Page 20 of Soul

Maci looked at me with her big eyes, and the answer stuck in my throat.

“Say no,” Maci urged with a smile.

“No,” I whispered, and Maci reared back.

“Liar,” she cried.

I sighed and ran a hand over my face. Ham already had a hold on Maci’s wheelchair and was pushing her away. Maci sent me a betrayed glare.

“In the future, if my kids end up here, please tell them to leave!” Bryony hissed.

I nodded dumbly as she disappeared. What else could I do? She’d gone straight for my jugular and asked the one question that would damn me out of hand. Fuck this, why was I so bothered, anyway? It wasn’t as if we had anything between us. Sure, I liked how she looked, but actually, Bryony was coming across a rather judgemental bitch. Who needed that?

Somewhere in the back of my head, a little voice taunted that I did.

Bryony

The knock on the door took me by surprise, as it was nearly ten at night. I didn’t talk to any of my neighbours, so had no idea who was here. When I peered through the peephole, I blinked in utter shock. What the hell?

“Open up, Bry. I know you are in there. It’s a Saturday, and you’re the one bitch who doesn’t go partying!” Madden shouted.

I glanced up the stairs. The kids were asleep, having been worn out through all the emotional shit they’d gone through today.

I yanked the door open, shoved Madden backwards, and shut it behind me.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded.

“I gotta talk to you!” Madden declared.

“At this time of night? Go away and come back at a decent hour. Which means after ten in the morning.”

“We need to talk, Bry. Just invite me in,” Madden said.

I stared at Madden in surprise. “No. Come back at a decent hour, Madden. The kids are asleep.”

“Bryony. I’m not here to see those little freaks—”

“Shut your foul mouth,” I snapped. “I don’t care what you are doing here, but we ain’t doing this shit.”

“You’re my wife—”

“Ex-wife! You couldn’t divorce me quick enough to bang whatever plastic Barbie you had on the go. Now leave.”

“We gotta do a photo shoot,” Madden stated and folded his arms over his chest. I gaped at him in shock. The fuck I had to do anything.

Madden tossed his head, which flicked his layered hair out of the way. I recognised this stance. This was his ‘look at me, I’m gorgeous, rich, talented, and famous’ pose. It didn’t work on me anymore. I’d seen it far too many times.

“Madden, get lost. Do me a favour, forget me and the children exist.”

“I’d love to, but I need you,” Madden replied.

“What have you done now? Because something’s happened.”

“Some bitch is releasing a bad story about me. I need you and the kids to shore up my image,” Madden demanded.

And there it was! Always something with him. Madden never wanted to be a real dad to the kids. Nope, something negative was written about him, and he’d trot the children out for positive articles.

“You’re not using them or me to get yourself out of whatever shit you’ve caused this time!” I hissed.

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