CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Cole
"What the hell are you doing, Elsa?" I snapped, spinning around again, refusing to look at her. Anger burned through me. "Are you out of your fucking mind?"
She stayed still for a moment, but the sound of her footsteps sent a jolt through me.
"Don't come near me," I barked, my voice sharp with warning.
"Cole," I heard her whisper.
"Fuck, Elsa. Stop this. Please." I exhaled sharply, my grip tightening on the kitchen counter. "Whatever you're trying to do—it's not working anymore."
I leaned forward, bracing myself against the cold surface of the kitchen counter, my hands curling around the edges. I was shaking with fury. "I'm not falling for your trap. I was a fool once, but I won't be the same man again. The only reason I stayed is Elena. And the moment Leo moves in here, I'm gone."
"But you love Elena. You love her so much."
"I do," I said coldly. "That's exactly why I'm going to make sure Leo lives up to my expectations."
I straightened, but I still refused to turn around. I didn't want her to mistakenly think I wanted to look at her. "I'm going to support him, Elsa. I'm going to help him take Elena away from you. Because you're a fucking horrible mother. A despicable human being. And there's no way in hell I'm letting Elena be raised by you."
"You will not win, Cole. I'm her mother. I still have primary custody."
"We'll see about that, Elsa." I was so damn tired of her games. "I'm doing everything in my power to protect Elena. And you already know what's coming, don't you?" I let the words sink in before finishing, "I'm going to sue you for fraud."
"Cole, the only way you can be with Elena is if you're with me." Elsa showed no sign of being affected. Her tone remained calm.
I heard her footsteps approaching, and I braced myself, ready to bolt. This woman was seriously unhinged.
"She can legally be your daughter. You'll watch her grow. You can take care of her. I'm your only chance, Cole. Right now, I can take her away, and there's nothing you can do about it. And you can't take her from me because that would be kidnapping."
"Leo will live here," I cut her off. "On my behalf."
"Leo doesn't have paternity rights yet."
"He will, once the court acknowledges the fraud."
She let out a sharp laugh. "And what proof do you have? I can say Phil was obsessed with me, that we had a fling, and he tampered with the test on his own. You can't prove I had anything to do with it."
"You're underestimating how much Phil wants to save himself. He's already lost his job, Elsa. He has nothing left to protect—especially not you. If he talks, if he has proof, and you're charged with fraud, do you really think a judge will let you keep Elena?"
"You're bluffing," she said, but her voice wasn't as steady as before.
I tilted my head, laughing bitterly. "Try me."
I didn't know when she walked closer, but suddenly, her fingers twitched against her arms. I could practically hear her mind racing for an escape. "Even if Phil talks, it's his word against mine. And let's say, for argument's sake, that I get charged, so what? That doesn't mean Leo automatically wins custody."
I exhaled sharply, my patience thinning. "You really don't get it, do you? Once fraud charges are filed, your credibility is shot. The courts don't look kindly at a mother who's falsified a paternity test, Elsa."
The silence that followed was thick and heavy.
"You're backed into a corner," I continued. "The best thing you can do now is stop lying, stop playing games, and figure out a way to walk away with whatever shred of dignity you have left."
She scoffed, but there was no real confidence behind it. "And what? Just hand my daughter over to Leo? To you?"
I clenched my jaw. "She's not yours to hand over anymore. You were never there for her."
She didn't deny it.
For the first time, Elsa had nothing to say.
"You brought this on yourself," I said, my voice quieter now. "And you know it."
I shook her hand from my arm and turned to walk the other way.
"And for fuck's sake, put some damn clothes on. You look like a cheap whore. Fuck, Elsa, you are—without a doubt—the biggest regret of my life. Stay the hell away from me."
I didn't wait for a response. I turned around and stormed upstairs, my pulse hammering in my ears. I went straight to Nancy's room, my steps heavy, my breath uneven. Elsa didn't follow. Maybe she knew better.
It wasn't even dawn yet, and I knew I was about to interrupt Nancy's sleep, but I didn't care. I just needed to see Elena.
I knocked lightly. A moment later, her groggy voice seeped through the door. "Cole?"
"Yeah, it's me." My voice was low and rough. "Can I see Elena for a minute?"
A brief pause. Then, "Yes, sure. Come in."
The moment I heard the key turning in the lock, I opened the door and stepped inside. Nancy was walking back to sit on the edge of her bed, dressed in pajamas, her expression wary, which was understandable given the late hour. I moved toward Elena's crib, drawn to the peaceful rhythm of her breath. As I gazed down at her, my heart softened, and a small, bittersweet smile tugged at my lips.
Reaching out, I brushed my fingers gently across her cheek. Her skin was impossibly soft, fragile beneath my touch. But even as warmth filled my chest, the ache in my heart deepened. I knew I couldn't stay here much longer. I wasn't her father. I wasn't even tied to Elsa anymore. The only thing keeping me in this house was the fact that it was mine.
But the truth was undeniable. I was the outsider now.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I turned to Nancy. My voice broke as I spoke. "Nancy... I think it's time for Leo to move in. To be here with you and Elena. It's time for me to step back."
She inhaled sharply, her gasp cutting through the quiet of the night. "Are you sure?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. "We know nothing about this guy, Cole. And with Elsa in the mix? I fear for what could happen."
That was what I was afraid of, too. I knew nothing about Leo—who he really was, what kind of father he would be. Without me here, it was probably too much for Nancy to handle alone. And yet, what choice did I have?
"But he's her father, Nancy. He's already filed for paternity and custody. We're just waiting on the court-ordered DNA test, but we all know that's just a formality. Leo is her father."
Nancy shook her head, her voice turning fierce. "Being a father isn't just about blood, Cole. You love her. You've been here for her. You are a great father."
I looked at Elena again, her tiny fingers curled into a fist, her chest rising and falling in the peaceful rhythm of sleep. My heart twisted in pain.
"I tried, Nancy," I whispered. "I tried so damn hard. But it doesn't change the fact that Leo is her real father. He has rights. And if I keep standing in the way, it's only going to hurt her in the long run."
Nancy's eyes flashed with frustration. "And what about you? What about everything you've done for her?"
I let out a shaky breath. "It doesn't matter what I think. The court will decide, and I can't fight a battle I've already lost."
Nancy studied me for a long moment, her expression softening. "You're hurting."
Of course, I was. Every second of this felt like a knife twisting in my chest. But I couldn't let that show. Not when the only thing that mattered was doing what was best for Elena.
"I'll be fine," I said, even though it was a lie. "She's going to have her real father now. That's how it should be."
"What about Sara?" she asked carefully. "Are you going to get her back? You stepped away because you didn't want to burden her with a child from another woman. So... what now?"
That was a hard question to answer.
Because the truth was, I didn't know.
I had agreed to the divorce because I thought it was the right thing to do. Because I couldn't drag her into the mess that was my life. I couldn't bear to see her tied to a child that wasn't hers, to a difficult situation that was never meant to be hers to carry. But now... now everything was different.
Elena wasn't mine. She never had been. And yet, I had lost Sara anyway.
Would she even take me back?
Would she look at me the same way after everything I had done? After I had believed in something that had never been real instead of fighting for us?
I dragged a hand down my face, letting out a sharp breath. "I don't know, Nancy," I admitted, my voice rough. "I don't even know if she'd want me back."
"You love her so much, don't you?" she asked softly.
God, more than anything in the world. That was the cruelest part of it all—why my betrayal made no sense. Not to anyone. Not even to me.
Nancy held my gaze. "With Elena, you're selfless, Cole. You're willing to break your own heart for her happiness. To step aside so she can have the life she deserves with her father. Because it's the right thing to do."
I said nothing, just waited, because I knew she wasn't finished.
"You did that for Sara, too. You stepped away because it was what was best for her. So, why don't you keep doing that?"
I froze for a moment. "You're saying I should let Sara go?"
Nancy sighed. "It doesn't have to be that, Cole. It's about doing what's right for her."
Her words settled heavily between us, pressing against the weight already crushing my chest. What was best for Sara? Was it me, the man who had shattered her trust? Or was it life without me, one where she could be free of the pain I had caused and find her own happiness?
"Get some rest, Cole, and lock your door. That crazy woman is back, and it's better to be safe."
*** *** ***
I didn't sleep a wink. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, I told Nancy I was heading out again. She gave me a concerned look but didn't say much.
I drove aimlessly through town, the streets quiet and empty, my mind racing. Every turn I took, every mile I passed, only seemed to lead me further into the same unanswerable void.
Nancy's words kept replaying in my mind: What's best for Sara.
Yet, I felt unmoored, adrift in uncertainty.
What did it mean to love someone when love demanded letting go? Was stepping back the right thing to do, or was it just another way of giving up?
The questions swirled, unanswered, as I kept driving, the night stretching on endlessly. I drove, chasing no destination, seeking answers the night had not brought.
I kept driving and driving until the sun rose and the streets came alive with cars and passersby. I passed the restaurant where we held our engagement party, remembering how happy I was at that moment. How proud I felt that someone like her loved me, that I wanted to shout it to the world. I passed the ice cream shop where we shared our first official date, the start of our relationship. She was wearing a white summer dress—so beautiful, so pure—and I remembered thinking, "I'm going to marry this girl."
Then I passed our house—her house now—where it all began, where we began.
For a moment, I lingered, parked at the sidewalk, the engine idling softly as memories flooded my mind. The quiet longing pressed against my chest, unrelenting, as I stared at the house that once held so much of my life, my love, my happiness.
But I didn't stop long.
With a deep breath, I shifted the car into gear and drove away again.
Along the way, I passed the flower shop where I used to buy bouquets for Sara, back when I remembered, when I appreciated, how lucky I was to have her. I hadn't done that in a long time. This time, I stopped and bought a bouquet of red and pink roses. The lady who sold them to me said they could beautifully convey both love and forgiveness.
It was perfect. The red roses spoke of the love that still burned fiercely in my heart, while the soft pink ones carried the desperate hope of forgiveness.
Then I drove to her house, my heartbeat pounding loud in my ears the entire way. I parked across the street, right behind Archie's car. He was still there.
I sat for a moment, clutching the bouquet of red and pink roses, their fragrance a quiet reminder of why I'd come. My hands trembled as I stepped out of the car, each step toward her door feeling heavier than the last.
I pressed the bell, the sound echoing in the stillness. It felt like an eternity before the door finally opened, and there she was—Sara. The love of my life. The woman who had been my everything, the one I had taken for granted.
Her eyes met mine, and in that moment, everything I had rehearsed in my mind vanished. All that remained was the truth: she was the one I couldn't live without, the one I had hurt, the one I was desperate to make things right with.
The roses in my hands felt like both an offering and an apology, but words still caught in my throat. All I could do was stand there, hoping she could see in my eyes what I couldn't say yet.
And then Nancy's words echoed back in my head. "It's about doing what's right for her."
"Hi," I croaked, trying to give her a smile. I handed the flowers to her. "This is for you."
"Thank you," she said softly, her eyes lingering on the bouquet, a faint smile touching her lips as if she couldn't help but love it. "Let me get my coat. We can walk and talk."
Sara turned and went inside, disappearing up the stairs. I stepped into the foyer, my eyes wandering around the house we once shared. I missed this place. Every corner held memories—laughter in the kitchen, quiet evenings on the couch, the way the sunlight used to spill through the windows in the morning. This was our home, a life we'd built together.
She appeared again, already wearing her coat, but then she paused and turned to the side. That's when I saw Archie. They spoke in low voices, their words too soft for me to hear, but the intimacy of the moment was unmistakable. My heart pinched painfully, knowing that she saw him as someone safe, someone she could rely on. He became her pillar, her strength. And now, she had to reassure him she would be safe with me.
I watched as she pressed her right hand gently against his chest, a gesture that seemed to say, It's okay. I'll be okay . He nodded at her, his expression softening, but then his eyes shifted to me.
Our gazes locked, and for a moment, the air between us was heavy with unspoken words. He gave me a single nod—a silent plea, a quiet demand. Keep her safe. Her body, her mind, and especially her heart.
I nodded back, my own silent promise.