Chapter 97
-BLAIR-
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Olivia took one look at my face when I opened the passenger door and did not start the car. She knew. I could tell. She always knew when something happened that she should know about.
“Spill it,” she said. “And start with whether the baby is okay, because you look like someone hit you with a rock in the lobby.”
“The baby is fine.” I buckled in. “Heartbeat is strong. Growth is good.”
Olivia’s shoulders dropped with relief at hearing her little niece or nephew was doing great. Then her eyes narrowed again. “That is the good news. But something else definitely happened in there, I could see it all over your face. What is it that you’re not telling me? What happened?”
I sighed. There was no use trying to keep this from my sister. It’s not like I wanted to keep it from her either way. I needed someone to talk to about this.
“Grayson was there.”
She frowned. “Why?”
“Apparently he asked to see my files.” I let out a breath. “Because we are still married.”
Olivia gasped so loudly a man on the sidewalk turned. “Nooo.”
“Yes.” I leaned my head back against the seat. “We are still married. He never signed the divorce papers. I can’t believe all this time we’ve still been married and he chose to let me believe we were divorced.”
Olivia stared at me, mouth open, one hand still on the wheel of a car that had not moved. “I knew it. I knew he wasn’t over you. I told you. I said the way he looked at you was not the face of someone who wanted nothing to do with you. I said he asked for a divorce because of Chase and the pictures, not because he was finished with your marriage. Blair, this is huge. He never signed.”
“I know.”
“He never signed,” I repeated.
She finally started the engine, then immediately put it back in park like driving was not important right now.
“Okay. Continue. He knows the baby is his now.”
“Yes. He saw the date. The day of the blackout. Then he walked into the appointment and saw our baby for himself.” My throat tightened at the memory of his eyes staring at the screen with so much adoration. “And guess what.”
“What?”
“Chase told him the baby was his.”
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14:53 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
89
55 vouchers
Multiple curse words left Olivia’s mouth so fast I almost laughed. She hit the steering wheel with her hand.
“I cannot believe that asshole would stoop that low to keep Grayson out of your life.” She turned toward me, furious. “I should have let Ethan handle him in that hospital hallway. Should have called for backup. Should have let them fire him. He’s such a big pain in the ass. No offense, but I cannot believe you ever loved someone like him.”
None taken. I hated that I had fallen for him in the past. I was glad that part of my life was over.
“I don’t know what to do,” I said.
The car went quieter.
Olivia watched me for a long second. “Do you love him?”
I could have lied. I did not.
“Yes.”
She nodded, as if that was the part she had already known. “You are carrying his baby. You are still married because he could not put his signature. I believe you two can be a happy couple once Lily and Chase are completely out of your lives. Not half out. Out. For good. They are the reasons that the two of you keep having problems in your marriage.”
“I can’t simply forget how he treated me when he thought everyone else was telling the truth.” I stared at the dashboard. “He asked for a divorce instead of asking me about a kiss I did not want. He kissed Lily in front of me. He let her back into that house. He believed Chase about our baby. Today he heard our child’s heartbeat and asked me to move home like the last weeks were a simple misunderstanding. I love him. That does not mean I am ready to unpack my bags because he finally caught up to the truth.”
Olivia reached over and squeezed my hand. “Then don’t rush. Take your time. Just because you love him doesn’t mean that you need to immediately go back. He can sit with the consequences for a few days or longer. Give him time to get Lily out of his life. You can deal with Chase. Or I can.”
I let out a shaky breath. “He said he wants the marriage to be what it should have been from the start.”
“Good. Let him say it more than once. Let him prove it to you.” Olivia finally put the car in drive. “Also, for the record, I am going to need a moment to process that you have been legally married this entire time. I knew Grayson was hiding something from the way he looked at you at those events.”
A small, broken sound left me. “Please do not start a group call about it.”
“No promises.” She pulled into traffic. “But I will not tell dad until you are ready. Ethan either. Tessa will find out and I cannot help that. You know how good she is at finding out things no one wants her to know about.”
I looked out the window, one hand resting low on the faint curve of my belly.
Still married.
Chase was a liar. A good one.
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14:53 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
I still couldn’t believe any of this was real.
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Olivia glanced at me. “You did good. I am proud of you. At least you didn’t run into his arms right away.”
“I wanted to,” I admitted.
“I know.” Her voice gentled. “Wanting him is not the problem. Forgetting what it cost you would be. Take the time, Blair. If he is serious, he can wait. If he cannot wait, then he’s not ready to be the man you need.”
I agreed with my sister, but my traitorous heart was urging me to rush back into that hospital and accept his offer-to go home with him. Meanwhile, those stupid pregnancy hormones had me feeling incredibly aroused. Yet, we had been apart for so long that there was no chance for intimacy. I inwardly groaned, unable to believe I was even thinking about that right now.
I took a deep breath.
All this time, Grayson believed I was still involved with Chase, convinced that this baby wasn’t his. His recent actions suddenly made much more sense, revealing his suspicions and doubts. However, despite understanding his perspective, I was still not prepared to forgive him.
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14:53 Thu, Sep 17
The Hockey Captain’s Unwanted Wife
Dex Morgan
Dex works to elevate each story with clean writing, emotional balance, and thoughtful flow for readers.