My husband took my stepdaughter to spend christmas with his ex and said i wasn’t her real mother… so i agreed to the divorce, accepted my promotion, and vanished before they returned

in the corner.

“Me too, baby.”

Later that afternoon, Alexander called.

“What did you say to her?” he demanded.

“Merry Christmas to you too.”

“She’s been crying all morning.”

“Then comfort her.”

“You think I haven’t tried?”

Mariana’s tone sharpened.

“No, Alexander. I think you tried to force her into a fantasy where Renata becomes the mother of the year and continue reading …