Page 112 of Knocked Up by My Fake Fiancé
I want to sympathize, but the logic is absurd. "So because your husband's ex was a career woman who made him miserable, all career women are bad? You think I'll do the same to Grayson—is that it?"
She inclines her head, not quite denying it.
"And that doesn't sound the least bit ridiculous to you?" My voice rises before I can stop it. I'd expected her to say something—anything—real. Something that made sense of herhostility. Instead, all I get is shallow prejudice wrapped in polite condescension.
"Doesn't it seem insane that you'd throw away your son's happiness—force me out of his life—just to prove a point to yourself? Or is this not about Grayson at all? Is it really about proving your husband was right to choose you over his first wife?"
The thought hits me like a spark catching flame. "Let me guess—you're the woman he cheated with, aren't you? Is that why you can't stand me? Because I remind you that you were once the other woman?"
"How dare you!" she snaps, outrage flashing—and beneath it, guilt.
"Ha!" I let out a bitter laugh. "Unbelievable. Is that why you forgave Marina so easily? No one batted an eye when she broke Grayson's heart, and you all welcomed her back like nothing happened. Was it because her fall from grace made you feel better about your own?"
"Don't talk to me like that! You don't know what happened."
"You're right!" I explode. "I don't. But I do know what I see—a woman so ashamed and desperate to bury that shame she's willing to destroy her son's heart all over again. A family that pretends to protect him but never once considers what he wants. You all take from him but never give back."
I step closer, feeding on her shock. "You think I'm the one using him? You and your husband have been using him his entire life. He's had to hide every emotion just to survive you. You're the reason he avoids color, the reason he forces himself to be practical, never indulgent—because you taught him emotion is weakness. He's twisted himself into knots to be who you demanded. He's the only one in your entire family who actually works. He's the one keeping the Wolfe Group afloat, and you still complain about the man you made."
I lean in, low and cold. "So think about that the next time you walk in here waving a checkbook. That cash only exists because Grayson's been saving your fortune for the last ten years."
My chest heaves. Time to end this before I lose complete control.
"There's the door," I say, voice like ice. "Use it, and if you ever show up here again uninvited, I'll have you removed for trespassing."
She gasps, speechless—angry, humiliated, and, for a fleeting second, close to tears. Then she turns and leaves without a word.
I stand there, panting like I've run a mile. God, I haven't yelled at anyone like that in years.
I feel dizzy, suddenly needing to sit down. Is that normal? I don't usually get dizzy, but then I don't normally go around shouting at people. Is this what pregnancy does to you? Or is just that Mrs. Wolfe is excellent at rubbing people up the wrong way.
I find a chair and drag myself into it. Of all the people to choose, it had to be his mother I decided to take out my emotions on.
As the anger drains away, shame seeps in to take its place.
Yeah, I've definitely lost that bet with Grayson about getting his mom to like me. But worse than that... at some stage I'm going to have to tell him he's a father. I'm really not sure how he's going to take it.
"She did what?" Grayson's voice ricochets off the living room walls.
I nod miserably. The second he walked through the door, I unloaded on him about his mother's visit, too guilty to hold it in alongside what else I am hiding from him. Somehow though, Ijust can't summon the courage to tell himthatpiece of news. Not yet.
Not until I've definitely decided whether I want to keep it or not. Telling him is impossible right now, but honestly, not telling him is hardly any better. I feel so guilty.
"I think I might have ruined everything," I admit.
"No, no, you didn't ruin anything." He rubs the back of his neck, disbelief flickering across his face. "It's insane that she'd go that far, though honestly, maybe I should've expected it."
"She offered me money," I say. "Five million dollars."
He blinks, then smirks. "Wow. Not bad. Maybe you should've taken it."
I shoot him a glare.
His grin fades. "Yeah. That was messed up. I'm sorry."
"You're sorry?" I stare at him. "I'm the one who should apologize."
"For what?"
