bChapter /b24

‘Goodb,/b‘ she thought, He can’t afford to get worse. I need him to lock in my spot.

“Let him restb./bb” /bYosef said, guiding her away. “We’ll talk in the study.”

They settled on the study’s leather couch, the housekeeper setting down some water,

“So,” Yosef said, leaning back, “what’s so important you had toe over thiste?i” /i

Elianna hesitated, twisting her hands. “Yosef, Adam’s five now, and we still haven’t made things official. What happens when he’s better and starts school? Kids will talk if he doesn’t have a mom.”

She looked at him, her voice soft but sharp. “Yosef, let’s get married.”

Yosef’s brow furrowed. “I’m still married to Skr. I can’t marry you right now.”

Elianna bit her lip, her voice low. “I saw Skr a few days ago.”

“She’s working as a doctor at Chestbee Hospital now,”

he added.

Yosef leaned forward, his tone sharp. “You saw her and

tell me?”

“I was so worried about Adam, it slipped my mind,” Elianna said, looking down.

“Yosef, if we talk to Skr, exin thingsb, /bshe’ll get bit/b,” she pushed. “Once you two divorce, we can get married.”

Her eyes lit up, remembering something. “Oh, and that agreement from five years ago… it’s bstill /bvalid, right? All you have to do is signb, /band the divorce is bdone/bb./bb” /b

Ever since seeing Skr, Elianna’s stomach had been in knots.

She was terrified Skr’s return would wreck everything she’d spent years building.

To keep her hold, she had to tie down Yosef, and quick.

“I need more time to think about the divorce,” Yosef said, his tone firm. “You should go home.”

Elianna’s brow furrowed, frustration mixing with confusion. ‘Yosef clearly doesn’t care about Skrb, /bso why is he still stalling on signing the papers?b” /b

Five years ago, he’d hesitated. Now, he was still dragging his feet.

“Yosef,” she said, tears pooling in her eyes, “I’m not doing this for me. I’m thinking of Adam.”

“Daddy, don’t listen to her!” Adam interrupted, his voice sharp despite the effort. “Don’t divorce Mommy. I don’t want her as my mom.”

He’d already had one episode tonight. Even though he was furious, he tried to stay calmb, /bscared of setting off another.

His face was still pale, his lips colorless.

He shuffled to Yosef’s side, gripping his father’s hand tightly. “Daddy, please don’t divorce Mommy. Bring her back. Then I bwon’t /bbbe the /bbkid /bbwithout /bba /b

mom.”

“Adam, what are you talking about?” Elianna shrieked, her voice shrill. “I’m your mother! How dare you call that woman byour /bbmom/bb?/b”

Adam red at her, his voice cold and steady. “You’re not.”

Elianna had a way of making him sick just bto /bget Yosef’s attention.

bChapter /bb24 /b

bWhenever /bbshe /bbwanted /bbto /bsee his bdad/b, she’d do something bto /btrigger an episode, bknowing /bYosel would bdrop /bbeverything /bbto /bbrush /bfever

bNo /bbmother /bwould hurt her own kid like that. So Adam was sure she wasn’t his real mom.

bAnd/b, she was sure the woman he’d seen that day–she was the real one.

“Adamb, /bdid she say something to you?” Elianna asked, tears streaming down her face. “Is that why you’re pushing bme /baway?”

“I knew bit/bb,/bb” /bshe sobbed, her voice cracking. “All these yearsb, /bshe’s still holding a grudge.”

“She hates me for taking our parents‘ love, for needing her blood,” she continued, clutching her chest. “Now she’s trying to steal my son.

Her tearful act hit Yosef hard, softening his expression. “Elianna, maybe it’s a misunderstanding.”

Elianna sniffled, wiping her eyes. “I know I shouldn’t havee between you two, but I couldn’t let go. It’s my fault.”

b“/bI’ll find her,” she said, her voice shaky. “I’ll apologize and beg her to give me back my son.”

She started to stand, but Yosef grabbed her arm. “I’ll handle it. Stay out of this.”

Elianna wiped her tears, her eyes wide with worry. “Yosefb, /bplease don’t get involved. I’m scared she’ll turn her anger on you and do something terribleb./bb” /b

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