Trigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of domestic violence and abuse. Reader discretion is advised.“What the hell?” I tremble with shock and pain as tears fall down my cheeks. I move back on the sofa, fear flashing in my gaze as I stare at him. My whole body is shaking right now because I k
I stare at my swollen face in the mirror and wipe the single tear that rolls down. I’m trying to figure out a way to cover up the black eye. I was kind of hoping it would have disappeared by today, but it seems like the weekend wasn’t enough for it to heal. I’m not even sure how much concealer it wi
“Because the rule is a two-week notice before resigning, and since I happen to not have given that, I have to go and do it personally so that I don’t get sued,” it is basic knowledge, and I have kind of told him this already. He just hates the fact that I will have to talk to Abel while doing that.
AbelI stare at the email for a whole second, trying to contemplate the contents of it.She resigned.It's clear that she did because Dylan’s signature is there; he signed her resignation letter without telling me about it. I get that I've been in meetings the whole day and I asked not to be interru
The moment all the words he is saying to me sink in, I realize that I have been stupid all this time. She loves me. She was willing to be with me even if it meant there were no attachments. She was willing to fight for me to get back the custody of my children. She loves me, and the fact that I have
TW: DV/Abuse (I AM SO SORRY FOR THIS ONE)“You should go,” I tell him, and he looks at me surprised.“What? He isn’t even allowed to be here, let alone to be near you,” he says, and I fidget with my hand on my dress, hoping he would really just listen to me and leave before Winston gets here, which
"Why are you speaking for her? Besides, Millie loves my kids. I love her because she loves my kids.""That’s why I told you she never loved you. It was all an act.""Winston," I try to warn him, but he just keeps running his mouth. I know what he is doing. The fact that Abel just said he confessed h
"You embarrassed me!” His voice is thunderous, echoing in the room, dripping with venom and rage. I barely have time to brace myself before his boot connects with my back, sending a searing wave of pain rippling through my body. My scream tears from my throat, raw and desperate, as I crumble under t
“Abel, you are proposing…” The words tumble out of my mouth in disbelief, more of a statement than a question. He nods, and then, to my utter shock, he gets down on one knee. I feel the world around us blur and slow down, my pulse pounding in my ears.“Mildred Turina, will you marry me?” His voice w
She scoffs playfully, giving me that familiar look that says she’s still got it all under control. “I know how to take care of children, honey. We will be fine. You two go have fun.”Relief washes over me. Even though we’re leaving them in the best possible hands, the part of me that has grown attac
We’re heading to Abel’s lake house for a weekend getaway—just the two of us. He said he got the place a few years ago but rarely gets to use it. He has only taken the twins there a few times because the only time he gets enough time to spend with them without many distractions from work is during th
Epilogue"Come here,” I call her over, and she reluctantly pulls her fingers off her brother’s chubby cheeks, then walks back to where I am. I crouch down to be at her level, trying to mask the amusement I feel at her little pout.“If you keep harassing your brother, I will have him stay with me at
“Did I?”“You bitch!” I burst out laughing. He has definitely been holding that back.“I was busy dealing with a concussion to see anything, oh, and my mom has way more money than you, you know, and her money combined with the money my dad left me, which I just found out was a lot by the way, then A
“Mom, I…”“I should have taken you with me when he died, but I thought you were already a grown woman and you wouldn’t need me anymore, and I will never forgive myself for that because if I did, then you wouldn’t have ended up with an abusive man. I could have protected you from repeating the cycle.
"Abel, he is good for you," she repeats, this time more firmly. There’s a strange sadness in her eyes, as if she’s remembering all the times she wished someone had said those words to her. I nod, acknowledging her observation, but I don’t want to delve into a discussion about Abel with her. "I feel
"Are you ready to go home?" Abel asks, and I nod eagerly. The sterile scent of antiseptic clings to the air, making me desperate to leave this hospital room and everything it represents. My heart pounds with a need to escape—to feel the cool air outside, untainted by the trauma that haunts these wal
“Oh…”“I love you, and I would want you in my life and the twins too, but you need to accept that fact about me. I don’t even know if I can be a mother to your children or a stepmother. I just don’t know if I have it in me, even though I love them, and I love you,” I say, and I’m nervously waiting f