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Chapter 80

Author: Mi Kel
last update Last Updated: 2025-11-03 16:28:19

I was sitting under the buzzing lights of the Seattle Legal Aid clinic, going over the Rodriguez family's custody case. Maria Rodriguez, a 34-year-old mom, was in a tough battle for her kids against her ex, who was using her immigration status against her. It hit me hard because I'd done the same thing to my family.

"Mr. Thomas," Maria said quietly, her English clear but careful, "do you think I can really win? Keep my babies safe?"

Looking at her, I saw all the families I'd hurt in the past—helpless, desperate, ready to do anything for their loved ones. Before, I would've seen her as an easy target. Now, I wanted to make things right.

"Mrs. Rodriguez, I've seen how the legal system can be used to hurt families for years. But I've also learned it can protect them if you fight hard." I showed her the papers we'd gathered. "Your ex thinks you're too scared to fight back. He's wrong."

I didn't change overnight. Being in jail for three months, then stuck at home for two years doing commun
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  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 102: Ever After

    The violin sang under my fingers as I finished Bach's Concerto in A Minor, the same piece I struggled with at five, scared of everything. Now, at twelve, I get that music, like families, needs practice, patience, and guts to keep going even when it feels impossible."Beautiful, Emma," Mom said from the kitchen, her hands covered in flour from making Sunday dinner for the whole Romano-Sterling crew. "You've gotten so much better this year."I put down my violin and looked around our living room, where family photos were everywhere, like love you can see. Wedding pictures from seven years ago, when I surprised everyone with my vows. Baby pictures of Michael and Sophia, the twins who came right on time and made me the big sister I always wanted to be. Pictures from Great-Grandma Elena's 80th birthday, Uncle Thomas teaching the twins about gardening, Detective Sarah and Uncle Lucas's wedding three years ago."Mom, can I ask you something before everyone gets here?"She wiped her hands on

  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 101: The Honeymoon Promise

    Our suite looked over Elliott Bay. Seattle's lights winked like little secrets through the big windows. I watched Bella take off her Romano family necklace. Her wedding dress made a soft pile around her, like spilled light. Seeing that, I felt something warm inside, way beyond just wanting her – it was like finally being where I belonged.Mrs. Romano-Sterling, I said softly as I walked to her, trying to show how much I respected her after the crazy day we'd been through, So, how's it feel to be married to your business partner... again?Bella turned to me, her face glowing. She looked happily tired from celebrating with two hundred people who'd been in our corner the whole time. Mr. Romano-Sterling, it feels like we finally got it right, y'know?I could spot the garden out the window. That's where we'd just promised to stick together forever, where Emma surprised everyone by saying her own vows. And where my mom came back after thirty years to see that things were okay, the thing she

  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 100: Dancing Through the Years

    The security tablet trembled in my hands as I tried to focus on perimeter protocols while Detective Sarah Martinez reviewed guest lists across Elena's kitchen table. Six hours until Bella and Mikel's wedding ceremony, and I could barely string together a coherent sentence about unmarked police units positioned around the garden."Lucas, you've checked that same surveillance report three times in five minutes," Sarah observed, her dark eyes studying me with the same intensity she brought to interrogating suspects. "What's really going on?"I set down the tablet and met her gaze directly for the first time in months. Sarah Martinez had been part of our family's security team for over a year, coordinating law enforcement support through every Romano crisis. Professional, brilliant, unshakeable in dangerous situations.And I'd been falling in love with her for eight months without finding the courage to say a word."Sarah, can I ask you something that has nothing to do with wedding securi

  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 99: Lucas's Love Story

    The wedding security briefing should've been easy: check the area, confirm the guest list, and go over emergency plans. Instead, there I was, staring at Detective Sarah Martinez across Elena's kitchen table, totally blanking on every rule I knew after 15 years of protecting families."Lucas, you with me?" Sarah's voice had that mix of amusement and annoyance I'd come to love over the past year of working together. "I just said we have three unmarked cars around the garden, and you're looking at me like I'm speaking Martian."I forced myself to look at the security tablet, but I kept getting distracted by how the afternoon sun lit up the gold in her eyes. "Sorry. Right. Three cars. Got it."Sarah leaned back, studying me like I was a suspect. "Lucas Romano, what's up? You've been out of it all week, and today you can barely talk."Her being so direct felt like a challenge I couldn't dodge with being polite or talking about family stuff. Sarah Martinez didn't take excuses from criminals

  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 98: Reception News

    The string quartet played in Elena's pretty garden as the two hundred guests moved from the ceremony to tables with vanilla-scented roses. My new husband and I walked through rice and happy cheers, with Emma next to us, still throwing shiny rose petals and yelling to everyone that she helped plan the best Romano wedding ever."Mrs. Romano-Sterling," Mikel whispered as we stopped at our table. "How's it feel to be married to your business partner?"I smiled and fixed my sapphire ring, catching the sun. "Mr. Romano-Sterling, it feels like home and an adventure at the same time."Emma got on the chair between us, her dress still clean after hours of fun. "Mom and Dad, when do we tell everyone the big family secret?"I got nervous. We planned to announce the baby during the toasts, but Emma wanted to tell everyone now."After dinner," Mikel said, squeezing my hand. "Big news needs the right time."Lucas came to our table with Detective Sarah Martinez, both with champagne and smiles. "Read

  • THE WIFE WHO STOLE HIS HEART   Chapter 97: The Vows Renewed

    Father Morrison's hands shook a bit as he held Emma's crayon-covered vows next to our fancy promises. It was kind of perfect, seeing our kid's simple words next to what Mikel and I had learned after a tough few years."Friends and family," Father Morrison said, loud enough for everyone in Elena's yard to hear. He'd seen, like, a zillion Romano events. "We're here not just for a wedding, but to celebrate a love that's been through the wringer and came out stronger."Two hundred people got quiet, but I could pretty much only see Mikel. He was in his tux, crying, looking at me like he still couldn't believe this was happening."Bella and Mikel, seven years ago, you made promises based on feelings. Today, you're making promises based on what you know and what you choose." Father Morrison smiled at us and Emma, who was standing there holding her flowers, proud that she'd set the mood just right."Mikel Sterling, tell us what you wrote for Bella."Mikel pulled out a paper, his hands shaking

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