4

Tessie’s room was the biggest and most beautiful in the house since it was the masters’ bedroom. At some point, Adam had to move out of there for his peace of mind. He converted one of the guest rooms to his own.

Entering Tessie’s room, Adam saw her lying comfortably on her bed, watching a movie on her Macbook. 

“What the hell are you doing here?” Tessie asked, pausing the movie the moment She sighted Adam who was a few steps away from her bed.

“What sort of useless figure are you? Would you tell me you didn’t hear our daughter when she was crying her lungs out?” 

Tessie rolled her eyes. “I was on a business call. I planned to attend to her when I was done but fortunately, She stopped crying by the time I was done.”

“Really? And you call yourself a fucking mother? A business call at midnight? What if Anna was at the point of death? You would still be on that shitty business call?” 

“Hey!!! I won’t sit here and let you talk to me with disrespect. I know I’m a shitty parent but I’m still better than you who is never here.” 

“Just shut the fuck up!!!” He raised his voice at her. “What good have you ever done for our kids? You didn’t even give them dinner. You’ve been at home all evening and yet you didn’t notice that Anna was having a fever!” 

“Oh, please! Where were you too? Probably in the club, fucking someone’s wife.” 

“I won’t stand here and argue with you about what I do with my private life because it’s none of your fucking business.”

“You keep talking about me cheating as if you don’t sleep around too. I wouldn’t even be surprised if your so-called business call was a phone sex with some random idiot.”

“I know we have a shitty marriage and we both hate each other but you need to let it stick to your brain that our children are our priority! Those innocent humans have nothing to do with the hate that is between the both of us. You fired Martha out of the blue and without my consent. You had the stupid nerve to fire that young lady when you can’t even do half of what she does for our children!!!!” 

“She was rude to me, Adam! Did you expect me to continue to allow her under my roof after being saucy to me?!” 

“Rude to you indeed!!!!!!” 

“We’ve had a total of 13 nannies since Calvin was born. More than half of them quit because of you. Remember?”

“They either quit or you fire them, claiming that they are all rude to you. You make no effort in hiring, all you do is frustrate them and fire them. You’re also used to laying your filthy hands on them and treating them like they are slaves. Martha is a responsible young woman and God knows I won’t intervene if she decides to sue you for assault!”

“Of course, you would defend her since you have been fucking her too!”

Adam chuckled in disbelief. “I get it. You are just jealous because I respect her more than I’ll ever respect you. Besides, that excuse has become old. You never fail to accuse me of sleeping with our staff and never have you for once caught me in the act.”

Tessie rolled her eyes. “You can say whatever the fuck you like. But it doesn’t erase the fact that you had a thing for Martha and I don’t regret sending her out of my home. Of course, they dare not bring an action against me. Have you forgotten who I am? The only daughter of Adolphus.” 

“This is MY HOME!!!!” Adam raised his voice at her. 

“You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re literally no one without your father’s money and connections. These staff that you humiliate so much have so many things you lack. They’ve got motherly love which you fail to give our children, They’ve got senses, respect and they are hard workers, unlike you who live off people’s hard-earned money.”

“Oh, So how is it my fault that I was born into a rich family?” She snickered.

“So you have to treat our domestic staff with disrespect because you were born into some shitty wealthy family? Aren’t you afraid that tables could turn one day?” 

“Like hell, it would. My father has been part of the top five richest men in the states for years now. He has been number one for six years in a row. Oh, do I need to remind you that without our help, You and your family would probably be on the streets, begging for daily bread?”

“Besides, as your wife, I’m entitled to all that is yours. So don’t stand there and talk to me like I’m one of your shitty mistresses who doesn’t know her right.” Tessie glared at Adam. 

“You’re sicker than I thought! I honestly do not blame you for saying such rubbish. I blame my parents for making me put up with you and your bratty attitude. And now that you mentioned it, it might as well please you to know that those so-called shitty mistresses of mine are far better than you are or will ever dream to be.”

“Everything I own belongs to me and my children. The reason why I tolerate your presence in this house is because of Anna and Calvin. Don’t push me to my limits, Tessie!!!!!”

“I need to go on a business trip next week but I don’t think I can anymore because leaving the kids with you is just like signing up for them to be killed. We’ve literally exhausted all the top agencies!!! The staff don’t want to work for us anymore! I really do not understand why you love making everyone’s life miserable.”

“I just came here to warn you. If I’m privileged to get another nanny, I want you to stay away from her. You will not interfere in her business and neither will she take orders from you! You must never lay a hand on her too or else I’ll throw you out of this house.”

“Throw me out? Because of some poor and low life maid? You dare not!” She said, standing up from the bed. 

“Don’t dare me, Tessie!” Adam mumbled with venom in his voice. 

“The nanny isn’t even here yet and you’re already laying down rules. I just hope you are not planning on bringing one of your mistresses to this house as a nanny. If that’s what you’re thinking, I promise you it’s going to be the biggest mistake you will ever make!!”  

“You’re free to think whatever you want. Just break the rules and you will see if you won't be thrown out of this house.” Adam said, then stormed out of the room.

Tessie was always intentional about everything that came out of her mouth. Adam knew she purposely says silly things to bring the worst out of him and being someone with anger problems, he tries not to let whatever She said, get to him. 

“Did you and Mommy fight again?” Calvin asked the moment his father got back to the room. 

Adam sighed as he made his way to the bed. Anna was fast asleep while Calvin was lying next to her. “I thought you would be asleep by now,” Adam said as he sat beside his Son. 

Calvin shook his head. “I was waiting for you to come back” 

“Answer me, Daddy. Did you and Mommy fight again?” Adam could see the worry in his Son’s eyes. 

“Don’t worry about us, buddy. We will be fine. You should go to bed.” He caressed Calvin’s cheek. 

The little boy nodded, putting his head on the pillow. Adam adjusted the duvet and covered him properly. 

Once Calvin was already asleep, Adam went to the other side of the bed and laid down. Beside him was a peaceful sleeping Anna and next to Anna was her brother. Adam did nothing but stare at his precious children until he fell asleep also.