Chapter 14

Carmela took a deep breath, willing herself to focus. She needed to be strong, for herself and for her kids. "I can do this," she said, her voice growing stronger. "What's the plan?"

Andrew leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "First, we need to get all the facts straight," he said. "I need you to tell me everything that happened between you and Max, from the beginning. Don't leave anything out, no matter how small or insignificant it seems. We need to know everything."

Carmela took a deep breath and began to tell her story, starting from when she first met Max. She talked about their marriage, the birth of the twins, and their eventual divorce. She told him about the aftermath of the divorce, how she had been struggling to make ends meet. And finally, she told him about Max's sudden reappearance in her life, and his request for custody of the twins. She spoke for what felt like hours, reliving every painful moment. But finally, she was done.

Andrew sat