Semua Bab The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing!: Bab 111 - Bab 120

MABELI stood in Damian's lobby, trying to catch my breath.My heart was still racing. My hands still shaking.The security guard who'd called me inside was speaking into his radio. "Target secured. She's in the building."Target. Like I was someone who needed protecting from an actual threat.The elevator doors opened. Damian stepped out, his face tight with concern."Are you okay?" he asked."I'm fine. Just scared." I followed him into the elevator. "How long have they been following me?""I don't know yet. But I'm going to find out." He pressed the button for his floor. "My team is pulling security footage from around the city. We'll trace that SUV. Figure out who's driving it."The elevator rose smoothly. I leaned against the wall, exhausted."I should have noticed sooner," I said. "I've been so distracted with everything else. The lawyers. The custody case. Liam. I wasn't paying attention.""That's what they counted on." Damian's voice was grim. "Professional surveillance works b

MABEL"No, you have to crack the eggs like this." I demonstrated for Lily, gently tapping the egg against the bowl's rim.Lily tried again. Shell fragments fell into the batter."Oops," she giggled."It's okay. We'll fish them out." I picked out the pieces while Lily watched. "Cooking is all about mistakes and fixing them."We were making pancakes in the Peninsula suite's kitchen. Nothing fancy. Just Saturday morning breakfast.But it felt normal. Almost peaceful.Bella stood at the stove, flipping pancakes that were slightly burnt on one side."I'm not good at this," she admitted."They're perfect," I assured her. "Burnt edges are the best part."Lily laughed. "You're lying.""Maybe a little." I smiled. "But they'll taste good anyway."It had been four days since we'd moved into the suite. Four days of living in luxury while hiding from Claire.The suite was beautiful. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Central Park. Marble bathrooms. A kitchen bigger than Bella's entire apartment.

MABEL"Can we get ice cream?" Lily asked as we waited for the elevator."After lunch," Bella promised. "We'll go to that place you like on Fifth Avenue."It had been five days since the apartment break-in. Five days of being cooped up in the Peninsula suite.We needed to get out. Breathe. Do something normal.David had finally agreed to a supervised outing. Lunch at a restaurant two blocks away. Sarah would come too.The elevator arrived. We stepped inside.David positioned himself in front of us, always alert. Sarah stood behind.We descended to the lobby."Stay close," David instructed as the doors opened. "We go straight to the car.""I know the drill," I said.We'd done this dance several times now. Exit the building quickly. Into the waiting car. Minimal exposure.We walked through the lobby. Through the revolving door. Out onto the street.The car was waiting at the curb. Sarah moved to open the back door.Then everything happened at once.A man rushed toward us from the left.M

MABELThe second Saturday came.Two PM sharp, Andrew knocked on the door.David let him in. He looked good again. Clean. Sober. Present.He brought Lily another book. And a small potted plant for Bella."I know you like plants," he said shyly. "The woman at the shop said this one's easy to care for. A succulent."Bella took it, surprised. "Thank you."They spent the afternoon together. Playing cards. Talking. Andrew told stories about when they were little.Stories I'd never heard.Stories about Margaret before she left. About family trips to Coney Island. About Lily's first steps.Memories they'd almost forgotten.I watched from the kitchen, working on my laptop but keeping an eye on them.David sat nearby, always alert."He's consistent," David observed quietly. "Two weeks now. Same time. Sober both times.""Two weeks isn't long.""No. But it's something." David glanced at Andrew. "He seems genuine.""Seems. That's the problem. He's seemed genuine before."At four PM, Andrew stood t

MABELThree days after Liam's question, Vanessa called me."We need to talk," she said. "About what Liam asked.""I know. I've been thinking about it constantly.""Me too." Vanessa paused. "Can you come to my apartment tomorrow? We should discuss this in person.""What time?""Ten AM? Liam will be at school. We can talk privately.""I'll be there."The next morning, David drove me to Vanessa's building."Want me to come up?" he asked."No. I'll be fine. Just wait in the lobby."He nodded. "Call if you need anything."Vanessa answered her door herself. No Rose. No assistants. Just us.We sat in her living room. Coffee on the table between us. Neither of us drinking it."So," Vanessa started. "Liam wants you to be his second mommy.""Yes.""And what do you want?"I took a breath. "I want to be his mother. His real mother. But I also understand you've been his mother for five years. I don't want to erase that.""You can't erase it. Even if you tried." Vanessa's voice was firm. "I've rais