PART 3 — The Story He Was Trying to Create
The following week was the hardest week of Elena's life.
Not because she was afraid of Damian.
She wasn't.
She had faced stronger opponents.
More dangerous opponents.
But this was different.
This wasn't a fight inside a ring.
This was about her children.
Her attorney, Sofia Martinez, placed several documents on the table.
"Damian's strategy was simple."
Elena looked up.
"What strategy?"
"He wanted to create a record showing you were an absent mother."
Elena froze.
Sofia continued.
"Your tournaments."
"Your travel schedule."
"Your injuries."
"He planned to argue that your career came before your children."
Elena looked down.
That hurt.
Because she knew how it would sound to strangers.
She had been away.
She had missed birthdays.
She had missed school events.
Not because she didn't love them.
Because she was working to provide for them.
"He used my career against me."
Sofia nodded.
"Exactly."
That afternoon...
Elena sat with her children.
Emma was quiet.
Too quiet.
Elena held her daughter's hand.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Emma looked down.
"Daddy said you would be angry."
"Angry at who?"
"At us."
Elena's heart broke.
"Sweetheart..."
"I could never be angry at you."
Emma's eyes filled with tears.
"He said you cared more about fighting than being our mom."
Elena closed her eyes.
Those words hurt more than any punch.
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Because Damian hadn't just hurt their bodies.
He had tried to destroy the way they saw her.
