Page 49 of Her Ex's Father
“Then why,” I murmur, “would Ben want to do thishereand not at home?”
Caroline’s sharp eyes cut to me, narrowed in calculation. Ilikeher, a lot. She’s feisty, a fallen angel in a line of kings and queens. But smarter than people realize.
“The last couple years have been… hard on Derrick. And now this. Just try to keep that in mind; every time the boy thinks he’s found his footing, something is taken from him.”
The meaning of her words sinks in, unspoken:His mother.
Now you.
Before I can reply, I feel Ben’s presence beside me. He’s in a tailored black suit that makes the whole room seem lesser. His hand brushes my shoulder briefly, grounding me, and when I glance up his green eyes are all control and restraint. I see the warning in them:stay calm, Maddie.
The maître d’ approaches with a polite bow. “Mr. Bronson, your son has arrived.”
The air at our table tightens. Caroline exhales like she’s about to enjoy a play. Leo, her teenage son, perks up from behind his water glass, his eyes already bright with drama. And me? My palms sweat.
Then Derrick strolls in.
He’s dressed in a casual button-down and slacks, careless beside his father’s severity. His brown hair flops over his forehead; he pushes it back with the same hand holding his phone, as if the dinner is already boring him. He saunters up with a half-grin that doesn’t touch his eyes.
“Dad.” He doesn’t bother with a handshake, just drops into the seat across from Ben like he owns it. “Caroline. Leo.” Interestingly, it’s Caroline at the head of the table. His gaze flicks to me, lingering a moment too long. “Maddie.”
“Derrick,” I answer evenly, though my pulse stumbles.
Ben’s jaw tightens, but he gestures subtly for the waiter to pour wine. I’ll have to leave mine untouched and hope that no one notices. True to his word, Ben hasn’t told anyone yet. And tonight, wouldnotbe the night to do so.
“Thank you for joining us. I wasn’t sure you’d make it.”
“Well, you know me,” Derrick drawls, tossing his phone on the table. “Never miss a free meal.” It’s a careless comment, self-deprecating, but when Derrick looks at Ben I can see an edge of hate in his quick glance. What went wrong between them?
Caroline’s smirk widens. “Charming as always.”
The waiter fills glasses, sets down a basket of bread. Conversation stumbles forward in halting fragments—the weather, ski season, Bronson Hall’s new wing in Switzerland. Derrick feigns disinterest until Ben finally cuts clean through the civility.
“I’ll be direct,” Ben says, voice clipped. “You should know where things stand regarding the company.”
Derrick leans back, arms crossed, bored. “Enlighten me.”
Ben’s gaze is steady, brutal. “You are not inheriting Bronson Hall.”
The words drop like stones into the hush. My throat goes dry. Even Caroline looks startled, her brows arching. Leo swears softly under his breath, practically praying it won’t behisresponsibility someday.
Derrick blinks, then barks a laugh. “That’s funny.”
“It isn’t,” Ben says. “The business will remain with me. And in due time, with the child Maddie and I are expecting.”
The air vacuums out of the room.
Everyone stares at Ben, and then me—or more fittingly, at the hand that flies to my stomach. Ben’s gaze is cold as he, too, turns his attention to me. A knot of betrayal forms in my chest. Why didn’t he ask before making this announcement?
And what the hell does he mean, our baby will be the heir to all of this?
Derrick’s face reddens in a slow, ugly bloom. “You’re joking.” His fists clench, a sneer turning his lip up. “You marry my fiancée, send Hugh halfway across the world to demand I come back and take your place, and in the meantime youknock her up?”
Ben’s face is stone. I suck in a breath, not realizing I’ve been holding it, and wish I could disappear beneath the table. But no one is looking at me now, at least not with Derrick’s accusation.
“You can’t be serious about cutting me out. I’m your only son.”
Caroline shifts uncomfortably. “Benedict?—”
