Page 100 of After the Vows

She learned her lesson? She walked away and never looked back. She’s barely contacted her daughter in the past two years since she left. And she hasn’t seen her daughter in the past year. None of her actions indicate she’s learned anything.

“I’m married.”

She dismisses my words with a wave of her hand. “Do you seriously expect me to believe you’re actually married again? You claimed you’d never marry again. And yet you suddenly have a wife the minute I ask for custody.”

“Ask for custody? You claimed you’d sue me for sole custody. I’m not letting you steal my daughter away.”

“Exactly.” She nods. “Which is why you came up with this whole fake wife thing. It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone. But there’s no need to continue the charade.”

“The charade?”

She points to next door. “Yourwifehas a house next door. If you were married, she wouldn’t still have her house.”

“How do you know the house next door is from her?”

She smirks. “You’re not the only one who can do some investigating.”

Shit. I fell into her trap.

“Whether Chloe rents the house next door or not is immaterial. We’re married and I’m not letting you steal my daughter.”

She jabs me in the chest with her finger. “She’sourdaughter. I’m the one who carried her for nine months. I’m the one who had to get a boob job because my breasts sagged from nursing her.”

I remove her hand from my chest. “You carried her for nine months, but there’s more to being a mother than giving birth. You never paid Natalia any attention. You didn’t play with her. You ignored her in her crib. When she began school, you didn’t participate in any of the school activities. You didn’t bake for the bake sales. You didn’t go to her school plays. Need I go on?”

“That’s all in the past now. I’m a changed woman.”

“Which is why you cringed when Natalia hugged you? Why you’re here having this argument with me instead of spending time with the daughter you haven’t seen in a year?”

“It’s not a big deal. I can spend time with her later. I’m not going anywhere.”

I inhale a deep breath and pray for calm. If Holly wants to see Natalia, I have to give her the chance to be in her daughter’s life. No matter how much it hurts me. It’s not about me. It’s about my daughter.

“Are you moving to Smuggler’s Hideaway?”

“I can hardly be with you if I don’t live in the same place as you.”

“You are not hearing me, Holly. I’m married. I’m not leaving Chloe to be with you.”

“And you’re not hearing me. I know your marriage is a sham.”

Panic grasps me for a second. She knows I married Chloe to keep Natalia safe? I force those thoughts away. It doesn’t matter why I married Chloe. We’re together now and I’m not letting her go.

“Chloe is my wife. Our marriage is not a sham.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. The action pushes her breasts together but I look away. I’m not interested in any other woman than Chloe. Especially not a scheming woman who will do anything to get her way.

“You are forcing my hand.”

“I’m not forcing anything. I’m telling you the truth.”

“We’ll see what the judge thinks of your ‘marriage’.”

“You’re suing me for custody of Natalia?”

“I’m not going to let you win.”

I growl. “Natalia is not a prize. She’s our daughter.”

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