Unmatched Wife: Not His To Claim Anymore novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8: BIANCA

I stayed in my bedroom for hours, holding a frozen bag of peas to the bruise to my side which had turned a bright purple already. The bruise had been obtained when Mia intentionally bumped into me. But Matthew had only seen what he wanted to see: me pushing her, me being the villain in this story.

The sound of Theo calling me evil kept replaying in my mind. My baby. My son.. And he’d looked at me with such hatred, convinced that I was a monster for hurting someone who was sick and dying to the best of his understanding.

And all this had happened because Mia had been there, integrating herself into his life, slowly but surely, always being the fun one, while I was the wicked one because I prioritized healthy foods, and strict bedtimes.

And Matthew had let it happen. Had encouraged it, even.

I bandaged the bruise after applying ointment and changed into my night clothes, and finally left my room/

It was nearly midnight. Theo should have been asleep hours ago.

I walked down the hallway, and stopped at the top of the stairs when I heard voices below. Laughter. Matthew’s deep chuckle, Theo’s giggling, and Mia’s soft, laughter joining theirs as well.

I descended slowly, each step taking effort, and paused in the doorway of the living room.

The scene before me seemed like something out of a movie, depicting a happy family of three while I was the unwanted NPC.

Matthew sat on the couch with Theo in his lap, reading a bedtime story. Mia sat beside them, her hand resting on Theo’s foot. Our son’s head was resting against Matthew’s chest, his eyes drooping with exhaustion, but he was smiling. Content.

They looked like family. A real family. The kind I’d tried so desperately to build for four years, except I was the wrong woman in the picture.

“And then the brave knight saved the princess, and they lived happily ever after.”

“Just like you’ll save Aunty Mia,” Theo mumbled sleepily. “Right, Daddy?”

“That’s right, buddy. Just like that.”

Mia’s eyes glistened with tears at the declaration. “You’re such a sweet boy, Theo. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

“You can stay forever,” Theo said, his words slurring with exhaustion, his eyes barely struggling to remain open. “Right, Daddy? She can stay?”

Matthew noticed that I was in the room, or maybe he knew since but was now acknowledging me, looking at me, not saying anything but Mia shifted closer to him and the moment was over. His attention returned back to her.

“Let’s get you to bed, champ,” he said, standing with Theo in his arms.

I watched them walk past me toward the stairs, Matthew carrying our son, Mia following close behind like she belonged there. Like this was her family. Her home. Her life.

I should have said something. I should have reminded Matthew that this was inappropriate but I couldn’t force the words out of my mouth.

They disappeared upstairs, and I heard Theo’s bedroom door open and close. I heard Matthew’s voice reading one more story, and heard Mia’s soft laughter at something Theo said.

I stood frozen in the hallway, an outsider in my own home.

When they finally emerged from Theo’s room fifteen minutes later, Matthew pulled the door shut as Mia stood beside him, her hand on his chest like they were sharing a proud parent moment.

“He’s such an amazing little boy,” she spoke, loud enough for me to hear her. “You’re both so lucky.”

“We are,” Matthew agreed, and deep down, I knew that the “we” didn’t include me.

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