Chapter 36 Chapter 36
Amelia
I walked into the dining room, hoping to catch Maxwell before he left for work. But when I entered, I only found Cynthia, who was busy packing away the dishes from the table. She looked up when she heard me and smiled politely.
“Good morning, ma’am. Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked.
I smiled faintly, though I couldn't hide my disappointment. “Has Maxwell already left?” I asked, hoping she’d say he hadn’t.
“Yes, ma’am, he left about an hour ago,” she replied. I sighed quietly, a wave of disappointment washing over me. I had hoped to speak with him before he went.
Cynthia, noticing my mood, tried to cheer me up. “What would you like for breakfast, ma’am?” she asked kindly.
I thought for a moment, then gave her a small smile. “I will have whatever you make,” I said softly.
Cynthia’s face brightened, and she nodded. Without wasting any more time, she quickly gathered the rest of the dishes and left the room. Instead of heading back upstairs as I had originally planned, I pulled out a chair and sat down at the dining table. My mind wandered as I stared out the window, wondering when Maxwell would return.
Ever since that night at the club, Maxwell has been practically avoiding me. Not that I really care, but there are some things we need to talk about, and his avoidance is only making matters worse. We can't keep ignoring things, especially when it comes to certain important decisions that affect me.
Today, I had planned to visit my kids. I wanted to talk to Maxwell about it beforehand, but it seems like every time I try to get his attention, he’s already gone. He leaves for work so early in the morning and comes back so late in the evening, by the time I’m already asleep. It’s frustrating.
I also can’t keep putting off resuming work. Staying at home all day, playing the part of the perfect wife, is slowly driving me crazy. It’s just not who I am, I have been putting it off for too long, and I have made up my mind—I’m going back to my company on Monday. I’m sure Maxwell will notice my absence, but at this point, it’s clear that he needs some space, and I need to take control of my own life again.
After Cynthia finished serving my breakfast, she turned to head back to the kitchen, but I stopped her before she could leave.
“I won’t be around for the weekend,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I will be visiting my parents. If Maxwell asks about me, just tell him I went to see my parents. If he doesn’t ask, you don’t need to say anything at all. I won’t be back until Sunday evening.”
Cynthia nodded in understanding, her expression neutral, and then she quietly left the room to finish her duties in the kitchen.
I drove into my parents' compound that evening, and the moment the sound of my car hit their ears, I saw my kids rushing out of the house, their little feet pounding on the ground. I didn’t even bother parking properly, I just threw the car into park and ran toward them.
The moment they saw me, they practically jumped into my arms. We hugged each other tightly, the warmth of their little bodies making everything feel right again. We stood there, holding each other for a few moments, before we finally let go.
“We missed you so much, Mum,” Aria said, her voice full of affection and a hint of sadness.
Before I could respond, my parents came walking outside too, smiling as they saw me standing there with the kids. I made my way over to them and gave them each a hug.
“You didn’t tell us you were going to stay this long before visiting,” my mom said with a teasing smile, but there was a touch of concern in her voice.
“Exactly, Grandma!” Amara chimed in with a playful grin.
I laughed softly, feeling guilty. “I didn’t plan on staying this long either. I’m sorry. But I promise, I’m spending the whole weekend here with you all,” I assured them as we made our way inside, and the kids squirmed with excitement, their laughter filling the air.
As soon as we stepped inside the house, my dad turned to me and said, “Can we talk in my study for a moment?” I kissed my kids and nodded, following him as he led me down the hallway to his office.
Once we were inside, he sat down in his chair and looked at me with a serious expression.
“So, I have got some good news. Investors are pulling back in, and we even landed the biggest project in the country right now,” he said, his tone excited but measured.
I froze in place, my mind racing. I had no idea that we had secured such a huge contract. I would need to call Kelvin as soon as I had a moment alone in my room. I forced a smile, trying to keep the surprise off my face. “That’s great news, Dad,” I said, nodding. “Maxwell’s been working really hard to bring our company’s lost glory back.”
My dad nodded, clearly pleased. “This is huge. Once we start working on this project, it’s going to open doors for even bigger contracts down the road,” he said. “But there’s something else I wanted to bring up.” He paused for a moment, then continued, “Should I go thank Maxwell in person? Your mom and I both feel it’s wrong that he’s never visited us or acknowledged us properly. You are married to him, and yet we haven’t even met him properly.”
“You know, this marriage wasn’t planned,” I said, my voice steady but quick. “It happened because I needed him for the company, and he needed me to pose as his wife for some of his business partners, who are very particular about marriage.” I could feel the tension in my chest at the thought of my parents meeting Maxwell—how would I explain the kids? It was all too complicated.
My dad seemed to take it in without questioning further. After a pause, he responded, “Okay, fine. But now that the company’s getting back on its feet, I hope this whole ‘marriage arrangement’ will come to an end soon.”
I nodded, relieved he hadn’t pushed the issue further. “Of course,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “Once we both get what we want, we will go our separate ways.”
There was a moment of silence as my dad looked at me, his expression softening with pride. “I’m so proud of you,” he said. “Thanks for not making me regret handing this company over to you.”
I smiled at him, feeling a mix of gratitude and pressure. Just then, my phone rang, the name Declan flashing on the screen.
“I love you too, Dad,” I said, my voice filled with warmth. “And thank you for trusting me with the company.” I meant every word, even if the weight of it all sometimes felt overwhelming.
Just as I finished speaking, my phone rang again. “Dad, can I quickly take this call?” I asked, glancing at the screen.
He gave me a small nod, dismissing me with a gesture. “Of course, go ahead,” he said.
I quickly left his study and made my way toward the living room. I had planned to step outside to take the call, but before I could even get to the door, a burst of laughter stopped me in my tracks.
Curious, I walked into the living room and froze. There, sitting comfortably on the couch, was Declan. He was laughing with the kids, who were clearly enjoying his company. My mother was sitting nearby, chuckling along with them. The scene caught me off guard.
Author's note: Declan Again, hi villliaaann. THE FUUCCCKKK