Chapter 28%
The flowers never stopped coming.
Every morning, the bell above the studio door chimed, and there they were–roses, lilies, tulips, arrangements wrapped in soft paper, each with the same neat card tucked inside.”
Forgive me.
I’m sorry.”
For Gwen. For you. For everything.”
At first, I told myself to throw them away. To pretend they never came. But Gwen saw them too, her little brows furrowing as the delivery boy left another bouquet on the counter.”
“Mommy,” she whispered one afternoon, her small fingers clutching the hem of my blouse. “Are those from Daddy?”
1 froze. My brush slipped in my hand, leaving a smear of blue across the canvas. Slowly, I knelt so I could meet her eyes. “Yes, sweetheart. They’re from him.“>
Her lips trembled. “Does that mean… he’s going to get me?“[
My heart cracked at the fear in her voice. I brushed her hair back, cupping her cheek. “No, Gwen. No one is taking you away. Not Daddy, not anyone.“”
She bit her lip. “But… I don’t like him. He hurt you. He made you cry.“{
I pulled her into my arms, pressing my lips to her hair. “You don’t have to like him. You don’t even have to forgive him right now. But… he will always be your father. And one day, maybe, you’ll understand he made mistakes–terrible ones–but he still loves you. That doesn’t mean you have to forget. Or that you can’t be angry. It just means you don’t need to be afraid.”
Gwen sniffled against me. “I don’t want him to hurt us again.“}
“He won’t,” I promised. “Because I won’t let him. And because you have Martin now, too. You have two people who will always keep you safe.”
She nodded, clinging to me tighter, and I let her stay in my arms until her breathing evened out.
The next day, the bell chimed again. I sighed, already preparing myself to politely dismiss another delivery. But when I looked up, it wasn’t a florist.”
It was Nadine.}
My stomach tightened, heat rising into my chest. “Get out,” I snapped, standing so fast my chair scraped against the floor. “Whatever game you’re playing, I want no part of it.”
Her face was pale, almost fragile, her hands trembling as they clutched the strap of her purse. “Please,” she said, her voice hoarse. “Please just… listen.“@
“I don’t want your lies,” I bit back. “Not after everything you did. To me. To Gwen.”
She shook her head, eyes brimming with tears. “No. I’m not lying this time. Emerald, I’m sorry. I lost the baby… and when it happened, I finally understood. I finally knew what you must have felt when Gwen was taken from you. That kind of pain–it destroys you.” Her voice cracked, raw. “And I caused it to you. I caused everything. I was wrong. I was… cruel. I just-” She pressed her hand to her chest. “I just wanted to win. And now I’ve lost everything. I don’t want to fight anymore. I just wanted you to know… I’m sorry. For Gwen. For you. For all of it.“”
I stared at her, my hands clenched tight. Part of me wanted to scream, to tell her she didn’t deserve to even say Gwen’s name. Another part of me–the tired, aching part–saw the sincerity in her eyes.”
“Stop,” I said finally, my voice trembling. “Don’t stand here and ask me to absolve you. I won’t. I can’t.”
“I’m not asking,” Nadine whispered. “I just… wanted you to know.”
She gave me a small, broken smile, then turned and walked out. The bell above the door rang once, then silence swallowed the shop again.”
I sat down heavily, my chest heavy. Her apology didn’t erase what she had done. It didn’t bring back the nights I cried myself to sleep, or the terror etched into Gwen’s heart. But it still left me hollow, aching for something I couldn’t name.”
That night, I told Martin.”
We were sitting in the living room, Gwen asleep upstairs, the dim lamp casting shadows across his face. “She came to see me today,” I murmured. “Nadine.“%
Martin stilled, his jaw tightening. “What did she want?“”
“She apologized,” I said bitterly, shaking my head. “She said she was sorry for Gwen, for everything. She lost the baby. And… she said she knows how I must have felt.“\
His hand closed over mine, firm and grounding. “Emerald. Don’t let her words shake you. She doesn’t deserve your sympathy.“! “I know.” My throat tightened. “But still… I can’t help but feel like everything they touched–Leandro, Nadine–it all ruined us. It
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ruined me.” I swallowed hard. “And I’m sorry, Martin. I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess. I’m sorry they’ve tainted our
peace.”
He shook his head fiercely. “Don’t you dare apologize. Emerald, you and Gwen–you’re not a mess. You’re my family. They can’t ruin that unless we let them.” His gaze darkened. “And I won’t. I talked to Leandro.“}
I blinked. “You… what?”
“I told him clearly–if he can’t respect you, if he can’t understand that Gwen’s safety comes first, then he has no place near you. He won’t hurt you again. Not while I’m here.“”
Tears pricked my eyes, and I leaned into his chest. “Thank you,” I whispered.”
The next day, Leandro appeared at the estate. His once–shar
remembered.”
“Emerald,” he said quietly, almost pleading. “Please. Let’s talk.“”
suit hung loose, his eyes red–rimmed, his face older than I
Martin stood by my side, his presence steady, but I nodded. “What do you want, Leandro?”
He exhaled, his voice breaking. “If you can’t forgive me–fine. If you’ll never take me back–fine. But Gwen… please. She’s still my daughter. I don’t want to take her away..I just… want to co–parent. Let me see her. Let me try, even if it’s only for her sake.” For a moment, silence stretched between us. His desperation filled the air, thick and heavy. My hand unconsciously found Martin’s, gripping tight.
“Gwen will decide,” I said finally. My voice was firm, though my chest trembled. “If she wants to see you, then she will. But I won’t force her. I won’t make her relive the pain you gave us. You’ll have to earn her trust yourself.”
Leandro’s shoulders sagged, relief and grief warring on his face. “Thank you,” he whispered.”
But inside, I knew this was only the beginning of another storm.”
