Chapter 24
24 –Our Best Friend Was Shattered
Baxter:
She screamed, saying things that gave me goosebumps. Although I wanted to argue with her and point out her discrepancies, I could not.
The pain in her eyes silenced me. I just did not understand. Some things made no sense.
“So, is there anything else you want to talk about before we end this conversation forever and all move on?” she hissed, a big tear rolling down her cheek.
None of us could say a word. I guess we were also guilty of many things. I mean, the others were.
I was a victim of her games too, but I kept silent.
Right now, she was talking about her trauma and what she had been through.
In that, my friends and I had become part of it.
“Now that this conversation has ended, I am going to ask you for the medicine. My children want it. As for custody, it will remain with me,” she uttered confidently.
“None of you were there when I gave birth alone. None of you wanted these children. You all have your lives. How about you don’t disrupt mine, and I won’t interfere with yours?” She proceeded to make new rules.
“We will work like professionals. Even the other night, Elgin, Baxter told me you didn’t want anything to do with Elara. So why are you making a whole scene here?” she continued, exposing me.
Elgin turned to look at me, and I only clenched my jaw, not even meeting his eyes.
But I wasn’t lying.
He did say he didn’t want anything to do with her. So what if I told her that?
“Anyway, children are dying. I was called here with the promise of better treatment and the arrival of my reason to find the cure. So let’s stick to that,” she finally finished.
Then she sassily wiped the tear from her cheek with one finger, flicking it away as she got up from her seat.
The same nerdy girl who couldn’t speak a word against anyone. The same Madeline who had been teased, bullied,
and called mad Madeline.
She had grown into such a strong woman. But why did she risk it all?
Were my friends really worth all the trouble she went through?
“Now we will meet at the office,” she hissed, stomping her foot before leaving for the mansion.
We three sat together, just staring at her as she left. The same Madeline was now a very powerful mother.
“Why did you tell her that I did not want to do anything with Elara?” As soon as Madeline left, Elgin turned to question me,
“Because that is the truth, isn’t it? You told us you did not want to do anything with her or the child. I only delayed the information to her because I thought it would be awkward for you to say it,” I hissed back at him, lying, because that was not what I intended.
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24–Our Best Friend Was Shottered
+25 Bonus
I maliciously used that information to hurt her, to remind her that the man she picked that night did not even want her or the baby. 1
“And am I lying? You told us you did not want the baby, but right now in front of her, you are acting like you are hurt that she did not include you in the child’s life,” I hissed back at him, adding more so he could not act like he was a victim.
His body language proved that he knew it very well because, once again, he looked down embarrassingly.
“I said it just in front of you two,” Just as I had expected of Elgin.
“Forget about it. Guys, this is crazy,” Graham stood up, hands on his waist.
Now we were all just standing around in a circle, looking at each other and realizing the mess we had created many years ago.
“She gave birth to my child. I have a child. I have been going crazy wanting to hold a baby all these years, and to think I have one… You guys don’t understand what it means to me,” Graham explained.
However, I believed he was only crying now because his own partner could not conceive.
Previously, he did not want a child with Madeline, he just wanted a one–night stand.
“Yeah, because he is your heir, right?” I stated, watching him turn to look at me almost in a threatening way.
“Really, what’s up with you, Baxter? You cannot act like you were any different than us,” Graham hit me with his response, and I started to chuckle, laughing at him for still trying to manipulate me.
“But isn’t it the truth? I told you we should not do it. But don’t you remember the night? Don’t you remember the conversations we had that ended up with us sleeping with her that night?” I closed my eyes and clenched my fists.
The two were staring at me blankly.
The sad part was that it all started because they read her diary. Where their hopes rose, mine drowned.
Then I realized she did not only have a crush on me, she had feelings for all of us.
All the time I felt special, it crumbled in front of me.
2
“It doesn’t matter what happened in the past. We all acted the same. Right now, we need to figure out…” Graham suddenly shut up once he slipped on a few words.
We watched his face in silence.
“ I, I don’t know. I mean, of course, Elara is my baby, but but Madeline made it clear. She just wants to help with the cure. I think we should stick to that,” Elgin uttered, stealing his eyes from us.
Of course, he already had two babies and was married, and he would never do anything to upset his overly obsessed mother and crazy wife.
Sadly, there was nothing we could do. Madeline had made up her mind and the rules. Our egos were so high. Our crimes were so big. We could not question her anymore.
“While we are all moving on, just remember that she ran away because that night her life turned upside down, that she was going to lose her babies, and that they, her family, the council, they were threatening to kill her and the children,” Graham uttered defeatedly, his voice cracking.
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24–Our Best Friend Was Shattered
25 Bonus
That part silenced us all. While I looked at the others‘ guilt–ridden faces, I knew mine wasn’t carrying any other expression either.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.