“Your mother can remain here as long as she wants.”

“And me?”

“You too.”

“In Daddy’s house?”

“Yes. In Daddy’s house.”

PART 3: WHAT FAMILY REQUIRED

Beatrice did not apologize. She warned that Elena would eventually take everything, but Elena finally answered her directly.

“I never wanted your world. I wanted my husband back. I wanted my son to stop asking where his father had gone. I wanted to keep Liam’s mug in the kitchen without someone hiding it because my grief made the room look untidy. You made Leo believe he was being sent away because his mother wasn’t good enough. I may forgive many things eventually, but not that. Not today.”