The Ex-Wife Who Built An Empire

at the kitchen table. Her shoulders were shaking, her face buried in her hands. It

ing through his phone like nothing was happ

had another one o

t the weather. An "episode" was his and his

go back home. D

She watched our two-year-old, Maya, while I worked my paralega

t... Ethan, she can' t go back to h

t his phone down. "Nicole, it' s not up for discuss

ing at a wall again? We should hire a home

t a stranger in the house? Be

t. He stood up and walked over to the kitchen, completely ignoring Maria' s sile

will go home. The real problem is May

assessing. The unspoken words hung

me. My student loans aren' t going to pay th

f his beer. "A nanny? You want a

ills," I said, my voice tight.

e' ll see about that, and went back to the couch, leaving me

eyes red and swollen. She tried t

, Nicole. I'

was lying.

r small bag. Maya toddled over, hold

said, her little vo

ged Maya tightly. "Grandma has to go see

s forehead. I felt a surge of anger at Ethan, a

elping her to her feet. "We can figure something els

of a lifetime of fear. "It' s easier

mpatient. "Is she ready? T

movements rough, and started walking toward the door. He t

his expectations. In that moment, he looked so much like the old man he claimed to despise.