THE WIFE WHO BECAME HIS RIVAL
w just mine, I guess – staring at the empty spot where Bella's dresser had been. No n
one. They
ed up behind me with that 'I've got ba
keep staring at that corner, wishing I c
his tablet. No signs of a fight, but they took everything carefully. Not just belongin
t all up because of my
stuff? Bank acco
rs. Sterling closed all her accounts yesterday morning. Canceled her
ena Romano's stuff, and Bella was making her escape. As I started to
asked, already k
ansferred. Marcus paused. Sir, this level
nto a command center with just a phone call. She look
n pregnant, talking to Emma through her belly as she took care of the roses she planted
said, my voice rough. Money, structure, holdin
. Romano Enterprises isn't just some European company. They're huge. They own
ly it seemed like nothing. Sterling Industries, my co
have friends. Contracts in three continents. People on boards of
t hung in the
was Richard Blackwood, my lawyer, with a message that made m
m, my finge
grimly. We have a
aid. She took Emm
off. That's what I'm calling about. That c
one. What are yo
as Izabela Romano, who would be in charge of one of Europe's largest business empires. Richard s
pun. Say t
n get. They're saying she only signed those papers because she was sick an
dow, where Bella used to sit and
g. You have no rights until this is in court. And w
My voice
s all over the world. By the time you
nd my stubbornness. She wrapped her little hand arou
ust seventeen minute
s to be
er shot. But Mikel, after what you did to her... He sighed. I've been your lawyer for years. I've seen you do
should be. The kitchen, where Bella hummed while she cooked, her pregnancy making her gentl
e. All
ophia's sister – sounding panicked. Mik
I said
ng to be so sad. She w
tting through the sadness. D
you. She's been help
ia is why I'm in an empty house instead of with my family. So I d
calls from friends and family who'd heard about Bella. Each call hu
of my failed marriage: divorce papers, custody agreeme
text from a g
ik
rity, and I chose her. You want to know the real truth? I loved you more than I valued myself, and that made me weak. I accepted less than I des
e strength, not weakness. Being Romano means never bo
o would wonder what you thought your pride was more important than her.
re not your problem, and you are not ours. Y
spital. The woman that is here now, rises like a p
. I hope Sophia
ela R
. Not Mrs. Sterlin
ela R
d. She didn't just leave, she was going back to who she tru
went ahead to something I had not done since I was
t myself here and how I let Sophia and my hurt ego destroy me and what was supposed t
l I asked that it all be stopped altogether. My meetings and everything. I wa
to the nursery and closed the d
oyed into something new. In exchange I continued to stay and have all of this guilt and the empire that wa
eeling of emptiness... I had everything but nothing