All Chapters of Divorce ME Look Who Wants Me Back Now : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Hailey's POVI held it together in the courtroom. Held it together while Floyd's lawyers shook hands and smiled like they'd won the lottery. Held it together while Christina assured me this was just temporary, that surprised visits weren't full custody, that we'd fight harder next time. I held it together in the car while Maxwell sat beside me, his hand hovering near mine but not touching, like he wasn't sure if he was allowed anymore.I held it together walking into the penthouse, taking off my heels, setting down my purse with hands that only shook a little."Hailey...""I'm fine." My voice came out steady. "I just need a minute."I walked to the master bathroom and closed the door. Turned on the shower. Stepped inside fully clothed. And couldn't hold it anymore.The sobs came violently, ripping out of my chest like something was tearing me apart from the inside. I sank down against the tile, cold water streaming over me, soaking through my dress, my hair, my skin.Two hours every S

Hailey's POV I woke up to sunlight pouring through the windows and the weight of Maxwell's arm across my waist. For one happy second, I didn't remember anything. Just felt warm and cozy, wrapped in expensive sheets with a strong body pressed against my backThen memory crashed in.Oh my god.Last night. The shower. The bedroom. His hands on my skin, his mouth on mine, the way I'd completely given in to him...My eyes flew open.We'd had sex. Real, desperate, sex.And now we were tangled together in his bed like an actual couple instead of two people maintaining a business arrangement.What the hell did we do?I felt him shift behind me, his breathing changing as he woke up.My entire body went stiff.His arm tightened slightly around my waist, an unconscious movement that felt too natural.I needed to move. Needed to think without his body pressed against mine reminding me of exactly how good last night had felt.I slipped out from under his arm too quickly, nearly falling off the

Gio's POVI knew something was wrong when mommy woke me up extra early on a Saturday. Normally, I got to sleep until the cartoon starts, but today, she was sitting on my bed with that face she made when she was trying to brave but really wasn't. "Good morning, baby. We need to get ready.""For what?" I rubbed my eyes."Remember how I told you about... about someone who wants to meet you?"My tummy got that icky feeling. "The other daddy?"She nodded, and her eyes got all wet. "His name is Floyd. We're going to see him for a little bit today.""But I don't want to." I pulled my teddy closer. "I already have a daddy. Why do I need another one?""It's complicated, sweetheart." She brushed my hair back. "But it's just for two hours. Then you come right back home. I promise."Two hours felt like forever.Daddy was making coffee in the kitchen when we came downstairs. He looked at me, then at Mommy, then back at me."Hey, buddy." He crouched down so we were the same height. "You're gonna

Floyd's POV I want to go home to my actual real daddy.Gio's words replayed in my head on a loop, each repetition twisting the knife deeper.My son had looked at me like I was a stranger. Worse than a stranger. A threat.And when Hailey had finally said it was time to leave, Gio had practically thrown himself at her like I was something dangerous he needed to escape from. Five years. I'd missed five years of his life.Five years of first words and first steps and bedtime stories. Five years of scraped knees and birthday parties and learning what made him laugh.And now some other man was reaping the benefits of my DNA while I sat in supervised visits watching my son draw away from me.The way Gio's whole face had lit up when he talked about Kingston. The absolute trust and adoration in his voice.That should've been for me.My phone buzzed. It was Mason.Mason: How'd it go?I stared at the message, not knowing how to answer.Terrible. Horrible. My son thinks I'm nobody while calling

Hailey's POVThe Ramsey Industries Annual Fundraiser was supposed to be my victory lap.Instead, it felt like walking into a battlefield in heels and a designer gown.I stood at the entrance of the ballroom, Maxwell beside me in a perfectly tailored tux, his hand resting lightly on my lower back. To everyone watching, we looked like the perfect power couple, polished, united, unstoppable.Only I could feel the tension radiating through his touch. The distance that had grown between us over the past week as we'd worked separately on board strategy. We'd email documents back and forth, leave notes on the kitchen counter, coordinate around Gio's schedule like divorced parents instead of married partners. The irony wasn't lost on me that our fake marriage felt more strained than some real ones."Ready?" His voice was neutral, carefully controlled."As I'll ever be."We walked in together, and every head turned. I felt the weight of their stares, wondering if the rumors about Denis's coup w