Ella stepped into her home, her heart still heavy with the confrontation at the pier. Tears threatened to spill, but she quickly blinked them away. She had to be strong for her boys. As she approached the door, she heard their laughter echoing through the house, and a smile tugged at her lips.
Pushing the door open, she was met with a whirlwind of energy as Leo and Liam raced toward her, their faces beaming with excitement. “Mommy! Mommy!” they shouted in unison, their voices pure joy.
“Hey, my little adventurers!” Ella replied, kneeling to wrap them in a warm embrace. “What have you been up to today?”
“We had so much fun with Uncle Derek!” Leo exclaimed, his eyes sparkling. “He took us to the park and we saw a giant slide!”
“And we fed the ducks!” Liam added, bouncing on his toes. “It was the best day ever!”
Ella’s heart swelled at their enthusiasm, but a pang of sadness tugged at her. “I’m glad to hear that, sweethearts. But I’m a little tired right now. Let’s get you two washed up for dinner, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy!” they chorused, and she ushered them toward the bathroom.
As the boys splashed in the tub, Ella stepped out to find Derek waiting in the living room. She took a deep breath, preparing to share the burden of her day. “Derek, can we talk?” she said, her voice low.
“Of course,” he replied, concern etched on his face. “What happened at the pier?”
Ella sank onto the couch, her hands clasped tightly together. “Ethan filed for full custody of the boys,” she said, her voice trembling. “He says he wants to be a part of their lives.”
Derek’s expression hardened, anger flickering in his eyes. “What was he thinking? This is the last thing you need right now! He should know better, especially with everything going on”
“I know,” Ella replied, her voice softening. “But it’s not just about us anymore. The boys deserve to know their father.”
Derek shook his head, frustration boiling beneath the surface. “That’s true, but not like this, And what about Grace? This isn’t just about Ethan, either.”
“I feel terrible for Grace,” Ella admitted. “She’s caught in the middle of all this, and I hate that she’s suffering because of Tania’s choices. Ethan found out Tania, Crystal and Fabian are after us and also Tania is abusing Grace, the innocent child is caught up in a crossfire she knows nothing about.
The boys’ laughter from the bathroom broke the tension, but Ella couldn’t shake the heaviness in her heart. She had to protect her children at all costs.