THE WIFE WHO BECAME HIS RIVAL

day. It meant three black SUVs with dark windows, a bunch of se

n ages, watching my grandma turn the room into her headquarters. She got here early wi

any time. She was looking at papers on her tablet while her as

d. In the bright hospital lights, Elena was right-Emma had the Romano eyes, that same

ietly. I left, remember? I picked love instea

ld leaders. You think you can't have love and family together? Y

out, and didn't have the warmth that I felt with Mikel. But now, seeing how carefull

, not love, I said. I thought people

but serious. Did your perfect love save you from being cheated on? D

down my family's way of doing things,

? I asked, even tho

ing stop acting like being weak makes you a good person. Power isn't bad. It's so

talking about. Mikel walked in without waiting, his expensive

ping for a second. I watched as he realized who she was

ounding like someone who knew the

tle winter. How nice of you to visit your wife and

said wife. Things are... goin

ad. Right, because leaving your family while your wife is

from embarrassment or ang

people you didn't even see, you believed lies to ruin your mar

What are you

king about Sophia Chen, and someone else who's way better at this game. I'm talking

e didn't sound sure. I saw the pro

les on her tablet. Tell me, Mr. Sterling, did you ever wonder why all this 'proof' s

he got it. You think someon

ry. The question is, what are you doing now tha

adn't seen before: real doubt. The guy who

name sounding rou

y five years of marriage, left your pregnant wife, and signed away your daughter's l

was coming home that night to talk to you about it,

was when our child wasn't safe, I interrupted. Y

k all this yourself. I'm sure your lawyers can trace the fake stuff. But I should tel

ena and me, realizing he wasn't in cha

othing to her. I care about my granddaughter and h

ikel understand that he was just in

y worried. No matter what I've done, Emma is

that to yourself. The custody thing you made me sign m

his lawyer gave him every other weekend and some hol

This child will grow up knowing she is protected, valued, and powerful enough to d

ike coming home, feeling strong again. This was what I walked away from three yea

I said, the words coming

like she won

g worried. Bella, don't make

eady decided everything. You thought I was guilty without asking. You decide

nding raw. I was protecting my heart

did cheat on me, I said. The difference is, I have

ng, you should find out the truth about what wrecked your marriage. When you know what I

voice rough. Fight how

the weapon. Elena started to leave. But mostly, fight the clock. Because every day you waste f

xt time you want to see your daughter, you'll have to ask th

est families in Europe. That meant the guy who thought he was divorcing a w

e his world fell apart. He looked at Emma, th

't over,

e. It's just beginning. But y

isappear. The woman who believed in good endings was gone, replaced by someone who

plan for Emma that made Mikel look bad. Watching her control everything, I kn

Elena asked as the doctors

partment I thought I'd live in after the divorce. Home to the world

g at Emma's perfect

king lot, standing next to his car like he was lost. Part of me

y, replaced by something tou

was coming home. A