Chapter 3 - A Quiet Sanctuary
Four weeks later, Bella unlocked the weathered wooden door of the Maine cottage. The salty Atlantic breeze cut through the morning chill, carrying the scent of pine needles and damp earth. Inside, dust motes danced in the pale sunlight.
Victoria helped carry the baby carrier and two suitcases onto the porch. "Julian’s lawyers called three times today," Victoria said, leaning against the doorframe. "He refuses to sign the custody agreement as written. He wants joint physical custody."
Bella lifted baby Leo into her arms, inhaling the sweet, powdery scent of his skin. "He wants control, Victoria, not custody. Julian has never washed a dish or changed a diaper in his life. He can't fathom losing an asset."
May you like
"The judge won't take a newborn from a nursing mother," Victoria assured her gently. "Take your time here. Let the world turn without you for a while."
When Victoria left, Bella sat in her grandmother’s old rocking chair by the window. The ocean waves broke rhythmically against the rocky shore. Her heart thudded with lingering grief, but underneath the pain lay an unfamiliar sensation: peace. She was responsible for this child now, and she would raise him in truth, not golden illusions.
