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