Chapter 3 Divorce Papers in Blood

Emma's first cry in the operating room was like a warrior's shout – strong, urgent, and just right. As the anesthesia wore off, I cried as Dr. Rodriguez showed me my daughter.

She's beautiful, Bella, Dr. Rodriguez said, her voice full of feeling. Six pounds, three ounces of pure fight, just like you.

Emma was indeed perfect. Ten tiny fingers and toes, and dark hair like Mikel's. But as they put her on my chest, all I could think was that she wouldn't really know her dad. The guy who'd tuck her in would be a stranger with her daddy's face.

Is she okay? I whispered, my throat sore from the tube. The stress... Did I hurt her?

She's totally fine, Dr. Rodriguez said, checking the monitors like a pro. You both did great, all things considered. But do you have a family we should call? Someone to help you?

Family. The word felt weird. I'd spent three years making a family with Mikel, separate from our families' drama. Now that was gone, and I was totally alone.

No, I said. There's no one.

But that wasn't true. Across the ocean, Elena Romano was probably in her Tuscan garden, not knowing her granddaughter had just had a baby. We hadn't talked in three years – not since I picked love over family money, marriage over the family biz. I'd cut ties so badly I didn't even know her number anymore.

Emma's tiny hand gripped my finger with surprising power, and for a moment, nothing else mattered. This was pure love – simple, mine. Whatever happened, no matter how broken my life was, this little person was now my responsibility.

Mrs. Sterling?

Mikel's voice from the door made me tense up. He was there, messy, his shirt buttoned wrong. But he was looking at Emma with a look I couldn't place.

Can I... He coughed, stepping forward a bit. Can I see her?

My brain screamed warnings. This was the man who'd been with another woman hours ago, saying sweet lies while living a double life. But he was Emma's dad, and she deserved to meet him, even if he'd hurt her later.

Five minutes, I said softly, holding our daughter close.

Mikel walked slowly to the bed, and his face changed when he really saw Emma. The cold mask he'd worn in our room broke, showing something real.

She's... He reached out a finger, but stopped. May I?

I nodded, unable to talk because of the lump in my throat, as Mikel brushed Emma's cheek. She turned to his voice, her dark eyes – so like his – seeming to focus on his face.

Hey, little one, he whispered, his voice cracking. I'm your daddy.

For a second, we were the family I'd wanted. United by something bigger than betrayal or pain – a new life, love and hope for the future.

Then Sophia's voice ruined it.

She's beautiful, Mikel.

I looked up and saw her in the doorway, and felt more pain. She'd changed clothes, put on makeup, styled her hair. While I was fighting for my and my daughter's lives in surgery, she was getting ready to play the part of supportive... what? Girlfriend? Mistress? The woman helping raise my kid?

What's she doing here? I asked, my voice low.

Mikel's jaw tightened, but he didn't look away from Emma. Sophia drove me to the hospital. She was worried about you.

The lie was so easy, it shocked me. Even after I'd caught them, he was still protecting her. Still picking her.

How nice, I said, each word like broken glass. Your girlfriend was worried about your wife.

Bella-

Don't. I held Emma closer, keeping them away. Just don't. I can't take any more lies right now.

Sophia walked into the room like she belonged there, her fancy heels clicking on the floor. Bella, honey, I know this is hard, but we need to talk about what's best for everyone.

*We need to talk.* As if she had anything to do with this. As if she belonged here with my baby and my ruined marriage.

The only thing I want to talk about with you, I said, my voice getting stronger, is how fast you can leave.

Mikel finally looked at me, and I saw something cold in his face that I hadn't seen before. Actually, Bella, there are things we need to talk about. Legal things.

Legal things. My blood froze as I got what he meant. You're talking about custody.

I'm talking about what's best for Emma, he said, his voice stiff like he was in a meeting. And what's best for all of us.

As if we were talking about a business deal, not our broken family.

She's three hours old, Mikel, I whispered, holding Emma tighter. You're already planning to take her from me?

No one's taking her from you, Sophia cut in, her voice sweet. But we all need to be real. This marriage is over, Bella. We all know it. The question is how to do things so it hurts everyone as little as possible.

*Everyone.* That word made me sick. Sophia thought she was already part of Emma's life, already planning how to divide my ruined world.

Get out, I said quietly.

Bella, be reasonable-

GET OUT! I yelled so loudly Emma startled. I felt bad for yelling, but I was too angry. Both of you, get out of this room now!

Dr. Rodriguez was there, looking angry under her calm face. I need you both to leave, she said firmly. Mrs. Sterling needs to rest, and this isn't the right time.

Mikel looked like he wanted to argue, but Sophia touched his arm. Of course, Doctor. We get it. Bella's been through a lot, and she's not thinking straight.

*Not thinking straight.* As if me being angry at them was just hormones, not a normal reaction to being cheated on.

As they left, Mikel turned back. This isn't over, Bella. Emma is my daughter too, and I won't let you cut me out of her life because you're angry.

It was a threat in his business voice. Whatever love we'd had was gone, replaced by legal thinking..

After they left, I spent the night holding Emma, trying to remember everything about her face while I worried. How soon would the lawyers show up? How soon would my daughter become a weapon in Mikel and Sophia's game?

The morning brought sunlight, but also Richard Blackwood, Mikel's lawyer, with a manila envelope that would change everything.

Mrs. Sterling, he said, I'm sorry to bother you so soon, but my client wants me to give you these.

Divorce papers. I knew what was inside without opening it from Blackwood's face and how he wouldn't look at me or Emma.

He wants a divorce, I said.

The marriage can't be saved, Blackwood said in lawyer speak. Mr. Sterling thinks it's best for everyone, including the kid, to end it fast.

Everyone. Including the kid. Emma wasn't even a day old, and she was already legal.

And custody? I asked, scared of the answer.

Mr. Sterling wants joint custody, switching weeks. He'll pay well for child support and alimony if you don't fight.

There was nothing easy about this. It was a war with paperwork, and I was too weak to fight.

I need to show this to my lawyer, I said, needing time to think.

Of course. But there's a deadline. Mr. Sterling wants a custody plan that starts as soon as you sign. Given how the baby was born and how you're feeling, he thinks it's best to get it done soon.

How I was feeling. He thought I was crazy, not fit. And Emma, sleeping in my arms, was how they'd make me do what they wanted.

You mean he'll take her if I don't sign, I said.

Blackwood didn't change his face. Mr. Sterling just wants to protect his rights and give the kid some stability during this time.

The papers felt heavy as I looked through them. How we'd split stuff, custody, support payments – everything we'd built turned into money and visiting times.

At the end was a line for my name, waiting to turn me from wife to ex-wife, from partner to enemy, from family to someone Mikel Sterling had to deal with through lawyers.

Emma moved in my arms, and I felt it in my heart. She was so small, so helpless, so dependent on me to protect her from the yucky adult stuff. But how could I protect her when I couldn't protect myself?

If I didn't sign, Mikel would fight for custody anyway, and he had more money. If I signed, I lost power, but I'd keep Emma out of a long fight.

The pen shook as I put it over the line. Each second felt like a small death, the end of dreams.

Mrs. Sterling? Blackwood said softly. Anything else you need to know?

I needed to know how I'd gotten here. How the man who'd promised to love me forever could be so cold. But those weren't legal questions.

No, I whispered. Nothing else.

The signature was shaky, not like my fancy new name three years ago. But it was legal, and that's all that mattered in this mess that used to be my marriage.

As Blackwood left, I felt something turn to cold determination. They thought they'd won. They thought I was broken, ready to disappear while they built their life on my ruins.

They were wrong.

I looked at Emma, at her perfect face and her dad's chin, and promised her I'd become strong enough to protect us. I'd become someone they couldn't throw away or ignore.

They'd won this fight, but the war wasn't over.

And when I was ready – when I was strong enough – they'd learn what it meant to face Izabela Romano Sterling.

But first, I had to disappear.