Chapter 1: The Woman Who Chose the Wrong Mother
"SHUT THAT BABY UP! SOME OF US ARE TRYING TO ENJOY OUR STAY!""
The scream echoed through the marble lobby of Atlanta's Grand Ashford Hotel.
Every conversation stopped.
I stood near the reception desk, holding my one-month-old daughter against my chest, desperately rocking her while tears gathered in my eyes.
"I'm sorry," I whispered.
"She's only a month old. She's hungry, and I'm trying to calm her down.""
The woman standing in front of me looked as if I'd personally ruined her vacation.
Her name was Victoria Whitmore.
I didn't know that yet.
She wore a cream-colored designer dress, diamond earrings, and a necklace that probably cost more than my car. Her perfectly manicured fingers gripped a champagne glass.
She glanced at my oversized sweatshirt and black leggings.
"Do you know where you are?"" she demanded.
I swallowed.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm checking in.""
"Checking in?"" She laughed.
"You look like you wandered in from a homeless shelter.""
I looked down at Lily.
My daughter had been crying for almost fifteen minutes. She'd barely slept during our drive from the airport, and I hadn't slept properly in weeks.
I'd given birth four weeks earlier.
My body still hurt. My eyes were swollen from exhaustion, and my hair had been shoved into a messy bun because I'd barely had time to shower.
But I didn't care how I looked.
I only wanted my daughter to stop crying.
"I'm sorry if she's disturbing you," I repeated.
"I'll take her somewhere quieter.""
Victoria stepped directly into my path.
"People like you shouldn't be allowed in establishments like this.""
I blinked.
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me.""
Then she did something I never imagined another human being would do.
She slapped me.
The sound cracked through the lobby.
My head snapped sideways, and my cheek burned instantly.
I instinctively wrapped both arms around Lily, terrified that the sudden movement might make me drop her.
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"" I screamed.
Victoria didn't even look embarrassed.
"Maybe now you'll pay attention.""
A man near the elevators lowered his phone. An older woman covered her mouth.
Nobody intervened.
I touched my cheek, struggling to believe what had happened.
"You just hit me while I was holding my newborn.""
Victoria rolled her eyes.
"And you're still letting that child scream.""
She grabbed my shoulder and shoved me backward.
"SECURITY! GET THIS WOMAN OUT!""
A hotel manager hurried across the lobby.
"Mrs. Whitmore!"" he exclaimed.
"Is everything all right?""
Victoria immediately changed her expression.
She pointed at me.
"This woman is harassing your guests. She's making an unacceptable amount of noise, and she just became aggressive when I asked her to stop.""
I stared at her.
"That's a lie! She slapped me!""
The manager, Brandon, glanced at my clothes before looking at Victoria's jewelry.
His expression changed.
"I'm terribly sorry, Mrs. Whitmore.""
I felt a brief moment of relief.
Then he turned toward me.
"Ma'am, I'm going to have to ask you to leave.""
I couldn't believe him.
"She assaulted me!""
"Please lower your voice.""
"Look at my face!""
Brandon sighed.
"Mrs. Whitmore is one of our most valued VIP guests. We cannot allow disturbances in the lobby.""
Victoria smiled.
"Exactly. Finally, someone understands.""
I tightened my arms around Lily.
"Check my reservation. My name is Emily Ashford. I'm supposed to be staying in the presidential suite.""
Victoria burst into laughter.
"YOU?""
She turned toward Brandon.
"Cancel whatever imaginary reservation she's talking about.""
Brandon nodded.
"Of course, Mrs. Whitmore.""
I reached into my diaper bag and pulled out my phone.
Victoria crossed her arms.
"Who are you calling? Your husband? Maybe he'll explain that you don't belong here.""
I ignored her and dialed the number I'd known since childhood.
My father answered immediately.
"Sweetheart! Have you checked in? How's my little granddaughter?""
My throat tightened.
"Dad, there's a problem.""
His voice changed.
"What happened?""
"A woman slapped me while I was holding Lily. Now the manager is trying to throw us out.""
Silence.
Then he asked one question.
"Which hotel?""
"The Grand Ashford.""
"Put me on speaker.""
I did.
Brandon looked irritated.
"Sir, I'm handling a disturbance. Your daughter needs to leave the property.""
My father spoke calmly.
"Brandon, this is Robert Ashford.""
The manager stopped moving.
His face lost its color.
Victoria frowned.
"Who is Robert Ashford?""
Brandon swallowed.
"The chairman of Ashford Luxury Hotels.""
Victoria's champagne glass lowered.
My father continued.
"Preserve every second of the security footage from that lobby. I want the entire incident saved.""
"Y-yes, Mr. Ashford.""
"And tell Mrs. Whitmore I know exactly who she is.""
Victoria grabbed Brandon's sleeve.
"Turn that phone off!""
My father wasn't finished.
"Her husband is currently sitting in my corporate office requesting approval for a twelve-million-dollar partnership.""
Victoria's lips parted.
Then Dad added something that made my stomach turn.
"Emily, there's something else. That woman didn't approach you by accident. Someone sent her your photograph this morning.""
May you like
Victoria suddenly lunged toward my phone.
And for the first time, I realized the slap might have been planned.
