Todos los capítulos de Done Playing Chance with His Heart: Capítulo 1 - Capítulo 10

It was well past midnight when we finally returned home from the ER.Camille Murphy's fever had broken, but she still slept fitfully in my arms, tossing and turning.As I pushed open the front door, the first thing I noticed was a handwritten notice pinned to the dry-erase board in the foyer. The words were written in Neville Murphy's precise, meticulous handwriting.[Violation: Unscheduled interruption on a non-draw day. All wish draws for next month are forfeited. Let this serve as a reminder to respect our household agreement.]A bone-chilling cold crept from my fingertips to my toes.In this house, even if our child was dying, I wasn't allowed to reach out to my husband without drawing the right slip first. That was the rule he'd imposed on our family.I carried Camille to her room, tucked her into bed, and then pulled out my phone to check the balance in our checking account.As my social media feed refreshed, a new post from Klara Curry appeared on the screen.In the phot

I had barely stepped through the front door with Camille when Klara pushed her way inside.Neville had long since registered her fingerprints in our smart lock, so she let herself in as though she belonged there. Carrying a stack of case files, she cheerfully slipped into the guest slippers she kept at our house."Hey, Rita!" She greeted me smoothly. "Mr. Murphy said he left a few files at the firm, so I stopped by to pick them up on my way."Without asking for permission, she picked up Neville's mug, poured herself a glass of water, and took a leisurely sip. "Accompanying him to that early childhood center today totally wore me out!"Neville walked in right behind her, as if her presence in our home were the most natural thing in the world. I picked up Camille's torn picture book, crossed the room, and slammed it onto the coffee table in front of him."So, this is what you meant by being busy?" I demanded, pointing at the ripped pages. "Because you refused to show up, Camille's

Dawn was breaking when the train pulled into the station.I bundled Camille tightly into her jacket and carried her through the arrival gate.As I stepped outside, I took a deep breath. For the first time in a long while, even the crisp morning air tasted like freedom.After settling Camille in, I arranged for a new phone line and changed into a sharp professional suit. Then, right on time, I sat down in front of the interview camera at the local legal aid center.Six years as a housewife hadn't erased my expertise as a top-tier legal professional. After three grueling hours of written tests and a mock courtroom defense, I scored higher than every other applicant.The department director hired me on the spot, offering a base salary of $8,000 a month plus performance bonuses.My nose stung with emotion as I held the employment contract. So, I didn't need to roll the dice or depend on luck to provide for Camille.I could build a stable life for us through my own abilities, and I w

On the day of the hearing, the first autumn rain fell over the city.I took my seat at the plaintiff's table, while Neville sat opposite me.He had chosen to represent himself rather than hire an attorney. His tie was crooked, his eyes were sunken, and his entire appearance radiated a hollow, lifeless despair.Yet the moment he looked at me, a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes, as though some part of him still believed he could persuade me to change my mind.Simeon sat in the front row of the gallery and gave me a subtle nod of encouragement.Then the judge struck the gavel, and the hearing officially began.Neville spoke first. "Your Honor, I object to this divorce. Our marriage is far from irretrievably broken. I still deeply love my wife and daughter. What happened between us was nothing more than a series of domestic disputes, and I'm more than willing to make amends."He was trying to appeal to the court's emotions rather than address what he had done.Turning toward me

Three months later, the first snow of winter fell over the city.I had won one high-profile case after another, and my reputation had soared throughout the regional legal community. In recognition of my performance, Simeon officially promoted me to senior partner at the firm.On the day I received my appointment letter, I stopped by the municipal appellate court to file an important case document. As I entered the lobby, a shrill commotion erupted near the security checkpoint."You can't treat us like this! My son is a high-profile attorney! How dare you garnish my pension?"I recognized the voice immediately and stopped in my tracks.Maeve was sprawled across the cold marble floor, wailing and throwing a furious tantrum. Several court officers stood around her, looking exasperated.She had stubbornly refused to vacate the seized property, and the court had now begun enforcing its judgment against her. Apparently, the enforcement measures had extended to garnishing her pension, t