warning ⚠️; Some dark content! Arthur being a real creep towards the end of the chapter, which probably explains why he did the things he did.

JOSY ENJOYED THE last minutes she had left with Esmee while Happy showered in the bathroom next door. The trip back to Charming was today and the desire to pack her things and go with them was great. But Josy couldn't, not until she could prove what her father and Debbie had done.

Sure, she could let shit rest and cut off her family, never speak a word with them ever again. But what would they think then? After all, they had already tried to kill her and her then unborn child.

Josy had to make sure that her father and her sister got their punishment. And Josy wanted to see them both suffer for taking everything away from her. Honestly, she would've preferred to die than lose all memories of her marriage, her chosen family and her daughter. The guilt she felt towards them was unreal but giving up was no option.

A wistful smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as Esmee climbed onto her lap, making cute noises. "Bunny!"

Josy chuckled softly as the girl triumphantly held up a stuffed animal and then cradled it against her chest. "It's yours now, sweetie. I got it for you a few days ago."

Even though Esmee might not yet understand the meaning behind her words, Josy wanted to make sure she spoke enough to the one-year-old, making sure the girl felt loved and seen.

As if Esmee had understood what Josy had said, she nuzzled her cheek against the rabbit's head and smiled at Josy as she snuggled up to the woman. The girl started babbling quietly and reached for Josy's red strands with her small hand, but without hurting her mother.

"You like my hair, huh?" Josy lovingly stroked her daughter's hair, running her fingers through the short curls. "You'll have the same hair one day, only curly. Oh, I just know you'll be the prettiest girl out there", the redhead murmured proudly before placing a kiss on the top of Esmee's head.

Happy had just stepped out of the bathroom and overheard the last words, his stoic expression replaced by one of absolute satisfaction. "Would that be a miracle with a mom like you?"

"Her daddy isn't exactly bad-looking either", she replied quickly as she looked up at him with a wide smile and admired the man for a while, her green eyes shimmering with admiration. The way he walked with so much confidence, his tattoos, his tall, muscular figureᅳ everything about him was just perfect in her eyes. "Tell me, did she get her curls from you? As far as I know, I never had any."

"Maybe, but she definitely got her looks from you." Happy crouched down next to Josy, ran a hand over Esmee's small head and placed a kiss on his wife's soft lips. Slowly he started to pick up Esmee's toys that were scattered on the floor around them, trying to win some more time with Josy. "Yeah, I used to have long hair..and black curls."

"No shit?" Josy looked at him enthusiastically, a grin forming on her lips. "Do you have photos? I'd love to see you with long hair."

"My Ma probably has some stored in boxes somewhere." Happy let out an amused huff, shaking his head. "But I don't think you wanna see them."

"Oh believe me, I wanna see them, all of them!" Josy leaned forward with a grin, slipped a hand to the back of his neck and pulled him into a longing kiss that was full of tenderness, even from Happy's sideᅳ which you wouldn't expect from a man like him.

When the two broke apart after a while, out of breath but satisfied, Happy rubbed his thumb down her cheekbone. "Let me sort things out with Arthur and Debbie and just come home with me, little girl."

"I can't, you know that", Josy sighed, reaching for Happy's cheek as she saw the brief disappointment flash in his brown lenses. "I want justice, I want to hurt them in some wayᅳ I want to see their faces when they find out that I know the truth."

Part of Happy could understand that Josy needed this satisfaction, which is why he just grunted and eventually nodded. "I know. I'd still rather have you with me, I don't trust them."

"They don't suspect anything, so you don't have to worry", she assured him firmly, smiling encouragingly. "I can take care of myself and if I notice that something feels off, I'll call you immediately."

"Every little thing that feels off, you hear me?", he demanded sternly, his voice a little lower but no less hoarse.

"Every little thing", Josy promised eagerly, placing her forehead against his. "Hey, uh, did your mom like me?"

"Are you kidding?" One of Happy's eyebrows shot up as he let out a low chuckle. "The woman probably loved you more than she loved me. Ma always admired you, your cheerful and polite nature."

"Oh, thank God." Josy let out a breath that she had held in her lungs for a moment. Laughing nervously, she let Happy help her to her feet after Esmee had climbed off her lap. "Does she know that I'm still alive?"

"No, I haven't told her yet." Pulling his wallet out of his duffle bag that was on the couch, he took out some bills but without taking his eyes off Josy. "I didn't know if you wanted to be there when I told her, or if it was okay for you if I told her about it already. But I thought it's better to wait until the whole thing with your father and Debbie is over."

"Okay, sure, that makes sense. I think that's a good idea", Josy agreed with a hum before her green orbs landed on the bills that were now lying on the small coffee table. "What's that, Happy?"

"You need money, you said that you won't take money from your father; and you quit your job at the burger restaurant", Happy stated matter-of-factly with a shrug of his shoulders, leaving no room for discussion. "And you're my wife, which means it's my job to take care of you."

"Butᅳ"

"Josephine", Happy grunted stubbornly as he pulled her close, his large hand resting against her lower back. "Take the money, you need it."

"You're so freakin' stubborn", the redhead groaned softly, letting her forehead fall against Happy's chest. Sighing softly, she snaked her arms around his waist, inhaling the scent of his shower gel. "Thank youᅳ but I could've used my savings."

"Just take it, woman", he murmured against her hair as he shouldered his duffle bag, one arm still around her. "I'll see you next weekend, okay?"

Josy nodded with a brave smile, not ready to let him and Esmee go. But she had to. "I can't wait."

"I love you, little girl", Happy croaked before claiming her lips once again for a searing kiss, contentedly groaning into her mouth as Josy snuggled up to him and deepened their kiss.

"I love you too", she whispered in between two more quick kisses, looking up at him with a smile as he simply looked down at her and ran his thumb along her jawline.

She may have lost her memories, but her feelings were not deceiving her. There was no doubt that she had loved the manᅳ so why shouldn't she return his words if they felt so right?

As Happy picked up Esmee, Josy mentally prepared herself to say goodbye to the little girl she had taken so close to her heart. She timidly ran the back of her fingers over Esmee's cheek, a weary smile on her lips.

"Be good to daddy, okay? I'll see you again soon, baby", she cooed lovingly as she placed another kiss on Esmee's forehead, making the girl squeal happily.

As attentive as Happy was, he watched the scene between the two, smiling as his daughter babbled excitedly while Josy spoke to her.

Then he reluctantly let his wife accompany him to the door where they shared another short but gentle kiss before Josy opened the door, stuck her head out and looked around.

"Okay, no one's here, you can go", she assured him, pushing her hands into the back pockets of her light blue flared jeans. "Drive carefully and call me when you get there."

"Don't worry, I'm always careful when Esmee is with me", he winked to lighten the mood a little and planted one last kiss on Josy's forehead before he walked down the stairs, each step harder than the last.

And Josy had no choice but to watch as her husband secured their daughter in her car seat and shortly afterwards left the parking lot, driving down the street.

With a sad smile and full of longing for the two of them, she waited until the car had finally disappeared completely before she went back inside her apartment and called Summer to tell her best friend about the weekend.

ᅳ

THE ATMOSPHERE in the house where Josy had grown up finally changed as the guests gradually left the small party her father had thrown. Finally, she could drop the artificial smile for a moment and take a deep breath after saying goodbye to everyone. Her father had asked her to be polite, flashing her his best smile, and Josy had no choice but to act like she didn't mind.

But the woman could definitely live without the false sympathy and pity of her father's work colleagues or friends. Not a single one had ever shown any interest in her before and suddenly everyone felt sorry for her. Sure.

Josy tried to block out the typical rich man's laughter that could still be heard in the hallway when Arthur led his last guest outside as she refilled her glass in the spacious, extremely modern kitchen, this time with water instead of the champagne that she had only drunk because Debbie had practically forced her to.

"See, it wasn't that bad after all." Debbie's heels clicked against the light marble tile floor, her hips swaying elegantly as she came to a stop on the other side of the kitchen island and rested her palms on the countertop, a triumphant smile on her red lips, the color perfectly matching her elegant dress. "And did you see how interested Matt was in you? He's so into you!"

"Debs, please. Not again", Josy pleaded with a sigh. Straightening her shoulders, she raised the glass to her lips, careful not to spill anything.

The emerald green satin dress that flowed down her body like a smooth wave and accentuated all the right curves was only borrowed and the redhead definitely intended to return the dress to Summer unscathed.

"Oh come on, Josy!" Debbie theatrically threw a torrent of her brown hair behind her shoulder, checking her fingernails to see if the red nail polish was still shiny. "He has money, the looks, a house right on the beach like Dad and can offer you anything you want. What's stopping you from dating him?"

"I don't like him, it's that simple." As innocent and loving as Josy was, she was also straight forward. If she didn't like someone, she made no secret of it. "He thinks he's better than everyone, his smile never once reached his eyes and all he cared about was my tits."

"So? What's your point?" Debbie looked at her younger sister, actually confused, trying to understand what Josy's problem was. "It doesn't matter as long as he has money and can offer you a secure future. It couldn't be easier if all you have to do is spread your pretty, long legs a few times."

"Deborah, watch your language." Arthur stepped into the kitchen with a corrective look, the short heels of his dress shoes clicking against the marble tiles until he stood at the head of the kitchen island and looked at his older daughter. "Your sister is not a whore. If she is not interested in Matt, then we won't force her to date him."

"Thanks, Dad", the redhead mumbled as she sipped her water, feeling a little uncomfortable as her father placed a hand right above her ass, rubbing his thumb against her tailbone. "Excuse me for a moment, I need to use the bathroom."

With a tight-lipped smile, she put down her glass, slipped past her father into the hallway and then disappeared up the stairs. Once at the top floor, she opened a door and closed it so it sounded like she had just disappeared in one of the bathrooms.

But instead, she slipped off her shoes, letting out a sigh of relief when she felt the cool floor under her aching feet. The gold high heels had been pure torture and Josy knew that after this evening she would probably only wear sneakers.

She could still hear her father and Debbie talking, their voices muffled but at least audible. This meant she could search her father's office upstairs in peace. When she entered the room, she stopped for a moment and looked out the window, the panes reaching from floor to ceiling, and watched the ocean, the waves crashing against the sand and the water glittering in the moonlight.

It was a nice view, beautiful even, and Josy would have no problem being woken up every day with a direct view of the beach. However, she didn't care at all about the luxury. Besides, she only needed Esmee and Happy, everything else was irrelevant. The two had only been back in Charming for two days and Josy's longing for them grew every day.

That's exactly why she finally had to find evidence. The redhead didn't let herself be distracted by the breathtaking view any longer and quickly but quietly began to search all the drawers and cupboards for documents, anything that could show her the truth. She knew that she couldn't take more than fifteen minutes, any minute more would be conspicuous, so she tried to proceed strategically and lost herself in Arthur's files.

ᅳ

ANOTHER DEEP SIGH fell from Debbie's lips as she looked at the ticking clock on the wall above the huge television built into the grey wall, below which was a modern fireplace.

"What's taking her so long? She's been in the bathroom for almost half an hour", Debbie remarked slightly impatiently, tapping the toe of her black high heel against the tiles. "You think she fainted or something?"

Arthur looked up from his magazine about luxury properties in Los Angeles, raising a blonde eyebrow. "Maybe her stomach can't handle the oysters, you know Josy isn't used to such food."

"Yeah, but half an hour?" It was weird, but Debbie was really worried about her little sister. The brunette was silent for a moment, swimming in her guilt. "Do you think she'll always have to live with the permanent damage? The loss of appetite? She's really gotten skinny, Dad."

Debbie's words seemed to have finally reached Arthur as he slowly closed the magazine and stared at the wall opposite him, kind of lost in thought. "I know, I'm not blind, Deborah. Do you think I don't feel bad about it every day? I haven't always been the best father, but I'm always worried about you girls."

"I know, although you've always paid more attention to me than Josyᅳ she's always been different", the brunette sighed, her gaze lowered to the glass of champagne in her hand. "I should check on her, then we should have a serious talk with her about her weight."

"And push her away from us again? Now that she's finally trying to get close to us and showing serious interest in our company?" Arthur stood up shortly after Debbie and placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Not tonight, you hear me? We're finally managing to steer her in the right direction. That's what we wanted the whole time, remember? That's why we did all of this."

"No, I haven't forgotten that", Debbie snarled, glaring at her father before the brunette looked away for a moment. Then she placed a hand on her father's, patting it. "I'll check on her anyway."

"Do that, tell her we want to spend some time with her before she goes home",  Arthur said calmly before watching his daughter leave, his gaze lingering on Debbie for a little too long as she walked up the stairs with an elegant swing of her hips.

"Shit," he muttered to himself, trying to keep his composure. Rubbing his eyes with his thumb and forefinger, he headed for his little bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey while he shook off the dark thoughts that clouded his mind once again.

He knew his looks were wrong, as were his thoughts and desires and the way he touched himself almost every night thinking about the only two women in his life. The only reason he wanted to keep his daughters with him at all costs and not share them was quite simpleᅳ he wanted them for himself, even if he would never dare touch them. At least not until now.

But he needed to know that they were his, that they were Daddy's girls, just like they used to be. And he would soon have Josy all for him again, then they would both be with him, forever, and he could continue to live out his fantasies, do things behind closed doors that a father shouldn't do.

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