Chapter 4
The next morning, I woke to the sound of Lily crying.
I struggled out of bed and hurried down the hallway.
Naomi was kneeling beside her in the guest room.
Mr. Buttons lay on the floor.
Lily had both hands pressed against her face.
"I don't want Daddy to take Mommy away!"
My heart shattered.
I sat beside her.
"Sweetheart, look at me."
She shook her head.
I gently lifted her chin.
"Nobody is taking me away from you."
Her eyes were swollen.
"But Daddy said when the papers are finished, you won't have a house anymore."
I felt my stomach turn.
"When did he say that?"
"Before court."
Naomi looked toward me.
Lily continued.
"He said you would have to go somewhere else, and I would stay with him and Miss Vanessa."
I closed my eyes.
Adrian had been frightening our daughter with the same threats he used against me.
Only Lily was six.
She didn't understand divorce settlements or property rights.
She only understood that Daddy said Mommy might disappear.
I pulled her onto my lap as carefully as my pregnant stomach allowed.
"Listen to me, baby. You have people who love you. Aunt Naomi, Uncle David, Grandpa, and me."
She sniffled.
"And my baby brother?"
I smiled through tears.
"And your baby brother."
Lily placed her small hand on my belly.
"Can he hear me?"
"Sometimes I think he can."
She leaned closer.
"Don't be scared, baby. Mommy's here."
I started crying.
Because even while she was frightened, my little girl was trying to comfort someone else.
I kissed her forehead.
"You don't have to be brave for us, Lily. That's my job."
Naomi touched my shoulder.
"Maybe we should talk to Denise about finding someone Lily can speak with regularly."
I nodded.
"Yes."
Later that morning, Patricia arranged for a child therapist experienced in working with families going through high-conflict separations.
I wanted Lily to have someone neutral.
Someone who would listen without making her feel responsible for the case.
The therapist, Dr. Renee Lawson, explained that children sometimes blame themselves when adults argue.
She encouraged me to keep Lily's routine predictable and avoid discussing adult financial disputes in front of her.
I promised I would.
That afternoon, I had my prenatal appointment.
Naomi came with me.
My obstetrician, Dr. Harris, examined me carefully.
The baby's heartbeat was strong.
But my blood pressure was higher than usual.
"Serena, have you been under significant stress?"
I almost laughed.
Naomi looked at me.
"Tell her."
So I did.
Not every detail.
But enough.
Dr. Harris listened without interrupting.
Then she explained the warning signs that would require immediate medical attention.
She also recommended additional monitoring and support.
When I heard my baby's heartbeat, tears streamed down my cheeks.
I placed one hand against my stomach.
"Please be okay," I whispered.
Dr. Harris smiled gently.
"Right now, your baby is doing well. Let's focus on keeping you both healthy."
I nodded.
But the fear didn't disappear.
I kept thinking about the insurance policy.
Why had Adrian opened it?
Why hadn't he told me?
Was it simply another financial document?
Or something worse?
The answer began to emerge two days later.
Patricia had contacted the insurer.
The company confirmed that an application had been submitted.
But the policy had not become effective because additional medical information and identity verification were required.
I nearly collapsed with relief.
"So there's no active policy?"
"That's what the insurer has confirmed."
Patricia continued.
"The application included an electronic signature that appears to be yours."
I felt sick again.
"I didn't sign it."
"We've disputed the application and requested the complete records."
Then she asked a question.
"Serena, did Adrian ever ask you to sign documents on his tablet?"
I thought about it.
He often handed me forms without explanation.
Bank paperwork.
Tax documents.
Insurance renewals.
He would say everything was routine.
Sometimes I signed while cooking dinner.
Sometimes while helping Lily with homework.
Sometimes when I was half asleep.
"Yes," I whispered.
Patricia didn't criticize me.
She simply said, "We'll need to examine whether any signature was obtained for a different purpose than you understood, or whether it was applied without your authorization."
I nodded.
Then she told me the application listed the policy amount.
Two million dollars.
I stared at the wall.
"Two million?"
"Yes."
My heart began pounding.
It was a huge amount.
More than enough to pay off our house.
More than enough to replace any money Adrian might lose in the divorce.
I hated where my thoughts were going.
But after his threats, I couldn't stop them.
Patricia contacted the appropriate authorities to report the disputed application and the threatening messages.
She also recommended that I remain at Naomi's house until we had a clearer understanding of the risks.
I agreed.
That evening, my father called.
Naomi had told him I was staying with her.
He wanted to know why.
I sat on the bed with my phone pressed against my ear.
"Dad?"
"Serena, baby, what's going on?"
His voice sounded tired but gentle.
I tried to stay composed.
"Adrian and I are getting divorced."
There was a long silence.
Then he whispered, "Oh, sweetheart."
I began crying.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you."
"Don't apologize."
I wiped my face.
"I didn't want to worry you."
He took a slow breath.
"Serena, I'm your father. You don't have to protect me from knowing you're hurting."
I cried harder.
He listened while I explained the affair and the court hearing.
When I mentioned Lily's fear, his voice changed.
"That little girl needs to know none of this is her responsibility."
"I know."
"And so do you."
I closed my eyes.
"I just want everything to stop."
"I know, baby."
He paused.
"Your mother would have told you something important."
I swallowed.
"What?"
"She would have said that leaving a marriage that is hurting you doesn't mean you failed at loving someone."
My chest tightened.
My mother had always been the person who made difficult things feel survivable.
I missed her so badly that sometimes the grief still took my breath away.
Dad continued.
"I can't fix everything for you. But I can come stay with Naomi and help however you need."
I shook my head even though he couldn't see me.
"Dad, your heart—"
"My doctor says I'm allowed to travel. I'll check with him first."
I smiled through tears.
"Okay."
After the call, I looked at the photograph of my mother on Naomi's dresser.
I wished I could ask her what to do.
Then Lily entered the room.
She held Mr. Buttons.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"Can I sleep with you?"
I opened my arms.
"Of course."
She climbed into bed beside me.
For a while, we lay quietly.
Then Lily whispered, "Miss Vanessa said the new baby would make everything easier."
My body went cold.
I turned toward her.
"What do you mean?"
Lily looked confused.
"She was talking to Daddy."
"When?"
"The day she was copying your name."
My heart began pounding.
"What did she say?"
Lily hugged her bunny.
"She said after the baby comes, the money problem will be solved."
I stared at the ceiling.
I didn't ask more.
I didn't want to turn my daughter's memories into something shaped by my fears.
Instead, I hugged her and told her she was safe.
After she fell asleep, I wrote down her exact words and sent them to Denise.
Then I sat awake for hours.
Because I had no idea whether Vanessa's comment had an innocent explanation.
But I knew one thing.
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I was not going to let Adrian control what happened to my children.
Not anymore.
