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"Emma, you burned them? How could you burn them?"
I met his gaze, my voice even.
"Something crawled on them. They were dirty. I didn't want them anymore." I pulled my arm free.
"I'm taking Sophia back to San Francisco. I'll have the final papers mailed to you."
Seeing the complete lack of emotion on my face, a visible panic began to set in.
He was finally realizing this wasn't a threat. This was real.
"Emma, I didn't mean it. I thought you were just bluffing. I—"
Isabella was panicking too. Her practiced smile was cracking at the edges.
"Is this some kind of reverse psychology, Emma? Burning a box of old junk that isn't even worth anything?"
"Get out!" Liam roared, shoving her away.
Isabella stumbled and fell to the floor, staring at him in disbelief.
Lucas burst into a fresh torrent of tears.
"Mommy lied! Mommy said if we made them leave, Daddy would be all mine! I did everything Mommy said! Why won't they leave?"
In an instant, the color drained from Liam's face.
I had no interest in watching their drama unfold.
I picked up my daughter and walked out the door. We had a flight to catch.
My mother was waiting for us at the airport in San Francisco.
"I told you not to marry that boy," she said, her voice sharp.
"A mother like his, what kind of son could she possibly raise?"
I covered Sophia's ears. "Mom, the baby's right here."
My mother sighed, her expression softening.
"It's good to be home," she said, then turned to her granddaughter, her face breaking into a warm, loving smile.
