The Conspiracy of Baby-Switching novel Chapter 55

My stomach twists some more. I couldn’t have fucked this up harder if I tried.

I flick through the diary and read another entry,

Today I start prenatal classes and what

should be a day that’s exciting and one that I’ve been looking forward to…all I can feel is dread.

I’m the only single parent in the class, it’s

bad enough I have to do this alone…but being forced to watch everybody else’s husbands and partners be excited feels simply too much to bear.

I get a lump in my throat as I stare at the entry, I hate that she did this alone. I hate what I put her through.

I pick up my phone and scroll through the numbers. Ring ring…ring ring…

“Hello,” Violet answers.

“Hi.” I smile softly, just hearing her voice makes me feel better.

“Gabriel, hi. I’m sorry but the children are asleep.”

“I’m not after the children.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just wanted to hear your voice.”

Silence…

I close my eyes, filled with regret.

“Violet,” I whisper, “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?”

“For not being there when you needed me.”

“It doesn’t . . .”

“It matters to me.” I cut her off. “I hate that I wasn’t…” I stop myself saying anything more, unsure how to make this better, “…there for you.”

We fall silent as we both wait on the line for the other to say something.

“I’ll be there Thursday night after work,” I tell her. “As soon as I finish,

I’ll be on my way.”

“It’s probably going to be too late by the time you get here to see the kids, they have school the next day.”

“I know.” I think for a moment. “I was hoping that you and the kids could come over to my house on Friday night…and…”

“Are you sure you still want to tell them?”

“Positive.”

“It’s not too late to change your mind, you know.”

“I’m not changing my mind.”

“Call me on Friday.”

“Okay.”

“Good night.”

I smile as hope fills me. “Good night, Vee.”

I walk out to my waiting car to find Mark standing by it. “Good morning, sir.”

“Morning.”

“How did you sleep?”

I roll my lips to stop myself from outright verbally attacking her, close the door behind me and take a seat at my desk.

I can hardly contain my anger, and animosity swirls through the air. “Yes,

Mother?” I say. “Can I help you?”

She crosses her legs and sits back in her chair. “You’re angry.” I glare at her as I hold my tongue.

“I went to her to protect you,” she stammers as she begins to get nervous.

“And I saw her evil firsthand with my own eyes.”

The anger in my soul begins to smolder with a new fire.

“You cannot throw away what you have with Ariana for Violet Coleman. I cannot allow it.”

“Ariana and I are over.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, you love Ariana.”

“And you are supposed to love me.” I slam my hand on the desk, causing her to jump.

“I do love you.”

“You tried to buy my own children out of my life,” I bellow. “How the fuck is that loving me?” I glare at her, on the verge of a full-on meltdown. “You’ve gone too far this time, Mother.”

Her eyes fill with tears. “Don’t say that,” she whispers. “She’s no good for you, Gabriel.”

“You are no good for me,” I scream. “Get. The. Fuck. Out. Of. My.

Office. Right. Now.”

The door bursts open and Alessio comes into view, his eyes flick between us. “What’s going on?” he asks as he closes the door behind him.

“Get her out of here,” I snap as I walk to the window. I drag my hands through my hair, too angry to even look at her.