Chapter 79
79 –Baxter Tricked Me Into Going Back Home
Madeline:
I had worn the color that suited me best- brown.
I wore a long dress with netted brown sleeves that flowed gracefully. The neckline was slightly deep, but not distasteful.
A single diamond pendant and matching earrings completed my look, and my makeup was done beautifully.
While Nina prepared the kids, little Bodhi wore a small brown suit, and the other two girls dressed in brown–and- white frocks.
They wanted to match me, and I loved it.
As I stepped out of the room in my elegant white stilettos, I noticed Baxter entering the suite.
For a moment, I froze. He wore a black suit, entirely black, which made his features stand out even more.
I hated how attractive he was. His tall, broad shoulders could make anyone lose their breath.
By anyone, I meant everyone because when I turned, I caught Nina staring at him before quickly focusing back on fixing Bodhi’s hair.
“Uncle Baxter is here!” Bodhi exclaimed, rushing from Nina to wrap his arms around Baxter’s legs.
Baxter lifted him easily, showing affection. The attention he gave the kids always made them adore him.
“Hey, you look like a gentleman,” Baxter remarked as he held Bodhi under his arms and lifted him high in the air.
Bodhi laughed at how effortlessly Baxter raised him. In his arms, Bodhi looked tiny.
Then came Elara, and without showing any favoritism, Baxter put Bodhi down and picked her up, tossing her lightly before catching her again as she giggled.
Then it was Gina’s turn. The three children kept him busy for nearly five minutes while I struggled with my
bracelet.
When the kids finally ran off to grab their squishy toys, Baxter walked over to me.
His thick brow lifted slightly as he gave me a brief glance from head to toe, as if studying every curve.
It made me lower my gaze, pretending to focus on the bracelet.
Without saying a word, he stepped closer, just a foot away, and reached for the bracelet, taking it from my hand.
Before I could protest, he was already fastening it around my wrist.
His fingertips brushed lightly against my skin, sending goosebumps up my arm.
When he finished, I pulled my hand back and took a deep breath.
I
“I asked you to join the dinner, not to upstage someone,” he murmured, his tone low enough to make me frown, wondering if I’d heard him correctly.
“So, what time will the others arrive?” I asked, trying to start a conversation to ease the awkwardness hanging
between us.
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“Huh?” Baxter replied, sounding a little lost.
He seemed to have been staring too long.
“The others. You said they were coming too, What time are they arriving? ” I asked again, this time more confidently, straightening my posture as I looked at him.
He stayed silent for a moment, then cleared his throat, and I already knew what was coming
“Are you serious?” I asked in disbelief before he could even make up an excuse for them.
He shifted uncomfortably.
“Well, my mother suggested it would be better if the friends have a gathering some other day. This time we’re only inviting family p>
I rolled my eyes at him.
“You said there were others going to be present,” I complained.
“I know what I said, but why do you care? I’ll be there with you. Besides, everyone’s ready now, so can you just not start all this?” he complained, sounding like I was ruining his night.
The thing was, I hated deception.
And it seemed like he had planned this carefully, just so he could take me to dinner.
“Baxter, if my mood sours or my children suffer, you’ll be hearing the end of it,” I warned him.
He shook his head and rolled his eyes, as if thinking I was talking nonsense.
“Just because you look good doesn’t mean you get to threaten me,” he muttered weakly, not even meeting my
eyes.
His sudden compliment froze me for a minute.
My kids followed Baxter and I followed them to his car.
Soon, we reached the lobby and stepped outside into the parking lot.
The kids climbed into the back seat while I sat in the passenger seat.
“Don’t stress out. I told you I’ll be there to take care of things,” he reassured again.
I didn’t respond. I didn’t want to talk to him at that moment.
If it were up to me, I would never have gone back to that place.
But he said that, as a father, he wanted the kids to be part of his happiness.
The truth was, I had still planned to refuse.
The only reason I agreed was because I thought that maybe, while he was promising to handle everything, I could finally ask my father about my mother.
The rest of the drive passed in silence.
When we arrived, I realized the dinner wasn’t somewhere else, it was at my home.
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79–Baxter Tricked Me into Going Back Home
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Or,
to put it better, at Yuvonne’s house, because I was never treated as the daughter of that home.
Flashback:
“Ow, my arm hurts!” I screamed as my stepmother grabbed me by the arm and dragged me toward the door.
I was only six years old. I didn’t know anything.
I was afraid of the dark, but she was going to punish me by making me stand outside for the rest of the night.
From there, I could hear the howling of wolves and the barking of stray dogs in the neighborhood.
I looked for my father, but I knew he wouldn’t care.
Karla pulled me to the door and kicked me in the back, making me fall onto the front porch.
My little hands turned red from hitting the ground.
As soon as I caught my breath and tried to turn back to rush inside, she slammed the door shut.
Her voice came from the other side.
“If you’re going to stay in my house, you better learn to follow my orders. For tonight, stay outside and think about your behavior,” Karla shouted.
I hugged myself tightly, my lips trembling as my eyes wandered through the darkness, searching for any sign of danger.
All I could think about was what she meant by “my behavior p>
What had happened was that Yuvonne had been bullying me, hitting me,
For the first time, I went to my father and asked him to tell her to stop.
That was my mistake. That was why I was being punished.
I didn’t feel like this was my home. That night, I realized it never was.
End of Flashback:
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.