Chapter 3

• Eloise
• My fingers gripped the steering wheel tightly as I pulled into the driveway. The house that once felt like home, the house I never imagined I would be a visitor in, but I had no time to dwell on that now. I had a mission—to take Max and drop the divorce papers for Lucian.
• I glanced at the envelope on the passenger seat. The signed divorce papers.
• Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped out, my heels clicking on the pavement as I walked toward the entrance.
• As I stepped inside, whispers from the maids echoed through the hallway.
• “Isn’t that Mrs. Sinclair?” I heard one of them murmur, eyes wide with uncertainty.
• “I thought she wasn’t coming back...” the other whispered, her voice barely audible.
• The words trailing off as I pushed past them.
• The house felt different, colder or maybe it was the realization that I had never truly belonged here. I was here for one reason only. To take my son and end this marriage.
• I heard voices coming from the living room as i neared. Max was there, but so was Lucian. My breath hitched, a mix of dread and anticipation knotting my stomach. I paused outside the doorway, listening in.
• “Dad,” Max’s small voice echoed from the room, tinged with confusion. “Where’s Mom? Why haven’t I seen her for days?”
• My heart shattered at that question, He deserves so much better. ‘This was not the definition of the happy family he imagined”
• My eyes stinging with unshed tears.
• Lucian shifted on the couch, his voice cold, almost too calm.
• “Max, your mom and I aren’t going to be living together anymore. She’s going to live somewhere else, away from us.”
• I froze, I knew he was going to say those words but hearing it aloud still felt like a slap to the face.
• “Why? Does that mean you don’t love Mom anymore?” Max’s voice, small and innocent, broke through the thick silence.
• I closed my eyes for a moment, sliding down the corner, tears streaming down my face. I already knew the answer, but I was hoping that Lucian would spare Max the heartache of knowing the truth.
• “Your mom and I just... weren’t happy anymore, Max. But that’s okay. She’s moving on. You’re going to have a better mom now, one who will love you even more than she did.” He said, without hesitating.
• “A better mom?” The words echoed in my head like a nightmare. How could he refer Jennifer as the best mom, when I'm well and alive?
• I had hoped, in some small part of his heart, that Lucian would spare Max from the harsh reality. But no. He was already turning my son against me.
• I couldn’t hold it back anymore, so I stood up and wiped my tears… I let out a shaky breath, fighting the tears that threatened to fall, I stepped into the room.
• Lucian’s eyes locked onto mine for the briefest moment, his face hardened when he saw the divorce papers in my hand.
• Without a word, I dropped the papers on the coffee table in front of him. My voice was strained but steady as I looked him dead in the eyes.
• “Lucian,” I said, my voice cracking with the weight of everything I was holding in, “I’m here to take my son. He’s coming with me.”
• Max looked up at me, his eyes wide and confused, but i couldn't just look at him. Not yet. I kept my eyes locked on Lucian, my heart hammering.
• For a moment, everything stood still. Max’s small voice trembled as he asked, “Mom…?”
• Lucian stood up slowly, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face as he scanned the papers.
• He didn’t say anything at first, but the silence was thick. Then he continued, his voice cold and dismissive.
• “We never discussed you will be taking Max, Eloise. He’s my son too!”
• I clenched my fists, my anger rising.
• “You’re not even fighting for him, Lucian,” I shot back, my voice steady despite the pain. “You’ve already given up on us. But I’m not going to let you keep him from me. Not now, not ever!”
• Before he could respond, the door to the living room swung open with a loud crash. A voice—too familiar—cut through the conversation.
• “Eloise, wait!”
• My heart skipped a beat as I turned. Standing in the doorway, a smug expression on her face, was Jennifer.
• Jennifer stepped further into the room, her posture confident as she stood next to Lucian. “I’m sorry, Eloise, but Lucian and I have things to discuss. You can’t just barge in here and take Max. “His my son now.”
• My heart raced with fury and disbelief. I didn’t know whether to yell or scream. The audacity. The nerve of both of them. Max? Is suddenly now your son?
• Lucian stood beside Jennifer, his eyes flicking between them. “Eloise, you need to leave. This isn’t the time for this.”
• I took a step forward, my voice firm as I finally found my footing. “How does your conversation have anything to do with Max?” I demanded, my gaze locked on both of them.
• “I’m taking him to his grandmother’s house. “So, you,” I said, pointing directly at Lucian, “Can deal with whatever mess you've created, but you’re not keeping him from me.”
• Jennifer tried to say something, but i cut her off with a sharp look. “He's my son, not yours! Stay out of this.”
• The look on Jennifer and Lucian's faces was one of utter shock. I was surprised by my own resilience. I had always feared rebelling against them, but now I no longer have to.
• Max’s small voice echoed from the corner. “Mom…?”
• My heart broke as I turned to him. I knelt down to his level, taking his small hand in mine. “It’s okay, sweetheart,” I said softly. “We’re going to go stay with Grandma for a little while”