Chapter 46 In Time
Maddie's POV
I didn't expect Bradley to be here. I didn't know what to do, invite him in or just let him go. He is Mariko's son after all. "Your father isn't here," I replied.
"I know, I was just there." he said as he brushed past me as he entered. He took in the surroundings as he walked towards the kitchen. I followed after him. "Is my sister here?" he asked as he turned around to face me.
"No, she is with your grandmother," I replied.
"Are you happy with my father?" he asked.
"Of course, I am. He is the only person that makes me feel loved and he is incredible," I smiled.
"If you had to date me, would you?" he asked.
"Maybe if I hadn't met your father five years ago," I chuckled softly.
"Why date an older man? What do you see in him? I can give you a better life. I don't understand why you would go for him instead-"
"I don't know you, I don't have feelings for you and you cannot force things. I am done with men that think they can control me and have an issue with everything. I think that maybe you should leave because I won't have this conversation again. I am with your father, that is it. I will never date you, especially if you are friends with my ex, who thinks the worst of me. Are you doing this because of him? Do you think that you can humiliate me? What are you both up to?" I asked. I was tired of this.
"I know what I want and that is you. But my father keeps on having the things that I want...well, you." he walked towards me and I moved until I was against the kitchen counter. He was now in my personal space.
"I don't want you," I emphasized.
Next thing I know, his hands are around my neck, squeezing...I am dying to breathe. My hands were on his arms. I tried to fight him, the more I leaned backwards over the counter, "I f^cking hate that you are with him," he said through clenched teeth.
"I'm.." I tried to speak, to tell him that I was pregnant but failed. I reached for anything on the counter and I felt something as I began to see white spots. I took the object that I felt and I hit him over the head with it, shattering something. He let go of me and pulled away as I gasped for air, coughing as I stood up straight.
I placed my hand against my neck as Mariko was now holding Bradley by the collar, dragging him halfway across the lounge, and his fist collided against Bradley's jaw, letting him fall to the ground. I couldn't hear half the things that Mariko was saying to him as my heart beat was the only thing that I could hear and then that was when I heard crying. I looked to my side and I saw Bella standing, watching them as she cried with her little backpack on her back and her white stuffed animal in her hand.
"Daddy!" she cried. I snapped out of it and hurried to her side. I crouched and embraced her.
"It's okay. I'm here, daddy is fine," I said, trying to soothe her.
Mariko turned and looked at us as he approached us. He was livid. I never saw him this way. "Are you okay?" he asked as he crouched beside me, his expression changed to concern. "The baby?" he asked as he placed a hand on my flat belly.
I swallowed, "We are fine," is all that I said and when I looked over at Bradley, he was sitting on the floor, his knees pulled up to his chest as he looked from the floor to us as he heard about the baby. "I need to talk to him," I said.
"No, stay away. let him calm down" Mariko told me as he now held Bella.
Mariko's POV
I was fuming, nothing prepared me for what I had walked into when I got back to the apartment. Bradley strangled Maddie. He went too far and now I am forced to do something about him. He needs help. My concern now was Maddie and the baby. I looked at her as if she was serious about talking to Bradley.
"Please," she begged.
"He hurt you," I said.
"I know what I am doing, you are here now...please."
"Make it quick," I replied with annoyance, and I did not like this.
Maddie stood up and I watched her sit down across from him on the floor. She placed her hand on his arm. "Daddy," Bella whispered. I rubbed Bella's back gently, as I never took my eyes off them.
"Bradley, I am sorry. But I know that things were not well in your household when you grew up. I know all about it and I can relate. The pain that is inside of you feels like it will never end. You have questions about situations. You always think that you are not good enough and that you will always be seen as something less than what you are. People will say that you are not worth it, you were a mistake, they never wanted you. I was born into the worst situation to a cruel man. I understand pain. But there comes a time when you need to take care of yourself and get help that you need. I know that you have been rejected, but you cannot force anyone into anything that they don't want to do. I think that you do need to face your issues and seek therapy because it will get worse. What you did to me just now was your worst. Do not let that escalate. Your father loves you and aren't you dying to have a great relationship with him? Without me being some sort of prize? Can't you be happy for your father?" she asked.
I was touched by Maddie's words. I sucked in a deep breath, "I'm-I'm sorry," he said softly. I was happy to hear that he apologized. But he started to sob and Maddie moved closer to him and embraced him.
My heart was breaking for my own son, all of this was because of his mother. I wish that I could take all the pain away. "We are always here for you. Please talk to your father too, because it can help when you need someone to listen for a while. It is not good to go through the pain all alone. I have been there and I am going to therapy starting tomorrow. If you could also make an appointment for therapy, it would help. Choose great people to be around and not bullies." she said as she pulled away from him.
He wiped away his tears. "I will always love you," I told him. "My love for you has never changed. I loved you from the first time you were conceived and nothing will change that. But it is also important that you go see someone, and....I wish that I could've made your life better. I'm sorry for everything," I said.
He nodded, "I guess I should go," he said as he stood up and Bella held onto me tighter. But he nearly lost his balance and as Maddie stood up, she caught him.
"Your head is bleeding," she said. "I'm sorry."
"Wait here for me," I told Bella.
I stood up and I went over to Bradley. I took over from Maddie. "I guess I deserved it," he replied.
His head was bleeding but most of the blood that was running down the side of his face was drying up. "Let's get you to the hospital,l" I said.
Before I could get to Maddie when I arrived, she hit him over the head with a bowl which shattered, resulting in him bleeding. I just hope that this was a wake up call to him. I hope that things will be okay moving forward. I will always protect the ones that I love. I am happy that I did manage to get to the apartment in time.