Page 37 of Doctor's Baby: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

“I’ll do no such thing.”

I can’t hold back any longer. Talking to my mother is like talking to a brick wall—a brick wall with too much sass and entitlement supporting her foundation.

“This. This right here is exactly why I didn’t come back.”

“Don’t take that tone with me, Nathanial.”

“Nate. It’s Nate. Stop calling me Nathanial. You make me sound like some old Bond villain.”

Mother places her teacup down on the glass coffee table and rises. There isn’t an ounce of remorse in her eyes.

“That girl is bad news,” she says calmly.

Too calmly.

“I’m a grown-ass man. I don’t need you telling me who I can and cannot see.”

“She’s obviously just using you for your money. Why else would she slide back into your life after what she did?”

“She didn’t do anything,” I yell at the top of my lungs. “Stop saying that she did anything. Do you even hear yourself? You’re blaming Eve for the actions of a drunk driver. Had I been out with friends instead of her, you’d probably blame them for Jacob’s death too. Why the fuck are you like this?”

Mother presses her lips into a thin line. “I’m protecting you.”

“No, no you’re not. You’re smothering me. You’re controlling me. This is why I stayed in New York. You’re batshit crazy.”

“What I am is looking out for my family. I came from nothing, you know. I grew up with seven brothers and sisters all crammed into a single trailer. I’ve worked hard for everything I have in my life, including my two boys. It’s clear to see Eve’s only with you for material benefits. How many times have you paid for things for her? I bet she never once offered to reach for her own wallet.”

I shake my head. “I paid because I wanted to.”

“She’ll only drag you down if you continue to be involved with her. What makes you so sure she didn’t manipulate you into thinking that way?”

“Because she’s not a snake like you! You’re the one who’s manipulative. You’re just taking out your anger on Eve, and that’s not fair.”

Pops walks in at that exact moment, poking his head around the corner to see if the coast is clear.

“What’s going on?” he asks.

Mother ignores him. She sneers at me. “Mark my words. The second she gets what she wants, she’ll leave you. And where will you be then? Heartbroken all over again.”

“She’s never asked me for anything. That’s not who she is. Besides, it’s my fucking money out of my fucking bank account. I can do as I see fit.”

“Are you even serious about her?” Mother retorts. “I hear you’ve got a number of lady friends back in New York. Why are you so worked up over Eve when you can literally have anyone else?”

I frown. “Where’d you hear that?”

“I’ve got connections, Nathanial. People in my circle, we like to talk. Does she know you’re seeing other women? I bet you conveniently kept that little snippet of information from her, huh?”

I clench and unclench my fists in an attempt to expel this heavy, nervous energy building up within my core.

In truth, I haven’t given our relationship much thought. We started out as something casual, something fun and distracting while I’m back in Haven. I had no idea I’d end up feeling this way. This is why I want to talk to Eve, to work through things together.

But that’s fucking impossible if she refuses to see me.

“You should be thanking me,” Mother continues. “As far as I can tell, I’ve done you a favor.”

“A favor?” I echo incredulously. “I don’t think you understand what a favor is.”

Pops clears his throat. “Let’s all just calm down. I’m sure the two of you can work things out.”

I shake my head. “No, there’s no point. Mother’s too proud to admit she fucked up.”

“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” he warns. “I don’t know what’s going on, but you still have to respect her.”

“Respect? Why should I respect a woman who’d call another woman a slut for no reason? Why should I respect someone who’s too high and mighty to care about the people she hurts along the way? She thinks she has friends in high places that’ll help her out whenever it suits her needs. That’s some shady shit in and of itself.”

“Nate, buddy, let’s just all sit down and—”

“No,” I cut Pops off. “No, I’m done. I’m done with her.” I glare at Mother, who’s still as frigid and cold as she was at the start of this whole debacle. “Don’t call me anymore.”

“Nathanial, don’t be—”

“Congratulations, Mother. You went from having one son to no sons at all.”

Mother gawks, her face draining of all color. She sticks up a bony finger, about to speak, but I don’t let her.

I turn on my heel and walk straight out the door.

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