From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 129

Max got up and followed Eleanor into the kitchen. “Want a hand with anything?”

“I’m good, really,” Eleanor said, hurrying back out with a glass of tomato juice. “Here, this should give you a little sugar boost. Sorry, we don’t really keep snacks around.”

Juliana came out right behind her, holding a teacup. “Mr. Clarkson, this is some of the new tea I bought this year. I’m sure it’s not as fancy as what you’re used to, but give it a try.”

Jared just sat there on the couch, staring into space, still trying to make sense of what Max had just said.

What none of them knew was that another man was already on his way to their door, and he was in no mood for pleasantries.

Peter kept replaying all the ways Eleanor had changed lately. The way she stood taller, spoke up for herself, even managed to get Linden as her lawyer. And that teacher of hers—he didn’t know much, but he could imagine. Suddenly, it all clicked. Maybe Eleanor had someone new in her life.

Just thinking about it made anger twist in his stomach. How could she? She was always blaming him, saying his coldness was why they lost their child. But what if she’d been the one with a wandering heart all along?

He parked wherever he felt like and stormed toward the old building.

A neighbor spotted him. “Is that Juliana’s son-in-law?” she called out with a friendly wave.

Peter didn’t even look at her. He just barreled up the stairs and pounded on the door.

The banging echoed through the apartment. Eleanor frowned, about to ask who it was, when she heard his furious voice outside. “Eleanor, open the door!”

Max was still in the bathroom. Eleanor’s heart started racing. If Peter saw Max here, that would be impossible to explain.

She slipped over to the bathroom and whispered, “Mr. Clarkson, my ex-husband’s here. Could you stay in there a little longer?”

There was a short pause before Max replied, calm as ever, “Of course.”

“Go home, Peter. There’s nothing left to say. I’ll see you in court.”

She closed the door and leaned against it, letting herself breathe for a moment.

Inside, Juliana gave her a long, meaningful look. She was clearly amused. If there was really nothing going on, why would her daughter need to hide her boss in the bathroom?

Eleanor waited until she saw Peter’s car pull away from the window, then went to the bathroom door. “Mr. Clarkson, you’re good to come out now.”

Max stepped out, perfectly composed. With the thin walls in the old apartment, he’d heard everything.

He grinned, mischief dancing in his eyes. “So, I’m your ‘relative’ now? Didn’t see that one coming.”

Eleanor arched an eyebrow. “Guess that means you’d better call me ‘brother’ too, just like Jared.”