Chapter 21 : Leaving the Chaos for Good I stood outside the apartment building with Liam wrapped in my arms . The police escorted Celine out in silence , but she didn't scream . She just stared at me . Unblinking . Grinning . Almost amused . Zach watched her go without a word . His hand brushed mine briefly - like an apology he didn't deserve to say aloud . But I wasn't thinking about Zach anymore . I was thinking about Liam . He looked up at me , eyes wide . " Are we going home now ? " I kissed his forehead . " Yes , baby . We're going home . " I held him tighter as the cameras flashed and the queen was dragged away in shackles . And for the first time in what felt like forever , I breathed . But peace was still a fragile thing . The next morning , I took Liam back to the hospital . I couldn't take chances anymore . He had to be seen , thoroughly , head to toe . Dr. Beltran welcomed us with furrowed brows and the soft kind of concern that doesn't overstep . " How are we feeling today , champ? " he asked Liam , offering him a little plush lion . We stayed overnight at the hospital . Just to be sure . The doctor said Liam was stable -no signs of a severe allergic reaction , but they had to monitor him for another 24 hours due to a few hives on his back and his elevated heart rate earlier that day . I watched him sleep with monitors clipped to his tiny fingers , and something inside me broke and healed at the same time . When lunch came , I sat in the hospital cafeteria with a paper cup of untouched coffee in my hand . My fingers trembled . I kept seeing her face . Celine's blank stare . The stillness of someone who had nothing left to lose . She had changed everything about herself - her face , her name , her voice . Neil told me every detail over a call . We were burning letters from A to Z as he dropped the shocking revelation about the unhinged bitch . Celine Lovelet was born Madeline Cruz . Before that , she was Julia Rivera . Before that , she was Leila Amor . Three names . Three lives . One psychopathic bitch . A woman who'd been accused of child endangerment after a child under her care had nearly drowned while she was allegedly sedated on prescription meds . She vanished after that . Fled the suburb . Went off - grid . Resurfaced years later with a new face- thanks to countless plastic surgeries done in clandestine clinics outside the country . She was a ghost in the system , drifting from identity to identity until she found Zach- and a new obsession . She's sick to the head . I should've known . No normal woman 1/3 75 39 could look at my son and try to destroy him without blinking . I dumped the cold coffee and returned to Liam's room . I saw him scooting on the bed . " Hi , baby , how are you feeling ? " I kissed the side of his head and sat beside him . " I'm all good now , but I don't want to go back there ," he whispered , clinging to my hand . I swallowed the lump in my throat and bent to his level . " We won't , baby . I promise you . We're leaving that life behind . " It was in that sterile white room , under fluorescent lights , that I made the final decision . This city , this circle of pain - it had become a trap . For Liam . For me . I couldn't risk this anymore . The next few days moved quickly . Papers filed . Farewell messages sent . I sold what I could , stored the rest with my cousin , and packed only the essentials for me and Liam . " Sitka ? " Neil blinked , handing me a brown envelope containing Liam's updated records and a small check from the case settlement . " You're really doing this . " " I have to . " I zipped up Liam's duffel bag . " I'm not waiting for the next storm ." Neil studied me for a moment . " You don't have to run from everything , Arianne . " " I'm not running ," I said . " I'm choosing peace ." The cab was waiting outside when Zach finally showed up . He looked like hell . Unshaven . Paler than I'd ever seen him . " Don't do this , " he lamented . " I already have ," I said quietly , adjusting Liam's backpack . " Please ," he stepped closer , voice trembling . " Let's talk . Just the two of us . " " There's nothing to say . " I kept my voice even , low . " This isn't revenge , Zach . This is keeping me sane and protecting my child's mental health . " " You don't have to go . I can take care of you both . We can co - parent . I'll do whatever it takes . " " You had your chance to take care of us . But you chose Celine . You let her into our lives . You let her hurt him ." He flinched , his mouth opening , then closing . Silence pressed between us like a knife . Liam tugged my coat . " Mom , are we gonna miss our flight ? " " No , baby , " I whispered . " We're just saying goodbye . " Zach crouched to Liam's height . " Hey , bud ... you're going on an adventure , huh ? " Liam blinked at him . " Mom says it's a new start . " He nodded , his voice breaking . " You'll be okay . Both of you will be okay . " I turned to the cab before my resolve could waver . " Wait ," Zach said one last time , barely audible . " Do you still love me ? " I turned back . Climbed inside the cab and never looked back . Zach sat on the porch of his once - bustling home , now stripped of laughter and chaos . A box of unopened toys sat beside him . A soccer ball Liam once begged him to buy . The swing in the backyard creaked in the wind , untouched . Inside , the walls were too quiet . Celine's trial had gone public . Details spilled across social media : mugshots from a decade ago , video footage of her with a toddler on a beach , moments before she vanished . Eyewitnesses . Rumors of bribed surgeons . Forged documents . She was going to prison for a long time . But it didn't fix anything . He didn't go to work anymore . The record label he once proudly led was now a blur of emails he didn't answer . He barely ate . He barely slept . At night , he would open Liam's baby photos and stare at them for hours . Then scroll through old voicemails , playing the ones Arianne used to leave when they were still married . Her voice still made his heart ache . He tried calling once . Just to hear her voice again . The number no longer existed . Tiffany had come by one day , offering him a drink and a lecture . " You should've protected them ," she said . " Now all you have are regrets ." She was right . Every corner of that house echoed with things he could've done differently . He watched the sunset from the porch , his eyes tired but dry . And for the first time in weeks , he whispered aloud- " I miss you . " But there was no one left to hear it . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!