I did not send Sofia's winning photo to Leonardo. I knew he would not care.

I took Sofia straight home and started packing.

While I was booking plane tickets back to my hometown, Valentina sent me a video. It was from a children's talent show. Lily was doing a magic trick on stage. She pulled a stuffed rabbit out of a hat, but the trick went wrong and the rabbit fell apart. Lily did not win any prize. But after the show, Valentina, Leonardo, and Lily were all laughing together, holding ice cream cones. They looked like a happy little family.

At the end of the video, Valentina wrote, "Losing is not so bad when you have family."

Before, I would have fired back immediately. But now, watching Sofia quietly organizing her dolls, I only felt one thing. What was the point?

I closed the chat and booked two tickets to Los Angeles for the day after tomorrow.

The moment I hit confirm, Leonardo walked through the door. Leonardo was carrying a bouquet of white lilies.

Both Sofia and I stared.

Leonardo had always hated flowers. He said they were a waste of money. He had never bought me a single flower in all our years together. On birthdays and anniversaries, I got nothing. Sofia never got a flower from her father either.

So why was Leonardo suddenly holding lilies?

Sofia and I exchanged a look of disbelief.

Leonardo walked in slowly. Seeing the open suitcases, Leonardo's expression shifted. "Lily was upset after the talent show, so I stayed a little longer. On my way back, I passed a flower shop and thought of you two. So I picked these up."

Leonardo glanced at the luggage. "Are you packing for a trip?"

I shook my head, then nodded. "Something like that."

The cooling off period had two days left. I did not want any trouble.

Hearing that, Leonardo seemed to relax. "I know I have been absent. How about we all go out together tomorrow? Just the three of us. A family day. I swear I will not bail this time."

Sofia's hands paused on her doll. Sofia looked at Leonardo, then at me. Her face was caught between hope and fear.

I saw the longing in Sofia's eyes, and my heart softened. "Fine."

It would be the last time anyway.

As soon as I said it, Sofia's eyes lit up. Sofia grabbed her favorite doll and ran to her room, her footsteps thumping happily.

While I continued packing, Leonardo came over and stood beside me. Leonardo hesitated.

"About the uncle thing today…" My heart skipped a beat. I looked up at Leonardo.

Leonardo crouched down and placed the lilies next to my hand. His voice was apologetic, almost tender. "Nina, I know what you are thinking. You think I have been too focused on Valentina and neglecting you and Sofia."

"But I swear, I only feel sorry for Valentina. Valentina is a widow. Her husband died in the life. Valentina has no one else. I just do not want Valentina to suffer too much."

Leonardo took my hand and pressed it against his chest. "Give me a little more time. I will sort everything out with Valentina. I will not let you and Sofia be hurt anymore."

I stared at Leonardo blankly.

I could barely remember the last time Leonardo had looked at me like this. Maybe at our wedding, in that white chapel, when Leonardo had locked his fingers with mine and promised to love me forever. Or maybe the day Sofia was born, when Leonardo had held the tiny baby in his arms and kissed my forehead with trembling lips.

"Nina," Leonardo had said, "I will never let you or Sofia suffer. I swear."

I thought about all of that for a long time. Then I decided to tell Leonardo the truth about the divorce.

"Leonardo, actually."

"Oh, by the way," Leonardo interrupted. "That limited edition doll you bought for Sofia, is it in the study cabinet? Valentina said Lily is really into dolls lately. I will just borrow it for a few days."

Leonardo went straight to the study, found the doll, grabbed his keys, and hurried out the door.

Bang. The front door closed behind Leonardo. He did not even look back.

I stood there in silence, staring at the door.

Then I finished the sentence I had started.

"Actually, Leonardo, Sofia and I have already left you."

Two more days until we were gone.

At midnight, exhausted from packing, I collapsed onto the bed.

My phone buzzed. A message from Leonardo. He also sent several photos. Valentina and Lily were posing with Sofia's doll. Lily was hugging it like a new best friend.

"Lily loves the doll. Valentina made me text you to say thank you."

Midnight. My husband was with another woman, and she was using Leonardo to thank me.

I laughed dryly. I was not even angry anymore. What was the point?

I typed back. "You are welcome. But I did not give it to Valentina. And by the way, that doll was Sofia's favorite birthday gift. Sofia treated that doll like a sister. She was waiting for you to play tea party with her and the doll. Bring it back."

Then I turned off my phone and went to sleep.

I did not care what Leonardo's face looked like when Leonardo read that message.

The next morning, Leonardo came home early. Eight o'clock, which was rare for Leonardo.

Leonardo walked in, took off his jacket, and stopped cold when he saw the suitcases lined up in the living room. "Do you need that many bags for a trip?"

I was helping Sofia get dressed and did not look up. "We are going far."

Leonardo looked at Sofia. Sofia nodded. Leonardo's expression relaxed. Leonardo tossed his jacket aside and pulled out three tickets to Adventure Park.

"You have been mad that I never took Sofia to Adventure Park, right? I bought tickets for today. The three of us are going."

Leonardo held the tickets out proudly, like Leonardo was showing off a trophy.

I almost thought I had misheard. It had been nearly a month, and suddenly Leonardo remembered?

Then I thought about the string of unread messages on my phone this morning. Ah. A guilt offering.

I said nothing and kept dressing Sofia.

But Sofia was excited. Sofia's eyes darted to me. "Mom, I want to go."

I smiled and was about to answer when Leonardo added hesitantly, "There is just one thing. Valentina knows we are having a family day tomorrow. Just cooking at home, nothing fancy. But Valentina is worried Lily will feel left out, so maybe we can do our family day another time."

Sofia froze. The light in Sofia's eyes dimmed visibly.

"Oh," Sofia said quietly. Sofia lowered her head, her shoulders slumping.

Leonardo did not notice. "It is just one small request. I thought about it, and it should not be a big deal. We can have our family day another day. Right, Sofia?"

Leonardo did not know that tomorrow, Sofia and I would be gone.

This was Leonardo's last chance.

Neither of us said anything. We just nodded.

"Fine."

"Okay."

Leonardo exhaled in relief. "I will go tell Valentina. Three o'clock at Adventure Park. See you there."

Leonardo turned and walked toward the door. Just before Leonardo reached it, Leonardo looked back. "Nina, Sofia, you are the best."

We did not answer.

After Leonardo left, Sofia picked up the lilies Leonardo had brought yesterday. Sofia walked to the trash can and dropped them in. No hesitation.

"Mom," Sofia said. "I do not want to see Uncle Leonardo anymore. Can we leave early?"

I changed our flights. To today. Three o'clock.

After confirming the tickets, I started making final preparations.

At eight in the morning, I made breakfast in that house for the last time. Simple scrambled eggs and toast. Sofia ate quietly.

At nine thirty, I picked up the signed divorce papers from my lawyer. The first line read "Child custody belongs to the mother."

While I was there, I saw Valentina's newest post. Photos of a cozy home cooked meal. Valentina, Leonardo, and Lily sitting around a table with pasta and wine. The caption said, "Family dinner night. Lily helped set the table. So grateful for this little family."

Sofia was folding paper airplanes beside me. Sofia glanced at the post, said nothing, and only urged, "Mom, sign the papers already."

At eleven thirty, we finished a light lunch, grabbed our bags, and took a taxi to the airport. We were two hours early.

In the taxi, Sofia held her tablet and scrolled through old photos of Leonardo. There was one from Sofia's baptism. Leonardo was holding her in a white gown in front of the church, smiling at the camera. Another from Sofia's third birthday, both of them wearing matching pirate hats at a themed party. And a video from two years ago, before Valentina reappeared, of Leonardo pushing Sofia on a swing at the park, laughing every time Sofia shouted "Higher, Daddy."

Sofia watched them again and again. Sofia did not cry, but the sadness filled the whole car.

I sat beside Sofia and said nothing.

At one thirty, we were about to go through security. Leonardo called.

"Nina, can you tell Sofia I am sorry? Lily has a high fever. One hundred four degrees. I have to take her to the hospital. I do not know if I can make it by three. If you do not see me, just go home. Tell Sofia I am sorry."

Leonardo hung up before Leonardo could hear the airport announcements in the background.

"Let us go," I said, taking Sofia's hand.

Sofia nodded. Sofia selected all the photos of Leonardo and hit delete.

At three o'clock, the plane took off.

I put headphones on Sofia and watched the clouds outside the window. I let out a long, slow breath.

Goodbye, Leonardo.

Meanwhile, Leonardo ran out of the hospital ignoring Valentina's pleas and sped toward Adventure Park.