Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88841 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 444(@200wpm)___ 355(@250wpm)___ 296(@300wpm)
Now, it’s been four months, and she still has no desire to be a mom. I’ve known this, but I kept hoping, for our daughter’s sake, she would come around. Feeling unloved and unwanted isn’t something I would wish on anyone, especially my own daughter.
“None of that matters when I’m trapped in this hellhole with you and her.” She looks at me with fire in her eyes. “I want out. Fifty million, and I’ll sign over my rights.”
I lay Addie down in her crib, pulling her blanket over her bottom half, and then walk out of her room with Nora on my heels as I try to wrap my head around what my wife just said.
Like Addie, I was an accident. My brother, Erik, is ten years my senior. My mom wanted out—out of her marriage, out of being a mom, out of the life of being a Du Ponte—but then she found out she was pregnant.
When I was three, she took off to start a new life, leaving me to be raised by Henry Du Ponte, who only cares about himself. He hired Greta, and I only saw him when it was convenient for him. I wanted more for my daughter, but it looks like no matter what I do, what I give Nora, it’ll never be enough.
Really, I should be thrilled she wants out. Paying her off would mean getting out of this farce of a marriage and not having to deal with her every day. But a part of me feels like a failure. I wasn’t worth either of my parents sticking around for, and now, Nora wants to get away from me. And what about my daughter? What will I tell her one day when she asks where her mom is and why she didn’t want to be a part of her life?
“We both know you don’t want to remain married to me,” Nora says once we’re in my office, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Fifty million, and the baby is all yours.” When I don’t say anything, she adds, “Isn’t she worth that much?”
“She’s worth everything,” I hiss. “But what I don’t get is how she’s not worth it to you. You carried her for nine months. She’s your blood, Nora. You’re her mother.”
I close the gap between us and palm her cheek. “Let me get you help, please. I know you don’t think you have it, but I’ve read about PPD and—”
“I don’t have PPD!” she barks, taking a step back. “Stop trying to see the good in everyone. Stop trying to fix me! I only wanted you for the money and the lifestyle. But I was dumb because you’re the cheapest rich person I know. You’re the only person I know who is worth millions and acts like he’s poor. I thought once we were married, things would change. And then I had your baby! But nothing’s changed. You want this … family, and I want to have fun. I want to travel and enjoy my life. And I don’t want to be shackled down by you or that damn baby.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “Fifty million, and she’s all yours.”
“You’d really do that?” I ask despite knowing she would.
She reminds me of my mom, only the polar opposite. My mom hated being rich—Nora loves it. My mom hated my dad traveling and the social obligations she was forced to attend—Nora thrives on them. The problem is, I’m not my dad, and I prefer to be home with my family over traveling and attending social functions, and it drives Nora nuts. She wants the picture-perfect family without having to be part of a family. And I just want the family.
I kept hoping whatever she was going through was a phase and she’d come around and want to be part of this family. But it’s clear that she’s never going to.
“I don’t want her,” she says, finality in her tone. “She was only a means to an end. If I could go back, I never would’ve gotten pregnant. I’m still young, and I have time to live the life I deserve. It’s bad enough she ruined my body. But now, she’s ruining my life.”
“You know how bad it’s going to look that you’re giving your daughter up? Any respectable, rich man isn’t going to want that type of woman.”
“Well, after you pay me, I won’t need a man, and I’ll be damned if I ever get pregnant again.”
“And what does your family think about this?”
Reputation means everything to people like Nora, so I’m shocked she’d risk her reputation like this—which has me believing something is wrong with her. I know she doesn’t agree she has PPD, and I’m not a woman or in her body, but it’s just crazy to me that she tried so hard to get pregnant, only to turn around and say she no longer wants to be a mom.