Chapter 3 The reality

Eloise

I woke up with a heavy headache, I had barely slept, the sound of car horns blaring outside.

I blinked, my vision slowly clearing, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. This wasn’t Ava's apartment.

I gasped.

I sniffed the white sheets that smelled faintly of oud and something else I couldn’t place. I tried to sit up, my muscles protesting as I propped myself up on an elbow.

As I scanned the room, my eyes settled on a small, curious detail on the chair across from the bed—a dark, sleek watch, the kind that looked both impossibly expensive laying there.

My breath caught. That wasn’t mine. And that definitely wasn’t an item I would be bringing into a hotel room.

Did I lodge into the wrong room? Activities from yesterday still blurry.

I grabbed my sunglasses and keys, got dressed and immediately left the hotel room. But as soon as I walked out of the hotel, I was met by the flashing cameras of the paparazzi outside and microphones came thrusting in my face.

The questions came fast and loud.

“Eloise, did you know about the affair?”

“Did you really lose your husband to your own stepsister?”

“Was he tired of your workaholic lifestyle?”

I could feel my pulse quickening, panic swelling up inside. My first instinct was to push through or to run back inside and wait for them to disappear.

But something held me in place. The pain, the humiliation—I lifted my chin, forcing myself to breathe. Why should I be the one hiding? I couldn’t let them paint me as the pathetic ex-wife.

“I’m sure you’re all having a field day with this,” I began, my voice calm but sharp, “but there are some things you need to understand.”

A murmur went through the crowd, and I could see the reporters leaning in, hanging on my words.

"Life goes on"

Another reporter called out, “Do you regret putting so much into your marriage? Do you think that’s what drove him away?”

I stiffened at the question, feeling the sting of its unfairness. Maybe that's what drove him away but I wouldn't be dwelling on that anymore.

For a moment, there was silence,then the crowd erupted again, begging for more. Without another word, i turned on my heel and walked away.

I managed to navigate through the paparazzi and slipped into my car.

My fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as i pulled into the driveway. The house that once felt like home, the house i never imagined i would be a visitor in, but i had no time to dwell on that now. I had a mission—to take Max and drop the divorce papers for lucian.

I glanced at the envelope on the passenger seat. The signed divorce papers.

Taking a deep breath, i pushed open the door and stepped out, my heels clicking on the pavement as i walked toward the entrance.

As i stepped inside, whispers from the maids echoed through the hallway.

“Isn’t that Mrs. Sinclair?” I heard one of them murmur, eyes wide with uncertainty.

“I thought she wasn’t coming back...” the other whispered, her voice barely audible.

The house felt different, colder or maybe it was the realization of my divorce being true. I was here for one reason only. To take my son and drop the divorce papers.

I heard voices coming from the living room as i neared. Max was there, but so was Lucian. My breath hitched, a mix of dread and anticipation knotting my stomach. I paused outside the doorway, listening in.

“Dad,” Max’s small voice echoed from the room, tinged with confusion. “Where’s Mom? Why haven’t i seen her for days?”

My heart shattered at that question. My eyes stinging with unshed tears.

Lucian shifted on the couch, his voice cold, almost too calm.

“Max, your mom and I aren’t going to be living together anymore. She’s going to live somewhere else, away from us.”

I froze, I wasn't expecting anything more but hearing it aloud still felt like a slap to the face.

“Why? Does that mean you don’t love Mom anymore?” Max’s voice, small and innocent, broke through the thick silence.

I closed my eyes for a moment, sliding down the corner, tears streaming down my face. I already knew the answer, but I was hoping that maybe Lucian would spare Max the heartache of knowing the truth.

“Your mom and i just... weren’t happy anymore, Max. But that’s okay. She’s moving on. You’re going to have a better mom now, one who will love you even more than she did.” He said, without hesitating.

“A better mom?” The words echoed in my head like a nightmare. How could he refer Jennifer as the best mom, when I'm well and alive?

I had hoped, in some small part of his heart, that Lucian would spare Max from the harsh reality. But he didn't, instead he was already turning my son against me.

I couldn’t hold it back anymore, I stood up and wiped my tears… Letting out a shaky breath, I stepped into the room.

Lucian’s eyes locked onto mine for the briefest moment, his face hardened when he saw the divorce papers in my hand.

Without a word, i slammed the papers on the coffee table in front of him. My voice was strained but steady as I looked him dead in the eyes.

“Lucian,” I said, my voice cracking with the weight of everything I was holding in, “I’m here to take my son. He’s coming with me.”

Max looked up at me, his eyes wide and confused, but I couldn't just look at him. Not yet. I kept my eyes locked on Lucian, my heart hammering.

For a moment, everything stood still. Max’s small voice trembled as he asked, “Mom…?”

Lucian stood up slowly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he scanned the papers.

He didn’t say anything at first, but the silence was thick and suffocating. Then he continued, his voice cold and dismissive.

“We never discussed you will be taking Max, Eloise. He’s my son too!”

I clenched my fists, my anger rising.

“You’re not fighting for him, Lucian,” I shot back, my voice steady despite the pain. “You’ve already given up on us. But I’m not going to let you keep my son away from me. Never!”

Before he could respond, the door to the living room swung open with a loud crash. A familiar voice cut through the conversation.

“Eloise”

My heart skipped a beat as i turned. Standing in the doorway, a smug expression on her face, was Jennifer.

Jennifer stepped further into the room, her posture confident as she stood next to Lucian.

“Eloise, didn't you get my warnings earlier, you're not invited to this house anymore, and for Max I will take care of him now, he's now my son" she continued "Lucian we need to talk"

My heart raced with fury and disbelief. I didn’t know whether to yell or curse. The audacity. The nerve of both of them. Max? Is suddenly now your son?

Lucian stood beside Jennifer, his eyes flicking between us.

“Eloise, you need to leave now. we will talk about you taking Max some other time”

I took a step forward, my voice firm as I finally found my footing.

“How does your conversation have anything to do with Max?” I demanded, my gaze locked on both of them.

“I’m taking him with me and that's final. so, you, I said, pointing directly at Lucian, “Can deal with whatever mess you've created, but you’re not keeping my son away from me.”

Jennifer tried to say something, but i cut her off with a sharp look.

“He's my son, not yours! Stay out of this.”

The look on Jennifer and Lucian's faces was one of utter shock. I was surprised by my own resilience. I had always feared rebelling against them, but now I no longer have to.

Max’s small voice echoed from the corner.

“Mom…?”

My heart broke as I turned to him. I knelt down to his level, taking his small hand in mine.

“It’s okay, baby,” I said softly. “We’re going to go stay with Grandma for a little while”.