Chapter 82
82-1 Feel Left Out
Madeline:
When he hung up, he gestured for Yuvonne to come with him.
She hurried over, and I could tell his parents must have arrived for him to call her.
“They’re here!” my stepmother said excitedly, wrapping her arm around my father’s and dragging him away.
At that moment, I felt completely alone and out of place.
Then my eyes shifted to my kids, I wasn’t really alone.
“Mommy,” Bodhi said softly.
I nodded to let him know I was listening.
“You’re prettier than your sister,” he added, covering his mouth to laugh.
My other two children nodded too, and he was right, I could never feel alone with them beside me.
After a while, Baxter’s family walked in. A short, chubby man with a bald head and a tall, slender woman with perfectly straight black hair.
She had curves even I couldn’t compete with.
Sh
was incredibly beautiful and carried herself with such grace that anyone who saw her couldn’t help but stare.
She used to be an alpha’s daughter.
After her father passed away, their packs merged, which was how Baxter’s pack became so wealthy.
As she stepped inside, I noticed the way she looked around the house.
Her husband kept glancing at her for approval, and he only appreciated something once she did.
Otherwise, he stayed silent.
“The house looks nice now,” she said flatly.
Judging by the way she barely spoke to anyone, I could tell she wasn’t happy about the marriage.
I wondered how Baxter had managed to convince her.
Then her eyes landed on me.
“Oh, you must be Madeline Sawyer, right?” she said.
She was the only one who called me by my new surname, which told me she hadn’t come here by chance.
She had done her research.
“Yeah, Mom, she’s the one helping the children with the sickness,” Baxter explained, standing beside her.
She was tall, and I could see where Baxter got his height from.
He still towered over her, built like a giant with broad shoulders and a narrow waist.
“Oh, and you have three children now. Well, I’m glad you’ve moved on from your tired little life and done
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something with yourself p>
As expected, she spoke softly, barely raising her voice. But her gestures and body language still carried envy and hostility.
I knew what it meant to argue with her, but I decided to respond anyway.
“Mrs. Eugenia, you haven’t changed one bit. One would think you’d be smiling today. It’s a big day for your son. When a woman becomes a mother, she usually inherits compassion. But I guess some women never change p>
That was my way of reminding her that she was still immature, the same woman who used to argue with teenagers like me.
Even now, she hasn’t changed.
I noticed her expression sour, and Baxter’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by the way I spoke to his mother.
“Mrs. Eugenia, please come and have a seat. Dinner’s been served,” Yuvonne uttered quickly, trying to lighten the
moment.
“And My Goddess, that black dress looks so good on you,” she added, forcing a smile.
Instead of responding, Eugenia rolled her eyes and walked toward the dining room with her husband beside her.
I watched Yuvonne’s smile fade as she turned to glance at Baxter, silently complaining about his mother’s behavior.
We were all welcomed to the dining table.
The dining room looked newly built, positioned at the corner of the house, right next to the garden.
It was part of the main house, but definitely a recent addition.
The walls were made of glass, and in the center stood a beautiful antique dining table with perfectly matched
chairs.
Everyone began to take their seats, and I sat down with my children.
Baxter sat directly across from me, so when I looked up, he was the first person I saw.
Beside him was Yuvonne, followed by her parents.
On Baxter’s right sat his own parents, his mother closest to him.
I was seated on the opposite end of the table with my children.
The maids hired by Baxter began to appear, serving the food.
The dishes looked incredible, like something from a royal dinner.
I could already tell Eugenia was trying to recognize the maids, just to prove that this arrangement wasn’t made by Yuvonne or her family, but by her own son.
When she was done glancing around, her eyes landed on me.
We stared at each other for a moment before she smiled and turned her attention to my children.
“Bodhi, Elara, and Gina,” she began, calling their names.
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She must have learned them when Baxter introduced the kids earlier, and now she wanted to show me that she remembered.
“Yes ma’am p>
What she didn’t expect was for Bodhi to respond. I noticed she was caught off guard.
“Well, you’re a charming little boy,” she commented, staring at him a little too intently.
I started to wonder if she was comparing him to her son.
“ Well, you’re a very gorgeous lady too,” Bodhi replied.
The moment he complimented her, everyone laughed, but Eugenia looked rather impressed.
She smiled, then turned to Baxter. It was the first time I had seen her smile so genuinely.
“You’re a sharp little boy. I like the way you talk,” she told Bodhi.
For the first time, her tone sounded natural.
It wasn’t the usual slow, deliberate way she spoke, as if savoring each word.
“My mom always says to respond to everyone nicely,” Bodhi continued proudly, raising his eyebrows. “And when someone is very beautiful, I respond even more beautifully p>
He went on, charming her further.
I looked at him, then at Baxter. The two of them looked so eerily alike.
“Eugenia, you really look great. I need some tips on your skincare routine,” Yuvonne quickly spoke up, interrupting.
She couldn’t let Bodhi have the spotlight on her big night.
“Thank you,” Eugenia replied, her tone turning cold again.
“Anyway, this dinner is for me to announce the date of my engagement ceremony with Yuvonne p>
Baxter began speaking, gesturing for a maid to bring the envelopes containing the invitations.
She started placing them in front of each of us.
Elara quickly snatched one from me and opened it.
I noticed the disapproval on Eugenia’s face, she didn’t like Elara’s manners,
Her expression soured, especially toward Elara, who tended to be more lively.
“Look! It’s on December 28th, right after Christmas,” Elara exclaimed, a bit too loudly.
Everyone looked at her since they were meant to read it together with Yuvonne after opening their envelopes.
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.