Page 67 of Hate the One You're With
“The kids will enjoy the house better,” he shrugs, clearly picturing the future.
“Kids? Isn’t one enough?” I ask, half-joking but half-curious.
He shakes his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “We want a couple.”
“You’re a changed man, Maximillian McCallister,” I say, giving him a knowing look.
“Probably,” he admits, narrowing his eyes at me. “Which makes me wonder why you’re here and not trying to fix your shit with the Princess of New York City. I mean, I knew you’d married an Emmersyn Mara Langley, but it never clicked that she was the heir to Langley Media. That’s . . .” He trails off, letting out a low whistle.
“Yeah, well . . . I didn’t exactly know who she was when I agreed to marry her,” I reply, rubbing the back of my neck.
“Why are you here?” he asks again, more seriously this time.
“I knew my parents were coming to Boston to meet Emma. I was hoping I could talk to them,” I say, glancing toward the balcony where the family is gathered.
Max tilts his head thoughtfully. “Let me get everyone inside, then you can talk to them.”
He heads toward the balcony, and I watch as everyone gradually moves inside. Max’s mom is fussing over Emma, while Zoe’s mother tries to wrestle the baby from her grasp. Max steps in, reminding them to take turns or risk being banned from their grandchild.
Everyone is focused on the commotion inside, so I take the chance to pull my parents outside.
“Cal, I thought Max said you were in New York,” Dad says as I slide the glass door closed, ensuring no one from inside can interrupt us.
“With that woman,” Mom adds, her tone sharp.
“Emmersyn,” I correct her firmly. “Her name is Emmersyn, Mom.”
“I thought things between you two were over. Why go and see her again?” she snaps, clearly displeased. It’s no secret she doesn’t like Emmersyn.
“Her grandmother died,” I explain, trying to keep my voice steady.
“You need to forget about the she-devil and marry a good woman. Look at your friends—they’re happy. But you’re clinging to that woman who treated you poorly and has always been a bad influence. She thinks she can buy everything with money and use the people around her,” Mom says, her voice laced with frustration.
“She makes me happy. Emmersyn Langley is the love of my life,” I tell her, my voice resolute. “The thing is, you don’t know her, Mom. You’ve been judging her based on what you’ve heard from Clarissa, and that’s not the truth.”
“Emmersyn broke your heart,” she counters, her eyes narrowing.
I scoff, deciding it’s time to lay it all out. I tell them the story—how Em and I met, how we got to know each other through texts, the marriage proposal she made because she needed to help her friend’s family. I explain everything Gertrude did to keep us apart and how, despite it all, I’ve realized I’m still in love with my wife.
“The thing is, I need to get to know her again, to learn who she’s become, and hope that she’ll fall in love with me,” I finish, my voice steady but filled with emotion.
Mom and Dad watch me quietly, clearly processing everything I’ve said. For once, they’re not seeing Emmersyn through Clarissa’s distorted lens.
“That’s . . .” Mom starts, but for the first time in my life, she’s at a loss for words.
“That’s a lot to take in,” Dad finally says. “You didn’t have to marry someone to?—”
“Listen,” I cut him off gently, “it’s done, and we can’t go back in time to change things. But we can try to figure out the future. I not only need to show her that I love her, but I also want to offer her a family. I hope you can learn to love her and welcome her intoour family. It’d be awkward and ultimately sad to have to skip family reunions and holidays because you don’t like my wife—based on lies.”
Mom nods slowly. “If this is what you want, and if she’s who you love, we’ll try.”
I hug them both and leave. This is just the first step. The rest . . . Well, it’s going to be a lot of work. I’m going to have to break it to my friends and partners that they’ll need to cut their honeymoon phase short—though that mostly applies to Ethan and Liam. Max is already out for the next year on what he proudly calls his paternity leave. But the other two? They’re in charge of the company. Until I get my wife back, I’m off the grid.
Chapter Forty-Three
Emmersyn
When I openthe door to my apartment, Caleb is standing there, looking ruggedly handsome in a worn leather jacket that fits him perfectly, his blue eyes sharp and intense beneath dark, tousled hair. He has that effortless charm, the kind that makes your heart skip a beat before you even realize it. His jawline is strong, with just a hint of stubble that adds to his rough-around-the-edges appeal, andas he smiles, there’s a mischievous glint in his eyes that draws you in without a second thought.
