“Now listen to me, and listen real good, Elaine Matthews,” he leaned in, his voice dropping dangerously low. “The minute you brought him into my life, he ceased to become just YOUR son. You’ve had him to yourself since the day he was born while you constantly lie to me about him so you’ll have no say in how I bring him up. Do you fucking understand?”
I sat back, trying not to be intimidated by his fierce determination. For the first time in forever, someone was dragging my son with me. “Well, since you’ve decided to be unreasonable, you leave me no choice but to run away with him all over again. This time you won’t ever see in your life.”
He narrowed his eyes, amusement brimming in their depths. “You don’t have the means, and there’s no place you could run to right now that I wouldn’t fish you out. As long as you’re my son’s guardian, I’ve got heavy eyes on you. I’m not joking.”
I bit my bottom lip, clenching my fist in anger. I hated this fight of dominance over something that used to be solely mine. I loathed it with every fiber of my being.
We lapsed into a thick silence, glaring at each other over the rim of our paper cups as we took long sips from them. I thought carefully for a minute before speaking up. “Let’s do it this way then. Why don’t you come over tomorrow evening to spend some time and get to know him better? That’ll be a crucial step in living up to your role as a father.”
He snorted. “You won’t teach me my role, Elaine.”
“Well, your car isn’t convenient enough for you to drive him anywhere. You don’t have a fucking backseat for Pitt’s sake!”
He slammed a hand on the table. “Let me figure that out. And oh, I’m telling him the truth which you’ve kept hidden from him for so long.”
My brows hitched up in alarm. “What truth?”
“That I’m his father.”
I gasped in horror. “Oh, no you won’t. He already has a father, Max. I told him so.”
“That’s your fucking ex and not me, Elaine. Alessandro is not, and will never be his father.” He glowered derisively.
I dragged a hand down my face, exasperated. This was getting out of hand, and I’d lost total control over the entire situation. “Alright, fine,” I agreed reluctantly. “You can tell him. But I must be there.”
“Of course. You’re nosy after all.”
“No. I just don’t trust you with him yet. This whole parenting prospect might be exciting for you, but it’s not a piece of cake. Mark my words.”
“Noted. When is his birthday?”
I blew out a breath before responding. “February 6th. He’ll be turning five early next year.”
A smile crossed his lips. “Better late than never. Has he started preschool?”
I nodded. “Last week, amidst the chaos, I registered him. It’s a well-known public school close to my house. I take him there every morning, while Cora brings him back.”
“You enrolled him in a goddamn public school?” his jaw slacked incredulously. “What the fucking hell, Elaine? There’s no way I’ll let my blood go to a public school. It’s insulting.”
I shrugged. “Stop being so dramatic. It’s no big deal.”
His eyes held mine for a moment. “Shut up.”
“No,” I stared him down. “He’s fine where he is.”
“Well, bad news because I’m going to enroll him in the best private preschool in the city and there’s absolutely nothing you can do about it.”
“You will do no such thing, Max. The last thing I want is a spoilt brat as a son. Finn is a sweet and kind kid and your rich boy culture will ruin him. I won’t allow that.”
He rolled his eyes. “I only want the best thing for him. You’ve had him his entire life, and I want to share in his joy as a child. I want to make him happy. As my first son, he deserves everything in the world.”
“I know, I know. But he’d be better off without you splashing money at any given opportunity. I’m afraid he’ll become cocky and stubborn.”
“Being cocky runs in the Sturm blood. His father and grandfather are filthy rich, so he’s allowed to be arrogant.”
“I’m sorry, that’s not how I wish to bring up my child,” I said with an air of finality. “You have a lot of shits to fix in yourself first. I don’t think you should come around tomorrow anymore.”
“And I never asked for your permission to see my son, you selfish woman. It’s quite hilarious to hear you condemn my bad attitude and spending habits when you’re, in fact, no saint at all. You disobey me, and go to that damn club I warned you to stay away from. Now, listen carefully, and listen well, Miss. You’re a mother. The mother of my child. Do not go to any damn club unless I permit you to. I won’t have you disgrace my family and make our name a laughing stock. This is my final warning.”
I sat still, stunned by his outrageous demands. “But what about you? You go there yourself and you have the right to tell me not to go there too? How does that make much sense to you?”
He huffed, turning away nonchalantly. “I’m done with this conversation.”
I wiped the tears off my face furiously. “What kind of a father will you be? The type that has a wife, yet sleeps around town with sluts in different clubs? We’re not perfect humans, Max. But we can try to be. Together.”
He kept his eyes trained on the door, swallowing hard. “We were never an item, Elaine. You just happen to be the mother of my child. Nothing more. There’s nothing to us.”
Hurt and betrayal crashed down my back, making me shut my eyes as I tried to subdue the pain. If he’d run me over with a car, again and again, it could’ve hurt much less. I stared at his blurred, unfeeling face through my tears, trying to find my voice.
Nothing came forth. My throat was dry and dead.
Wordlessly, I rose up and headed for the door blindly, not even bothering to glance back at him. I couldn’t stand being in his presence any longer. I couldn’t stand the sting of his words. I needed to be alone. To get away from him as fast as I could before he stuck the final blow.