Chapter 34

 Max's POV 

My adrenaline surges and nervousness hypnotizes my soul. The thought of anything happening to Priscilla makes my heart race. I know that my auntie must be involved in this. I don't know how I should keep her safe from them. On the other hand, the court has granted Nelly the right to stay in my house for 3 months until our next trial. If I chase her out, it would be considered court contempt. I couldn't chase my auntie out either, because she was my mom's sister. One mother, one father - I can't be discourteous to her. 

I take a few deep breaths before getting out of the car. I can't chase Nelly out, but I can scare her, right? I walk inside the house. I am going to show her the worst side of me she has ever seen. 

I found them in the dining room. Nelly looks like a drenched chicken. Perhaps they are shocked to see Priscilla still fit and fine. 

"Uh, Max you are back," Nelly says with a forced smile as she stands up from the couch. "I've made your favorite meal," she says. 

"Nelly!" I call her name calmly. She smiles and walks towards me, closing the distance between us. 

"Yes. Do you need anything?" Nelly asks, her smile widening. God knows what is happening in her head, I don't care nor do I want to know. 

I grab her neck, pulling her closer to me. Her eyes widen in panic as she tries to remove my hand from her neck, but I tighten my grip. 

"Max, what are you doing? Have you lost it?" my auntie questions as she quickly stands up from the couch. 

"Stay out of it if you still want to stay in my house," I declare sternly, my eyes bore into Nelly's which are enlarged, tears gathering in them. She tries to say something but her words are caught up in her throat right where I am grasping her. 

"Max... You are hurting me!!!" Nelly chokes out her words. 

"I will say this once, so listen to me very carefully," I say sternly, tightening my grip around her neck. Her hands try to remove mine, but she can't because I am stronger than her. 

"If you dare lay a hand on Priscilla or harm any hair on her head. I'm telling you right now, I will strangle the life out of you. I will kill you with my bare hands. I'm warning you, stay away from me and her," I say calmly but sternly. I let go of her neck with so much pressure that she missteps and falls. Her wails fill the room. 

I don't care about her, weeping or not. After what Mark told me, I've lost all the little respect that I had for her. She doesn't deserve me, my love, and respect. 

"Max, how could you do this to your wife? When did you turn into such a monster?" Auntie Suzie roars at me. I am not going to allow her to speak in that tone, this is my house. 

"Auntie, please mind your tone. Remember that you are in my house, this is not a family house where you can tell me what to do and what not to do. I told you that Nelly and I are getting divorced, yet you still support her in her nonsense. If she does something again, then I promise you, I will chase you out of my house," I say sternly. Respecting people is garbage, worse when you respect someone who doesn't deserve your respect or respect you back. Without veering around, I saunter upstairs. 

I knock on Priscilla's door but I get no answer. Assuming that she must have fallen asleep, I open the door and stride inside. My eyes scan the room, but I do not find Priscilla. I step towards the bathroom. 

I knock, but there is no answer. I knocked again, but there was no response. I decide to open the door, scanning the bathroom, my eyes fall on a petite, slim body curled up in the corner of the shower, her head resting on her knees. For a moment, I want to burst into laughter, but I quickly stop myself and walk towards her. I kneel beside her and scoop her into my arms. She instinctively wraps her hand around my neck, resting her head on my chest. I walk out of the bathroom with her. 

I carefully lay her on the bed. She is in a deep slumber and doesn't even open her eyes. My eyes fall on her feet, which are swollen and noticeable. 

I stroll to the end of the bed, sit on the edge of it, take her feet, place them on my lap, and start massaging them.

 Author's POV 

Nelly's body cringed in sobs, her muscles withered and trembled. Her thoughts started spinning. Who was that man who just grasped her by her neck and threw her on the floor? That man was certainly not Max. Max was always calm and steady, he never lifted his hand to a woman. She knew that this was because of that girl. She was the one turning Max into this monster. She wanted to get her out of Max's life as soon as possible.

"Nelly my dear, get up," Auntie Suzie said softly. She didn't like the way Max acted with Nelly but she did not take anything to heart. She knew that it was because of that uncivilized girl. She is coming to be a bad influence on him. That's why he is behaving like this.

"Auntie, do you see how Max is treating me because of that girl? She is the reason for all this. She has ruined my marriage and now Max doesn't care about me," Nelly sobbed, her sobs weren't fake this time. She was sobbing for real. She had never seen this side of Max and she was really afraid that she had lost him to a street kid. That fact scared the hell out of her. She just hopes her worst fear won't come true because if she loses Max, her whole life will be ruined.

"My dear, stop crying. I will deal with that girl in such a way that she will regret the day she was born. Just wait and watch. Stop crying now. Get up, go to your room, and take some rest. I will bring the ointment for your neck," Auntie Suzie said. Nelly rose from the floor, tears still flowing out of her eyes. She started making her way upstairs.

Nelly stood in front of the mirror. She lifted her hand slowly and began caressing her red neck. Max's handprint was still visible. Ever since they got married, Max was always a sweet guy. He doted on her like his princess. Never once did he make her cry or hurt her like this! She cheated on him because she thought he was boring. She wanted some excitement which Dave was able to offer her, but now he left her. She needed to survive. She wanted a luxurious life and only Max could give it to her. How will she put him back under her control? It seems like getting rid of Priscilla was harder than she thought. She was a cunning fox, that's why she was able to trap Max. Nelly had realized that she could never win against Priscilla, but she was still going to try to get her out of the picture along with her baby.

"I'm such a fool," Nelly sobbed, her tears were now mixed with her mascara making her look like a zombie. Had she not aborted her babies, maybe Max would have forgiven her for the sake of their babies, but now he has no reason to forgive her. Dave played her like a fool and she fell into his trap. She believes that Max would have forgiven her, but the problem was that girl, that girl was the biggest problem.

 Priscilla's POV 

I gradually opened my eyes and sat up on the bed. I noticed that my feet were no longer hurting, which was a relief. I remember feeling so miserable earlier that I had to sit in the bathroom. However, I was perplexed as to how I got back to the bedroom.

"You're awake!" I turned and saw Max sitting on the couch.

"How are you feeling?" Max asked. 

"I feel much better now. What time is it?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes.

"It's 11 p.m., you slept for a long time!" Max replied. "Aren't you hungry?" he asked.

"It's pretty late already. I'll eat tomorrow," I said, holding back my hunger.

"Are you okay? Why aren't you sleeping?" I asked him.

"Honestly, I'm not okay," Max replied, sighing. "I'm thinking about what Mark said, and I don't know what to believe. I'm confused, hurt, and heartbroken."

My stomach hardened as I felt a wave of emotions. Seeing Max hurt like this was unbearable. "I'm sorry that this happened to you, Max. You don't deserve any of this," I expressed.

"Maybe I deserve everything," Max said, rubbing the back of his neck. I could tell he was trying to hold back his tears.

"Max, please don't say that," I said, getting off the bed and walking towards him. I couldn't bear to see him in so much pain. I sat beside him on the couch, and he immediately put his arms around me and cried silently.

"Everything is going to be okay, Max. You'll find someone who loves you and your baby," I comforted him.

"How can I be sure that this is my baby?" Max asked me between sobs.

"Don't think about that right now. Believe that this is your baby and take a break from all this. Take some time for yourself and your business," I suggested softly. I could see that Max was trying to wipe his tears away.

"Everything will be okay," I continued. Max nodded in agreement.

"Go to sleep, I'll go out for some fresh air, and I'll come back," Max said.

"Can I come with you? I'm not sleepy anymore," I asked. I didn't want to leave him alone, especially knowing how troubled he was.

"No, it's late. You stay home," Max said, but I knew he wanted to drink. I didn't want him to drink alone, and I was worried he might do something he would regret.

"Please, Max," I begged with puppy eyes. I knew he wouldn't say no.

"Priscilla, don't look at me like that. I already said no," Max said, but I was determined.

"Please, Max, I want to come with you," I persisted.

"Can I say no to you?" Max asked, shaking his head.

"No, you can't," I said, thrilled that he'd agreed.

"Okay, let's go," Max finally surrendered. I got up from the bed and prepared to follow him.

"Just wait for me, I need to use the bathroom first," I told him and quickly went to the bathroom.