From His Wife to His Uncle's Wife novel Chapter 74

Eleanor felt a pinch in her chest, a pain so faint it reminded her of a bee sting. Maybe she had been hurt too many times. Now, even the sharpest ache could barely reach her. She was numb, and she knew it.

Jessie strutted over, looking pleased with herself, and picked up Olga's drawing. “Wow, Olga, you're such a sweetheart. This is beautiful. Can I have it?”

Olga glanced at her mom, then smiled at Jessie. “Of course! I made it just for you, Mommie Jessie. No one else gets one like this.”

Eleanor didn’t have the energy to watch them play out their happy family routine. She turned to the maid. “Let Peter know I was here, but he wasn’t.”

Then she walked out without looking back.

Olga stared at the doorway, stunned. Just like that? Her mom was really leaving? Wasn’t she going to comfort her, or even try to talk?

For the first time, Olga felt a wave of panic rise inside her.

She hurried after Eleanor, her tiny legs working as fast as they could. “Mommy! Where are you going?”

Eleanor forced a smile but didn’t turn around. “I’m going home. You and your Mommie Jessie can keep playing your little game.”

Home? Olga frowned, her eyebrows scrunching together. Wasn’t this her home too?

A memory flashed through her mind, something her mom had said a long time ago. “One day, I won’t be your mommy anymore.”

Tears filled Olga’s eyes. She grabbed her smartwatch and called her dad. “Daddy, Mommy came home, but then she left again!”

The maid stood by, watching the little girl run in circles, but kept quiet. After all, wasn’t Olga the one who’d made her mom so upset?

No sooner had Eleanor gotten in a taxi than Peter’s car pulled up outside.

“She’s gone?” he asked, looking at Olga.

Olga’s eyes were red as she glared at him. “Daddy, you promised Mommy would come home and make up with me. You lied. She didn’t even try!”

She hadn’t tried at all. She’d barely said anything before leaving again.

Jessie was still clutching Olga’s drawing, but now it just made her uncomfortable. The way Olga had called her “Mommie Jessie” was never about her. It was just to get under Eleanor’s skin.

***

When Max got home, he grabbed his new tie and stood in front of his big window, snapping a few photos. Something wasn’t right, though, so he moved to the closet and tried again. He wandered through every decent spot in his place, taking pictures of the tie, but nothing felt perfect. Finally, he ended up on his massive bed, arranging the tie just so.

Ten minutes later, Linden was scrolling through social media when Max’s post popped up. Since when did Max post anything online?

[A friend gave me this. The color’s nice.]

Linden blinked, not sure he was seeing it right. Was that really Max, showing off a flashy tie on his pillow?

Who gave it to him? A girlfriend?

The comments were going wild.

Eleanor saw the post too, her brow furrowing as she scrolled. Did Max really like that tie so much?