I was finally ready to move forward. After five years of healing from my ex-husband Tom’s betrayal, I had found love again with Eric. I was packing my things, excited to start a new life, when a knock on the door brought my past rushing back.
Tom stood there, looking older and more worn than I remembered. His eyes were filled with desperation as he explained why he had come. “Linda, I need your help,” he said. “The woman I left you for… she’s gone. She passed away two weeks ago. And now I have a daughter, Ava. I can’t do this alone. I need you.”
I was torn. Part of me wanted to shut the door and walk away, but the thought of an innocent child needing help made me pause.
Tom and I met at a café, and I saw Ava for the first time. She was a sweet, shy little girl with big, curious eyes. As Tom talked about the challenges of raising her alone, I felt a connection to her. She reminded me of the family I had once dreamed of having.
But then I discovered the truth. While at Tom’s house, I found documents in his desk drawer. They revealed that Ava’s inheritance was tied to her guardianship—and it could only be fully secured if Tom had a partner. This wasn’t about giving Ava a mother; it was about money.
Confronting Tom was heartbreaking. He tried to explain, but the guilt in his eyes told me everything. I realized I couldn’t let myself be pulled back into his lies.
I called Eric, desperate to explain everything. “I need to talk to you… I’m so sorry,” I whispered into the phone. As I raced to his house in a taxi, I knew I had to fight for the love and happiness I had found with him.
When I arrived, Eric was standing in the rain, holding a bouquet of white roses—the kind I loved. He was waiting for me, just as he always had.
