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Julian's face changed when he saw it was Lily.
I walked past him into the treatment room without a word.
Lily had a broken arm and a mild concussion. Her small face was white. She curled into me and didn't make a sound.
The nursery head played the security footage on a laptop.
Lily had reached the top of the slide first. When she saw Hannah behind her, she stepped aside to let Hannah go first. Hannah turned back, said something. Lily moved back to her original spot. Then Hannah walked into her from behind, and Lily went over the edge.
I looked at Hannah.
She shrank behind Victoria. She was crying, or almost. Victoria put her arms around her, both of them trembling, managing to look as though they were the ones who'd been wronged.
"I'm so sorry." Victoria's voice was soft, her eyes wet. "Lily's hospital bills — I'll cover everything. Hannah didn't mean it. She's only little, she doesn't always understand — please don't blame her."
She glanced at Julian. A small, helpless look.
Lily spoke up from where she was pressed against my side.
"She told me Daddy doesn't love me any more. She said eventually he'll make us leave."
Victoria's face went sharp. She reached for Hannah — "Hannah—" — but the little girl had already started to say something. Victoria pulled her close and spoke over her.
"Lily, sweetheart. That's not a very nice thing to say. Did someone teach you to tell stories like that?"
She paused. Her voice went careful.
"It's not the first time, is it. I hope no one's been putting ideas in her head."
I reached out and slapped her.
Not hard. But I meant it.
"That's so you remember to watch what you say."
Victoria pressed her hand to her cheek, eyes filling. "I only meant—"
"I know what you meant." I turned away.
Lily had gone quiet again. She looked at Julian, then put her face against my shoulder.
"Nobody believes me except Mummy. It was always like this."
My hands were shaking.
Julian stepped forward. "Lily—"
I looked at him. Just looked.
He stopped.
He knew. He had to know. All the times in the previous marriage — Hannah wanting Lily's birthday present and Julian giving it to her; Hannah ruining her own dress and claiming Lily did it, Julian throwing out all of Lily's clothes in punishment; Hannah falling on a step, saying Lily pushed her, Julian putting Lily in her room alone for an afternoon.
Incident after incident, Julian's first instinct had always been to believe Hannah.
This was why we'd divorced the first time. Not just the marriage. This.
"One of them has to leave this nursery," I said. "Either Hannah transfers, or we do. I'll let the school sort out which."
Victoria pulled Hannah down onto the floor with her in a slow, deliberate collapse — both of them on their knees, tears flowing.
"I'll do anything. Please don't take this from Hannah. She loves it here. I'll make sure they never cross paths again, I promise—"
She looked up at Julian. Pleading.
Julian looked away.
Victoria blinked. This wasn't what was supposed to happen.
"Julian—"
I was tired of watching.
"Stop performing, Victoria. I've seen this act too many times." I looked at her evenly. "All you've ever wanted is Julian. Fine. He's yours. I'm done."
I looked at Julian.
"I want a divorce."