AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Addie looked him straight in the eye. “I’m sorry, Patrick, but you made your choice months ago when you checked out—actually, come to think of it, maybe even years ago. Other than logistics, I don’t see that there is anything left to work out.”
Patrick’s jaw tightened. “I’m warning you, Addie. Don’t do this. I’ll take the boys. I’ll fight for custody. I’ll take everything. And from where I’m standing, it doesn’t appear that you have a leg to stand on.”
Feeling the blow she knew was coming, Addie did her best to keep a straight face. “You should go now, Patrick. Your mother is waiting. We can discuss this later.”
“That’s the girl I love. I knew, with a little explanation, you’d begin to see things my way.”
Addie flinched as he bent down to kiss her cheek and watched him walk to the door, turn just inside the doorframe, and smile. “Oh, and tell that bastard William Hartman that if he comes around here again, I’ll personally see to it that our kids are in China by Sunday.”
And there it was: the final blow. Addie had dozens of battery marks, scratches, and even sutures, but the physical wounds she suffered paled in comparison to this. For this was the blow that would most certainly do her in.
Patrick Greyer had underestimated his wife. Never in a million years could he have imagined that his Addie had it in her to beat up on rich men and earn a living while doing it. He also never imagined that a guy as wealthy and powerful as William Hartman would fall in love with her and attempt to steal her from him right under his very nose. But somehow that was exactly what happened, which left Patrick to sort through the mess.
For one thing, he wasn’t letting her go. He had worked long and hard at their marriage and wasn't giving up what was rightfully and legally his for anything. Not until he found the money, anyway. Patrick knew his wife had been earning a pretty penny for what she was doing behind his back, but he’d also underestimated how adept she could be at hiding that money.
Patrick saw the look in his wife’s eyes when he confronted her. She knew that he knew. He had expected her to lie and hoped she'd continue trying to deceive him. But when she didn’t, it told him everything that he needed to know—that his wife was no longer in love with him. But he’d be damned if he’d give up that easily. He’d be damned if he let her just up and leave with his children. There was no way that he could ever compete with William Hartman and come out on top, so Patrick did the only thing he knew to do to save his marriage and keep from losing his family: he used his children as pawns. Sure, maybe his wife wasn’t in love with him right now, but he would change that. He’d make her see that it was possible to have once again what they’d once had.
He just had to keep his mistress out of the way if he had any chance at all. Patrick knew he was running on borrowed time, that once she realized he never intended on coming back she would be quick to let the cat out of the bag. Michele would only buy his lies for so long. Even still, he had his plan, and he wouldn’t allow her or anyone else to stop him from seeing it through.
Sondra Sheehan was absolutely glowing the day that Addie woke up and found her sitting next to her hospital bed. She was finally starting to show, and Addie had never seen her more radiant.
As Sondra stood, Addie placed her hand on Sondra’s bell
y, and for a moment, time stood still.
Finally Sondra spoke. “It’s a boy. What in the world am I going to with a little boy?”
Addie smiled weakly “You’re going to love him with everything you have.”
Sondra grinned and placed her hand on Addie’s. “You know . . . I never wanted this, but somehow I think I already do. I love him more than I ever thought possible, I’ve never been more worried about anything in my whole life.”
Addie shifted in the bed, wincing in pain as she attempted to sit up. “Welcome to motherhood.”
“Addison, I’m incredibly sorry for putting you in this position. I only hope that when you’re fully recovered that you’ll come back to the agency. Because of what happened, we’ve made huge changes to policy. Also, I know this may not be the time, but we’d like to offer you a settlement of sorts.”
Addie studied Sondra’s face. “You’re nothing if not a businesswoman, huh? And just when I was beginning to like you, too.”
“It’s a huge settlement, Addison. You’re entitled to it.” Sondra’s voice broke as she continued. “But that’s not why I’m here. I just wanted you to know, in case you’re lying here worried. Actually, I came to ask you a favor.”
Addie cocked her head slightly. “Oh?”
“It’s about William. Obviously, he knows everything, and he’s not speaking to me. I understand why, but I want to ask you if you’ll promise me something? Promise me that you’ll keep an eye on him—that you’ll let him love you and that you’ll love him back. I know it’s complicated, Addison, but promise me you’ll try.”
Addie stared at the floor, unable to meet Sondra’s eye. “I can’t.”
“Seriously, Addison, look around! Can’t you see that this man is in love with you? He fills your room with flowers, hires an armed guard to sit outside your door twenty-four seven, provides you with the best legal team there is, and is currently sleeping in a room down the hall just so he never has to leave your side. All the while, he waits with the most pained expression I’ve ever seen for your husband to come and go.”
Addie wiped the tears from her eyes and took in the dozens of orchids that filled her room. “I know.”
“Then tell me what exactly is the goddamned problem?”
Addie locked eyes with Sondra. “I just can’t promise you that right now. Just trust that, eventually, I’ll make things right. But for now, I really can’t say any more than that. You’ll just have to take my word for it, ok?”
Sondra patted Addie's leg and let it be. “Talk to him for me, ok? Put in a good word, will ya?”
“Absolutely.” Addie replied, thankful Sondra didn’t pry. She smiled, grateful for her small victory. William might buy her lies, but Sondra never would.
Addie stroked William’s hair as she stared at his head lying in her lap. She memorized every detail, knowing that she was about to break his heart.
