From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 10

“Mom.”

Eleanor had barely stepped inside when her mother slapped her, hard. The sting hit before she could even process what was happening.

“Apologize! Eleanor, I’m telling you right now, go say sorry to Ms. Goff!”

Juliana’s voice was sharp, almost shaking. “Do you remember how poor we were when you were a kid? If the Goff family hadn’t given me a job, if they hadn’t let me take care of Ms. Goff, you wouldn’t have even had milk to drink.”

She shot Eleanor a look that was colder than anything. “I’ve told you so many times, the Goff family is the reason we survived. They’re our benefactors for life. When did you get so ungrateful?”

Eleanor bit her lip until she tasted blood. A tear slid down her cheek, but she didn’t even bother to wipe it away.

She could handle Peter treating her like nothing, her daughter looking down on her, even her mother-in-law’s constant criticism. But this was her own mom. Eleanor just couldn’t understand why her mother would take a stranger’s side, why she’d hurt her like this.

Her eyes were red, her voice shaking. “Mom, I’m not apologizing.”

She pointed, trembling, at the woman lounging on the couch with a smug little smile. “Jessie went after her own brother-in-law. Why should I apologize to her?”

The room felt like it was spinning out of control.

Juliana scanned the room, looking for something to hit Eleanor with, but Jessie reached over and grabbed her wrist.

“Juliana, Eleanor’s pregnant. You can’t just hit her.”

Juliana snapped back, but her anger only grew. “One slap won’t hurt the baby. Let go, Ms. Goff. She’s being dramatic.”

A cold, twisted smile appeared on Eleanor’s face. “There’s no baby.”

Juliana’s hand flew to her chest. “What did you say?”

“You think this is funny? You’re joking about your own child?”

Eleanor’s voice was flat. “There hasn’t been a baby for a while. When Peter was off on vacation with his precious Jessie at Timber Creek, I lost it.”

Juliana’s building was old, the stairs steep and unforgiving.

Suddenly, Jessie let go of Eleanor’s hand and fell backward, her face twisted in a triumphant smile. She tumbled down all fourteen steps, landing right at the feet of the man who had just walked in.

Peter’s went angry when he saw Jessie covered in blood. “Jessie!”

He scooped her up, panic all over his face. “Jessie, you’ll be okay. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

He shot Eleanor a look so cold it made her freeze. His voice was pure ice. “Eleanor, if anything happens to Jessie, you’ll pay for it. With your life.”

Eleanor stood there, watching the man she once loved clutch Jessie like she was the only thing that mattered. Her heart felt empty.

Just before Jessie fell, she’d mouthed two words; I win.

That was the truth. The one who’s never loved always loses.