My Family Regret When They Lose Me Chapter 17
Chloe froze, then suddenly grabbed my sleeve.
“I don’t want her! I only want you! Mommy, come home with me…”
Behind me, Leo gave my shirt a little tug.
“Mommy… I’m scared.”
I stood up and moved Leo behind me, then said to Marco, “Take her home.”
“Don’t come looking for me again. I’m doing very well here. I won’t be going with you.”
Marco’s eyes were red.
“Beatrice, I was wrong. Come back. You can punish me however you want…”
I didn’t bother to answer.
I took Leo’s hand and turned away with Julian.
After that, neither Marco’s pestering nor my parents’ phone calls affected me.
The court finalized the divorce.
From then on, I only paid Chloe’s child support on time and continued sending my portion of the family’s insurance premiums.
Later, Marco and Chloe came to London many times.
Once, Chloe stood in my doorway, clutching an old sweater I had left behind, and refused to leave.
Julian happened to come out of the kitchen just then, holding the little bear mug I’d made for Leo.
Chloe stared at the mug.
I had made one for her once, too. She had called it ugly and thrown it in the trash.
Then she looked at Leo. Her eyes reddened, and tears started to fall. In the end, Marco had to carry her away.
After that, Chloe would sometimes wait outside the treatment center all day, her eyes red, watching me work with Leo.
Other times, Marco would stand outside my office building late into the night.
I never acknowledged them.
I didn’t even notice when they finally stopped coming.
I only knew that, at last, I was living the life I had always wanted.