I lay haphazardly on the parlor couch, half-dozing off. My joints were aching and it felt as though bricks were in my head. The room was silent with Cora sitting on the settee opposite, her brows knitted together worriedly. It was half past one, so it wasn’t yet time for her to pick Finn up from preschool.
“So, you honestly don’t remember any of the other boys except Sky?” she frowned, adjusting herself to peer at me closely. “What are the chances that they were the ones responsible for drugging you? And why would they do that? You weren’t alone with them. They didn’t drug Ivy or one of the other girls.”
“I’m lost, Cora,” I muttered, shaking my head gently while yawning. “It could have been anyone who slipped something in the drink, but the boys are the prime suspect. Things went downhill the minute they approached us. I’m not sure it was Sky…” I trailed off, rubbing my temples softly.
“Well, thank heavens you’re getting better now. The doctor said that the drugs, coupled with your huge fall could’ve made your skull crack, but it didn’t. You could’ve died in a coma, Elaine. Do you know how lucky you are?”
I bit my bottom lip hard, trying to fight back tears. Things just kept getting worse and worse by the day. “I’m glad it’s all over now. I promise to be careful from now on. It’ll be hard, but I’m willing to try. For Finn, at least.”
“And Max as well,” she beamed, wiggling her brows. “He was so worried sick about you. For the first time ever, I could tell that he cared so much about you.”
“I know, right?” I chuckled, my face heating up. “Oh God, Cora. He’s so amazing. I pretended to be asleep for thirty minutes or so and he paced about the entire time, then came to hold my hands, kissing me over and over again. His eyes were red and he was close to crying. He was begging me not to leave him. I can’t begin to explain how ashamed I felt at that point. I don’t deserve him.”
“Now, now, girl,” Cora frowned, her bangs shaking lightly as she sat up to stare at me squarely. “It’s not your fault that you were drugged. It could literally happen to any damn person. And you deserve him in every way possible. He’s your Prince Charming. You two are perfect for each other, even though you both have huge issues you need to sort out. But the love is genuine, I’m sure.”
“I believe we’re getting to that,” I nodded with an exhale. “I’m just so happy that he came. That shows he still cares about me. He came when I needed him most and I’m so grateful.”
A knock sounded at the door, causing us to look up sharply. “Did you order anything?” I asked.
She shrugged, equally surprised as well. “No,”
“Then who could that be? Max?”
She rose from the settee. “I’ll be right back. Sit tight.”
She padded over to the door and drew it open, a tall, average man donning a navy blue postman uniform coming into view. “Hello. How may I help you?”
“Good afternoon, ma’am,” his voice was inconspicuously deep. He couldn’t be more than thirty-five, judging by his pristine appearance. “I’m in search of one Elaine Matthews. Is she in?”
“Yes,” Cora’s frown was reflective in her tone. “She’s ill so I’ll stand in for her if you don’t mind.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible, ma’am. The instructions were to have these papers delivered to Elaine Matthews herself and no one else. I’m afraid she has to come to take them in person herself.”
“No, no… listen – ”
I managed to rise, scheppling to the door to stand beside Cora. She made space for me to stick my head out and peer at the postman. “Good afternoon, Sir. I’m Elaine Matthews. I’d like to know what this is all about. Am I in trouble?”
“No,” he smiled insincerely, pushing the papers in his hands forward. “I just need your signature here,” he pointed at a dotted line. I scribbled down my signature quietly, and he pressed an envelope into my palm, turning to leave. I was about to shut the door when I caught sight of two strange hefty men I hadn’t seen before, standing on the porch steps. Cora and I exchange glances, then walk out front.
“Yes, how can we help you, Sirs?” I prodded politely, forcing a smile at the one who looked like the elder between the two. He nodded and smiled.
“We’ve been ordered to watch over Finn Sturm.”
“But what for?” Cora probed, surprised.
“His father’s orders, not ours. It’s in your best interest to let us do our jobs, ma’am. We won’t disturb you, we promise.”
None of this was adding up. What the fucking hell was Max up to this time? Not wanting to think too much about it, and having a strong feeling that these men were connected with whatever was written in the envelope, I turned on my heels, heading back into the house with Cora following closely.
Once inside, I ripped the envelope apart, pulling out the white paper in dread.
Court Subpoena.
The Sturm Family vs Elaine Matthews.
Max Sturm requests full custody of his son, Finn Sturm.
“What does the paper say?” Cora asked when I let the paper fall, eyes wide in shock. She crouched, picked it up, and perused through it carefully.
Her eyes snapped up to meet mine. “Oh, no.”
–
“What the fucking hell?!” Cora snarled, flipping the paper over to read the rest of the court order briefly, then slapping it loudly against the desk. Seated, I bury my head in my hands, too surprised and confused to even think or speak. “How can he be so insensitive and stupid? You just got discharged… and this is what he brings up? You were drugged, Elaine. It’s not your fault, you’re not a drug addict.”
The tension in the room picked up as I clutched my chest in pain, my heart heavy. It felt like a nightmare. It was a fucking nightmare. He’d only known about Finn for two weeks and now he thought my child wasn’t safe with me? How could he be so foolish? How he be such a fine idiot?
“He didn’t even give you enough time to recuperate. The court case comes up in two days, Elaine.”
I sighed, running my fingers through my hair. Everything was going spiraling so fast. God, how do I cope with this trauma? Max Sturm had crossed a fucking line.
Cora sauntered over to the window to take a peek at the hefty men outside once more. “That explains why they’re here. Max probably thinks that you’ll try to run away with Finn before the court case. This is so fucking absurd! It’s like he’s become a totally different person.”
“Seriously?” I gasped as I rose up to join her, horrified. “Are you sure?”
She rolled her eyes. “I mean, well, that’s the only logical explanation for this. Max knows you’ll get all cranky when the subpoena is delivered and might try to run away with Finn. He’s not taking any chances with you.”
“I don’t believe this,” I whispered faintly, shaking my head as the tears fell. “How could he be so mean? How long has he known Finn to choose to take such a huge step…”
She placed a firm hand on my arm. “Now’s not the time to be shocked. Call the fucking arsehole. He deserves to explain what this shit means. I’m not letting anyone take our little prince away from us. Where’s your damn phone?”
While Cora ran up the stairs to get my phone, I sank back on the sofa, my chest on fire. He was carrying out his threat. He warned me that there’d be consequences if I disobeyed him and continued job hunting. These are the consequences. And God, I’d never known him to be a petty man.
“Here, have it,” Cora pushed the gadget into my hand, folding her arms over her chest as smoke puffed out of her ears. “Ring him already.”
“That’s not happening. I’m going over to his damn house.”