.” Morgan thrust her hands on her hips with a coy smile. She thought she got away with it. Did she forget I was richer than her? Whoever she used wouldn’t mind ratting her out for a higher payment.

“Your sarcasm is pathetic,” Willow hissed.

“Give me my daughter,” Morgan demanded, throwing her chin up.

“Over my dead body,” I said. “You’re not supposed to be here until noon.”

“An hour early isn’t better? Doesn’t it show I’m a good mommy?”

“Good mother, my ass,” Willow muttered, shaking her head in disgust.

“Shut your trap, whore,” Morgan shot back.

“Do not ever call her that again,” I said coldly. “If anything, there’s one whore I see. And that’s you. You’re a money whore, a bad mother, and a bad person.”

“Call me what you want, but Ariel’s mine.”

“You can’t even address your daughter like she’s a living thing and not an object,” Willow scoffed. “She wasn’t kidding when she said you’re not her real mother.”

“The court saw the video,” Morgan jeered. “They gave me full custody. Now I’ll wait here for my little object or else someone’s going to jail.”

“For God’s sake, Morgan!” I said. “There’s no video. You didn’t show it to anybody. And nobody believes you. Just…just stop, okay? While you have a shred of dignity left.”

A car started up the driveway, and we all looked over. It was a sheriff’s department car, flashing lights and all. The deputy inside stomped out of his car and trudged over to us.

“Mrs. Morgan Thrilling?”

She sent a smirk toward me, then answered the deputy. “Yes.”

“You’re under arrest," the deputy barked.

I held Willow close to me while Morgan was turned around and handcuffed. The sound of the cuffs clinking around her wrists satisfied my anger.

“Under arrest?! No, you’re wrong, the court said to—”

“The court said to wait for me to take you here. Otherwise you’ve violated the restraining order, and now you’ve got to go to jail. There will be a hearing tomorrow morning about custody.”

“And gee,” Willow said with saccharine sweetness. “Only one of you has an arrest record. Who’s the bad parent now?”

Morgan screamed and groaned while she was taken to the back of the cruiser and stuffed inside.

Willow turned to me with a grin on her face. “That was the best thing I’ve seen all day.”