Chapter 5
Richard moved against Victoria like a man cutting poison from his own blood.
He froze her cards.
Removed her from the company foundation.
Locked her out of the marital residence.
Filed for annulment based on fraud.
Victoria responded by appearing on morning television.
She wore pale pink.
She cried beautifully.
“I only wanted to protect my husband from a woman who hid his children for money,” she said.
The host leaned forward.
“Do you believe Sarah planned this?”
Victoria dabbed one perfect tear.
“I believe those children deserve stability.”
I turned off the television before Noah came into the room.
But Lily had seen enough.
“Why is the pretty lady sad?”
I sat beside her.
“Because grown-ups are arguing.”
“About us?”
My heart cracked.
“No, baby. Not about you. Never because of you.”
She nodded like she wanted to believe me.
Then whispered, “Does the dinner man want to take us?”
I pulled her into my lap.
“No one is taking you from me.”
Richard heard from the hallway.
He had come with Daniel for a meeting.
He looked devastated.
I did not comfort him.
He needed to feel what his life had done to ours.
The custody hearing was set for Friday.
Victoria’s team pushed for full psychological evaluations.
Home inspections.
Financial discovery.
Anything that could exhaust me.
Daniel warned me.
“They will try to make motherhood look like instability.”
“I know.”
“They will mention you did not inform Richard.”
“I know.”
“They will paint you as vindictive.”
I laughed without humor.
“I raised twins alone while working full time. If I wanted revenge, I would have slept.”
At the hearing, Richard surprised everyone.
His attorney stood and said, “Mr. Blackwell withdraws all emergency custody demands.”
Victoria’s lawyer shot up.
“What?”
Richard stood.
“I will establish paternity. I will pay support. I request gradual supervised visitation only if Ms. Sarah Mitchell agrees and the children’s therapist approves.”
The judge studied him.
“That is a significant change from your filing.”
Richard looked at me.
“I filed in anger. I was wrong.”
Victoria’s face twisted.
Her lawyer whispered furiously.
Richard continued.
“I will not harm my children to win against their mother.”
For one second, the courtroom was silent.
Then Victoria stood.
“He is being manipulated.”
The judge looked at her.
“Mrs. Blackwell, you are not a party to custody.”
Victoria’s face flushed.
“I am his wife.”
Richard turned.
“Not for much longer.”
Her mouth opened.
No sound came.
That should have been the turning point.
Instead, it made her more dangerous.
Two nights later, a fire alarm went off in the secure apartment.
I grabbed the twins and ran down the stairs barefoot.
Smoke filled the hallway.
People shouted.
Sprinklers soaked everything.
Outside, Lily clung to my neck.
Noah shook so badly his teeth clicked.
Richard arrived minutes later, soaked in rain, running across the parking lot.
“Sarah!”
“We’re fine.”
He looked up at the building.
Firefighters moved in and out.
Daniel approached with a grim face.
“It wasn’t an accident.”
My knees weakened.
“What?”
“Someone set a fire in the trash chute on your floor.”
Richard’s face went white.
Then a firefighter walked over holding a melted plastic bag.
Inside was a partial receipt.
A boutique near Victoria’s hotel.
And beneath it, untouched by flame, a small gold bracelet.
Victoria’s bracelet.
Richard recognized it immediately.
May you like
So did I.
Because she had worn it on television while crying about protecting my children.
