Page 62 of Wildest Desire

“I know Emily has money, why not ask her?” I look Edward in the eyes. I know how much money she has.

“She—”

“I didn’t ask you,” I snap, glaring at Angie. “I asked him.” I jab my finger to Edward.

“She paid for the first surgery, but it didn’t work. We have to do it again, and—”

I put my finger up to stop him from talking. “You’ve told me what you want and why, now get out.” Pushing my chair away from the table, I walk over to the bar and fill my glass with whiskey.

I might look calm as though their news didn’t bother me, but it’s done nothing but make me hate them more. They fucked each other behind my back and then had a kid.

Lexi walks over to me, but there’s no confidence in her stride. It’s as though she’s walking in eggshells, unsure what I'll say to her. She stops in front of me, “Travis is on the phone with Selena to see if what they're saying is true,” she says, quietly.

Finishing my whiskey, I place the glass on the bar. “Do you think I’m a monster for telling them to leave?” I ask.

Why is it bothering me that I don’t want to help them? He didn’t care when he left us, and she didn’t care when she jumped in bed with him while married to me, so why should I care what happens to them? But, I do because it involves a small helpless child that didn’t ask to be brought into this world, or into this mess.

“No, far from it. That was a lot to take in. You need time to think about all of it.” She steps closer to me. I pull her into me, not for a kiss, but for a hug. I just need someone to hold me right now. “I’m right here,” she whispers into my chest as she wraps her arms around me.

“Ethan,” I hear my mom behind Lexi. “I think we need to talk.” I give her a nod.

I look at Lexi and she shakes her head. “Don’t. Don’t look at me like that. I can’t tell you what to do. This is your decision, and only yours,” she tells me, and yes, that was what I was about to ask her. I knew she wouldn’t give me a selfish answer—it was going to be the right answer.

“I don’t know what that is,” I tell her.

“You don’t know it now, but you will. I know the heart you hide inside here, and I know it'll choose the right thing,” she says pointing to my chest. I never thought I would have someone like her in my life. I figured I was only ever going to get the selfish bitches that wanted me for my money, but then Lexi shows up and wants me for my heart. If nothing else comes out of this whole thing, I know I won’t let her go, and I won’t lose her to anyone.

Selena sent everything over that she could find on the boy. His name is Edward Junior, and what they told us the story checked out. His next surgery is in six weeks. They'll be billed after the surgery, so no one knows exactly how much it'll cost just yet.

“I don’t think you should give them any money,” Tanya tells me. She’s always said she would never forgive Edward for what he did.

My eyes move to Lexi, cleaning up in the kitchen after lunch. She hasn’t said anything on the subject, and I don’t think she will, either. This is my family drama, why bring her into it? But yet I’d like to know what she would do, if this was her.

“Ethan, what are you thinking?” My mom asks, but I keep my eyes trained on Lexi. What is it about this woman that nothing else matters to me in the world when I’m looking at her?

“I think that child has no idea how fucked up his parents are. Is it right for me to take out my anger on a two-year-old?” I look at my mom. “What type of man would I be if I let a little boy suffer?” I turn my eyes away from her, ashamed at where my thoughts go next. “But, I hate them so much that I want them to hurt as much as they’ve hurt me—hurt all of us.” I rub my forehead, wanting this to be over.

“Deep down, you know the right thing to do. You have to put your anger to the side, and think about the little two year old boy who needs help,” my mom says as she rubs my shoulder.

“I made everyone some coffee.” Lexi puts the tray on the table, putting coffee mugs in front of everyone. I put my hand on her lower back and she looks up at me. “I figured this is going to be a long day, so I’ll make dinner for everyone. I just need to go grab a few things first.”

“We can order,” I tell her. My mom taps me on the leg, and I turn to her. She gives me that looks that tells me I’ve said something wrong. I turn to Lexi, then back to my mum, that’s when I realize why she’s stopped me, I’m controlling her, when I don’t need to. “Travis will go with you, and you come right back here.”

“Okay,” she agrees. I pull her down to sit on my leg, resting my head against hers.

“Do you want to tell me what you think?” I ask her again.

“Ethan, again, this is your decision. But, whatever you decide, I'll support you.” She looks back at me. “Your decision,” she tells me again, running her fingers through my hair.

Tonight is going to be a lot of going back and forth for me. Should I be the same monster as them, or just put my pride to the side, give them the money, and tell them not to ever contact me again?

Chapter 27

Lexi

Iset the table and put out the dinner Travis helped me cook.Selena is over as well.Shehas known everything since the beginning, so it was a givenshewould be here.I haven't seen Ethan this tense before andI know he's struggling with this decision.

“Lexi, can you come in here, please?”Ethan calls out. I look at Travis, and we both make our way over to the others.“I’mgoingto pay for his treatment.”Ismile, asI’m so happy he made this decision.Inever doubted he would do the right thing.The child shouldn't have to pay with his life when Ethan can afford to help save him.“Selena is goingto getthe lawyers to make a contractstating that I’ll pay for the treatment.In return,theycan never contact me or my family again.The momenttheyattemptany contact,theywill have to repay all the money.Allcorrespondencefrom the medical staff will go through my lawyers.That way,I can be kept up-to-date but from a distance.They’ll have to keep the attorneys up to date with all follow-up care for at least the first year after surgery.”Ethanlooks over at me, andIgive him an encouraging smile.Iwanthimto knowIthinkhe's great, andhe's doing the right thing.