Strictly Business (Miguel O'Hara x Reader)

Chapter 3: A Mother's Choice

As the days turned into weeks, the wounds within me refused to heal. The pain, both physical and emotional, lingered like a constant ache, a reminder of the broken trust and the loss we had suffered. Miguel had no choice but to follow the court's orders, and respect my request to stay away, and in his absence, I focused on being there for Briella and Sofia, shielding her from the storm that raged inside me.

I contemplated seeking full custody of Gabriella and Sofia, not entirely sure if it was in their best interest or if it was driven by my own desire to hurt Miguel. The line blurs, and I grapple with conflicting emotions. Part of it was undoubtedly rooted in my genuine concern for my daughters' well-being. I believed I could provide them with a stable and loving environment, shielded from the chaos of Miguel's mistakes. But if I were to be completely honest with myself, there was also a tinge of pettiness—a deep-seated need to take away Miguel's happiness. But I was determined to do this, so I made the difficult decision to pursue full custody. Of course, if Briella wanted to see her father, I wouldn't prevent her from doing so.

The custody battle had been grueling, but I emerged victorious. I was granted what I wanted for many reasons. The court definitely found a loyal mother with a well paying job a better fit for the custody of the children, rather than an unemployed cheating good for nothing soon-to-be ex-husband.

...

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting hues of orange and purple across the sky, I sat at the kitchen table, a stack of papers before me. The custody agreement and divorce papers loomed, a reminder of the fractured family we had become. With a heavy heart, I signed my name, accepting the weight of responsibility that now rested solely on my shoulders.

Briella and Sofia were my everything, and I didn't want them to be in the same pain that I was in. But as the days went by, their curiosity began to rise. Questions like "Where is papi?" and "Why doesn't he visit us?" became more frequent, and I knew I couldn't keep them in the dark any longer.

One evening, as I tucked Briella into bed, her eyes filled with innocent curiosity, she looked up at me with her father's eyes, filled with hope and longing. I love my daughter with my everything but I can't look at her eyes without thinking of him."when is papi coming back?" she asked, her voice a whisper in the quiet room.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the delicate task ahead. "Mi vida, papi won't be coming back," I began, my voice gentle but tinged with sadness. "Sometimes, people make choices that hurt others, and your Papi made a choice that hurt our family. It's not your fault, and it's not because he doesn't love you. "

Briella's brows furrowed as she processed my words, she clinged onto the hope that things could return to the way they were. "But why, mami? Why did he do something to hurt us?" she asked naively with her voice trembling.

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, struggling to find the right words. "We all make mistakes sometimes. And sometimes, those mistakes can change everything," I explained, choosing my words carefully. "He made a mistake, and it made it hard for us to be a family together. So, for now, it's just going to be you, me, and Sofia.

Briella's eyes filled with tears, her voice choked with sadness. "But I miss him, mami. I still love papi."

A lump formed in my throat as I held back my own tears, trying to be strong for her. "Lo se, mi vida. It's okay to feel that way. He will always be a part of our lives because he's your father, but sometimes people need time to work on themselves and make things right, if you want to see him, I'll set something up for you guys to spend time together." I reassured her, my voice soft but resolute. "For now we have to focus on taking care of each other, and maybe one day, things will be different." I lied. I knew I could never forgive him and I knew I'd never let him back into our lives. He didn't deserve it.

Briella nodded, her small hand gripping mine tightly. "Okay, Mami. I love you."

"I love you too, mijita," I whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead. As I left the room, my heart ached with the weight of the truth I hadn't completely shared.

I worked hard to provide a delicate balance, preserving their love for their father while shielding them from the pain of betrayal.

...

I stood by the counter, engrossed in a conversation with my friend, Emily. We spoke in hushed tones, discussing the painful truths that had fractured our once-happy family. Unbeknownst to us, ten-year-old Briella stood silently by the doorway, her presence unnoticed.

"And that's when I found out about the affair," I confided, my voice laced with sorrow. "Miguel cheated on me, Emily... It was a betrayal I never saw coming. And guess who it was? Haley's mom!"

"Haley's mom? As in Briella's best friend Haley?" Emily says as she covers her mouth.

"Yeah! Every time he went to drop Briella off at Haley's, they were probably going behind my back doing God knows what."

Briella's heart raced as the words seeped into her young ears. The fragments of conversation she overheard pieced together a devastating truth. Tears welled in her eyes, and her hands clenched into tight fists. The image of her father, once her hero, began to crumble.

The following week, Briella had planned to spend the day with her father. I expected for Briella to be gone until bedtime but she came back faster than I expected. What I didn't know was that my daughter had just told Miguel that she never wanted to see him again and when he asked why, Briella just threw a tantrum. And Miguel had no choice but to bring his daughter home to stop the crying and screaming coming from her. He was so hurt to hear that Briella wanted him out of her and her Mami's life. Miguel was saddened and thought that he'd at least be able to make things right with his daughter and be the best father he could have been to her. But now that opportunity was gone, he has nothing.

From that day on, she actively pushed his memories deep down, not wanting to have anything to do with him anymore. So much so that she lost her passion for soccer. Briella tried her best to continue on with what she loved to do, but she couldn't be on the field without thinking of her father watching her play from the sidelines. She never did tell me why she refused to see her dad and I didn't bother to question her.

As for Sofia, she only got to spend one year of her life with her dad before we separated. Since I had full custody, I never allowed Sofia to meet Miguel. The fact that Sofia's memories haven't developed much, played in my favor and any memory she had of him faded quickly over the years. When Sofia was starting to be her own person, I only explained to her that her dad was dead. He was dead to me and I refuse to let Sofia be plagued by his presence when we didn't need him. He was never going to be in our lives, so what would be the point of bringing him up?

...

Amidst the challenges of single parenthood, I found serenity in my career. I poured my energy into building my career, climbing the corporate ladder one rung at a time. The sleepless nights, the countless hours spent juggling responsibilities, were all fueled my ambition to create a better life for Gabriella, Sofia and myself.

Years passed, and my hard work paid off. I became the Co-owner of the company, a testament to my resilience and determination. My success brought financial stability and a sense of accomplishment, but it couldn't erase the lingering bitterness that lay dormant within me.

Through it all, I never lost sight of my ultimate goal—to create a stable and loving environment for Briella and Sofia. I worked tirelessly to provide them with the best opportunities, to be both a mother and provider. Despite my own shortcomings and the lies that permeated our lives, I made sure they grew up shielded from the truth, enveloped in a narrative of love and care. I grew into the best role model I could be.

Every day, I watched my daughters grow into remarkable young women. I couldn't help but wonder if I had made the right choice, if my actions were truly justified. But in those moments, I am reminded that we only needed each other to prosper together as people. Briella flourished, driven by her own passions and ambitions, taking up a writing hobby. Sofia was showing interest in soccer, and while it was a painful realization, I loved her too much to deny her the right to follow in her father's footsteps. And at times like these I think to myself she really is her father's daughter.