Chapter 6

The arrests happened on a Tuesday morning.

I was making pancakes. Lily was "helping" — meaning she was covered in flour. Mia was in her high chair, banging a spoon.

Adrian was at the table, reading the paper. His phone rang. He answered. Listened. Then he looked at me.

"They arrested them," he said. "Victoria and my mother. Conspiracy to commit fraud. Falsifying records. Obstruction of justice. And Victoria — additional charges for the custody fraud and the threats."

I set down the spatula. My hands were shaking.

"It's really happening," I said.

"It's really happening."

Lily looked up, flour on her nose. "What's happening, Daddy?"

Adrian picked her up. He wiped her nose with his thumb. "Something good, sweetheart. Something very good."

The trial was set for six months later. In the meantime, Victoria and Eleanor were out on bail — but with restraining orders. They couldn't come near us. Near the children.

For the first time in two years, I breathed.

Adrian and I — we took it slow. He took me to dinner. Real dates. He brought me flowers. He learned how Mia liked her bottle. He learned that Lily hated crusts on her sandwiches and loved strawberry ice cream.

He was there. Every day. Present. Loving.

The girls adored him. Lily followed him everywhere. Mia screamed with delight when he came home.

And me — I fell in love with him all over again. But this time, it was different. This time, I was choosing him with my eyes open. Not a girl in love with a dream, but a woman choosing a man who'd proven himself.

One evening, he took me to the spot where we'd had our first date. A small park by the river. He'd set up a blanket and a picnic. The girls were with Margaret, who'd become our favorite babysitter.

"Clara," he said, kneeling down on one knee. "I know this is fast. I know we have a lot of healing left. But I don't want to waste another day. Will you marry me? For real. This time, with no lies. No secrets. Just us. And our girls."

He opened a small box. A ring. Simple. Beautiful. Nothing like Victoria's giant rock.

I cried. I nodded. I couldn't speak.

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He slipped the ring on my finger. He kissed me. The river flowed beside us. The stars came out.

And for the first time in my life, I felt like I was home.