Lahat ng Kabanata ng Your Honor, I'm Back: Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 9

Steven glanced at the papers, scoffed, and brushed past me without a word.I couldn't even remember when he stopped talking to me.Back when we were in love, he couldn't shut up.When I flew out for a trial once, he stayed on the phone all night—just to hear me fall asleep.Now?He couldn't even spare a single word.I finally got it.This relationship had rotted a long time ago.Anton frowned, pure disgust on his face."You're too old for this drama. If you wanna leave, go. You two old women won't last a day without me and Dad."I never thought the kid I raised would turn into a knife aimed straight at me.That was it.Steven and Anton had cut the last thread.I was done.But I needed money to walk.So I "accidentally" spilled milk on Anton.He freaked and bolted to his room.I grabbed his wallet and keys from his jacket.Maya and I hopped in his car and left.Goodbye to the house I'd kept spotless for fifty years.The cash we swiped from Anton barely covered a smal

Anton left.After we wrapped up, Maya and I headed out.Across the street, Steven and Anton were waiting. Neither looked happy.Steven reached out for my hand—stiff, awkward.I stared at it.It had been so long.Back when we were in love, he held my hand everywhere.Said he wanted the world to know I was his.But somewhere along the way, that stopped.One day, during a walk, he let go and said my hands were too rough.Never touched them again.And now, even as he took my hand, I saw it—that flicker of disgust.These hands?They got rough building the life he claimed to want.And he still found a way to blame me.I quietly pulled my hand away—and took Maya's instead. We walked right past him.Steven's face darkened, but for once, his voice was calm."Come home. Stop the drama. Do you really want this family to fall apart?"I stepped back, smiled."Oh, so you DO know the family falls apart without me? Funny. You and Anton only lived comfortably because Maya and I sac

Steven bolted like a coward. A few minutes later, Anton stormed in, looking just as wrecked and way older than he should.The second he spoke, he gave me that look. "Mom, how could you bully Dad?"I laughed. "Bully him? He walked in asking for it. And if you're here to run your mouth like he did, you're next."Guess that smack from before left an impression—Anton flinched and couldn't even look at me.He swung to Maya. "Cut it out. Kylie's back from her study tour soon. You really want her thinking her mom wrecked the family?"Maya's face faltered. When it came to Kylie, she always crumbled.I pulled her behind me, eyes locked on Anton. "She's my granddaughter. She'll get it—she won't turn out like you."Anton blinked, guilt flashing across his face. I didn't care. I grabbed the broom and ran him out.After the door slammed, Maya clutched my hand. "Erica, what if Kylie blames me? For not giving her a whole family—""She won't. She's yours. She's mine. She's not cold like Anton

He looked even worse than at the restaurant—like a washed-up mess straight off the street, reeking of sweat and whatever else he'd rolled in.It wasn't about money. He still earned fine. But he and Anton had chewed through so many housekeepers with their demands, no one stuck around.When he spotted me, his eyes lit up. Guess it had been a while since he saw me like this—suited up, makeup on point. I'd even paused at the mirror that morning, a little impressed myself.Then the trial started.Steven came in swinging, loaded with "evidence" that Mrs. Futrell couldn't survive without her husband. Tried to sell the court on her being clueless, spoiled, and shallow.I shut that down fast.Dropped photos of Mr. Futrell cheating—most recent one from just last month, while his wife was six months pregnant. Threw in records of his verbal abuse, how he tore her down, forced her to quit her job, then mocked her for staying home.Same move Steven pulled on me.By the end, Steven looked lik