Chapter 188

188 – Slipping Away

Madeline:

It had been two days that I had not been able to get in contact with Elgin.

Not that I tried to, but I did hear from the council that he had not responded to them either.

I was the one who told them that he was probably busy with his children.

They understood for now, however, I was concerned about what was going on.

His behavior had really shaken my mind, especially at a time when we needed to discuss things, sit together, and figure everything out.

At this point, I did not know who to trust. I shared a lot with Baxter, and he promised to return soon.

I hated that I had stressed him out as well.

“Mommy, we want to talk to you,” Bodhi uttered, snapping me back to them.

I had been sitting in front of the TV, pretending to watch it while getting lost in my own thoughts.

My kids were playing with their toys when Bodhi finally spoke to get my attention.

“Yes, my child, what is going on?” I replied, keeping a smile on my face.

It was not easy to be a mother and still have time for yourself, especially when you wanted to cry, laugh, or feel hurt.

When you have a child, you need to make sure that your behavior is not ruining their mood.

“Is it true? Is Elgin our true daddy?” Bodhi asked.

The minute he said it, I realized they had misinterpreted something.

Elgin had only told Elara that she was his daughter, probably during the hours she had been in his care when I was at the council. 2

That must have led my children to believe they were all his.

“How about we not talk about it for now? Very soon, I will answer all your questions,” I told them, feeling guilty that every time they asked something like this, I had no response.

The truth was that I did not even know myself what the future held.

“Okay,” Bodhi nodded.

“Mommy, are we going to go and meet Daddy then?” Gina asked, and my muscles tensed.

“He means to say Uncle Elgin,” Elara replied, making me feel conflicted about how attached they had become to him.

“Not today. You remember his daughter is hurt. He will be spending time with her,” I answered, swallowing hard.

Sometimes children’s questions were difficult to answer.

“Oh, is Daddy still upset with me?” Elara uttered. 1

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108 Stipping Away

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“No, of course he is not. He called me asking about you,” I replied.

As soon as I said that, Elara stood up and clapped her hands.

“The other Daddy used to be so nice. He would get angry with people, but then he would come and be so concerned about us,” Elara remarked, remembering Sawyer.

“Yeah, he was nice. I mean he is nice,” I corrected myself, feeling odd that I had mentioned him in the past tense.

In the last two days, his emails had become distant. It upset me because I knew why he was busy.

I guessed that in the previous few years, somewhere along the line, even when I did not want to, I had developed some kind of feelings for him.

Then I remembered how he believed in polygamy, and everything changed for me.

I could not get myself to like him anymore.

How could I fall for him when every time I thought about him, the next image that came to my mind was of Nina.

“Anyway, you three keep playing. I’ll go attend this call,” I told them as I got up from the living room and stepped into the kitchen to answer the call from the council.

“Hello?” I answered.

“I know it is too early to be calling someone, but I need to speak with you about your marriage and everything, since neither of you, the bride or the groom, seem interested in discussing it,” Lady Abigail remarked.

I recognized her, not from her voice, but from the tone and the words she used.

“That is because the wedding was forced upon me, but anyway. What is it that you want to talk about? Do you want my comments on the dress or the venue?” I replied, giving her the same energy she always gave me.

I heard her scoff.

“I am way older than you,” she reminded me.

“You do not have to remind me. I already know that,” I hit back.

I had been so annoyed that I guessed I was taking my anger out on someone I felt I could, at least for now.

“Anyway, you two need to come and sign the cards. I have been trying to get in contact with your mate, but it seems like he is having second thoughts. He has not been picking up my calls,” she stated in a sterner tone.

At this point, I could not be sassy. I was also wondering what was going on with him.

The wedding day was getting closer, and he was distancing himself from me, my children, and the promise he had made to keep us safe.

I had no interest in him at all. Even the small chance of rebuilding our friendship had disappeared from my mind.

But the least he could do was keep his promise. 1

“I will speak with him and then let you know,” I told her, feeling exhausted before I hung up.

As I stepped out of the kitchen, thinking I would spend some time with my children and then speak to Elgin in the afternoon, I found something that made my stomach drop.

Only Bodhi and Elara were in the living room, giggling, while the door stood open and Gina was nowhere to be

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188–Slipping Away

seen.

“Kids, where is Gina?” I almost yelled, because what was happening?

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Ruby Walker

Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.