Chapter 5 Blood and Birthright

The day after Elena showed up wasn't just another cloudy Seattle day. It meant three black SUVs with dark windows, a bunch of serious security guys, and a calm that screamed money and control.

I was stuck in my hospital bed, still weak from surgery but more awake than I'd been in ages, watching my grandma turn the room into her headquarters. She got here early with new clothes, helpers, and this vibe that she could change the world if she wanted to.

This custody thing Mikel made you sign, Elena said, not wasting any time. She was looking at papers on her tablet while her assistant sorted files, it's awful. No Romano would agree to that.

Emma was asleep in her bassinet, not knowing her life was being changed with every word. In the bright hospital lights, Elena was right-Emma had the Romano eyes, that same strong jawline that's been in our family for generations, from women who didn't give up.

I don't know if I'm still a Romano, I said quietly. I left, remember? I picked love instead of the family stuff, and it didn't work out.

Elena looked right at me with that intense stare that scared world leaders. You think you can't have love and family together? You think being a Romano means you can't really care about people?

I wasn't expecting that. Three years ago, I thought Elena's world was cold, planned out, and didn't have the warmth that I felt with Mikel. But now, seeing how carefully she fixed Emma's blanket, I wondered if I was wrong about more than just my husband.

I thought it meant marrying for money, not love, I said. I thought people were just tools to get what you want.

And how did marrying for love work out? Elena asked, her voice soft but serious. Did your perfect love save you from being cheated on? Did he stop himself from picking another woman over his pregnant wife?

That hurt because it was true. I turned down my family's way of doing things, but love without power just made me weak.

What are you saying? I asked, even though I already knew.

Elena went to the window, standing tall even in the boring hospital room. I'm saying stop acting like being weak makes you a good person. Power isn't bad. It's something you can use to protect the people you love or beat the people who hurt you.

Someone knocked softly on the door, like they knew what we were talking about. Mikel walked in without waiting, his expensive suit wrinkled, his hair a mess. I used to want to fix it for him.

He stopped when he saw Elena, his businessman face slipping for a second. I watched as he realized who she was, seeing her control of the room just by standing there.

Mrs. Romano, he said carefully, sounding like someone who knew they were facing something dangerous.

Mr. Sterling. Elena's reply was colder than a Seattle winter. How nice of you to visit your wife and daughter. I hope the divorce is going well for you?

Mikel's jaw tightened when she said wife. Things are... going as they should. For everyone.

Going as they should, Elena said, like the words tasted bad. Right, because leaving your family while your wife is in the hospital is okay. Very efficient for a businessman.

I saw Mikel blush, maybe from embarrassment or anger. You don't understand-

I understand things fine. Elena cut him off. You got tricked by people you didn't even see, you believed lies to ruin your marriage, and you were too proud to check anything before you acted.

Mikel froze. What are you talking about?

Elena smiled, that kind of smile that could destroy countries and companies. I'm talking about Sophia Chen, and someone else who's way better at this game. I'm talking about fake photos and evidence, all made to cut off my granddaughter from her family.

That's not true, Mikel said, but he didn't sound sure. I saw the proof. The pictures, the hotel bills-

Were made by someone who knew exactly what would get to you. Elena pulled up some files on her tablet. Tell me, Mr. Sterling, did you ever wonder why all this 'proof' showed up when Romano Enterprises was about to make a big investment in American tech?

Mikel's face went white when he got it. You think someone planned this to break us up?

I don't think, I know. Elena said, calm but scary. The question is, what are you doing now that you've messed up your family because of lies?

Mikel looked at me, and I saw something I hadn't seen before: real doubt. The guy who made millions looked lost, desperate, human.

Bella, he said, my name sounding rough. If this is true-

If so, I finally said, my voice stronger than I felt. If this is true, you threw away five years of marriage, left your pregnant wife, and signed away your daughter's life based on lies. If this is true, you never trusted me enough to even ask questions.

I was going to ask, he said, sounding desperate. I was coming home that night to talk to you about it, to give you a chance to explain. But you were gone.

You thought the best time to serve divorce papers was when our child wasn't safe, I interrupted. You picked the worst of me when I really needed you.

Elena was watching us, looking pleased that she was right. Mr. Sterling, you can check all this yourself. I'm sure your lawyers can trace the fake stuff. But I should tell you, by the time you find out the truth, the damage to this family might be too much.

Mikel looked back and forth between Elena and me, realizing he wasn't in charge anymore. What do you want from me?

I want nothing, Elena said, sounding like he was nothing to her. I care about my granddaughter and her child. What happens to you doesn't matter to me.

That shut him down hard. I watched Mikel understand that he was just in the way of what we were going to do.

Bella, he said, turning to me, sounding really worried. No matter what I've done, Emma is my daughter. I won't let lies keep me from her.

You won't be kept away, I said quietly, because you did that to yourself. The custody thing you made me sign makes sure you see her as much as you wanted-nothing more.

That was mean, but true. The papers he gave through his lawyer gave him every other weekend and some holidays, like Emma was an object instead of a daughter.

Elena went to Emma's bassinet and picked her up like she knew what she was doing. This child will grow up knowing she is protected, valued, and powerful enough to do anything she wants. She will never doubt herself or accept less than she deserves.

Watching Elena hold Emma, I felt something change inside me-a familiar feeling, like coming home, feeling strong again. This was what I walked away from three years ago: not some cold plan, but the kind of power that protects what's important.

I want what's mine back, I said, the words coming out easier than I thought.

Elena smiled, like she won. Welcome home.

Mikel stepped closer, sounding worried. Bella, don't make decisions now. We can fix this.

Can we? I asked, sitting up straight even though it hurt. Because you've already decided everything. You thought I was guilty without asking. You decided our marriage was over. You decided Emma's future without thinking about her.

I was protecting myself, he said, sounding raw. I was protecting my heart from someone I thought cheated on me.

And I'm protecting mine from someone who actually did cheat on me, I said. The difference is, I have what it takes to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Elena put Emma back in her bassinet gently, then turned to Mikel, cold as ice. Mr. Sterling, you should find out the truth about what wrecked your marriage. When you know what I know-and you will-think about whether you're ready to fight for what's left of your family.

Fight? Mikel asked, his voice rough. Fight how? What are we fighting?

Fight your own pride. Fight whoever did this. Fight the lie that you were the victim instead of the weapon. Elena started to leave. But mostly, fight the clock. Because every day you waste feeling sorry for yourself is another day my granddaughter gets stronger, smarter, and more free.

She went to the door, then stopped. Oh, and Mr. Sterling? Next time you want to see your daughter, you'll have to ask through Romano Enterprises' lawyers. You know what that means.

That meant war. That meant Mikel's millions were up against one of the biggest families in Europe. That meant the guy who thought he was divorcing a weak woman was now going up against something that could easily destroy him.

After Elena left, Mikel just stood there, like his world fell apart. He looked at Emma, then at me, his face showing different emotions.

This isn't over, he said.

No, I said, holding Emma close. It's just beginning. But you're not in charge this time.

After he left, I held my daughter and felt the last part of me that was trusting disappear. The woman who believed in good endings was gone, replaced by someone who knew happy endings weren't given-they were taken by those who were strong enough.

Elena came back in an hour with doctors, a fancy place for me to heal, and a plan for Emma that made Mikel look bad. Watching her control everything, I knew love and power weren't opposites-they worked together and made you strong.

Are you ready to go home? Elena asked as the doctors got ready for me to leave.

Home. Not the house with Mikel, with the painful memories. Not the apartment I thought I'd live in after the divorce. Home to the world I left, the family I turned down, the power I thought I didn't want.

Yes, I said, looking at Emma's perfect face. We're ready.

As we left the hospital in Elena's cars, I saw Mikel in the parking lot, standing next to his car like he was lost. Part of me-the part that remembered loving him-wanted to feel bad for him.

But that part was fading away, replaced by something tougher, smarter, more dangerous.

The Romano princess was coming home. And she had her heir.