Chapter 3 - Cole Wakes Up AloneCole returned to the apartment at 7:18 a.m.
He expected to find me asleep.
Instead, the apartment was silent.
The Christmas tree still glowed.
His coat hung near the door.
He walked into the nursery.
Empty.
The cribs were empty.
The diaper bag was gone.
The medicine was gone.
He froze.
“Lauren?”
Nothing.
He checked the bedroom.
Empty.
Then he saw the Tiffany box beneath the Christmas tree.
His expression changed.
He opened it.
The necklace was inside.
And beneath it...
My wedding ring.
He unfolded the note.
You should have come home for Christmas.
His hands began shaking.
He called me.
Blocked.
He called again.
Nothing.
Then he called the nanny.
She answered.
“Where is Lauren?”
“I don't know.”
“Where are the children?”
“I don't know.”
“Who took them?”
“She did.”
Cole slammed the phone down.
Then his own phone rang.
Sierra.
He answered.
“Where are you?”
“Cole, what happened?”
“My wife left.”
Silence.
“You said she wouldn't.”
“I didn't think she would.”
“Did she see the photograph?”
He closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Sierra cursed.
“We need to talk.”
“No.”
“You need me.”
Cole looked around the apartment.
For the first time, the silence frightened him.
“I need to find my children.”
“You need to protect yourself.”
“My children.”
“Cole, if Lauren gets the courts involved—”
“I said my children.”
He hung up.
Then his attorney called.
“Cole, where are you?”
“Home.”
“Don't go anywhere.”
“Why?”
“Lauren's attorney filed an emergency petition.”
His heart dropped.
“What?”
“Temporary protective custody.”
“She can't do that.”
“She already did.”
Cole sat down.
“I'll fight it.”
“You can.”
“But there's another problem.”
“What?”
“The trust.”
Cole's face went pale.
“What about it?”
“Your wife activated the emergency clause.”
He stood.
“She can't.”
“She did.”
“That money belongs to our family.”
“No.”
His attorney's voice became colder.
“It belongs to Lauren.”
Cole stared at the Christmas tree.
For years, he had believed her wealth was part of his life.
Now he was discovering that it had never belonged to him.
“Can I access the accounts?”
“No.”
“The investments?”
“No.”
“The apartment?”
“Frozen pending review.”
He felt trapped.
Then his attorney said:
“Cole, I strongly recommend that you don't contact Lauren directly.”
He hung up.
Cole walked toward the nursery.
On the floor was one tiny sock.
Pink.
Lily's.
He picked it up.
And for the first time since the twins were born, he cried.
Not because he missed his wife.
May you like
Because he finally understood what he had lost.
Control.
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