Stella's POV

"How?" I asked. "You want me to stay away from Damian?"

She took a deep breath before answering.

"Not forever, Stella," she explained calmly. "Just until Damian finalizes the divorce with Sophie. You know he's in the middle of a complicated process. Until it's over, any wrong step could be used against you. Or worse, she could use it to fight for custody of Daniel."

I stared at her, surprised by how clearly she laid everything out.

"Do you really think… that staying away i