I nearly jumped out of my skin at her sudden declaration. “Sure!” I giggled. “You’re going to have to become really powerful so that you can protect not only yourself, but everyone you love, okay?”
“Yes, Mommy! I will!” Summer promised with all the passion and optimism in the world, as if she truly believed that she was going to transform into a superhero any moment now.
I just grinned at her, desperately wishing from the bottom of my heart that her wish would one day come true.
There was no mercy in this world. The only way you could protect everything you loved was by becoming stronger and stronger. I wasn’t sure how much longer I could protect my kids for, so I prayed every day that they would be able to defend themselves after I passed away eventually.
After sending Summer home for Lois to look after her, John and I left to meet Jared.
We sat in the most obvious seat in the café. Just as the waiter was serving us our ordered drinks, the glass doors slowly pushed open, and Jared walked in.
Our eyes met, and I finally saw for myself how much he had changed since I last saw him.
His face had gotten much rounder, and he was growing an unkempt beard. His eyebrows had also been purposefully dyed light grey, probably in an attempt to mask his identity. If he hadn’t headed towards us and sat down at our table without an ounce of hesitation, I would have never noticed the similarities between this man and the angular-faced, pretty boy that I used to know.
What quickly followed my feelings of shock was an overwhelming sense of disdain.
All Jared had lost after three years of being in jail was some of his physique and good looks, whereas Summer had nearly lost her life. Everyone else who had unknowingly gotten involved in his schemes and became sick due to chemical pollution had also had their lives ruined because of him.
God, you truly are unfair and unjust.
“It’s been a long time,” Jared broke the silence first. His voice was now low and gravelly, I spotted the vague hints of the cruel, cynical humor in his eyes.
I had been lied to and manipulated by him so many times before because of this exact innocent appearance.
“I wish it could’ve been longer,” I replied curtly.
He hung his head in shame, smiling wryly in self-deprecation.
How could he laugh so casually even after committing so many evil acts? I couldn’t believe that the past me had allowed him to interact with my daughter for such an extended period of time.
“I’m warning you. Don’t ever come near Summer again,” I growled out through gritted teeth. My fingernails dug into my palm as I clenched my fists at the memory of Summer’s pained cries that resurfaced in my mind.
My rationality was telling me that I had to get rid of Jared from our lives, no matter what his intentions were.
He leaned back against the seat of his chair, fixing me with a calm stare. “Don’t you think you’re being too ridiculous? I’m her father. Does it make sense for me to not be with her?”
“No, you’re not.” Rage flared up within me like a wildfire. “She is Ashton’s and my daughter. She has no relation to you.”
“Oh, really?” Jared chuckled. “We’ll see what the court has to say about that when I send both our DNA for a paternity test.”
My heart dropped to the bottom of my stomach.
He had a point. After going undercover at Summer’s school for so long, it would have been extremely easy for him to get ahold of a strand of her hair or a piece of her fingernails. He knew that he would be exposed one day, so he’d made prior preparations in order to legally be able to get near her.
Knock, knock. John’s knuckles rapped on the tabletop to get Jared’s attention. “You better watch your mouth,” he threatened, his stare was aggressive. “This isn’t J City nor the prison. There’s no one to protect you here.”
John had never been a kind man, and he could look so intimidating that children would burst into tears at the sight of him if he wanted to. But Jared seemed unbothered, turning his head to meet John’s gaze head-on with a mocking grin. “I understand. You have endless connections at your disposal in K City, and you have the power to make anyone disappear off the face of the earth.”
