Page 35

Lux

I t was a normal morning. We had gotten up, and Juliette had just finished braiding Bella's hair and added a special pink sparkly bow that she had gotten for her at a boutique we randomly walked by one day.

She had kept it a secret until she finally found a chance to give it to her as a present. Juliette had been happy to give it to her, but there was also that small bit of anxiety thrumming underneath. She had been worried Bella would hate it.

But Bella would never.

It warmed my heart to see Bella immediately lighting up when Juliette hesitantly gave her the package. She let out a squeal of happiness right then and there, and an even louder one when she actually opened it.

It just reinforced how perfect they were together. How perfect we were. And how lucky I had been to find someone like Juliette.

Less than half a year ago, it felt like my heart had been torn out and ripped to shreds. I had been overwhelmed, unsure. Everything seemed like it was going to shit.

Now, I just couldn’t believe this was my life.

I was sipping my coffee and looking at the two of them as they interacted.

Juliette had her hair up in a messy bun, her face bare but glowing. She wore her lounge clothes, an oversized light blue shirt and sweats. When she looked at me, she sent me a warm smile.

She’s so perfect.

Bella was in front of her, chomping on some waffles.

“No, you should try it, really. No one in my class could do it.”

“I am positive I cannot lick my elbow,” Juliette said with a light laugh.

My smile widened then as Bella shot me a glance.

“Try it, Auntie Lux! If anyone can do it, it’s you!”

I shook my head and took a sip of my coffee. “I was young once too, believe me. I’ve tried.”

Bella pouted, and just as she was about to push us to try again, the doorbell rang.

“I'll get it,” Gina said, placing the dishes back in the sink. I thought nothing of it. Even though we didn’t usually get visitors, my mind was only on my girls.

But when she answered the door and her voice cut out, I knew immediately that there was an issue. “Hey! You’re not supposed?—”

Before I knew it, my mom was rounding the corner. As always, she was dressed as if she was going to some type of city council meeting. Perfectly coiffed curly black hair, flawless makeup, not a single wrinkle on her outfit.

She wielded a large white stack of papers in her hands as her eyes sat on me. She had this look on her face. One I had seen many times growing up. She thinks she’s won. That whatever was in her hands was the key to getting one up on me.

Even when I was a young teenager, she had wanted to be better than me. Always had to knock me down. Whether that was through ignoring me, paying more attention to my sister, or pointing out—or feeding—my insecurities.

She’s thinking she’s better than me. She wants this to hurt.

Juliette moved in front of Bella immediately. My niece held onto the back of Juliette’s shirt and glared at my mother. If it weren’t such a dire situation, I would've applauded her for her courage.

I was up immediately, but she simply shoved the papers into my chest and made a beeline for Bella. My hand reached out and gripped her arm.

“I told you you're not allowed?—”

“I'm taking you to court for custody of the child,” she said, and yanked her arm out of my grasp.

She sent me a glare, looking me up and down, a disgusting smirk spreading across her painted lips.

“If you make this easy, I won't ruin your image, but if you plan on fighting me, it's only going to go one way. My way. ”

Anger boiled inside me, working its way up my entire body. It was so potent I felt the need to pull at my skin to find some sort of relief. It was either that or punching my own mother in the face.

“You can't take?—”

“I can if you want to keep your livelihood,” she said, looking Juliette straight in the eyes. She was goading her.

But instead of taking the bait, Juliette paused, looking at my mother. Then something seemed to dawn on her.

“You know something.”

My mother let out a huff. “I'm resourceful.”

“I don't think that's the right word for it,” Juliette replied, her arms crossing in front of her.

Bella was still holding onto her for dear life, but her glare had not let up yet. I moved to them, a united front.

“It's all in the files, but let me tell you, it sure is damning. If this goes out, you'll never be able to work with children ever again.”

Stillness washed over Juliette, a sense of calm I wasn’t feeling.

“We know you talked to my aunt,” she said, and then corrected herself. “No, you probably stalked my aunt and then waited until you could get a chance to speak to her. What did she tell you exactly?”

“Oh, I didn't stalk anyone,” my mother said with a huff. “I just met her at my normal floristry class, and as we were talking, I realized who she was. She told me some very interesting things about you, including that you’d recently come into some money. Given in exchange for sexual favors to my daughter.”

Rage coursed through me as I took a peek at the papers in front of me and saw what she was alleging as a reason to change Bella’s custody order.

I couldn't tell which was worse. Her aunt giving up this information or my mother using it as blackmail.

My reasoning stands when it comes to Juliette, but I fucking regret paying for that bitch’s medical expenses.

“This is low even for you,” I spat and threw the papers on the counter. They scattered all over the island and down to the floor. “If you take this to court, and this becomes public, we're not the only ones whose reputation will be damaged.”

She turned to look at me with a villainous smile that took her evilness to a whole other level. She’s enjoying this.

“Oh no, I already have my press tour ready,” she said and batted her eyelashes. “You're no child of mine. All of that came from your father.”

Juliette leaned forward and grabbed the papers without leaving Bella’s side. Her eyes scanned them, and she let out a light gasp.

Meeting my eyes, I gave her a nod. It was even worse than either of us could've imagined.

Somehow—maybe by following me, possibly by bribing a few people, including someone there—my mother had found out that we met at a BDSM club.

And while that wouldn’t usually be an issue, she was using it as proof that I was an unfit guardian to Bella.

Furthermore, she intended to use Juliette’s presence here and the money I paid her as even more proof that Bella was not in a stable household.

I didn’t even want to get into the rest of the defamatory document.

It was ridiculous. But I knew it could work.

Ridiculous lies and the prospect of “keeping children safe” took well-meaning, normal individuals and turned them into angry, mindless beings that wanted nothing more than to destroy anything they didn’t understand.

And she knew that as well. She would harness their ignorance and unwillingness to learn and make an impossible case against us.

She's turning what Juliette and I have into something disgusting. Something dirty.

All she needed to do was convince a judge that I was twisted and had brought someone like-minded around Bella. That Bella’s safety was at risk.

My fists clenched, and I had to take deep breaths through my nose and out through my mouth.

How dare she ? —

No.

I quieted my mind immediately. This was no time to let anger get the better of me.

I needed to get my lawyer, and fast. But if my mother actually did go to the courts with this… I was afraid I might lose Bella forever.

I looked at Bella and leaned down, grabbing both her arms. I made sure that she was looking me in the eye and not the vile woman behind me.

Her eyes were already watering, and I could tell that she knew what I was about to say was truly bad news.

“You're going to have to stay with her for a little bit,” I said. Each word felt like I was trying to pluck out barbed wire from my heart. The pain on her face made it all so much worse. “It's temporary. I'm going to find a way out of this, and I'm going to bring you home .”

“No, she's not,” my mother said as she walked around me, her hand grabbing Bella by the shoulder. “You're going to come and stay with me like you should have from the very beginning. Permanently. ”

Juliette was there, pushing her hand off Bella.

“Give us one day to prepare,” she asked, her voice softer than mine ever could be at the moment. “It’s the least you can do. For Bella. She has things to pack. Let’s not make this worse for her.”

For the first time, my mother seemed to consider her words. She took a step back, her eyes running down Juliette’s frame with a scowl.

“One day. But then I want her at my doorstep. If you don’t comply, this will look even worse for the two of you.”

Juliette nodded, but I said nothing as my mother left.

When the door slammed behind her, there was silence.

What the fuck am I going to do?

Gina came over, offering us all water. I had forgotten she was there at all. Juliette took a bottle, but Bella and I didn’t. She was looking at the ground, and I was too busy looking at her.

I can’t lose her. But I need to tread carefully, or else I truly may have no other option.

Then Bella finally spoke up.

“You promised,” she said, her voice hollow. Even if my heart hadn’t been on the verge of breaking, that would have done it.

“I did. I did, and I'm sorry,” I told her, trying to keep my voice from cracking. “I don't want this. And you deserve so much better than this. I’m going to fix it.”

I looked at Juliette.

“Just in case, prepare her room and her stuff. I need to call the lawyer.”

She nodded and gently took Bella from me. With one last glance at her, I hurried to my office to dial the only person I thought could help me.

* * *

“So… You have custody, which means she can't just take her from you,” my lawyer, Laura, explained as she looked over my mother’s documentation.