The Bride Locked the Groom’s Daughter in the Bathroom — But One Cry Made the Wedding Stop

The next morning, the atmosphere in the Bennett house was thick with unspoken tension. Lucas handed Lily the freshly washed yellow blanket at the breakfast table. Lily’s eyes lit up, and she buried her face in the warm fabric.

Vanessa walked into the kitchen, freezing when she saw the blanket. She recovered instantly, offering a tight, patronizing smile. "Oh, you rescued it. How... sentimental."

"It's not sentimental, Vanessa. It's hers," Lucas said, his tone entirely devoid of its usual warmth. "And it will not be thrown away again."

Vanessa sensed the shift in power. She poured herself a cup of coffee, elegantly leaning against the marble counter. "Lucas, darling, we need to talk about our schedule. The wedding is only two months away. The planning is exhausting, and quite frankly, Lily’s constant need for supervision is becoming a hindrance to our relationship."

"She's a six-year-old child, Vanessa," Lucas said, setting his mug down heavily. "She requires supervision."

"Which is exactly why I’ve taken the liberty of interviewing a live-in nanny," Vanessa announced triumphantly, pulling a glossy folder from her designer tote bag. "Her name is Beatrice. Highly recommended. She can take over the morning routines, the school runs, and weekend activities. It will give us the freedom we need to focus on our new life together."

Lucas stared at the folder, the blood roaring in his ears. Vanessa wasn't just trying to remodel the house; she was actively trying to outsource his daughter. She wanted the status of marrying a billionaire CEO, but she had absolutely no intention of being a mother to his child.

"Lily doesn't need a live-in nanny," Lucas stated coldly. "She has a father."

"Lucas, you're being unreasonable," Vanessa sighed, rolling her eyes. "Every family in our circle has a nanny. It's not a punishment; it's a luxury. I simply cannot be expected to play the role of the devoted housewife while managing the social demands of Bennett Development. She is constantly underfoot. It’s exhausting."