SEVENTY-FOUR

ELLEN

"You cannot cut me out of her life completely, Oliver."

"I am not," Oliver said, not bothering to look at me. "Your decisions are not just the best for her."

"I know my child —"

"Our child," Oliver cut in.

"I will not have you make decisions about her with someone else."

Oliver's eyes flicked up to me. "You are jealous of Monica?"

"I am not," I defended and gulped the water from the glass.

"That is what you denied me for six years. You did not allow me make decisions about her, you denied me the opportunity to bond with her."

"Oliver, I —"

"It will not always work in your favour. You should have thought about the consequences before you acted. For now, whatever I say goes."

"Oliver, please..." I muttered hoping he had some humanity in him.

He had been kind to me the last few weeks before I left him. I do not know about this current behavior of his. I was scared and helpless.

"I know you are angry and you have every right to be but—"

"I am glad you know,