From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 53

Eleanor left so fast that Autumn didn’t even get a chance to respond.

Autumn sat in the café for ages, her mind stuck on what Eleanor had said about the study. The words wouldn’t leave her alone.

She hurried out, slid into the car, and snapped, “Home. Now.”

When she walked through the door, Peter still wasn’t back. Autumn wandered to her son’s study and found the little locked room at the end. Just standing outside it made her heart race. For a second, she didn’t dare to go in.

Of course she remembered Jessie’s birthday. Every single year, Jessie’s celebration was the biggest event in their family. It had never seemed odd before. Looking back now, it felt wrong. The more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she felt. Her own birthday had never gotten half as much attention from her sons.

With shaking hands, Autumn tapped in the four-digit code. The lock clicked open, just as she expected.

She took a steadying breath, turned the knob, and froze in the doorway. The walls inside were covered with photos, every single one of Jessie. Big photos, small photos. Jessie smiling, Jessie laughing. Jessie everywhere.

Her heart pounded so hard it hurt. If anyone outside the family ever found out about this room, it would destroy them. Her son and his sister-in-law… Autumn couldn’t even finish the thought.

She backed out quickly and locked the door again. Even if Peter and Eleanor really did get divorced, she would never accept Peter being with Jessie. Not ever.

***

After meeting Autumn, Eleanor got a call from Mr. Sidler and headed straight to his law office.

“Ms. Rolland, Horizon Collective’s lawyers came by today to talk settlement,” he said, sliding a document across the table. “Here are their terms.”

Eleanor scanned the paper in seconds. “Twenty-year patent license. Five million dollars?”

She couldn’t help a bitter laugh.

Maybe five million would impress someone who didn’t know better, but not her. When she first developed the patent, companies had lined up to make offers. Not a single one was under twenty million. But she’d been blinded by love, too eager to surprise Peter.

And when Peter learned how valuable the patent was, he’d whisked her and their daughter away for a family trip. It was supposed to be just the three of them. But Jessie said she wanted to see the ocean, and Eleanor, always too trusting, had invited her along.

The longer Eleanor thought about it, the more foolish she felt. They called it a vacation, but Eleanor spent the whole time looking after her little girl. She couldn’t try any of the water sports or join in the fun. Jessie wanted to do everything, and someone had to go with her, so Peter volunteered. Of course he did.

Eleanor couldn’t help remembering all those moments at home when she felt more like the nanny than the wife. That realization hardened something inside her.

“Mr. Sidler, I’m not settling,” she said, her voice clear. “I want them to stop abusing my patent. I don’t care what they offer, I’m not giving them the rights.”

“I am.”

He took a step closer. “Are you feeling better? My friend said you checked out of the hospital early.”

He didn’t mention that he’d gone to visit her, only to find her already gone.

Eleanor felt a bit embarrassed, but she smiled honestly. “Thank you, Mr. Clarkson. Sorry for causing you trouble again.”

Max raised his eyebrows. “Is thanking someone out loud your only way of showing appreciation?”

Eleanor blinked, caught off guard.

She tried to guess what he meant. “How about I buy you dinner to say thanks?”

Max looked perfectly relaxed. “Sure.”

She smiled for real then. “What’s your number? I’ll write it down and call you when I’m done here.”