Lahat ng Kabanata ng Built Like Karma: The Plus Size Girl's Guide to Comeuppance : Kabanata 161 - Kabanata 170

Jalen’s POVI sit there in that stiff courtroom chair, jaw tight, hands clasped together like if I let go, I might lose my damn mind. The air feels heavy, like it’s pressing down on my chest, and the only thing cutting through it is Michael’s voice, calm, precise, and controlled. Everything I’m not feeling right now.“These are the demands of my client,” Michael says evenly.I stare straight ahead as he lays it all out. Without fluff or dramatics. Just the facts, cold, hard, damning facts. The marriage, the contract, the conditions, and all the violations.He explains how the marriage was contingent on one thing, biological proof. That the child was supposed to be mine. That if something happened to that child, another biological child was supposed to follow.It didn’t.My jaw clenches harder as he talks about the hospital records. The nurses and their account of what happened. The blood cards. The briefcase of cash that they received and how someone paid to change them.Back then, no

Jalen’s POVAs I leave work and head to catch this flight, I let out a long, tired sigh. I guess a TRO doesn’t mean shit to Talia or her mother, because the moment I walked into work after court, my phone was blowing up.Text after text from Talia, calling me a piece of shit, accusing me of trying to ruin her life, saying I’m trying to leave her broke and destitute.I didn’t respond to a single one.Instead, I forwarded every message straight to my lawyer. I’m not dealing with that bullshit. Period.I made sure the security guard at the housing development was alerted that Talia is not allowed into the gated community. There’s a temporary restraining order in place, and I don’t want any confusion. I sent a copy of the TRO to the HOA too just to make sure everything is documented. I don’t even want the possibility of running into her.When I get home, I pack my bag quickly. As much as I can’t wait to see my girl, there’s still that lingering worry in the back of my mind. Talia is doing

Third-Person POVAs Thanksgiving week crept closer, Talia continued to spiral, her emotions swinging wildly from rage to exhaustion, but one thing remained consistent: she was diligent about her pregnancy. No matter what else was falling apart around her, she never missed a doctor’s appointment. The baby, at least, was something she could still control.When she arrived at the medical building and stepped into the elevator lobby, she saw him.Her jaw tightened immediately.She scowled, rolled her eyes hard, and muttered, “Come on.”Tony uncrossed his legs and stood, smoothing down his jacket as he walked toward her. The closer he got, the softer his voice became.“Talia, you look very beautiful today.”She didn’t even look at him. “Come on, Tony. We gotta go to the eighth floor.”The elevator ride was quiet but tense. When the doors opened, she walked ahead of him, heels clicking sharply against the floor. After checking in at the desk, she finally turned toward him, irritation etched

Third Person POVThanksgiving morning arrived quietly.Talia woke up in her childhood bedroom, staring at the familiar ceiling she once thought she’d never see again as an adult. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly before reaching for her phone on the nightstand.Her screen was flooded with messages:Happy Thanksgiving.Hope you’re doing okay today.Thinking of you.She scrolled through them absentmindedly until one name stopped her.Tony Arroyo.Happy Thanksgiving to you and my baby. Please take care. If you need anything, let me know.Talia’s chest tightened. She sighed deeply before typing back.Hey Tony. I know it’s Thanksgiving and it’s last minute, but would you like to come over for Thanksgiving dinner?The response came almost instantly.Give me the address to where I am going?She smiled down at the screen, feeling that familiar pull. Everything she’d been telling herself was true, that Tony always showed up. He always wanted to be around her. He was there in ways ma

Talia’s POV By the time the afternoon light started thinning through the tall windows of the Schultz residence, I’d already made my decision. I was going to look good tonight. Not out of spite. Not to prove anything. But because, for the first time in a very long time, I actually wanted to. I stood in front of the mirror in my bedroom, smoothing my hands down the long, form fitting black dress that hugged every curve, including the one I’d spent most of my life pretending didn’t exist. My pregnancy belly was round, unmistakable, impossible to ignore. For once… I didn’t hate it. I smiled at my reflection, just a little, then the smile faded as my thoughts drifted right back to my mother. To the kitchen. To my father’s voice earlier. To her words that called me a monster. The word echoed in my head as I flipped open my makeup compact and started working, my hands steady even while my thoughts weren’t. What the hell was she talking about? And worse, why did it sudden