Chapter 2
“Yeah,” Josh said softly, eyes downcast. “Billy said Daddy only married Mommy because he couldn’t marry Phoebe.
Mommy’s pretty, but I still like Phoebe more.”
The words hit Estela like ice water down her spine–sharp, sudden, cruel.
‘He couldn’t marry her?‘ she thought.
The shock took a moment to fade, and when it did, her heart felt hollow.
She looked at her children.
She’d nearly died giving birth to them–both times. Complications, hemorrhaging.
They’d been weak, sickly babies, and she’d cared for them around the clock. Barely slept, barely ate. It ruined her health.
Then something happened in Zrefast. Vance’s father Reggie Leon fell gravely ill.
Vance went back to take charge–and brought the kids with him.
Since then, she’d been traveling back and forth between two cities. But every time she came back, the children seemed farther and farther away.
She didn’t even remember how she got back to her room.
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The kids had private lessons scheduled. The nanny took them
out.
Even with everything on her plate, Estela messaged Vance again to ask for a meeting.
She was his wife. Whether it was about the kids or about
Phoebe, she had every right to demand answers.
But he brushed her off with a single line. “I have something important. Let’s talk tomorrow night.””
There was no way to describe the bitterness welling up inside her.
She left the house without thinking and wandered to the place where she and Vance had first met–an old amusement park.
It was small, tucked away in a corner of the city.
Just as she stepped in and approached the Ferris wheel, she heard a familiar little voice. “Phoebe, I want to ride the Ferris wheel!”
“Okay, I’ll go get the tickets.”
Estela looked up–and there they were.
Not far away, Phoebe and Vance, each holding one of her children’s hands. They looked, unmistakably, like a perfect family.
Soon, Estela heard her children’s voices. “You’re the best. I want to be with you forever!”
Phoebe laughed softly, teasing, “If your mom hears that, she
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won’t be happy.”
“I don’t like her. Why should I care if she’s mad?”
The words hit Estela like a blast of arctic wind.
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She stood frozen, watching in silence as Vance and her children walked hand in hand with Phoebe into the Ferris
wheel.
The man she had loved for six years. The children she had brought into the world.
Without another moment’s hesitation, Estela turned and walked away.
She’d been holding on for six years–it was time to let go.
Back at the old house, she quietly packed up all of her belongings.
Then she sent Vance one final message: [Have the divorce papers ready.]
She left her wedding ring on the nightstand, walked out without a backward glance, and called a cab to the airport.
*****
After leaving the church, Vance returned to the old house with the children.
The area outside the church was packed. Just as he was about to check his phone, someone shouted-
“Stop! Thief!”
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A commotion erupted.
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The bodyguards instinctively moved to shield him, but in the chaos, Phoebe was shoved forward–right into Vance’s arms.
His phone slipped from his hand, crashed to the ground, and was crushed under the stampede of feet.
“Vance, I’m so sorry–your phone.” she said.
He frowned briefly, then said calmly, “It’s fine. I’ll get another one.”
The phone was mostly used to keep in touch with family anyway.
Not that anyone in the Leon family texted much. If anyone messaged him at all, it was usually Estela.
But her messages had never seemed urgent.
*****
On the way home, the kids were buzzing with excitement.
Rowena tugged on his sleeve, eyes sparkling. “Daddy, is Phoebe really going to stay with us soon? She promised to take me to Candyland!”
Even Josh looked hopeful.
“Yes,” Vance nodded.
But Josh hesitated, frowning slightly. “But Daddy. Mommy said we’re not very healthy, and the air at Candyland might make us sick. She didn’t want us to go. Won’t Mommy be upset if she finds out Phoebe’s moving in?”
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Vance responded gently, “Phoebe is trained in medicine. She once saved Daddy’s life. With her here, you’ll both be fine. Your mommy won’t be staying long anyway. Phoebe’s just visiting for a while to help take care of you.”
The kids had always been frail. Having Phoebe around might actually do them some good.
“Yay!” They both shouted in delight as they arrived home.
But the moment they stepped inside, they found something that made them even happier–Estela had gone back to Trurgh.
Vance noticed the wedding ring placed neatly on the nightstand and paused, mildly surprised.
Ever since they got married, no matter how badly they fought, Estela had never taken off that ring.
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