A Bloody Gingerbread for Christmas

I looked up at him, my heart a frozen stone of disgust.

He was once my entire world, yet now he was a stranger.

"What do you think?" I asked, my voice like ice.

"What's with the attitude?" Liam frowned, his tone dripping with disdain. "I'm asking you a question. Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I have a question for you, too," I said, staring straight at him. I enunciated every word. "Why did you leave Sophie alone in the snow?"

"Are you insane, Olivia?" Liam scoffed, as if I'd asked the most absurd question. "The car broke down. Mason had a sudden, severe allergic reaction, and we had to call for an emergency helicopter."

"The rescue helicopter could only take three people."

"So we left Sophie in the car for a little while."

"Only three people?" I repeated, the words cracking in my throat.

The pain was so intense I could barely breathe.

"What else were we supposed to do?" Liam retorted. "Leave Chloe and a critically ill child behind? Besides, I told the park rangers to pick Sophie up. It was only for a little while. What could possibly happen?"

"Arranged for rangers? A *little while*?" I shot to my feet, my vision swimming red with fury as I slapped his hand away. "Liam, do you have any idea what your damned *little while* cost us? Sophie… she…"

My voice broke, and I couldn't bring myself to say the horrific truth.

Liam frowned impatiently. "What are you trying to say?"

"Sophie," I choked out, taking a ragged breath. "A bear killed her!"

As the words left my mouth, I felt my entire world crumble.

A chilling darkness swam at the edge of my vision.

Liam froze for a split second, then snapped angrily, "Olivia, you've completely lost your mind! I can't believe you'd invent such a vicious lie about your own daughter! You're despicable!"

The contempt and mockery in his eyes were like daggers in my heart.

I stared at him in disbelief, my voice trembling as I asked, "What did you say? You don't believe me?"

He pointed at me, his tone severe. "Olivia, I can't believe how wrong I was about you. To think you'd stoop so low just to get my attention! My mother was right about you all along. You don't deserve to be a mother!"

"Liam, don't be angry. Olivia probably just wants your attention, so she's making things up…"

Chloe rushed in, grabbing Liam's arm, her face a mask of concern, though I could see the triumphant smirk she barely concealed.

Liam, however, seemed oblivious.

He patted Chloe's hand affectionately, then turned to glare at me.

"Olivia, you're nothing but a disappointment. Look at Chloe—she's a real mother. Now look at you. You don't even deserve the title."

He took a deep breath, his tone turning glacial. "I've made my decision. From now on, Chloe will be a proper role model for Sophie. You can learn from her how to be a real wife and mother!"

"No problem at all, I'll be a great role model for Sophie," Chloe agreed, a victorious smile spreading across her face.

I stared at Chloe, overcome with a murderous rage.

"You're a homewrecker. What right do you have to be a role model for anyone's child? You're a liar yourself!"

"Hey!" Chloe, stung by my words, flared up.

She leaned in, her voice a venomous whisper. "Playing tough, are we? Let's see how tough you are when Liam finally accepts that his precious daughter is really dead."

Before she could say more, I slapped her hard across the face.

The sharp crack echoed in the silent room.

I knew it was her. It had to be her.

I should have known Sophie's death was connected to this vicious woman.

Anger and terror obliterated my reason.

I lunged at her, wanting to tear her limb from limb.

Seeing Chloe clutch her face as I lunged toward her, blind with fury, Liam’s own rage ignited.

"Olivia, what are you doing?!" he roared.

Before I could respond, Chloe threw herself into Liam’s arms, sobbing. "Liam, I was just trying to reassure her that the rangers would get Sophie. It was getting dark, and I didn't want her to worry, and then she just went crazy and hit me!"

As she cried, she shot me a vicious glare, as if I were an unforgivable criminal.

Liam held Chloe protectively, his furious gaze locked on me.

"Olivia, I see it now. You've completely lost your mind. Get out! Get out of my sight!"

I pointed at Chloe and shouted in a rage, "You still want *her* to be a role model for Sophie? This woman killed our daughter! You have no right to choose a mother for Sophie!"

I took a deep breath, pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared, and flung them at his face.

"Sign it! I want a divorce!"

Tears streamed down my face as I went on, "We've been married for years. Even if you don't love me anymore, do you honestly believe I would joke about our daughter's life?"

Liam stared at me, silent for a moment.

Then, he picked up the divorce papers from the floor.

"Olivia, I know what you're doing. You're trying to force my hand! Too bad for you. If I hadn't just gotten an update on Sophie, I might have actually fallen for your little act."

He took out his phone and played two voice messages.

A voice that sounded just like Sophie's rang out.

"Daddy, the park rangers are here to get me! I'm safe now!"

"Daddy, I'm staying at the ranger station cabin tonight. Don't worry about me!"