Page 63 of Bossy Grump's Secret

"What's this for?" I ask when she arranges the paper and hands it to me.

“You can read, can’t you?”

Fair point. That’s something I’d say too.

I read through the fine print. I don't need to go through everything before realizing what is happening. I see the words “child support” then “agreement” followed by absurdly large amounts of numbers.

What the…

“All you have to do is sign it,” she says as I shake my head in disagreement. "It protects you, the girl…and the child, so you never have any business with my son or his family unless there’s a default in payment.”

I still shake my head.

“No, no, no, no…”

“All you have to do is sign…”

“I can’t…I won’t…”

“Sign this document, Ava!”

Silence prevails in the room after her yell. I knew she knew my name. I take in a huge breath before shaking my head one final time.

"What, then, do you want from my son…from my family?" she spits out. She thinks of me as low as the beggars on the streets. Do I blame her? Yes. Pity her?

No.

"I want to give birth to my child and care for him or her independently…whether I end up with Dylan.”

I can see the look on her bewildered face.

"This was a mistake I made…my mistake. And frankly speaking, I'm not ready to bear the consequences, but in my defence, no one is ever ready to bear the consequences of the mistakes they make." That just came off the top of my head, but the realization that I made a commitment I'm not ready for brings tears to my eyes. I'm not prepared for this, but accepting this document would prove her right - I never loved her son. She might never have told me this directly, but I'm not stupid.

I hand her back the document, but she doesn’t collect it.

"I cannot guarantee that you mean well by returning this document. Keep it until you change your mind,” she grunts.

I retract it from her, stand straight for a few more seconds, and then hand it back. She looks confused.

"Oh, I…thought about it and don't think I'll change my mind." I shake the paper before her as the confusion on her face grows.

Not used to my theatrics, I see…

“She takes the documents from me, still doubtful. “I hope you know the choices you’re making, child, and what it entails,” she castigates me as she stands up to go.

Finally!

"I'm giving you the possibility to transform your life for the better, and you're wasting it by pursuing something I promise will be out of reach."

"What exactly do you think I'm after, ma'am?" I ask her when she reaches the door. I struggled to hold back my words.

“I’m technically in her territory, and there's no greater futility than challenging her.

"The Belfrost family wealth will remain with the Belfrosts. You built nothing here and, have no claim to any of it." The cold desperation in her voice only thickens my resolve to prove her wrong.

I take it Dylan didn’t tell her all about me, then.

“I want none of the family’s wealth, Mrs. Belfrost. I never even knew Dylan was related to you and would have aborted the pregnancy but for him. I was ready to bear and raise his child alongside him when I thought he was just a supervisory-level hotel executive. If that doesn't convince you that I have no other motive rather just being in love with Dylan, I don't have to get along with you. I’m so sorry.” I shake my head and shut the door quietly.

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