Chapter 3 - The ApologyDaniel was helping the caterer carry ice into the kitchen when Claire found him.
“You need to deal with your daughter.”
He set the bag down.
“What happened?”
“She attacked Oliver over a toy.”
Daniel immediately looked toward the playroom.
“Is Millie hurt?”
Claire crossed her arms.
“My son is the one who was attacked.”
When Daniel entered the playroom, Oliver was sitting on the sofa while Evelyn examined a small scratch on his hand.
Millie stood near the wall, clutching Bunny against her chest.
“Tell your father what you did,” Claire demanded.
Millie stared at Daniel.
“What happened?” he asked gently.
“Oliver took Bunny.”
Oliver shook his head.
“She threw it at me.”
“I didn’t!”
Claire sighed.
“There she goes again.”
Daniel crouched in front of Millie.
“Did you throw your toy?”
Millie’s lips trembled.
She looked past him toward Claire.
“No.”
“Then tell me exactly what happened.”
Before Millie could answer, Evelyn stepped forward.
“This is becoming embarrassing. Oliver has a scratch. Millie should apologize, and then everyone can enjoy the party.”
Daniel stood.
“I’m not making her apologize until I know what happened.”
Claire laughed bitterly.
“Of course not. Millie can do no wrong because she’s Nora’s daughter.”
The room became quiet.
Daniel felt anger rise inside him.
“She’s my daughter too.”
“That isn’t what I meant.”
“It sounded exactly like what you meant.”
Claire turned toward Millie.
“Tell him the truth.”
Millie flinched.
It was a small movement, almost invisible.
Daniel noticed it.
Before he could ask about it, a waiter called from the hallway, saying someone had spilled a drink near the electrical cables.
Daniel was responsible for the house while his mother hosted the party. He had to leave.
He placed his hand on Millie’s shoulder.
“Stay here. I’ll be back in two minutes.”
Millie nodded.
It took Daniel almost fifteen minutes to deal with the cables and locate an extension cord.
When he returned, Millie was gone.
Claire stood beside Oliver.
“She finally apologized,” she said.
“Where is she?”
Claire shrugged.
“She probably went to sulk somewhere.”
Daniel searched the playroom, the kitchen and the back garden.
No Millie.
He called her name from the staircase.
No answer.
A cold fear began spreading through his chest.
The estate was enormous. Several rooms were being renovated, and the swimming pool had been uncovered for the party.
Daniel began checking every hallway.
“Millie!”
At the far end of the first floor, he heard a faint sound beneath the music.
Someone was crying.
It came from the laundry room.
Daniel opened the door.
Millie was curled beside the washing machine, her knees pressed to her chest. One cheek was red, and Bunny lay on the floor beside her.
Daniel’s heart stopped.
He rushed forward.
“Millie.”
She lifted both hands as though protecting herself.
“Daddy… please don’t make me apologize again.”
Daniel froze.
He had never seen his child afraid of him before.
He lowered himself slowly to the floor.
“I won’t.”
Millie watched him uncertainly.
“I promise,” he said. “You don’t have to apologize.”
Her hands slowly dropped.
Daniel noticed the mark on her cheek.
“Sweetheart… who did this to you?”
Millie looked toward the doorway.
Then she pointed at Bunny.
May you like
“The rabbit knows.”
