Todos os capítulos de She was never his to own: Capítulo 21 - Capítulo 30

"I understand why you left. I understand why you can't forgive me. But please know this: I will spend the rest of my life trying to be someone Sofia can be proud of. Even if she never knows me. Even if you never let me near her. I will never stop trying to be better than the man I was. - A"I stared at the message through my tears.Then I blocked the number and drove home.I didn't tell anyone what happened at the hospital. Not Rosa, who watched me with worried eyes as I went through the motions of eating dinner. Not Sarah, who called three times and got sent to voicemail. Not Jessica, who texted asking about my mental state for the now-cancelled custody hearing.I couldn't explain it. I couldn't put into words what it felt like to finally get the apology I'd wanted for three years, only to reject it because it came from a man who didn't fully understand what he was apologising for.That night, I lay in bed staring at the ceiling, one hand on my belly where Sofia had finally settled d

P.S. I've instructed my estate lawyer to set up a trust fund for Sofia. You'll have complete control; I won't have access to it, won't be able to use it as leverage, and won't know what you use it for. It's not an apology. It's not a bribe. It's just the one thing I can do that might actually help her, even if she never knows it came from me.I read the letter three times, tears streaming down my face.He was leaving. Going to treatment. Removing himself from my life voluntarily.It was everything I'd asked for. Everything I'd wanted.So why did it feel like losing something I couldn't afford to lose?Sofia kicked hard, and I pressed both hands to my belly."Your daddy is very sick," I whispered. "But he's trying to get better. I don't know if he can. I don't know if it's enough. But he's trying."I folded the letter carefully and put it in the drawer of the changing table, next to the ultrasound photos and the baby name book I'd been using.Maybe someday, when Sofia was old enough to

Six weeks after Sofia was born, I finally opened the envelope.It sat on my nightstand every night. Some nights I picked it up, held it, traced the letters of my name. Some nights I put it in the drawer just to stop looking at it.But on this night, I slid my finger under the flap and pulled out the pages inside.Three pages. Handwritten. Alexander's careful letters.Dear Elena,If you're reading this, you've had the baby. Our baby. I don't know if you're alone or surrounded by family. I don't know anything except that you're the strongest person I've ever known, and somewhere in the world right now, our daughter is breathing her first breaths.I'm writing this from my room in the facility. It's 2 AM. I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see your face. The way you looked at me during the worst of it—scared, trapped, desperate to escape.I don't expect you to ever love me again. I don't expect forgiveness. But I need you to know something I should have told you a thousand times

The phone fell from my hand.Marcus's voice still echoed in my ear. They don't know if he's going to make it.Rosa appeared in the doorway, still in her robe. "Mija? What happened?""Alexander. Accident. Hospital." The words came out wrong, like I'd forgotten how to speak. "I have to go.""I'll come with you.""No. Sofia." I looked toward her room, where my daughter slept peacefully, unaware that her daddy—the one she'd just met, the one she'd named Mr. Fluffy with—might be dying. "Stay with her. Please."Rosa nodded. "Go. I'll call Sarah. Drive safe."I drove like someone in a nightmare. Red lights meant nothing. Speed limits meant nothing. Only the road mattered, only the hospital, only getting there before—I couldn't finish that thought.---Seattle General was chaos.Emergency room lights. People everywhere. A nurse at the desk who asked too many questions I couldn't answer. I didn't know his room number. I didn't know what happened. I didn't know anything except his name."Famil

I burst into the hotel room, gasping for air.Alexander looked up from the bed where Sofia slept. "Elena? What happened?""She's here. Vanessa. She's watching the hotel."He was on his feet in seconds, ignoring the pain that crossed his face. "Where? Did you see her?""No. But she texted me." I held up my phone, hands shaking. "She knows where we are. She said she can see me but I can't see her."Alexander read the messages, his face going pale. "We need to move. Now."Rosa came out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand. "What's happening?""She found us. We have to leave."Sofia stirred on the bed, blinking sleepily. "Mama?"I scooped her up, Mr. Fluffy pressed between us. "It's okay, baby. We're going on an adventure.""Another one?""Another one."---We moved fast.Alexander called the police while Marcus grabbed our bags. Rosa held Sofia in the hallway, keeping her calm. Within fifteen minutes, we were in Marcus's car, driving away from the hotel, watching for headlights that might