Updated Feb 23, 2026 • ~7 min read
POV: Rory
Dominic’s mother calls me three days after court.
I almost don’t answer.
Valerie Ashford never liked me. She tolerated me, but her love was reserved for Celeste.
“Aurora?” Her voice is cold.
“Mrs. Ashford.”
“We need to talk. About Dominic.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I don’t care what you think is a good idea. My son is caught between two women and it’s tearing him apart. This needs to end.”
“I agree.”
“So do the right thing and walk away.”
I nearly drop the phone.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. Walk away. Celeste is his real wife. They have history. Five years of marriage. You’ve only been together three years and one of those doesn’t even count.”
“Doesn’t count?”
“The year she was still in the coma. He was technically still married to her. So really, you’ve had two years. She has legal standing. You don’t.”
“Your son CHOSE to marry me.”
“Because he thought Celeste was dead. Now she’s not. The situation has changed.”
“So I should just… give up? Let him go?”
“If you truly love him, yes. Because staying means forcing him to choose between guilt over Celeste and whatever he feels for you. That’s not love. That’s selfishness.”
The words hit like knives.
“Did Celeste ask you to call me?”
“Celeste doesn’t know I’m calling. But I’ve seen her. She’s broken. Five years stolen from her life. The least you can do is give her back her husband.”
“He’s MY husband too.”
“Only on paper. And that paper might not even be valid.”
“Mrs. Ashford—”
“I’m not asking, Aurora. I’m telling you. Back off. Let Dominic do the right thing. Let him honor his vows to his REAL wife.”
She hangs up.
I sit there, shaking.
Dominic’s own mother wants me gone.
Priya finds me crying an hour later.
“What happened?”
I tell her about Valerie’s call.
“That BITCH,” Priya says. “She has no right—”
“She’s his mother. She has every right to have an opinion.”
“An opinion, sure. But calling you to demand you walk away? That’s crossing a line.”
“Maybe she’s right.”
“She’s NOT right. Dom chose YOU. That matters.”
“But his mother—his family—they all want Celeste.”
“So what? You think her family wants you? This isn’t about families. It’s about Dom’s choice.”
“What if he chooses wrong because of family pressure?”
“Then he’s weak. And you deserve better.”
Maybe I do.
My phone buzzes.
Dominic’s brother, James.
Text: “Can we meet? Need to discuss the case.”
I show Priya.
“At least James is neutral,” she says. “He’s your lawyer too.”
“Dominic’s lawyer. Not mine.”
“Still. He might have information.”
I meet James at a coffee shop downtown.
He looks exhausted.
“How are you holding up?” he asks.
“I’ve been better. You?”
“Same. This case is… complicated.”
“So I’ve heard.”
He orders coffee. We sit.
“I wanted to talk to you about strategy,” he says.
“Okay?”
“The judge gave us thirty days. In that time, we need to build a case for putative marriage. Prove you both entered in good faith.”
“We did.”
“I know. But we need evidence. Proof that Dominic believed Celeste was dead or permanently incapacitated. Medical records. Testimony from doctors. The life support withdrawal order.”
“Okay.”
“But there’s a problem.”
“Of course there is.”
“Celeste’s lawyer is arguing that even if Dominic believed she was dead, he should have filed for legal death declaration before remarrying. Without that, his remarriage was premature.”
“Is that true?”
“Legally? Maybe. But it’s a gray area. Most widowers don’t file death declarations. They just… move on.”
“So what do we do?”
“We argue compassionate grounds. That Dominic was grieving. That doctors advised the marriage was over for all intents and purposes. That requiring a legal death declaration for someone in a permanent vegetative state is unreasonable.”
“Will that work?”
“I don’t know. Depends on the judge.”
I take a sip of coffee.
“James, can I ask you something? Off the record?”
“Sure.”
“Do you think I should walk away?”
He’s quiet for a long moment.
“Honestly?”
“Honestly.”
“I think my brother loves you. But I also think he’s drowning in guilt over Celeste. And guilt is a powerful motivator.”
“So he’ll choose her.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“But you’re thinking it.”
“I’m thinking he needs to choose WITHOUT pressure from anyone. My mother. Celeste’s friends. You. Me. Everyone needs to back off and let him decide.”
“Your mother called me. Told me to walk away.”
James closes his eyes.
“Of course she did.”
“She thinks I’m ruining his life.”
“She thinks CHANGE ruins lives. She loved Celeste. She wanted that life for Dominic. You’re… unexpected.”
“I’m the other woman.”
“You’re the woman he chose. That counts.”
“Does it? Or did he just choose convenience? I was there. Alive. Available. Celeste wasn’t.”
“You really think that’s all it was?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore.”
James leans forward.
“Rory, I’ve known my brother my whole life. I’ve seen him in love exactly twice. With Celeste. And with you. Both are real. Both matter. The question isn’t which love is MORE real. It’s which love he wants to build a future on.”
“And if he can’t decide?”
“Then he loses both of you. And honestly? That might be what he deserves.”
That night, Isabel calls.
My coworker. My friend.
“I heard about court,” she says.
“News travels fast.”
“Small city. Big scandal.” She pauses. “How are you?”
“Hanging in there.”
“Listen, I don’t want to overstep. But I need to tell you something.”
“What?”
“Team staff is… divided. About you and Dominic.”
My stomach sinks.
“Divided how?”
“Some people think you should fight. Others think you should walk away. There’s been… talk.”
“What kind of talk?”
“That you knowingly married a married man. That you’re a homewrecker. That Celeste is the victim and you’re the villain.”
“I didn’t KNOW—”
“I KNOW that. But people love drama. And this is dramatic.”
“So what—I’m the bad guy now?”
“To some people, yes. I’m sorry. I wanted you to know before you come back to work.”
“Are people saying this TO me or just behind my back?”
“Behind your back. For now. But you know how schools are. Gossip spreads.”
Great.
Not only am I losing my husband, I’m also losing my reputation.
“Thanks for telling me,” I say.
“For what it’s worth? I’m on your side. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Doesn’t feel that way.”
Dominic calls that night.
I almost don’t answer.
But I do.
“Hey,” he says.
“Hey.”
“I miss you.”
“I miss you too.”
Silence.
“My mom called you,” he says.
“How did you know?”
“She told me. Proudly. Like she did something helpful.” He sighs. “I’m sorry. She had no right.”
“She’s your mother. She’s protective.”
“She’s out of line. I told her to back off.”
“Did she listen?”
“No.”
Of course not.
“James told you about the case strategy?” Dominic asks.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think we can win?”
“I don’t know. Do YOU think we can win?”
“I don’t know either. This whole thing is…”
“Complicated. I know.”
More silence.
“Rory, I want to choose you. You need to know that.”
“But?”
“But every time I think about choosing you, I see Celeste’s face. The way she looks at me. Like I’m her whole world. Like losing me would destroy her.”
“And what about destroying me?”
“That’s the problem. I can’t choose without destroying someone.”
“So you’re choosing to destroy both of us by not choosing at all.”
“That’s not—”
“It IS. Your indecision is a decision, Dom. And it’s hurting everyone.”
“I need more time—”
“You have three weeks left. Figure it out.”
I hang up.
Stare at my phone.
Everyone’s choosing sides.
His family: Team Celeste.
My family: Team Rory.
His lawyer: Neutral.
Our friends: Divided.
And Dominic? Still on the fence.
Which means I’m fighting this battle alone.
END OF CHAPTER 11
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