From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 197

When Eleanor heard his answer, she almost wanted to bite her tongue off. So, it wasn’t that he couldn’t do it, just that he couldn’t have kids. Did that mean she’d never have children herself? She mulled it over for a second, then smiled. Honestly, that was fine by her. But five times a week? That was way too much.

“Let’s change it to three,” she suggested. “Even regular married couples don’t go at it that often.”

Especially not ones like them, in a marriage that had nothing to do with love.

“Four,” Max shot back. “I’m not going any lower.”

He looked at her, totally serious. “You do realize, a healthy sex life is what keeps a marriage together, right?”

Eleanor realized she wasn’t going to win. She sighed, crossed out the five, and wrote four instead.

She skimmed through the rest of the agreement. Nothing else stood out. She signed her name at the bottom.

Max slid closer, added his signature, then they both pressed their thumbprints down on the paper. Max even made sure they added an extra one next to the edited section. He was nothing if not thorough.

“The agreement’s in duplicate,” he said, handing her a copy. “This one’s yours. So, when do we go register our marriage?”

Eleanor paused, thinking it over. “After I’m discharged from the hospital.”

She wanted someone solid on her side, and she knew all of this mess started with Jessie Goff. Why was it that after so many years of peace, her terrifying biological father—who’d never even acknowledged her—suddenly showed up right after she got her divorce settlement from Peter Clarkson? She didn’t buy into coincidences. There was only one person who could have stirred things up like this: Jessie Goff.

“Mr. Clarkson, I should warn you. In this marriage, I might use your name and status. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

Max rested his hand on the doorknob. He turned a little, golden sunlight softening his sharp features. She could see his long lashes flutter as he glanced at her.

“Jared, did you know your mother kidnapped me and tried to extort money?”

“I…” Jared’s mouth opened and closed. He looked shaken. “Eleanor, maybe… maybe Mom had her reasons, something she couldn’t talk about?”

Even as he said it, he didn’t sound convinced. Before she could answer, he rushed on. “I want to defend her, but I know she hurt you.”

He’d been thinking it over all day. Now that Eleanor was safe, what would happen to his mom? Would she go to jail? But asking Eleanor to forgive her would just be emotional blackmail, and he knew it.

He took a shaky breath, his face even paler. “Eleanor, you should call the police.”

His eyes were clear, accepting. “No matter what you decide, I’ll support you. Always.”