“Where is this all coming from? You’ve never said anything like this to me before!” I couldn’t help the frustration that leaked into my voice. He stopped short at that, turning to me with a look of such anger that it had me stepping back.
“I shouldn’t have to! You’re a grown-ass man. You should know how to treat people with kindness and grace. What you have done to Sophie and your daughter is horrendous. You don’t deserve them. You never have. Now, if you insist on staying here to play Daddy in case the press shows up, I can’t stop you. But you will wipe that sour look off your face every time someone shows genuine care for the family you so easily discarded.”
Why does he keep shoving all my mistakes in my face? He is the reason I am stuck with Natalia anyway! Can’t he see how much I want Sophie back? Yet he refuses to help me, just continuing to push me further from my family. Do I not deserve the chance to get themback? To make things right?
Well, it was time I took back control and got my family back. I would go around, over, or through Grandfather if I had to. They weremyfamily. It was time everyone remembered that.
Natalia
Max’s phone kept going straight to voicemail, and the dinner our chef had prepared was getting cold. Fed up and embarrassed, I called the office line.
“Maxwell Townsend’s office. How can I help you?” Deidra’s voice, familiar and annoying, echoed through the speakers.
“Hey, Dede. Max and I were supposed to have dinner tonight. Is he held up in a meeting?” I asked, trying to make sure my tone was casual, to not reveal how below me this was. Max used to ignore his wife for me and use his secretary to cover for us. Now, I was the one on hold.
“Oh, well he rushed off to the hospital to check on Eloise. He left a little over an hour ago,” Deidra replied, as if I knew what she was talking about.
“Oh, of course. Which hospital again?” I asked, trying to ignore the embarrassment at having to ask.
“Baptist, darling. Please let us know how Eloise is doing. We’re all worried.” I hung up, not trusting myself to reply. I looked at the dinner table, beautifully made up. But the food had gone cold. Forgotten, just like me.
No more of this. No more of the neglected wife, poor-me routine.I changed into a casual yet expensive outfit, making sure I looked effortlessly put together. Heading to the hospital, I stopped at the gift shop, grabbing a balloon so I didn’t show up empty-handed. On the elevator up, I practiced looking concerned, checking my reflection, attempting to carry myself with the aura of a caring stepmother. I was directed to the waiting room when familiar voices reached my ears.
“You’ve got your hands all over my wife! This is a familymatter. You shouldn’t even be here!” I froze just outside the room. Adjusting my position, I was able to spot Maxwell confronting the man from Sophie’s profile. Stunned, I stayed where I was, curious to see what else my husband had to say.
“Maxie, how many times do we have to have this conversation? Natalia is your wife. Sophie is not,” the giant man said with a mocking smile.
When did they meet?
Max always brushed me off when I asked about him.
“You know what I mean! Nat is my wife on paper only. Sophie and Eloise are my family!”
I covered my mouth so as to hold back any sound that might come out. My knees felt weak as my body fought to decide whether to be upset or furious.
Not his family.
Max’s blatant disregard for me had never been clearer. All that time, I had thought Sophie was my replacement, when in reality, I was hers. I had never been able to properly fill her spot. I was never even supposed to have it.
Everything I had learned recently was spinning around in my head.Walter and the photographs. Max’s recent obsession with Sophie’s personal life. His sudden interest in being a father to Eloise.
Max ran a hand through his hair, the buttons of his collar undone. He looked to be unraveling at the seams. After pacing a bit, he came back to face Sophie’s boyfriend, looking impossibly small and soft in comparison.
“Do you hear me? Eloise is my daughter! Mine and Sophie’s. No one else needs to be concerned with her!” Max yelled, sounding manic.
“That’s enough. Eloise isn’t a pawn in whatever fucking game you’re playing. If you have an issue with me, then we can deal with that, just us. Don’t you ever try to use Lou to manipulate the situation. Those days are over. Whatever control, whatever threats you think you can use, save them. There is no way in hell you will ever get custody of Lou, and I will make sure you lose any parental rights if you threaten Sophie in any way.” Maxsnorted, and Linc’s entire stature changed. A wild, almost eager grin spread across his face as he went head to head with Max.
“Go ahead. Underestimate me. Unlike you, I keep my promises. And don’t you worry. Neither Lou or Sophie will need anything from you going forward. Now, get out of here. Lou doesn’t need to be upset any further.” Before Max could reply, Walter appeared and walked up to the bickering men, coming to a stop next to Linc. Clearly making a statement about whose side he was on, Walter’s arms were crossed, a look of exhaustion and exasperation marring his face.
“Maxwell, I warned you. Since you cannot seem to behave, I think you should leave. I’ll call you once Lou is safe and sound…At home, with Linc and Sophie.” That one sentence spoke louder than any of Max’s belligerent arguments. Walter and Linc walked away, a comfort between the two that spoke of a close friendship.
Max was left alone, and there I was, so far on the outside I wasn’t even in the same stratosphere anymore.How did everything get this twisted? How did the life I was meant to have become so out of reach? Why are Sophie and Lou so goddamn important? What do I need to do to get the respect that I deserve as Max’s real wife?
Family. Give him a son.
It all came back to that. I had put it off for as long as possible. If I wanted to cement my spot in the Townsend history books, I had to contribute. We would have a baby of our own. Then, Max couldn’t deny us, and Walt wouldn’t be able to avoid me any longer. He would have to treat our child equally to Lou.Yes, that is what needs to happen.Turning on my heel, I headed home, new plans forming. It was time I visited that clinic Helen had told me about. I would use whatever tools necessary to get Max back into my bed so I could secure our future together.
Chapter 19
