With the signed agreement in hand, I stopped wasting energy on Vince. Moving, changing Elise's school—I handled everything at once.

I agreed Vince could see Elise weekly. Guilt made him more attentive after the divorce.


To better "care for" Sansa and Danny, he moved in with them. During one visitation, I accompanied Elise to drop him off and overheard Sansa on the phone with her mother.

"Sansa, you need to lock him down fast! Seal the deal before they reconcile! They have a son together, after all!"

Her mother's anxious voice carried through the speaker.


"Don't worry, Mom. Winning him over is just a matter of time. He's a complete fool! I make Danny act all pitiful and sweet around him. He already cares more about Danny than his own son!"

"Once we're married, all his money will be Danny's!"


She laughed triumphantly.

"But that bitch and her brat are such a nuisance. Even after the divorce, she won't leave him alone—pestering him every week."

Sansa's voice dripped with venom, her expression nothing like her usual sweet facade.

I gasped softly. Beside me, Vince's face had gone pale. His hand gripped the doorknob so tightly his knuckles turned white.

He shoved the door open before Sansa could hang up. Her face froze in panic.

I quickly left with Elise, knowing better than to stay. Before we got far, I heard Vince's furious roar from inside.

"I heard everything! You've been lying to me all along! I lost my wife and son because of you!"

Vince's voice shook with rage.

"I'm sorry, Vince! I love you too much! I couldn't lose you—I had no choice!"

Sansa pleaded frantically, her fake sobs carrying through the door.

I heard things crashing to the floor and hurried Elise away from the scene.