THE WIFE WHO BECAME HIS RIVAL
s shout – strong, urgent, and just right. As the anesthesi
d, her voice full of feeling. Six pounds,
But as they put her on my chest, all I could think was that she wouldn't really
throat sore from the tube.
rs like a pro. You both did great, all things considered. B
aking a family with Mikel, separate from our familie
d. There'
r granddaughter had just had a baby. We hadn't talked in three years – not since I picked love over fa
othing else mattered. This was pure love – simple, mine. Whatever happened, n
Ste
was there, messy, his shirt buttoned wrong. But h
, stepping forward
man hours ago, saying sweet lies while living a double life. But he was
id softly, holding
nged when he really saw Emma. The cold mask he'd
ed out a finger,
as Mikel brushed Emma's cheek. She turned to his voice, h
ispered, his voice cra
United by something bigger than betrayal or p
a's voice
eautifu
styled her hair. While I was fighting for my and my daughter's lives in surgery, she was getting r
g here? I asked
ok away from Emma. Sophia drove me to t
ven after I'd caught them, he was sti
ke broken glass. Your girlfrie
ll
ing them away. Just don't. I ca
ncy heels clicking on the floor. Bella, honey, I know this
ng to do with this. As if she belonged
with you, I said, my voice getting
n his face that I hadn't seen before. Actually, Bella,
e as I got what he meant. Y
he said, his voice stiff like he was in
about a business deal,
pered, holding Emma tighter. You're
ll need to be real. This marriage is over, Bella. We all know it. The
ought she was already part of Emma's life, al
I said
be reas
I felt bad for yelling, but I was too ang
face. I need you both to leave, she said firmly. Mrs.
ched his arm. Of course, Doctor. We get it. Bella's
g angry at them was just hormones, not
, Bella. Emma is my daughter too, and I won't le
oice. Whatever love we'd had was
ything about her face while I worried. How soon would the lawyers show u
hard Blackwood, Mikel's lawyer, with a man
y to bother you so soon, but my
without opening it from Blackwood's fac
a divorce
lawyer speak. Mr. Sterling thinks it's best f
. Emma wasn't even a day ol
asked, scared
ching weeks. He'll pay well for child
his. It was a war with paperwo
o my lawyer, I said,
plan that starts as soon as you sign. Given how the baby was bor
not fit. And Emma, sleeping in my arms, w
ake her if I don
ing just wants to protect his rights and gi
we'd split stuff, custody, support payments – everyt
om wife to ex-wife, from partner to enemy, from family t
so helpless, so dependent on me to protect her from the yucky adul
anyway, and he had more money. If I signed, I lo
he line. Each second felt like a
d said softly. Anything
man who'd promised to love me forever could
pered. Not
three years ago. But it was legal, and that's all th
tion. They thought they'd won. They thought I was broken,
were
, and promised her I'd become strong enough to protect u
fight, but the
rong enough – they'd learn what it m
I had to