Liam “Oh my God, you are so pathetic.” I try to ignore Silas, but it isn’t easy when my chin’s
resting on his kitchen counter. I’m hiding from the world—actually my wife—because if she
flashes that sweet smile at me, I might not be able to stay away anymore. “Why don’t you
just talk to her?” Silas takes away my fifth vodka... Or was it my sixth? Hard to say. “Why
have you taken this afternoon off? Don’t you have another ‘miracle’ cream to market to
women desperate for eternal youth or something?” “Answer the question.” I puff out a
breath. “You don’t understand. She doesn’t love me. Never did, never will.” “And here I
thought Rhys was melodramatic. She wanted you to go to the appointment to hear the
baby’s heartbeat together. That means something.” “Yeah.” It means she wants to fuck over
Hugh and his family, but also wants to maintain an image. I’m not sure what image or how
it fits into her plans. But she only disclosed a small part of them to me, so what do I know?
Who tells an expendable extra everything? Bet they don’t even get the script before being
told to stay in the corner and look busy for the camera. Silas’s silent staring annoys me,
though. So I blurt out, “She only wants the baby, and it’s not because she loves me or
anything. She just wants her revenge.” “Revenge against who? You?” Silas asks, aghast. I
push myself off the countertop. “No,” I say tiredly. “I never hurt her.”
“Fine. So not you.” He considers for a moment. “So what’s the problem again? You literally
stood outside the examination room so you could hear the heartbeat.” I gave my name and
introduced myself as Olivia’s husband to the rec eptionist, the title bittersweet because I
don’t know how long I’ll get to call myself that. “Sorry I’m late. Awful traffic.” I managed a
smile, but it must’ve looked like shit because the rec eptionist gave me a sympathetic nod.
She checked her records. “I see you here. Go ahead. Just down the hall, second door on
your left.” I nodded my thanks, then moved down the hall and stood outside the door.
Nobody was watching the corridor, so I was able to listen to the rapid whooshes
undisturbed. Our baby... I pressed my ear against the door so I could hear the sound more
clearly. I thought it might sync with my heart or Olivia’s, but it was so fast, like the baby
couldn’t wait to make its presence known. I’m here, Mommy and Daddy! My chest ached. I
wished I could be inside, but I knew better. Despite what Olivia said, she didn’t want that.
Not really. She was honest with Simon when she didn’t know I was listening. All the texts
she sent... She just wants to... I don’t even know what she wants with me anymore. I can’t
figure out what I’m supposed to be in her life because husbands aren’t supposed to be
disposable, are they? Not so coldly, anyway. What about our baby? Will she still want them
after she gets her mother’s inheritance? Is my presence going to remind her that the baby
was created with a man she couldn’t care less about? I won’t be able to bear it if Olivia
regards the baby the way she does me. Silas gives a loud and very ostentatious sigh. “You
could’ve just manned up and gone in there with her. Women are very emotional when
they’re pregnant. All sorts of hormones erupt and they can’t control anything.” Ignoring
him, I look at my phone screen. Her saying that she wanted me to come home, or that she
missed me, or any of those things... I stare at her texts, then start typing a response. I miss
you, too. Can you give us a chance? Or are we just over? Can you love our baby at least?
Please? But before I can hit send, I delete everything. All her nice texts are probably just
hormones and guilt talking, not her. You know that isn’t true, my mind whispers. The
thought only drags down my mood. She’s always been clear on what she wanted. I’ve never
met a woman more clear-headed than Olivia. I admire her for it, but at the same time I
resent her a little, too. I wish she could be just slightly less driven, a bit weaker in her
resolve. If there were a hundred st eps between us, I’d take all hundred. All she’d have to do
is crack open the gate—I’ll do the rest. “Come on. Let me hear the baby’s heartbeat. It’s my
second n ephew or niece,” Silas says. “Technically. But you may never get to hold it.”
“What? Why not?” Silas stares at me like I just told him he has a permanent case of erectile
dysfunction. “It’s going to be her baby. It will take the Whitmore name—one hundred
percent hers.” At least I hope she wants the baby to be all hers, even if it means I may not
get to spend much time with them. I don’t want them to experience the pain of being tossed
aside by their own mother. Silas slaps the countertop. “That’s bullshit. Did you talk to
Jeremiah about this?” “No. I used Samantha Jones, because Olivia’s lawyer is Prescott.” His
jaw slackens. “Wait, so you gave up Jeremiah?” I shrug. “Conflict of interest.” “For God’s
sake, you’re so whipped. Jeremiah’s like the mother we never had. She would’ve made sure
you could be around your baby!” “I think Prescott is probably like the father Olivia never
had.” Silas shakes his head. “Want me to act as a mediator or something? I’m sure if you
and Olivia can just talk, you can—” “Don’t you fucking dare!” He stares at me like I’m
insane. “Just don’t. You’ll make it worse. I don’t want anybody trying to get us to talk.”
Because what’s broken between us isn’t due to talking. It’s that I love her, and she doesn’t
feel the same way. I sigh, deflating until I end up half-draped over the counter again. Silas
snorts. “You look like Dalí’s melting clock.” I wish I could go back in time, before Hugh,
Deena and Brielle hurt Olivia. Then maybe she wouldn’t look at the world like a porcupine
with its
spines raised. Or at least she wouldn’t do it with me. Silas studies me for a moment. “I’m
going to make you some jam to cheer you up. You’re d epressing the shit out of me.” I shoot
him a wan smile. “Thanks. That sounds... really great.” I feel the weight of my brother’s
worried gaze but ignore it, because not even a metric ton of his jam could fix what’s broken
in my life.