Dare To Play (Dare Nation #3) - Carly Phillips Page 0,55

leaving this house without permission, later.”

Hannah sniffed and nodded. “What are you going to do?” she asked, because she knew Macy well.

“Jaxon and I are going to talk and decide whether I should go lay out the facts for your mom or let the lawyer do it for me.” Although Macy wanted to confront Lilah and see her face when she realized the money her dad had left was protected from her greedy hands. “What’s Lilah’s hotel room number?” she asked.

Hannah mumbled the answer, and once she’d disappeared and Macy heard the door to the bedroom close, Jaxon returned from wherever he’d disappeared to.

“I didn’t want to embarrass her by being here when she was crying. Or admitting her mother didn’t really want her.” He shook his head. “Poor kid.”

Macy frowned. “Better she learn the truth now than after some judge awarded custody to Lilah because she was the biological mother.” Her stomach cramped at the thought of how easily that result could have occurred.

“I want to confront her myself,” Macy said. “Is it awful that I want to see her reaction?” She shook her head. “All of this upheaval because she somehow found out about Dad’s insurance. I’m sure they spoke about it when they were married. Dad was really good about estate planning. Lilah just obviously isn’t very smart about how it works.”

Jaxon folded his arms across his chest, a move she always loved because it displayed his muscular forearms.

“How about I stay with the kid. I can distract her when she comes down, and you can go have it out with your stepmother,” he suggested.

“Perfect. Thank you.” She walked over, rose to her tiptoes, and pressed a kiss to his cheek. She was grateful and wanted him to know it. “Hold down the fort,” she said with a wink before heading to get her purse and car keys.

She had a confrontation to get to and a woman to get out of her sister’s life for good.

* * *

Macy’s anger had time to fester on the drive to the hotel where Lilah was staying. She left the car with the valet, strode through the luxurious mirrored lobby, and took the elevator to the eighth floor.

After following the signs, she banged on the door number Hannah had given her and waited. When no one answered, she raised her hand to knock harder, but the door flung open and Lilah greeted her.

“Good job. You all but destroyed your daughter. Are you happy?” Macy pushed her way inside, intending to have the argument in private.

“Excuse me!”

“We need to talk and I’m not doing it in the hallway.” Macy waited until Lilah shut the door before speaking. “Are we alone or is your boyfriend here?” She wanted to know what she was dealing with.

“We’re alone. Is Hannah okay? I’ve been calling her to make sure she got home safely but she won’t answer.”

Macy studied her and realized Lilah appeared shaken, something that surprised her. “She’s home safely but she’s not fine. Not after finding out the only reason her mother wanted custody was to get her hands on her insurance money her father left her when he died.”

Appearing pale, Lilah faced Macy. “I love her. I was wrong to leave her in the first place, but the fact is that I’m broke and that money will help tremendously.”

“Then who’s paying for this?” Macy gestured around the beautiful hotel room with a large living room and the bedroom in the far corner.

“I haven’t reached the limit on one of my credit cards.”

Macy shook her head. “That’s not Hannah’s problem. Or mine. So let me explain the facts to you. I don’t know what Dad told you about his insurance policies when you were together, but when he died, the policy money went into trust and I’m the trustee.” She poked herself in the chest. “Me.”

Lilah’s eyes opened wide and her face grew paler, if such a thing were possible. “But I just assumed there would be monthly payments to help whoever was her guardian. And I know your grandparents left money to your father that he must have split between you and Hannah.”

“Also in trust.” Macy folded her arms across her chest. “You assumed wrong and you hurt your daughter in the process.” She didn’t wait for Lilah’s reply before continuing. “Hannah’s money is going to pay for her college and help her get started in life. Not to fund your lifestyle. So if you want to keep fighting me for custody, go