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