Evie looked at Nikita, her bag in her hand. Her eyes went to Joel, who’d come out into the living room.
“Mija, stay with your papa. Mama wants to take you away from me,” Joel urged, moving to come closer to Evie.
Evie looked at Nikita and then at Joel. She promptly began to cry.
“Por favor…. don’t fight!” she cried. She moved to reach for her father. “I don’t want to leave ... mi casa!”
Nikita stared speechlessly as Evie squirmed out of her arms and went to Joel. Joel hugged her and whispered words of praise to Evie. Nikita realised she’d made a mistake. Evie loved her father, and any child would be afraid of leaving their home like this.
“Because you are the mother of my daughter, I will forgive you. But one more mistake, and you’ll never see Evie again,” Joel vowed ominously befor
