Chapter 5

Nina froze, her eyes wide in shock.

Andrew walked over. "You're only going to push her further away."

I stood up. "You're the ones who pushed her straight into Emily's arms."

I pulled out a document. "This is the temporary custody agreement. While we're going through the divorce, anything about Nina—where she goes, stays, or gets picked up—has to be approved by either you or me. Emily has no say in this."

Andrew glanced at the document. "You really got this ready fast."

I replied, "Not as fast as you set up that trust."

Emily said softly, "Andrew, I should go."

Andrew's mother grabbed her arm. "Why are you leaving? She's the one who should go."

I said, "This is the house we lived in together after getting married. Whether I stay or leave isn't up to you."

Andrew's mother was literally shaking with anger. "Don't forget, Andrew's name is the only one on the deed."

I smiled. "And just so you remember, it was the Linwood family who paid for all the renovations. I still have every single receipt."

Andrew fixed his gaze on me. "Do you really have to nitpick every little thing?"

I shot back, "You've already made sure every detail after the divorce is sorted—so me keeping track of the renovation money, that's too much for you?"

No one said a word.

I turned to Emily. "Ms. Shaw, you can't take Nina with you tonight. And from now on, you can't take her either."

She looked up, her eyes hurt and upset. "What if Nina comes looking for me?"

I replied, "You can say no."

She asked softly, "If I say no, she'll be really sad."

I said, "If you don't say no, I'll make things really uncomfortable for you."

Andrew said coldly, "That's enough."

I looked at him. "Not even close."

I pointed at the door. "She needs to leave now."

Emily didn't budge, just standing there.

Andrew's mother said, "Emily's my guest."

I pulled out my phone. "Then I'll call the building manager and my lawyer right now."

Emily finally stood up. "Mrs. Hughes, I'll head out now."

Nina ran after her, crying. "Aunt Emily!"

Emily hugged her. "Be good, Nina. I'll come see you another day."

I said, "There won't be another day."

Emily froze, her hand still in mid-air.

Andrew shot me a cold look.

As soon as the door closed, Nina yelled at me. "I hate you!"

I just nodded. "Alright."

She froze. "Hating your mom doesn't mean you get out of homework, shower, or bedtime."

Nina stomped her foot in anger and ran upstairs.

Andrew's mother pointed at me. "You'll regret this one day."

I shot back, "What I regret most is putting up with this for seven years."

Andrew followed me into the study.

As soon as the door closed, Andrew spoke up. "You really crossed the line today."

I replied, "That's nothing compared to what you pulled."

"The trust? I owe Emily for that."

"Then pay her back yourself—don't drag our marriage into it."

He rubbed his temples. "Lauren, it's not like that between me and her."

I pressed, "So what is it, then?"

He stayed silent.

I cut in, "She needs someone to lean on, you hand her cash. She wants to look respectable, you give her a title. She wants the kid to like her, you make it happen.

"And what about me? All I ever wanted was a little respect—did you ever give me that?"

Andrew looked at me. "I thought you didn't care about things like that."

I gave a bitter laugh. "So just because I never cried or made a fuss, you think I didn't hurt?"

His voice dropped. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"You just didn't even bother to think about it."

The study went quiet for a moment.

He suddenly asked, "Are you really serious about the divorce?"

"The papers will be here tomorrow."

His expression hardened. "Nina's not going with you."

I looked up at him. "You want to fight for her?"

"I'm her father."

"Yeah, and you're the one who let Emily take her."

He gave me a cold, hard stare. "Lauren, don't push me."

I smiled. "Andrew, don't ever think you can outsmart me."

The next day, the divorce papers landed on Andrew's desk.

He didn't sign them.

That evening, I got a call from Andrew's mother.

Her tone was icy and unyielding.

"Dinner at the Hughes Estate tonight."

"I'm busy," I said.

"Lauren, when your elders call you home, are you really going to say no?"

"You can call Andrew instead."

Andrew's mom just scoffed. "Your father's coming too."

My hand froze on the phone.

Andrew's mother said, "You know better than anyone how much the Linwood family still has left. Don't make things so ugly that even your father won't be able to help you."

I hung up.