[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260313F01E2B-67":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},67,8,"Chapter 8: Breaking Free, Finding Hope","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian assured me not to sweat it, that he'd sort things out for our daughter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Turns out, after pulling the footage, a teacher at the daycare wasn't just roughing up Selena, but also egging on the other kids to ice her out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I demanded the preschool can the teacher. The principal stammered that the teacher was BFFs with Valentina and it was a tough spot for him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian, hearing this, had Valentina swoop in personally to handle it, demanding answers.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Selena spilled that she'd actually told Sebastian about this before. He'd tasked Valentina with looking into it, but she'd totally brushed it off, even calling Selena a little fibber. The next day, Selena got it even worse from the teacher.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She’d been too scared to tell me these past few days, worried about causing me more drama.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">If I hadn't been running late to pick her up today, and if the eagle-eyed Benjamin hadn't clocked that something was off, I'd still be clueless.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I hit up the cops immediately and yanked Selena from that school. Sebastian tried to block me, and I went off on him, screaming:\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"If you can't protect our daughter, then I will!\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And with that, I grabbed my daughter and bounced.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The next day, I filed for divorce.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I slapped the evidence of my daughter's abuse and bullying on the judge's desk, secured full custody of Selena, and got my divorce papers from Sebastian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Our marriage, after all those years, officially called it quits.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Holding the divorce decree, a wave of uncertainty washed over me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Six years dating, eight years married – I’d poured the best of my life into him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But now that it was all done, I mostly felt relief, like a massive weight had been lifted.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Benjamin was waiting for me outside the courthouse, flower bouquet in hand.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sunflowers, no less. Total symbol of hope and new beginnings.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It would be fake to pretend I hadn't noticed his feelings. He'd been solid to me and adored my daughter, but I wasn't about to jump into anything new.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">No way was I ready for a new relationship.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I took the flowers, joking, \"You bringing these... so Selena can snack on the seeds?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Benjamin, though shy, was sharp. He got the hint but didn't push it, just mentioning he had another gift for Selena and wanted to treat her to a Broadway show this summer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was nervously licking his lips as he said it. I knew he was really trying to ask me out.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But I gave him a firm no, on behalf of my daughter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I'd promised Selena a trip this summer to make up for my screw-ups and just… chill. To finally unchain the soul Sebastian had locked up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Now that I was finally free, I was ready to live it up.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But I’d forgotten one crucial detail: Sebastian never went down without a fight.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">The oh-so-esteemed Mr. Walker, blocking my doorway, using the \"growing daughter needs her dad\" excuse, wanted to remarry me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I swear, the man was delusional.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">His young, hot secretary was literally waiting for him, and he was begging forgiveness from me, the washed-up has-been.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian stood there, looking completely drained. I'd never seen him like this; it was like his very essence had been siphoned away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He wasn't the icy, imposing CEO anymore. He was a humbled beggar.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It flashed me back to the Sebastian who used to bend over backward to impress me, who'd orchestrate \"chance\" encounters, who fretted if I was the least bit unhappy.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He was even more broken, more pathetic now.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Natalie… I know it’s my bad. I was too caught up in work and let you slide. Please, just one more shot?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Sebastian, people move on. Divorcing you wasn't some spur-of-the-moment decision. We checked out a long time ago. This funk you're in is just you adjusting. Me? I got used to this life ages ago, swimming in your indifference. Sebastian, you don't need reconciliation; you need to get with the program.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Looking at him, I saw a reflection of my past self.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I used to cling to the hope we had, fighting tooth and nail to keep him.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But his icy demeanor had chipped away at my passion and patience.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Now, he thought there was still a spark, while my heart had long since turned to dust.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"Selena's still little. She can't grow up without a father. Give me a chance, for her, okay? I really can't lose you.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"But she never really had your fatherly love in the first place. Losing it or having it makes zero difference to her, right? And as for whether you can lose me… what's that got to do with me?\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"But I…\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Selena peeked out from behind me, eyes wide, giving Sebastian a timid glance. She latched onto my leg, but her body language towards him screamed hostility.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She was my protector.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">\"See? Neither Selena nor I want you here. You should go.\"\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I shut the door, but I knew Sebastian wouldn't just pack up and leave.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Every time I’d ventured out these past few days, Sebastian was waiting downstairs. He just watched from a distance, never daring to step closer.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Just like when we were teens.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">It was almost a joke. Back then, my words went in one ear and out the other. Now, he hung on my every syllable.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272925249]