Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 15

Chapter 15

BIANCA

I heard them before I saw them. Matthew’s deep voice in the hallway, murmuring something assuring Mia, who replied in a softer tone.

When the office door opened, they entered together, a united front that made Principal Briggs eyebrows rise slightly.

Matthew wore his Alpha face, looking authoritative and in control. Mia stood beside him wearing a pale pink dress, making her look more fragile than she was, and her hands were wrapped around Matthew’s arm, silently, and subtly showing everyone that she was important.

And Theo, my baby, my son took one look at them and launched himself at Mia.

“Aunty Mia!” He buried his face in her skirt, his small hands fisting in the fabric. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be bad-

“Oh sweetheart, you’re not bad.” Mia knelt down, cupping his face with both hands, completely ignoring the split lip and the tear tracks on his cheeks. “You’re just confused and upset. It’s okay. We’re here now.”

We’re here now. As if they were his parents. As if I was sitting three feet away didn’t exist.

Matthew’s eyes finally landed on me, and something passed quickly across his face. Not quite guilt of bringing Mia here. More like irritation at my presence, at the complication I represented in his life.

“Bianca,” he said, his tone carefully neutral, greeting me like a stranger, rather than his mate. “Thank you for coming. I can handle it from here.”

I didn’t respond. Didn’t move. Just watched as Mia scooped Theo into her arms, as my son wrapped his legs around her waist and his arms around her neck, as she swayed slightly like she’d done this a thousand times before.

Principal Briggs cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable with the dynamics playing out in her office. “Perhaps we should all sit down and discuss Theodore’s behavior.”

The next ten minutes were an exercise in torture disguised as a productive meeting between parent and principal.

“Children often act out when they sense conflict between parental figures,” she said carefully, her eyes darting between Matthew and me. “They need consistency, clear boundaries, and a united front from the adults in their lives.”

“I completely agree,” Matthew said, his voice grave. “And I apologize for any disruption Theodore’s behavior may have caused. His mother has been under a lot of stress lately, making poor decisions that have affected our family dynamic. We’re working on providing more stability for him.”

The words hung in the air like poison. His mother. Not “we.” Not “Bianca and 1.” Just his mother, spoken with a distance that made it clear who bore the blame.

I sat perfectly still, my hands folded in my lap, and said nothing.

“Dr. Morrison?” Principal Briggs turned to me. “Do you have anything to add?”

“No,” I said quietly. “I think my husband has explained the situation adequately.”

Matthew’s eyes narrowed slightly at my tone, but he didn’t comment.

“Well then.” Principal Briggs pulled out a document from her desk. “I’d like both parents to sign a behavioral contract for Theodore. It includes what sort of behaviour is permitted here in school, and it’s compulsory for parents to try and adhere to the rules to avoid consequences.”

She slid the paper across her desk. Matthew reached for it immediately, scanning the contents before signing anything.

I watched him, this man I’d married, who’d once held my hand during labor and told me I was the strongest person he knew. Now he couldn’t even look at me without that expression of barely concealed frustration.

“This seems reasonable,” Matthew said, picking up the pen Principal Briggs offered.

“Both parents need to sign,” she reminded him.

He signed with a flourish, then slid the paper toward me.

But Mia had taught me well. I watched her lie and manipulate for thirteen months. I’d seen how effective it could be, how easily people believed what they wanted to believe.

When I opened the door, the house was silent, empty. No one was waiting for me. Mia wasn’t here either, or it wouldn’t have been this quiet. Passing Theo’s room, I heard Matthew’s voice. The light from inside the room and closed door told me that Matthew wouldn’t be coming out for a while.

My heart was pounding, my hands shaking slightly. Now was the perfect time to slip the divorce papers in. Once Matthew signed these papers, there was no going back and in thirty days, we would be ripped apart freeing ourselves from the bondage of the other person. Just thinking about it, almost made my heart skip a breath.

I started toward the office, papers in hand, when I heard the front door open. I froze.

The sound of keys hitting the entry table. The soft click of heels on hardwood. And then-

“I’m home!”

Mia’s voice, rang through my house.

I stepped into the hallway and saw her standing in the foyer, hanging her coat on the rack like she lived here. In her hand was a key–my house key, attached to a keychain with the initials “M.R.” that I’d never seen before.

She looked up and saw me, and for just a moment, she looked smug before she hid it, giving me a cheerful grin.

“Oh, Bianca! I didn’t know you were here. Matthew gave me a key last week–you know, in case of emergencies, since I’ve been staying over and helping with Theo so much. I hope that’s okay?”

She stood in my foyer, holding a key I’d never allowed or gave permission for her to have.

And I realized with absolute clarity that she was already living in it, like a true mistress of the house.

Then her eyes flicked to the papers in my hand, and at that same instant, Theo’s bedroom door clicked open behind me…