You need to be strong

**Vanessa’s Point of View**

The sun was just rising, and I was already up, unable to find any rest. Richard’s visit to Charlotte’s apartment the day before had left a deep mark on me. No matter how hard I tried to push the thoughts away, the restlessness persisted, gnawing at my peace of mind. Richard had changed, and that was undeniable. He was more distant, more reserved, and there was something in his eyes that I didn’t recognize.

I forced myself to follow my morning routine, trying to maintain normalcy. But the emptiness beside me in bed, the absence of any word or affectionate gesture from Richard before he left the house, only reinforced the feeling that something was deeply wrong.

Richard was becoming more absent, both physically and emotionally. In recent weeks, he spent more time away without giving many explanations. The excuses ranged from business meetings to responsibilities that, until recently, had never taken up so much of his time. But I knew there was something more, something he wasn’t telling me.

As I left the bedroom, I saw that Richard was already in the living room, dressed and ready to leave. He was looking at his phone with a serious expression, and my heart sank when I realized he hadn’t even noticed my presence. When he finally looked up and saw me, the smile he forced didn’t reach his eyes.

“Good morning,” he said, but his tone was cold, distant.

“Good morning,” I replied, trying to mask my frustration. “Leaving early again?”

“I have an important meeting,” was all he said, avoiding eye contact and adjusting his tie.

I wanted to ask more, wanted to press him, but something in me hesitated. The connection we once shared was unraveling, and I didn’t know how to bring it back. He was pulling away, and Charlotte’s presence, now as Sophia, was at the center of it all.

“Richard, we need to talk,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm. “I’ve noticed you’re distant. What’s going on?”

He paused for a moment as if considering the words, but there was no softness in his response. “I’m just busy, Vanessa. A lot is happening at once.”

“This isn’t just about work, Richard,” I insisted, feeling the desperation rising to the surface. “I know you. I know something is bothering you.”

He stared at me, his eyes hard. “And you think I don’t have reasons to be concerned? Charlotte… Sophia, whatever you want to call her, is back. She’s trying to push me away from my children. This isn’t something easy to deal with.”

I knew he was right, but that didn’t explain the coldness I was feeling between us. “I understand, Richard. I really do. But we’ve always faced everything together. Why is this different?”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Because this isn’t something I can just get over. Not now.”

Before I could respond, the doorbell rang, and Richard went to answer it. When he opened the door, his mother, Martha, was there with the firm expression she always carried. She entered with her authoritative posture, casting a quick glance at me before turning to Richard.

“Mother,” Richard greeted her, surprised. “What are you doing here so early?”

“We need to talk, Richard,” Martha said, without preamble. “There are things that need to be addressed.”

I knew that Martha had always had a strong influence on Richard, and she had never been too fond of me. But at that moment, there was something more in her look—something that made me feel like I was being judged.

“I’ll make coffee,” I suggested, trying to leave the scene so they could talk. But Martha interrupted me, her tone sharper than usual.

“No, Vanessa. I think you should stay. This concerns you as well.”

My heart raced, and I realized that whatever was going to be discussed wouldn’t be pleasant. Richard stood beside her, and for the first time, I noticed the tension on his face as if he knew that conversation could change everything.

“I know the situation with Charlotte is affecting you, Richard,” Martha began, turning to her son. “But I also know you can’t let it destroy everything you’ve built. Vanessa has been your partner, and it’s not fair that she’s being pushed aside because of the past.”

Richard didn’t immediately respond, but I could see that his mother’s words hit him in some way. He looked at me, and there was something different in his eyes—a mix of guilt and frustration.

“Mother, I’m trying to handle all of this,” Richard finally said, his voice lower. “But you don’t understand how difficult this is for me.”

Martha stepped closer, placing a hand on Richard’s shoulder. “I understand more than you think, Richard. But you need to be strong. You can’t let Charlotte, or Sophia as she calls herself now, destroy what you have now.”

I knew Martha was trying to defend me, but her words only reinforced how vulnerable I felt. I was losing Richard, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find a way to bring him back to me.

After a few more tense minutes of conversation, Richard finally decided to leave for work, leaving me alone with Martha. When the door closed behind him, the silence in the room was almost suffocating.

“I know you’re worried, Vanessa,” Martha said, her voice softer now that we were alone. “And you have every reason to be. But you need to fight for what’s yours.”

I stared at her, trying to grasp the full extent of what she was saying. “How can I fight if he’s pulling away from me? If he’s letting Charlotte back into his life?”

Martha held my hand, her gaze firmer than ever. “You can’t let her win, Vanessa. Richard needs you now more than ever. Don’t let him be lost because of her.”

I nodded, feeling the tears welling up, but knowing I couldn’t let them fall. Martha was right—I needed to fight. But the question was how to fight without losing myself in the process.

As Martha stood up to leave, I saw in her eyes a determination that echoed my own. But unlike me, she wasn’t willing to wait. She was a woman of action, and it was clear that if I didn’t do something, Martha would take the reins of the situation.

As soon as the door closed, I found myself alone, surrounded by dark thoughts and a growing anger. I knew Richard was changing, that he was pulling away from me, but I also knew I wouldn’t let Charlotte—no, Sophia—destroy what I had fought so hard to build.

I looked at the reflection in the living room mirror, seeing the determination in my own eyes. If Richard thought he could drift away from me without consequences, he was wrong. And if Sophia thought she could come back and reclaim what was once hers, she was even more mistaken.

I would fight for him. No, I would ensure that he never saw her the same way again. But I wouldn’t do it alone.

Martha was right about one thing: I needed to fight for what was mine. And if necessary, I would use every weapon at my disposal. I wouldn’t let the past destroy my future. Richard would be mine, once and for all. And Sophia, or whoever she thought she was now, would understand what it truly meant to cross Vanessa.