Page 17 of Only With You

“And your party is more important than spending time with your daughter?”

“Please cut me some slack here. I’m allowed to have a break, Ranveer.” I can hear the annoyance in her voice.

“Break? You must be kidding me. Ever since you have stepped foot here, that is what you have been doing, partying and getting wasted, completely forgetting that you are a mother and have a daughter who needs you. If I am not wrong, last night you were sloshed at the bar with some random guy.”

She isn’t happy about being a mother and has made that clear with words, actions, and eventually going back to her dating life. I am sure if I ask her for Mili’s custody, she will happily sign it off to me. But I never want a life for my daughter where she will be torn between her parents. That’s the only reason I am tolerating Soha so that she is a part of her life. I am determined to make sure she has her mom’s presence in her life, regardless of the fact she is the worst mother on the planet. But that’s how it is with Soha; she has always been insensitive. Looking back, I’m glad I jumped off the cliff, because if I would’ve stayed with her, I would have been nothing but unhappy.

She scoffs. “Are you keeping a tab on me?”

“One of us has to be a responsible parent,” I counter. I know I’m being an asshole, yet, I need to get this out. Someone needs to show her the mirror.

“Well, I can see today is no better and you want to be a jerk to me. Fine. Go ahead. Tell me how spoiled, ridiculous, irresponsible, and a horrible mother I am,” she screams into the phone.

“It’s too early for me to have this shitty conversation with you. I will give you a heads up when I plan to have this pleasant discussion with you.” I throw back.

She huffs. “Just let me know if you want to take Mili for today. Or shall I ask her nanny to clock in extra hours in the night?”

I run my hands through my hair and sigh. “I will be there in an hour.”

“All right. I will have her bags ready.”

Not wanting to have any further conversation, I hang up and let the phone fall beside me. My thoughts go back to Alisha.Why can’t she give me a chance?Sure, we will have our issues to resolve, but that doesn’t unnerve me. Things messing up and problems are part and parcel of every relationship. Theheart of the matter is, I will leave no stone unturned to make her happy and build a life that we always dreamt of, because I want my wife back, no matter what.

???

When I arrive at the hotel two hours later, I turn off the engine, and get out. The security opens the door for me, handing him the key for valet parking. Squaring my shoulders, I walk into the hotel and head towards the elevator. Soon, the elevator door opens and I step inside, swallowed by its stainless-steel walls as I hit the thirtieth floor. I glance at my watch as I ride up. Reaching the floor, I exit and turn to my left, walking to the room.

I stand outside the door and knock, waiting patiently for someone to answer. I don’t have to wait for long when Soha opens the door.

“Hey,” she says, opening the door fully for me to come inside.

Instead of responding to her, I scan the room when I get inside and notice Mili sitting on the chair in the living room. When she looks at me with those unhappy eyes and pouts, it tears at my heart. I know she is not happy with her mom here, not that it’s her fault, as it resonates with my sentiments exactly. I am not any jovial about staying in her mother’s company for more than I am forced to be. But the moment my presence sinks in, her face transforms.

“You here, Daddy!” Mili shrieks. My chest aches when she flips off the chair and rushes to me, wrapping her arms around my legs. “I missed you so much and was waiting for you.”

“I am so excited to spend the day with my princess.” My hand slides over the top of her soft hair before I palm the back of her head. “We are so going to enjoy our day.”

“She is yet to pack her bag, and then she is all set to leave with you,” Soha says as she comes to stand next to me.

“Go pack your bag, Sweetheart. I will be here waiting for you,” I tell her, knowing she has most of her stuff at my place, so she doesn’t need to pack much with her.

“Okay, Daddy.” She ducks her head as she disappears into the room at the farther end.

I pull my eyes off her and look over at Soha who wraps her hands over her chest. I know there are men out there who would find her hot, with her dark blonde hair, black eyes, and slim figure, but not me. I’m no longer deceived by her fake beauty.

“You are late. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t show up.” I don’t respond and just glare at her. Instead of taking it as a cue to shut her mouth, she continues to speak, “I assumed you would be so busy with your so-called wife that you would have forgotten about your daughter,” she says casually, tipping her head to the side. “Is that wife of yours staying with you?” she asks.

My jaw clenches before I force myself to relax. “That doesn’t concern you, so I advise you to mind your own business.” I’m not surprised that she is trying to poke her nose into my life, not when she has made it her motto to meddle in my personal affairs.

Her hands go to her hips and she narrows her eyes on me. “Sorry to break it to you but it’s my business if she’s going to be near my daughter.”

“Is that so, Soha? I doubt if you even consider Mili to be your daughter,” I hold up my hand when she opens her mouth. “And don’t you dare take me to be a fool. I am aware of the guys you’re hooking up with.”

“Don’t you dare throw dirt at me.” Damn! This woman is good at putting up a drama.

“Ya right.” I shake my head, knowing she’s full of lies. “Right now, Alisha is not at home. But even if she were there, I don’t need you to lose your sense of proportion, because eventually, I will want Mili to be comfortable with Alisha around.” That’s true. Soha would lose her mind seeing Alisha, Mili, and me together as a happy family, because even if things are over between us, she somehow still has hopes of pushing her way into my life.

“Are you trying to say that you plan to have a replacement for me in my daughter’s life?” I watch her brows shoot up in annoyance.

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