"I came as soon as I heard""Heard what?""That your wife came back. What does that bitch want? And why are you letting her stay with you, Max? Have you lost your mind?""I think his head is in perfect condition. But you won't be able to use yours the next time you call me a bitch," Emilia announced, walking into the study. She'd seen Preston arrive and decided to eavesdrop a little. Both men sprang up from their chairs, Max smirking while his friend swallowed nervously."Em... Emilia, you... I... It's good to see you""I can't say the feeling is mutual. What do you want Preston?""I came to see my friend. Do I need your permission to do that?" He retorted, recovering quickly.She rolled her eyes. Preston Nash was thirty-two years old. He grew up with Max and they were so close they basically shared girls in school. Well, it was more like they exchanged them between themselves, but who was keeping track of that? Years ago, he'd fooled her into thinking he was on her side. He defended
"What are you looking at?""Nothing""You’ve got to be kidding me. Are you waiting for her?""She's my wife Nash. Why wouldn't I wait for her?""Because she just went to see another man, you pussy whipped moron" Nash said going to stand beside him. “She’s been back for a few days and already, she has you wrapped around her pinky”"Fuck off. She took Zander with her and I’m afraid she’ll disappear with him again" that was total bullshit and he didn’t try to pretend otherwise. Nash could see right through him."Yeah, you keep telling yourself that man. I can't believe you still trust her so much after what she did""Giving her my credit card doesn't mean I trust her. It was for Zander’s sake" Another lie. Giving Emilia that card was a sign that he still trusted her completely. He could have come up with excuses about how he knew she was going out with Zander but that would have been a lie.Max didn't care what she did with that card. He just wanted to make her happy. If he gave h
That had to be it. Otherwise, why would she go through the trouble? She was mad that he’d been with Lisandra and was trying to get back at him. In his head, that was the only reason she'd go to such lengths. Upon reaching that conclusion, another realization struck him. His wife wasn't seeing anyone. Which meant he could pursue her. He didn't have to worry about other men because they didn't exist. Moving away from the window, he left the study, heading upstairs. He had plans, some of which included gaining Emilia's affection and trust. But on the landing, he stopped when he saw his mother's bedroom door open. It hit him then that he hadn't seen much of her ever since Gwen's engagement party. Striding towards her room, he knocked. "Mom?" Max called out, even though he knew he wouldn't get a response. In the nine years his mother had been in that wheelchair, she hadn't spoken a single word. The doctors had said that her paralysis hadn't affected her ability to talk. He'd looked for t
"Where do you think you’re going? I’m still talking to you""I’m not doing this with you right now," Emilia hastened her steps, hoping she could get away from her mother-in-law. She was scared and had spent the last two days hiding from her. Making sure they didn’t cross paths. Normally, she would face Genevieve Carter and have it out with her, but the doctor told her to take care of herself. She had to be careful."No one walks away from me. Do you understand?""We'll talk later when... Aaah! " she screamed when Genevieve grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her to a stop."You will learn to respect me little girl or I will teach you how it's done""Let go of me, Genevieve. You're hurting me""It is Mrs. Carter to trash like you. Now listen carefully. This is the last time I will tell you to leave my son alone. He doesn't deserve to be married to the likes of you""And what is wrong with me? What does Lisandra have that I don’t?" She asked, tears pricking her eyes. If on
She was on her way out of her bedroom when she almost bumped into Mel "Hey are you okay? It’s too early to look like that""I'm fine Mel. Where are you going?""I just came from Genevieve’s room. Have you spoken to her?""No. Why would I go anywhere near her?" she asked, confused. Not seeing each other for years didn't erase their history."It's okay Em. She can't do anything now. You don't have to be afraid of her""I'm not afraid""Then talk to her. I think it's time you two had a conversation. Although I can't guarantee she would talk to you, but you can get some things off your chest""What's the use?""You'll unburden yourself. It's good for the soul," she said, patting her arm, then left. Emilia wondered if Mel could read her mind. Would talking to Genevieve give her some kind of closure?Squaring her shoulders, Emilia walked toward her mother-in-law’s room. Knocking once before entering. The place hadn't changed. The bed, the decor, even the woman lying in bed, hadn't changed.
"What?""Instead of painting me as the bad guy, why don’t you find out what the truth is""You're saying that because you know my mother can't defend herself? You know she can't talk, so you're using her to manipulate me""Wouldn't you like that?" She spat out, taking a step toward him, “In your eyes, I'm the bad guy. Have been for the past nine years and since you're a coward and don't want to face the truth, you want to keep thinking that I am the villain. Right?""I am not a coward. You fucking ran to avoid criminal charges.""Fine. Since you don't believe me, why don't you ask Mel what happened? She was there, she saw everything, and she was the one who took me to the hospital," Emilia told him, then left. Max stared at her, and for the hundredth time, he wondered who she was.True, his mother didn't approve of her as his wife, but she wouldn't go as far as to push Emilia down the stairs. Not when she knew his wife was pregnant. It was a lie. They were all lies. "Max...""N
On his way to find Emilia, Max bumped into Zander. “Good morning”“Where is mom? She wasn’t in the bedroom”“She has her own room now,” He responded, hoping the child was too young to understand the meaning. No such luck.“Did you make her angry again? Aunt Thea says I’m the only person who can get away with that”“Any tips on what I should do to make her forgive me?”“Flowers and diamonds. Girls like shiny things”Max couldn’t help feeling proud. His son gave better advice than his best friend. He couldn’t wait to rub it in Nash’s face.“Have Mel make you breakfast. Tell her I said you could eat whatever you want”Zander nodded, then left. He moved to the guest bedroom and stopped in front of the door. In the past, whenever Emilia got angry, all he had to do was corner her and ask for forgiveness. Was it still the same, or had she changed? Pushing the door open, he went inside. Emilia was curled up in bed, reminding him of the time he’d brought her back all those years ago. He’d come
Emilia watched as Max pulled Lisandra to the study and locked them inside, wondering if he had taken her advice about going back to that witch. She'd told him they were done, but for him to actually do as she said? Was he serious? He was never going to learn. It didn't matter whether she was around or not, that crazy woman had him wrapped around her fingers.From the first day Emilia had met her, she'd known what kind of woman Lisandra was. Sly, opportunist, social climber with a heart as black as coal. She was the kind of person who would go to any lengths to get what she wanted. It wouldn’t be a surprise if she had actual bones in her closet. It was clear she didn't love Max or she wouldn't be having an affair with Gwen's fiancé. This raised a question that had never occurred to anyone in the Carter family: What exactly did she want from them? If she wasn't fighting to stay in that family for love, then what was it? Any other woman in her position would have left, especially after