Chapter 73
Her words hit like bullets, but I held my ground, keeping my face calm even as tension coiled tightly inside me
“If you think keeping Liam away from me will force me to cave, you’re wrong she hissed. “If you don’t want me to have Liam, fine. I’ll take this to court. I’ll see you, Alex, and I’ll win.”
I couldn’t help but smile, a calculated tilt of my lips. 1 had anticipated this, prepared for it.
“Go ahead,” I said, my tone unbothered. “But just so you know, the state attorney is a friend of mine. He’s the same person who drafted the original divorce papers.”
Her face paled slightly, and I saw the flicker of hesitation in her eyes, but she quickly masked it with anger. “You’re unbelievable,” she said, her voice crambling with a mix of rage and disbelief.
“You can call it whatever you want,” I replied, leaning slightly closer, my voice low but unwavering. “But I’m not letting you go without a fight.”
I watched Raina’s expression shift, the storm of emotions on her face mirroring what I felt inside. But my resolve didn’t waver, not for a second.
“I would’ve had the papers processed” I continued, voice steady, “if it weren’t for you reappearing. If I was to marry Eliza, I would’ve had everything finalized before another woman could even step foot into my life. But you.. you changed everything
“Raina’s jaw clenched, her fists tightening at her sides. Her eyes were fierce, but there was no mistaking the deep hart I saw lurking beneath that anger. It
was all too familiar. She didn’t speak, but I didn’t need her words. Ilmow she hated me for what I’d done.
“Fine,” I said, straightening my posture. “I’ll find a way to keep Nathan away–for now. I‘ win you back, Rima. I don’t care how long it takes.” My voice hardened, the confidence in my words matching the fire in my chest. “By law, I know I don’t hold any weight against you right now. But I’ll delay the proceedings. I’ll make sure it drags on for months if that’s what it takes.”
Her face flushed with anger, but I could see that what I said had planted a seed of doubt in her mind. She wanted me to leave, wanted me to stop, but I wasn’t going anywhere.
Dominic, who had been sent up until now, stepped forward, his face a mix of dispast and frustration. He pointed a finger at me, clearly abour to curse me out, but then he looked down at Ava in his arms. He covered her ears with his hand, as though he wanted to protect her from the words be was about to speak
“You are nothing but a pig, Alex. Rain will be free of you,” Dominic said, his voice low but cutting “Sooner or later, she’ll be free of you, and you’ll have nothing to hold on to.”
I felt the sting of his words, but I didn’t let them show on my fare. I stood my ground, letting them both see my
“Never,” I said, barely above a whisper, but the finality of it echoed in the room.
resolve
Dominic shook his head in disgust, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t going to let him or anyone else dictate what I was willing to do. I would find a way to fix this, to make things right, even if it meant fighting every step of the way
Raina, though, she wasn’t going to be easy to win back. She turned away, and without saying another word, she walked out of the room. I watched her go, feeling like I was losing a battle I had alrendy fought so hard for
But I wasn’t giving up. Not now, not ever. I watched Dominic follow her, Ava still cradled in his arms,
D
