Ethan noticed the look of dislike in my eyes. His face became red, and he crossed his arms. Then, he smirked as he looked between Alexander and the girl. Apprehension filled me, and I was scared of what he was nning. How much more damage could he do tonight?


    “Nora,” Ethan said to the girl. “Why don’t you go along with Alexander.” He gently pushed her over to him. “He is your brother, and he’s going to take good care of you. He told me that he wants to hang out with you and get to know you.”


    “Yay!” Nora said and pped. Then, she tried to hug Alexander, but he stepped to the side, not wanting to take advantage of the girl in her vulnerable position.


    “You’re sick,” Alexander told Ethan and took my hand, leading me into the elevator.


    Nora followed us into the elevator, smiling up at Alexander. Ethan red in Alexander’s direction, then he spun around and exited the apartment building.


    I stared after him inplete shock. I couldn’t believe that he would just leave Nora here to fend for herself. How heartless was he? For the millionth time, I wondered why I ever agreed to marry him.


    Nora tried to hug Alexander again, but I gently took her hands and led her away from him. I needed to deescte this situation. A tiredness washed over me. It was sad how familiar I was with cleaning up my husband’s messes. It was something I was well acquainted with,


    “Do you have a cell phone to call your parents or your guardian?” I


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    Chapte <b>200 </b>


    28 Poker


    asked her in a gentle voice. “I think that we should get you home safely. How does that sound?”


    Nora blinked up at me. Her innocent eyes were unfocused, and her head tilted to the side in confusion. “My momma told me to go with Mr. Iceberg.”


    “Mr. Iceberg? Who is…” I trailed off, and my eyes met with


    Alexander’s. “Ethan,” I said through gritted teeth. “What the hell is he up to?”


    “Why would her mother agree to allow her to follow Ethan anywhere?” Alexander asked and shook his head incredulously. “He was thest guy I would want to apany my child.”


    “What should we do?” I asked. “We can’t just leave her here. It’s the middle of the night, and I don’t think Ethan wille to collect her anytime soon. It isn’t safe for her alone. She could wander outside, too.”


    Alexander thought about it for a moment. Then, his eyes sparked when he looked at the button for the top floor. “We should take her to the property manager’s office on the top floor,” Alexander said. “That way, the manager can contact Ethan to pick her up. Even though I don’t like it, if her mother knows that she’s with Ethan, then that’s who she should stay with.”


    I nodded, thinking that this was the right course of action even though I didn’t like it that much either. Putting her back in Ethan’s care felt wrong in so many ways.


    We took Nora to the property manager’s office. She seemed excited to follow Alexander, which was good because I didn’t want her running away. Thankfully, the manager was there. He didn’t seem surprised when we exined the situation to him.


    Chapton 29


    280 Vouchers


    “This isn’t the first time that Ethan has done something like this,” the manager said with disdain and scratched his bushy red beard with his thumb. “He likes to leave girls here like it’s grand central station or something.”


    I shook my head with exasperation.


    Alexander and I waited as the manager called Ethan. He put the phone on speaker so we could hear the entire conversation.


    “My ex–wife, Olivia, told me that she’s going to take care of Nora for me,” Ethan said in a distracted voice. “I’ll pick her up when I can.”


    Then, he hung up. When the manager called again, Ethan’s phone went straight to voicemail.


    “Wow, that guy is a real piece of work,” the manager muttered and set down his office phone. “I can’t believe you married him.” He told me.


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