018

Sophie

“Hayes must be crazy,” I said with my arms crossed as I sank into the chair, hoping how comfortable I was would get my mind off him. It didn’t work. 

My mind still ran back to his words because I had watched the interview on my way back to Cesca’s home. 

I jerked forward. “I can’t believe he said that. No, I can’t believe he even told the press about this because he was the same person that said we should keep the whole marriage away from the press”.

Cesca returned from the kitchen with a glass of water. He placed it on the table before sitting next to me.

I turned to her. “I need something stronger. I don’t need water”.

“Just take this before we talk about how crazy he is,” she suggested. 

My eyebrows furrowed as I glanced at the glass of water. 

My throat did ache from all the yelling. 

I glanced back at her. She urged “Just have it first”.

I sighed. “Fine”.

I stretched towards the table with my gaze on her.

I missed it. 

I turned to the table and grabbed it. I pulled it to myself, placed it on my lips then parted them. I gulped to my satisfaction before placing it back on the table. 

I huffed and took a minute to calm myself before turning to face her again. I furrowed my eyebrows, making sure my annoyance showed. “Now. How fucking manipulative is he? Can he get any worse?”

“I can’t believe that asshole did that,” Cesca agreed. 

“Me either. It’s like he wants to make my life a living hell. What kind of person is he? I thought he wouldn’t get any worse”.

Cesca parted her lips to agree when a knock cut her short. 

I turn to face the door. 

I gulped. 

Was that him? Did he hear me?

Wait. No. 

Why should I be scared when he’s the asshole?

I turned back to Cesca. “If that’s him, I’ll make him sorry”.

“That’s probably pizza,” Cesca said but I had already narrowed my eyes and clenched my fists. 

“It’s not him, I promise”.

She pushed herself to her feet before making her way to the door.

I made sure to keep my attention away from the door. I reached for the glass of water and picked it up. I brought it to my lips and drank from it. 

She pulled the door open. 

There was no word from her or whoever was at that door. 

I waited. 

Nothing. 

I placed the glass on the table then turned to the door. “Who is it?”

Cesca had a bright smile. 

I frowned. 

I don’t recall pizza ever making Cesca smile that brightly or was it the pizza delivery guy?

“It’s your ex’s elder brother,” Cesca revealed as she looked back at me. 

He took a step inside. He had his hands in his pocket and he had a poker face. 

I almost rolled my eyes but I stopped myself. 

What was with him and poker faces?

I pushed myself to my feet.

Before I could ask a question, he answered them for me. “There is a family meeting and you need to be there”.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “I’m about to divorce Hayes. If it wasn’t for him leaving the court room then telling everyone lies, we would be divorced by now. I can’t — “

“You’re not divorced yet,” He cuts me off. 

I sighed. 

I wasn’t.

It angered me that I wasn’t and because of this, I had to be at the meeting. 

I nodded. “Give me a moment to get dressed”.

I was about to leave when a question held me back. “How did you know I was here?”

He doesn’t look fazed. “Your location was on and trackable”.

I didn’t bother to force a smile, I turned and headed to the room. 

He could have just called like a normal person. 

It was the quickest I had gotten ready.

I got into Dominic’s car and he reversed onto the road. 

It didn’t take long before we arrived at the family manor where everyone is waiting, except Hayes. 

A part of me was glad he wasn’t there. Another part wasn’t and the rest of me questioned why he wasn’t.

I wanted him to say whatever he said in the interview to my face. 

Was he too scared to do so?

If he was here, I would be too tempted to call the media so I’d call him out. Let’s see what he says then. Let’s see how quick he is to deny my words or to question them. 

Eyes followed me as I took a seat. 

Was this meeting because of me? 

I scoff. 

Even if they tried, I was ready to take down anyone at all. Anyone.

Soon, Hayes walked in with Olivia and Noah. 

Olivia greeted everyone quickly.

She turned to me. “Oh, hey Sophie, what are you doing here? I thought you were getting a divorce”.

I spread my lips into a smile. “If I, a wife who hasn’t even completed the divorce proceedings, wasn't here, why should you, a mistress, be qualified to come?”

She jerked her head back. 

Her eyes had grown wide.

“I’m the one helping you, a mother, take care of Noah since you haven’t been around to take care of your own son,” Olivia tried to press further. 

She raised her voice, hoping everyone heard her. “You are too busy worrying about yourself to worry about your own son”.

“Wasn’t that Hayes’s case in court? That I am too sick to take care of him and because of that, an unfit mother or have you forgotten?” I questioned.

She clenched her jaw. 

“How could you forget? You were sitting next to Hayes, weren’t you?”

“Again, I was doing what you couldn’t for your own son”.

She looked around to make sure everyone heard. 

I made sure to keep my expression and demeanor calm and collected. I couldn’t crack. Being here demanded I not.

Before Olivia could say another thing, Hayes’s father slammed his hand on the table in front of him. “Leave”. 

Olivia smiled. 

She turned to Hayes’s father. “Thank you —”

“Leave,” he repeated, glaring at her. 

She gasped and her eyes grew wide. 

She pointed to herself. 

He didn’t repeat himself. She should be glad he even said it the second time. 

She nodded.