Page 54 of Her Ex's Father
She doesn’t say it because it’s not true. I know where my faults are, and not tending to my son properly after his mother’s death is the largest one.
“This is different.”
Caroline nods. “I know. You’ll be a father again. You’ll be tied to a woman you didn’t intend to marry?—”
I grip the edge of my desk, flashing a dangerous look at Caroline, who’s surprised by it.
“I don’t regret it,” I say evenly. “I don’tdeserveit, but I don’t regret it.”
The truth is, being tied to Maddie with a child sends a shock of elation through me at the very thought.
Caroline nods slowly. “Okay. I’m here, Benedict, if you need anything. You were there for me with Leo.” She cocks her head, the ghost of a smile appearing at the memory of her son. I’m happy that all these years later, it isn’t overshadowed by how cruel our father was about Caroline coming home knocked up and without the father.
To this day, I still don’t know who he is. I never bothered asking.
A truce settles between us. There’s a fair chance I’ll still navigate this alone, and Caroline knows it. But she’s there if I need her.
She stands, gives me a sweet smile reserved only for a handful of people in our lives, and makes her way to the door.
Pausing, she throws over her shoulder: “Youdidbringhersister here, Ben, for support. Don’t deny yourself the same.”
Caroline rounds the corner and is gone, back to the cottage and her quiet life with her son. I envy her—sometimes I wish that after Georgiana passed, we’d done the same. I could have offloaded Bronson Hall to a massive property management conglomerate. Made billions, tucked myself away here—or somewhere else, somewhere hidden in the woods with only myself and Derrick to worry about.
Instead, I focused on solidifying my empire. Hoping someday my son would come back to me.
There’s no way I could’ve predicted this—a young, brilliant, pregnant wife. The son, a wolf at my door.
I’ll deal with Derrick first.
And only then, when the shadows are gone, will I let Maddie step fully into the light.
Chapter 19
Maddie
The suite is too quiet when I return from breakfast with Stella.
She’s still down in the spa, insisting I take time to rest, but I like coming back to our space. It feels like a little pocket of home carved out of Bronson Hall’s polished marble and glass. My scarf draped over the armchair. The soft blanket I’ve been curling up under at night.
Even though Ben is still at the lodge, having sent us off to Bronson Hall for a few days to relax, it feels like he’s still here—in the little details.
His jacket is hanging up in the closet. A pair of hiking boots,just in case.A smile ghosts across my lips at the memory of asking him why they were there.
Stepping out of the elevator, exhaustion hits me in a wave. It’s been lapping at me all week, but now it pools, tugging me down. Stella was right; I could use a nap.
But the moment I push open the suite door, something prickles in the air.
The curtains stir faintly even though the windows are closed. The closet door is ajar, a sliver of silk peeking out.
And there’s movement.
A man stands by the dresser, rifling through a stack of folded sweaters. He’s lean, dressed in black, the kind of forgettable face you only notice because it’s in your room where it shouldn’t be.
“Hey!” My voice cracks the silence.
He freezes, glances at me once, then bolts.
Adrenaline surges hot in my veins. “Stop!” I chase him into the hall, slippers slapping the tile, heart hammering. He doesn’t look back, just barrels down the corridor and disappears around a corner.
