Chapter 10 – Unwelcome Guests
The knock on the door was sharp and impatient. I frowned as I made my way to open it.
The last person I expected to see on the other side was her.
Maria.
Michael’s mother.
And standing beside her, with an air of authority and sharp disapproval, was Gerald- Michael and Xavier’s father.
My stomach tightened.
Maria’s eyes widened the moment she saw me. “You?” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with disdain. “What are you doing here?”
I squared my shoulders. “I live here.”
She let out a short, humorless laugh. “You? In Xavier’s home? Don’t be ridiculous.”
Before I could respond, footsteps echoed down the hall. The butler arrived, his posture stiff as he bowed slightly.
Right in front of him was Xavier, dragging his stuffed toy along the floor like a child.
The butler’s voice was firm. “Lady Maria, Master Gerald, you will treat Mrs Rachel with respect. She is the mistress of this house.”
Maria’s expression twisted in disbelief. “Mistress?” She turned to Gerald, scoffing. “He must be joking.”
The butler didn’t flinch. “He is not.”
Maria let out a burst of laughter, loud and mocking. Gerald, however, simply studied Xavier with a deep, unreadable gaze before shifting to me.
“You got married,” Gerald said, his tone neutral. “And you didn’t even inform us?”
Xavier ignored them, his attention focused on a small toy soldier in his hand. He seemed completely detached from the conversation.
Maria sneered. “What, were you afraid Daddy would disapprove?”
Gerald’s lips twitched as if he were suppressing amusement. “Why would I disapprove?” He let his eyes linger on me before saying, “You suit each other well.”
My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
He didn’t mean that as a compliment.
Maria tilted her head. “Oh, I see what’s going on.” Her lips curled in a smirk. “Rachel, dear, you were so devastated after Michael left you that you threw yourself at a man like Xavier?” She looked at him, shaking her head. “A man who’s lost his mind?”
My blood boiled.
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I stood tall, stepping closer to Xavier protectively. “Don’t talk about my husband like that.”
“Husband?” Maria scoffed. “How long do you think this will last? Once Michael finds out, he’ll-”
“I don’t care what Michael thinks.”
Maria’s mocking laughter filled the room, and Gerald smirked, shaking his head as if he found this whole situation amusing.
I had had enough.
“If you can’t be respectful, then get out,” I snapped, pointing toward the door.
The butler looked startled. Maria’s laughter died abruptly, replaced by a sharp glare.
“You’re throwing me out?” she asked in disbelief.
“Yes. Both of you.”
I turned away before she could say another word, my heart pounding in my chest. Maria and Gerald left, though not without a few lingering sneers. But I didn’t care.
I refused to let them humiliate Xavier in his own home.
That night, I couldn’t help but recall the taunting day I had as I helped Xavier into bed. He lay there, staring up at the ceiling, his expression calm as I tucked the blanket around him.
I hesitated before speaking.
“I’m sorry.”
Xavier blinked, turning his head slightly toward me.
Then he babbled and started giggling.
I sighed and continued, “I’m sorry for everything. For what people say about you. For how they treat you.”
He didn’t answer, and I wasn’t even sure if he understood what I was saying.
His breathing evened out as he drifted into sleep, his fingers still loosely curled around his stuffed toy.
I stayed awake a little longer, watching him, my heart aching with emotions I didn’t fully understand.
Eventually, exhaustion won, and I let sleep take me.
At midnight, I stirred awake, feeling the space beside me empty.
Confused, I rubbed my eyes and sat up, blinking in the darkness.
Where was Xavier?
A faint sound came from the bathroom.
Half–asleep, I pushed the covers back and walked toward the door, opening it slowly.
And then-
I froze.
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At midnight, I stirred awake, feeling the space beside me empty.
Confused, I rubbed my eyes and sat up, blinking in the darkness.
Where was Xavier?
A faint sound came from the bathroom.
Half–asleep, I pushed the covers back and walked toward the door, opening it slowly.
And then-
I froze.
Xavier was standing.
Not sitting.
Not crawling.
Standing.
He stood in front of the restroom, his posture straight, his back to me.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
He wasn’t supposed to be able to do that.
“Xavier?” My voice barely came out as a whisper.
He turned his head slightly, glancing at me over his shoulder.
“Oh shit!” he muttered under his breath.
My eyes widened in shock and at that moment I realized something. Jhad been wrong about everything.
