Chapter 243

Sarah's POV

The phone trembled slightly in my hand. not from nervousness, but from eagerness. If anyone could rescue me from my current predicament, it would be Robert. Though we were divorced, he had never truly escaped my shadow.

"What kind of help do you need. Sarah?" Robert's voice came through the line.

I adjusted my breathing slightly. preparing for my performance. Like countless times before. Robert could never resist a "vulnerable" me. I summoned years of practiced manipulation skills, adding just the right amount of tremor to my voice.

"Have you seen what they're saying about me online?" I deliberately let my voice catch with a small sob. "My career is ruined, Robert. All my hard work..."”

After a moment of silence, I heard keyboard tapping sounds-he was checking the comments. A good sign-he cared enough to immediately verify what I was saying.

I paced back and forth in my living room, watching my phone screen fill with increasingly vicious comments:

"She deserves to lose everything."

"No talent, just using men to get ahead."

"Who would support such a horrible person?"

These comments truly stung, but right now they were perfect props.

"I see," he finally responded. "It does look pretty bad."

"Bad?" I nearly choked on the word, my voice rising half an octave. "It's catastrophic! The publishing house is considering recalling my books, and all pre-orders are canceled. Do you understand what this means for my income?"

I deliberately collapsed onto the sofa, one hand protectively caressing my slightly rounded abdomen-a gesture that had softened Robert's heart every time in the past. He had an almost pathological obsession with children.one of my strongest bargaining chips.

"My project is just starting to gain traction," Robert said. "I can't risk getting involved in a scandal right now. Investors are cautious enough as it is."

This answer wasn't quite what I expected, but I wasn't worried.Men always do this-offering token resistance to appear less eager. Just the first step in negotiations.

"But..." my voice quavered,"I thought you said you wanted us to be a family again. You proposed remarriage, Robert."

"Yes, I did. But that was before all this. I've been thinking that rushing back into marriage when my business is still so unstable... it would be irresponsible,"

My fingers curled into fists, nails digging into my palms. The timing was too convenient, his change of attitude too abrupt. Just days ago, he was begging me to return to him, and now-when I truly needed him-he was backing away?

"Is that really it?" I asked, struggling to keep accusation from my voice."Or is it because I've suddenly become a liability? Because my reputation might damage your precious new project?"

The silence on the other end made me increasingly uneasy. I took a deep breath, rapidly calculating in my mind. A hardline approach clearly wouldn't work. I needed to appeal to his emotions.

I lowered my voice, deliberately making my tone soft and nostalgic."Remember our early days? When we'd watch the sunrise and sunset together, whispering to each other on the beach?"

"We were happoy then, weren't we? Before everything got complicated. Just you,me,and our dreams."

"Sarah-" he began. He was taking the bait. I couldn't help but smirk as I continued. Now was the perfect time to sway him.

"Now I'm carrying your child," I whispered, my voice breaking perfectly."Our second child, Robert. Max's little brother or sister. You know, he asks about you. Wants to know why his daddy doesn't live with us anymore."

The silence that followed made me smile inwardly. This trick had never failed. Robert's longing for family was so intense that he softened every time I mentioned the word "family." I could almost picture him now.holding the phone, tears in his eyes. Like countless times before,he would agree to whatever I wanted. The man was so predictable.

His initial resistance was just a façade, a self-protective measure after being hurt. And now, like a skilled angler, I could feel the fish beginning to bite.Just one more gentle puIl...

"I'll help you, but on one condition," he said.

My heart raced, but I remained confident. Whatever condition he set.I could handle it. Perhaps a public apology, perhaps more time with Max.All within my expectations,all manageable.

"Anything," I replied easily, already thinking of how to minimize any potential concessions.

"Give me custody of Max."

Robert, are you insane? I gasped, genuinely shocked. Max? My bargaining chip? My insurance? Are you dreaming?

"What? You can't be serious-" My voice suddenly lost its carefully crafted steadiness. genuine shock making me forget my performance.

"Im completely serious," he interrupted. "If you want my help, Max needs to live with me. Full custody, Sarah. That's my condition."

I stood motionless, my mind racing. This wasn't the Robert I knew, the Robert who would rush to the ends of the earth for a single call from me.How dare he make such a demand? Max had always been my strongest leverage, my most reliable source of steady economic support. Through Max. I could ensure Robert would provide financial support forever.Giving him up was unthinkable.

"This is absurd," I stammered, forgetting my composed façade. "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

Robert chuckled. "That's the first honest question you've asked this entire conversation. 'What about me?' That's always been your primary concern,hasn't it,Sarah?"

His words sent a wave of unease through me. A terrible suspicion began forming in my mind.

"Robert." I said carefully, trying to regain control, "what exactly do you mean?"

"I mean I've been testing you,Sarah."

"Testing me?" I repeated, confusion and anger battling within me. This wasn't how our game was played. I was the one who set tests, who manipulated situations. "What does that mean?"

His declaration was followed by a deafening silence, broken only by distant traffic sounds from the street and the roar of my own heartbeat in my ears.

"You." I repeated, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper,desperately clinging to my last shred of control, "saying 'testing me' means what exactly?"