“Months before you did,” I replied, my voice smooth, even, and entirely devoid of pity.
He closed his eyes, the realization that I had silently watched him dig his own grave finally crushing him. “Our daughter… is she well? Can I… when I get out, can I just see her once?”
I leaned slightly closer to the glass. “Do you recall your exact words while I was dilating, Julian? You stated she didn’t belong in your family. You acted as the judge and jury of her worth before she took a breath.”
“I was a fool—”
“My daughter does not require a father who actively attempted to erase her,” I cut him off, my tone slicing through the static like a scalpel. “She will never know your face.”
On the other side of the glass, Julian’s hand went slack. The receiver slipped from his grasp, slamming against the counter. He slumped forward, pressing his forehead against the barrier, his shoulders heaving in a silent, shattered wail.
