My Mafia Husband Chose His First Love Over Us

I didn't break down right there. I just pulled the documents across the table.

Ethan had already signed them. He never left loose ends. That was how he dealt with shipowners who broke their contracts at the harbor, and it was how he was dealing with our ten years together now.

"The lawyer's worked out the numbers." He lowered his voice a little, as if he were afraid of disturbing the guests nearby. "You can keep the house in the city and the car. I'll give you enough money to live on for the rest of your life. If your dressmaking business needs funding, the family will still cover it, same as always."

I glanced at the figure at the bottom of the document. Several hundred thousand pounds. Enough for an ordinary family to live quite comfortably.

But today was Robin's fourth birthday.

She'd been too excited to sleep the night before. She'd wrapped her arms around Ethan's neck and asked him over and over if Daddy would take her to the beach to collect seashells. He'd said yes and promised her a secret present that only he knew about.

I'd thought we would have a lovely weekend on the island.

"I don't want the car, the house, or the money." I closed the file. "Our daughter is staying with me. Ethan, if you want to end our marriage, I won't stop you. But I'm not leaving Robin here."

Vera, in a fitted pale coat, just smiled and reached out to stroke Robin's hair. "Don't be scared, sweetheart. We'll take our time getting to know each other. We're going to get along just fine."

Robin slapped her hand away and hid behind my legs, her voice sharp and loud. "You're not my mommy! My mommy's right here!"

Ethan frowned. "Nora, Robin is a Hall. The family has protected her since the day she was born. If she leaves with you, how will you keep her safe?"

"And you can guarantee she'll be safe with you?" I pointed at my daughter's hand, clenched around a fistful of my clothes. "You want her to watch Vera move into the house we've lived in for seven years, then watch the two of you have more kids? She's not some object the Hall family uses to prove its bloodline."

Ethan's expression stiffened. The Hall family ran the docks, the horse-race betting, and several freight companies, and the elders had always treated a child's surname and upbringing as family business. But Ethan knew perfectly well who Robin had leaned on most since the day she was born.

He crouched and forced a smile. "Robin, Daddy wants to ask you something. Do you want to live with Daddy or with Mommy?"

She didn't even hesitate, just clung tighter to my leg. "I want Mommy."

Ethan stayed silent for a long time before he nodded. "Fine. Robin can live with you for now. The lawyer will draw up the custody and visitation arrangements. We don't need to fight over this anymore."

I knew a four-year-old's answer couldn't stand in for a court's custody ruling. What really let us walk out of there was Ethan agreeing to keep me as Robin's primary caregiver in the temporary arrangement. I didn't thank him for finally backing down.

Vera said brightly, as though she hadn't heard a word of the argument, "Since we're all on the island anyway, let's go to the dining room. It's Robin's birthday, after all. I've got so many presents for her."

The long table was set with juice, pastries, and a beautiful birthday cake. I didn't want this to become a terrible memory for my daughter, so I swallowed the ache in my chest and pointed to the little boat on the cake. "Robin, look. It's your favorite sailboat. Let's make a wish first, okay?"

She finally smiled a little. "I want the boat to sail far, far away and take us to see the dolphins."

Vera immediately had a waiter bring over five beautifully wrapped gift boxes.

"I've got a dress for every birthday from your first to your fifth." She lifted the lids proudly. "A limited-edition dress for each year, so you'll have something for next year too. Look. Won't you look just like a little princess?"

Inside were several children's dresses covered in sequins and lace.

Robin had never cared for things like that. She liked taking little boats apart and putting them back together, watching the tugboats come into the harbor with Ethan, and piecing scraps of wood into crooked lighthouses. If Vera had spent ten minutes getting to know her, she'd never have chosen these dresses.

But Ethan seemed to have found his chance to ease the tension. He picked up the fanciest dress. "It's beautiful. Robin, say thank you to Aunt Vera."

Robin looked at it for a while, then asked in a small voice, "Daddy, where's the present you promised me?"

His smile froze.

With Robin gazing up at him, full of hope, he actually said, "Aunt Vera worked hard to get these ready. Let's say they're from Daddy too, okay?"

Robin's eyes filled with tears. She gently pushed the dress back. "I don't want it. Where's the little lighthouse you said you'd give me?"

"Robin." Ethan's voice hardened. "That's very rude. Vera spent so long choosing these. The least you can do is say thank you."

Vera lowered her eyes. "It's fine. Maybe she just doesn't like me. I showed up so suddenly. It's my fault for not thinking it through."

He gave Vera a pained, tender look, then turned his anger on me. "Nora, how have you been raising her? They're just a few dresses. Is it worth embarrassing Vera in front of everyone?"

My daughter flinched at his tone and burst into tears.

I looked at the man in front of me, and a memory from years ago flashed through my mind. He'd knelt to put on Robin's little boots, tying and untying the laces again and again, afraid they might hurt her feet.

Now he'd forgotten what she wanted and was blaming her for being rude.

I picked Robin up. "The party's over. We're going home."