The Wife He Lost

PART 3 — THE FIRST VISIT

Three weeks passed.

Victor received no calls from Norah.

Every morning, he checked his phone. Every evening, he returned to an empty penthouse.

He had dismissed Sylvia’s personal assistant, stopped attending late-night parties, and started leaving the office before seven.

But none of it changed the silence.

Then, one Tuesday afternoon, his attorney called.

“Mr. Rinaldi, your wife has agreed to a supervised visit.”

Victor stood so quickly that his chair fell backward.

“When?”

“Saturday morning. At a family center in Evanston. Two hours, under supervision.”

“I’ll be there.”

“One more thing. Norah requested that you come alone.”

“Of course.”

Saturday morning arrived.

Victor wore a simple navy sweater instead of his usual expensive suit. He brought two small stuffed animals and a box of baby clothes.

When he entered the family center, he saw Norah sitting near the window.

She wore a soft blue dress. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders, and she looked healthier than she had in the photograph.

Leo was playing on a blanket beside her while Mia sat in her lap.

Victor stopped.

His children were growing.

Leo’s hair was thicker. Mia had two tiny teeth and was trying to grab her mother’s necklace.

He had missed three weeks of their lives.

“Hello, Victor.”

Norah’s voice was calm.

He swallowed.

“Norah.”

She didn’t stand.

“You can sit down.”

Victor approached slowly.

“May I hold them?”

Norah looked at him for a moment before nodding.

“Leo first. Support his head.”

Victor carefully lifted his son.

The little boy stared at him with curious dark eyes.

Then Leo reached up and grabbed Victor’s nose.

A broken laugh escaped Victor’s throat.

“Hello, little man.”

Leo made a happy sound.

Victor’s eyes became wet.

“God, I’ve missed you.”

Norah looked away.

He eventually held Mia too. She studied his face before resting her tiny hand against his cheek.

For a few precious minutes, Victor forgot about his empire, his enemies, and the men waiting outside.

He was simply a father holding his children.

When the visit ended, he turned toward Norah.

“Can we talk?”

“About what?”

“About us.”

“There is no us anymore, Victor.”

He lowered his voice.

“I know I hurt you.”

“You didn’t just hurt me. You left me alone when I needed you most. I was recovering from childbirth, taking care of two babies, and begging my own husband to come home.”

“I know.”

“No, you don’t.”

Her eyes filled with tears, but her voice remained steady.

“Do you know what it feels like to sit beside two crying babies at three in the morning, wondering why their father would rather be with another woman?”

Victor lowered his head.

“I was wrong.”

“You were selfish.”

“I know.”

“I don’t want your money. I don’t want your penthouse. I don’t want promises that last three days.”

Victor stepped closer but stopped when he saw her expression.

“Then tell me what I can do.”

Norah looked at him.

“Be their father. Show up when you say you will. Learn how to feed them, change them, comfort them. And don’t use our children as an excuse to force your way back into my life.”

Victor nodded slowly.

“I will.”

Norah picked up Mia’s diaper bag.

“Your next visit is in two weeks. Don’t be late.”

He watched her walk toward the door.

“Norah?”

She paused.

“I still love you,” he whispered.

For a moment, her shoulders stiffened.

Then she turned slightly.

“That’s the problem, Victor. I loved you enough to stay until staying almost destroyed me.”

She left with the twins.

Victor remained seated long after the room was empty.

Outside, Thomas approached him.

“Boss, the car is ready.”

Victor didn’t move.

“Thomas, I want you to arrange something.”

“What is it?”

“Find the best parenting classes in Chicago. And get me a pediatric first-aid course.”

Thomas blinked.

“Sir?”

Victor looked at the door through which his family had disappeared.

“I don’t know how to be the father my children need. So I’m going to learn.”

But neither man noticed the black SUV parked across the street.

Inside, Sylvia watched Victor leave the building.

Her fingers tightened around her phone.

She had spent months trying to become the woman beside Victor Rinaldi.

And now, even after Norah had walked away, he was still chasing her.

Sylvia dialed a number.

“I need you to find something about Norah Bennett.”

A man’s voice answered.

“What exactly?”

Sylvia smiled coldly.

“Everything. Especially anything she doesn’t want Victor to know.”

Because Sylvia had just discovered something interesting.

Norah’s grandfather hadn’t merely left her a few properties.

He had left her a business empire.

And if the rumors were true, Norah Bennett might be far more powerful than Victor Rinaldi ever imagined.