From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 187

Eleanor left without looking back, sliding into the ride-share waiting for her at the curb. Her mind was a mess, replaying everything that had happened. Juliana had always treated her like she was just a source of money. But even if you’re an ATM, people still need to know the code.

Determined not to let herself be used, Eleanor asked the driver to stop at a supermarket. She picked up some seafood, deciding she’d cook for Max tonight and let her frustration out in the kitchen.

She put all her tangled feelings into prepping and cooking.

When Max got home from work, he noticed the warm light in the dining room and felt an unexpected sense of peace settle over him. For a moment, it almost felt like coming home to a real wife. Of course, Eleanor had no idea he thought about her that way.

She set the last bowl of soup on the table.

“Mr. Clarkson, you’re back.”

“Yeah.” Max had already changed into his loungewear and was sitting at the table, looking relaxed.

“Trying something new tonight?”

“No.” Eleanor shook her head. “Just basic seafood soup, kind of sour and fresh. You can eat this, right, Mr. Clarkson?”

Max nodded. “Sure.”

He scooped up a bowl for himself, then served one for Eleanor. He took a sip, and for a split second, a weird look crossed his face. His brow twitched, but Eleanor didn’t seem to notice.

Instead, she watched him, waiting for his reaction. “What do you think?”

Max nodded. “Yeah, tastes pretty good.”

He drank it quickly, so Eleanor took a sip too. The moment it touched her tongue, she had to spit it right back into her bowl. Crap, she’d put way too much salt in.

“Mr. Clarkson, don’t drink that. The soup is terrible.”

She reached for his bowl, ready to take it away, but Max didn’t budge. He just kept drinking calmly, totally unfazed.

“I think it’s fine. Just a little salty, but it’s not a big deal.”

Eleanor felt so embarrassed. Max, meanwhile, liked seeing her flustered. If she felt guilty enough, maybe she’d finally agree to his marriage proposal.

Halfway through dinner, Max’s phone rang. It was his mom.

“Where are you? Come home right now!”

Marleigh almost never sounded this commanding. Max had no idea what was going on, so he stood up.

“Sorry, I have to go. Leave the food out, I’ll eat when I get back. Don’t worry about anything, I’ll heat it up myself.”

Eleanor pressed her lips together. Was he serious? The soup was so salty she wanted to dump it out straight away.

“...Okay then.”

***

Marleigh didn’t waste time. Her sister’s son had just had another kid, and through them, she’d met a university professor she thought might be a good match for Max. The woman seemed elegant and well-spoken.

Since Max had zero interest in the usual rich girls, Marleigh figured it was worth trying someone with a more academic background. But first, she had to get him to actually meet her.

Max glanced at the photo on the coffee table and let out a short laugh. “Mom, you called me home in such a rush just to set me up on a blind date?”

Marleigh’s finger shook as she pointed at Max. “And here I was, thinking she was just some poor woman. Turns out she’s been trying to marry into our family the whole time!”

Max’s face turned cold. “Mom, don’t say that. What do you mean, trying to marry into our family? If she really wanted to, would she have turned down my proposal?”

“I had to do her favors just to get close to her.”

“I helped her find a divorce lawyer, worried she’d never get out of that marriage. When she finally did, she said she was moving and wouldn’t even rent my place anymore. Do you know how hard this has been for me?”

“And honestly, Mom, don’t think she’s actually interested in me. For a woman to even consider a guy like me, one who can’t have kids, that’s already her giving me a lot of face.”

Marleigh was stunned. “Wait, what? You... you’re infertile?”

Max said it like it was nothing. “Yeah. If you stopped pushing me so hard, I’d probably go live in a monastery.”

Marleigh just stared at him, speechless.

“Are you telling the truth?” she asked, not quite believing it.

Max raised his hand. “If I’m lying, may I never get better, and may I never have a son.”

Marleigh had never known this about her son. She thought about Eleanor’s strengths and sighed, letting it go. “Well, I guess it makes sense she’s not interested in you.”

Max gave her a confused look.

“Don’t look at me like that. All I can do is try to help. Now get out of here. You’re giving me a headache.”

Max let out a snort and left the room without another word.