Julian ducked as the vase shattered against the wall behind him, shards of glass exploding in all directions. Before he could straighten, I closed the distance between us and slapped him with all the strength I possessed. The crack of my palm against his cheek echoed through the cottage.
"How dare you?" I seethed, my entire body shaking. "How DARE you suggest replacing our daughter?"
Julian raised his hand to his reddening cheek, his amber eyes wide with shock. "Aurelia, please—"
"Another child? ANOTHER CHILD?" My voice rose to a shriek. "As if Violet was some toy you could replace after breaking her?"
"That's not what I meant," Julian pleaded, reaching for my arm.
I jerked away from his touch. "Don't you touch me! You never wanted Violet. You never loved her. You let her die alone on her birthday while you were with that woman and her daughter."
Pain flashed across Julian's face. "I know I failed her—"
