Chapter 13

"What do you want?" I asked as soon as my butt connected with the seat across from Max. I wanted to be done with this bastard as soon as I could. I had bigger fish to fry. Well, a big fish and his baby.

"You look different." His eyes roamed my body. While it would have been flattering to see him look at me like he wanted me just a month ago, it only repulsed me now. I wanted him to keep his eyes for his other woman. Or maybe I was the other woman. I would never know. Who was she anyway?

"Tell me why you called me here and be done with it. Let's not waste each other's time, Max."

"Good idea." His eyes dropped to my chest again before he cleared his throat to speak. "I've been thinking a lot and we both have to admit, divorcing is really not the best way around this. We have been together for ten years, Isa. We love each other."

I rolled my eyes. That was what I had thought for ten years. I had been wrong, clearly.

"I know how hurtful it will be for you to bring up my son. I realize that now. So, I have decided to sign over my custody rights and support my son financially. I will visit him once in a while but he will not be part of your life if you don't want him to be. We can work out a way to ensure you are not reminded of his existence."

For a second, I almost thought it was a smart idea. But then I nearly burst into laughter. "Are you listening to yourself? After cheating on me with this woman, you suddenly want to ditch her when she's carrying your child?"

"I didn't say I would ditch her. I just don't want you to be in my son's life because you clearly don't."

I tried my best not to blow up in my aim to understand exactly what he meant. Apparently, he wouldn't break up with his mistress. Where did that put me?

"That would not change the fact that you betrayed me and got someone else pregnant." I hissed.

"Isa," he took my hand, looking into my eyes with that gaze I would have fallen for merely a few weeks ago. "I'm sorry. What happened was an accident."

"Did you accidentally trip and land inside her?" I asked him the same question I had asked at our wedding.

"No. But I got together with her when you broke it off with me. I was devastated and I didn't realize it at the time that I still love you. I was trying to move on." He explained.

I thought about the sincerity of his tone. If he was lying, then I was such a damn fool. I had known him for an entire decade but I still didn't know how to read him. What had I been doing all these years?

He was right about one thing. Seven months ago, it had all become too much. I had asked to break off our engagement but…"How far along is she?"

"Four months."

"That would put your trust right smack in the middle of us planning our wedding after reconciling." We had only broken up for one month.

"And I'm sorry." He rubbed the back of my hand. I pulled it away.

"If you had told me this as soon as you found out, maybe I would make a different decision. However, you waited until the marriage was validated. You knew exactly what you were doing."

"I knew you would leave me if I told you." He confessed. I no longer knew what to think of it. This man had always portrayed himself as a loving fiancé, especially to me. I had not suspected for one second that he could be cheating on me.

"If you have anything else to tell me, wait until I settle on an attorney and contact them. If it cannot wait, talk to Misa about it."

He pursed his lips and I knew it was because he had a horrible relationship with my brothers, especially Misael.

"Who is she?" I asked, for the second time since he confessed what he did.

He swallowed and I instantly knew I would not get an answer from him.

He didn't stop me when I placed a ten dollar bill on the table and left, and I was glad he didn't. My eyes stung with unshed tears but I was not ready to let them out. Not before facing my new job, anyway.

Ugh. I had not even worked for Tristan Lexington for a full day and I already regretted it. I should have crawled to bum fuck nowhere.

My phone rang and I groaned. The last thing I needed was to talk to my mother. When I realized she could be calling because Max reported our meeting to her, I sighed and answered it.

"If you are calling about Max…"

"Honey, where are you? Your dad and I are worried sick but your brothers won't tell us where you are."

Maybe that's because they don't know where I am either? I thought inwardly.

"Do you need anything?"

"I just want to know that you are fine." She sounded truly worried and I was tempted to tell her that I would be back home soon. But again, Max had sounded sincere every time he was with me—probably after a night of passion with his mysterious mistress.

"I'm fine." I finally said and hung up before she had the chance to tell me what she thought of my marriage. I did not want anyone's opinion.

______

The house was quiet when I crept in. I would have thought no one was home if Tristan was not sitting on the couch, awaiting my arrival with knitted brows. He did not look up when I came in, so I hoped I could sneak to my room without attracting his attention.

"Where do you think you're going?" He growled.

Of course, there was no chance of escaping with my luck.

"To my room. To nurse my wound." I reminded him why I had left in such a hurry.

He rose from the couch and towered over me with his six foot two height. Or was it six feet three? I wasn't sure, but it was intimidating when he looked down at me with that gaze.

"You did not ask her what she wanted to eat."

"What?" I took a step back.

"You did not ask my daughter what she wanted to eat, did you?" He snapped, making a shiver go down my spine. Seeing the confusion on my face, he had his answer. "Did you even read the instructions?"

I fought the urge to bolt away. "I did, and…I avoided everything she dislikes. And those wings were phenomenal. I tasted one."

I should have probably shut the fuck up but I didn't. With him glaring at me like I had committed a crime, I had the strongest urge to defend myself.

"Are you sure you should be blaming me? Your daughter threw her food at me. I wonder why she thought that was okay."

"Are you questioning my parenting methods, Miss Clair?" He asked, right in my face.

"Of course not. It's none of my business if you raise a spoiled brat." I snapped, and immediately regretted my words. Nothing would have prepared me for the gasp I heard barely seconds after, and I whipped my head around just to catch sight of Rory running up the stairs. I shut my eyes. "Shit."