“What? Why does she need a special meal? She’s a child,” Helen replied, quickly earning herself a few harsh looks.
Even I knew that those dinners typically served elaborate dishes that wouldn’t prove appetizing to a small child. I kept my mouth closed, not willing to interfere with Helen’s battle plans.
“Yes, she’s a child. One who is allergic to mushrooms, which are in most side dishes this venue uses.”
Check and mate.
Murmurs rose around us like a drone of bees as everyone’s eyes flicked between the two women. With just a short conversation, the judge had revealed more about the family dynamics than anyone else—specifically, how little we knew about Eloise.
Everyone was watching as another layer was pulled back. Judge Lennox looked at us with clear distaste as she raised her voice just enough to be heard.
“Anyway, it’s lovely to finally meet you both. We just adore Lou. Having her in our family is such a gift. I cherish being a grandmother. There’s no other relationship like it, you know. Getting to spoil them rotten, treat them like royalty. All of that fun stuff.” She stroked Eloise’s hair, a genuine smile on her face before she turned that stony gaze back to us.
“Oh, sorry, I’m getting carried away. I’m sure you feel the same way. Right, Helen?” A pregnant pause filled the space.
“Of course. It’s a dream come true,” Helen gritted out beforefacing Eloise.
“When you’re done with dinner, please come by and spend some time with your father. He misses you.” An attractive man—younger than Linc, but not by much—snorted. He was sitting across the table, his handsome face looking at us with derision.
Helen’s mouth opened and shut as she debated confronting him, but seeing the crowd around us had her slamming her lips shut.
“Pleasure meeting all of you. Have a good night.” Helen turned on her heel and stalked away from the table, the clear loser of this round. I had no doubt there would be more before the night was done. I was left standing there alone, the judge having returned to the table.
The entire family had their backs to me, all of them engaging with Eloise, who was clearly upset from the encounter. Stepping away, I mutely followed in Helen’s footsteps, my head down, any confidence or excitement from earlier having been sucked out of me already.
Dinner started, and guests made their way to their reserved seats. When Helen and I arrived back at the table, Max was already seated. I couldn’t help but feel concern as I noticed the flush to his cheeks and his glassy eyes. Focus shifted to the individual tables, but that wasn’t exactly a relief, especially since Max had basically gone mute.
He spent the entire meal ignoring everyone, never muttering more than a one or two word reply, his mind clearly elsewhere. It wasn’t hard to figure out what was occupying his mind, especially since his gaze was unwavering and solely focused on another woman across the room.
After a last-ditch attempt to bring him into the conversation, I was rewarded with an unintelligible grunt before he stood up without so much as a word. Heat filled my cheeks, and I tried to smile over the scream I was holding in.
Time passed, and Max still hadn’t returned, so I decided to go search for him—or at the very least, get some air.
Holding my head high, I was proud of my ability to tune out allthe chatter around me as I made my way through the crowded banquet hall. Just as I neared the exit, I stopped short at the sight of familiar blonde hair. With renewed vigor, I headed for that skank who had been begging Max to fuck her a few weeks earlier.
“Stay away from my husband.” No pretenses. This was a fight I could handle. Woman to woman, it was time to lay down the law. The blonde woman turned to watch me with a shrewd gaze, but I kept my expression neutral, my mask firmly in place.
“And which one is your husband? You’ll have to be a bit more specific.” She smirked, her response casual.
“Don’t play dumb with me. I saw the two of you in Max’s office.”
“I don’t think I’m the one playing dumb here, sweetie.”
“I don’t care if you fucked, but it stops now. I will do everything in my power to ruin you. Whatever game you think you’re running, it ends now.” She laughed—a bawdy, loud sound.
“Oh, darling, you really are delusional. Games are your forte, no? How’s that going, by the way? Do you feel like a winner now that you’ve landed Max? Do you even know where he is right now? Or more importantly…Whohe’s with?” She arched an eyebrow, and I tried not to show my response. My eyes scanned the room, checking our table and the bar, but Max wasn’t at either.
“He’s in the back courtyard, darling, waiting for the woman he wants. Maybe you can still catch him there.” With that jab, she departed the scene, and any hope I had of the night working out in my favor disappeared.
Chapter 27
Sophie
Stepping out of the restroom, I was surprised at the pleasant time I was having. Those events were usually nothing but anxiety and dread. Having Linc and his family there had made such a difference. For once, Lou looked relaxed and like she was actually having fun.
“Fancy seeing you here, Nebraska. You’ll have to tell me your secret. It looks like you’ve got more than one fellow wrapped around your finger in there.” I turned around to see Lindsey towering over me in her heels and a red dress that felt like an assault on my eyes.
“Oh, I don’t think you’re surprised to see me at all, Linds. I can call you that, right?” I stood up straight, ready to get this over with.
