Chapter 10

Max's POV

With a heavy sigh, I walked out of the house, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. The walls seemed to close in, suffocating me with the nonsense that had unfolded. I knew I had to put on a brave face for my child, to shield her or him from the pain that was tearing them apart inside. But that didn't mean I wasn't hurt by what Nelly and my uncle had done. Deep within me, anger simmered, threatening to boil over. I had an overwhelming urge to release my frustration, to let it all out by smashing everything in sight, by shouting at Nelly and my uncle. But I knew that such actions would only bring me more harm than good. I would risk losing everything I had worked so hard for, including my precious baby. What would be the point? To fight for a woman who didn't care about me, who had found happiness in the arms of another man?

After a few minutes of driving, I found myself parking my car outside a bar. It seemed like the only place where I could shortly escape the pain that consumed me. With another sigh, I stepped out of the car and made my way inside, hoping that the dimly lit atmosphere and the buzz of conversation would provide some solace.

Once inside, I looked for the VIP section, craving the privacy it offered. I needed to be alone with my thoughts, to sort through the tangled mess of emotions that threatened to overwhelm me. Taking a seat, I ordered a drink, the cool glass offering a temporary peace from the agitation within. As I took a sip, I pondered the difficult task ahead of me - how to tell Priscilla the truth, how to navigate the treacherous path that lay before us. She would inevitably discover the truth, and I had to find a way to handle the fallout, to protect her from the pain that awaited her. I know that she was still young and I'm being unfair to her, but no one was fair to me… The world was unfair, at least she is getting something out of it.

Priscilla's POV

I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. My mind was flooded with questions about why he brought me here. He had been so kind, enrolling me in an online school, taking care of me, ensuring I ate on time. But why? I couldn't answer that question. I felt trapped, with guards everywhere. Hungry, I ventured to the kitchen, only to find no cooked food left and all the maids asleep. I didn't know how to cook, so I settled for ice cream and snacks. It was cold outside, with winter just beginning. I sat in the dining room, eating my late-night snack.

Just as I thought I could enjoy my snack, I heard someone trying to open the door. I frowned, everyone was fast asleep then who could it be, with a swift movement, I rushed to the kitchen and grabbed a pan, I wonder how a thief could enter this house with a lot of guards and security. I wasn't going to spare that thief, at least I will vent my anger somewhere.

I approached the door slowly and positioned myself behind it, patiently waiting. After what felt like an eternity, the door finally swung open. Gripping the pan tightly, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of the thief, ready to teach him a lesson. As the intruder walked right into my trap, I wasted no time striking him repeatedly with the pan. His screams filled the air as they desperately tried to shield his face. I continued my assault without hesitation until I suddenly recognized the voice. It was Max…. My expression turned to a frown as I realized it was indeed him, and he appeared to be intoxicated but not that much.

"Priscilla, are you completely out of your mind? Why on earth are you assaulting me with a pan?" Max inquired, rising from the floor with a deep frown etched upon his face.

Caught off guard, I shifted uneasily, unsure of how to respond. A lump formed in my throat, causing me to swallow hard. "But can you blame me? I genuinely believed it was an intruder. Why would you come home at such a late hour? Do you even realize the time?" I questioned, attempting to justify my rather foolish actions.

Max ran his fingers through his hair, his expression a mix of anger and sadness. I hoped that my earlier words hadn't wounded him, as I had no intention of offering an apology. "Since when did you become my wife or my mother?" he retorted, his tone laced with frustration.

Unable to resist, I let out a scoff, my natural response in such situations. "The very day you brought me into your life... that's when I assumed the roles of both your wife and your mother," I declared, my frustration palpable. "If you would just release me, I promise not to pester you with any further inquiries.

"I don't understand why you're acting like a victim here," Max's tone was harsh and I could see how angry he was. "The world is unfair and you need to get used to it." He looked different when he was angry and it made me feel uneasy.

"When I found you on the street, you had nothing. No money, no home, no one. I took you in and made sure you had a place to stay, food to eat, and everything you needed. But you're not grateful, you're acting like a victim. Do you want to leave? Do you have money or a place to stay? Will you have money to eat or study? No, you won't. I'm doing you a big favor, no matter why I'm doing it. Instead of yelling at me, you should think about what I'm going through and the effort I put in to smile every day, had I been someone else I would have vented all my anger on you but I didn't do that. " he yelled, caught off guard by his outburst.

"Max, do you think you're doing me a favor by keeping me here against my will?" I asked, trying to process his words.

"Of course I am. What would you have done if I didn't take you that day? Do you have any family or friends apart from your mother? No, you don't. Stop acting like a spoiled brat and focus on the benefits you're getting from this," Max stated coldly before walking upstairs.

I couldn't believe his words. Did he think I needed his favor? I knew he was right, but he shouldn't have made that decision for me. I could have done something on my own without needing his help. Now he was going to rub it in my face. This was exactly why I never wanted to be here. I didn't need his pity or sympathy because I had no family or friends. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I missed my mom. I couldn't stay with this rude man, but unfortunately, I had no choice but to stay here against my wish, he had put a tracker in my body that if I run away, he would find me immediately. I felt so helpless, but I was going to teach him a lesson for what he said to me. That's just me being me.