Chapter 35
Chapter Thirty-Five
M adison could tell she’d slept late by the bright glow seeping around the edges of the bedroom curtains. She stretched cautiously, testing her body. Her limbs still felt heavy, and her head was a little fuzzy, but she could tell the fever was finally gone.
Pushing back the blankets, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, bracing her hands on the mattress. Madison couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this sick. Thankfully, it appeared Jax had bounced back quicker than she had.
It had been three days since Alex had taken over, stepping in to take care of her and Jax. The strangest part was it felt so natural. Which was odd because, since Opal had died, Madison had never had anyone to help. Her parents were completely hands off, and Cami, while willing to lend a hand, didn’t live with her and had her own hands full with her mother’s mental health problems.
For so long, she’d handled everything on her own. There hadn’t been a choice. There was no one to lean on, no one to step in when she needed a break, no one to make sure she ate, took her medicine, or slept.
Alex had done all of that—without her having to ask.
I’m so screwed.
The first day after he’d returned from his trip, she’d been too out of it to do more than mumble a few weak protests, which he’d ignored with his usual mix of arrogance and humor.
Alex had even worked from home, handling business from his home office so he could be there to monitor her and Jax. When Angela had offered to come help, he’d refused.
“Angela said she could come by,” Madison had murmured weakly from bed the first afternoon, still feverish.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea to expose her to this.”
Madison had agreed, not just because Alex’s tone left no room for argument, but she didn’t want the older woman to catch what she had.
Every time he kissed her head, or put his arm around her on the couch, she voiced the concern that he would get sick. He just stared at her with that inscrutable expression of his and said, “I don’t get sick.” His tone made it clear no virus would dare.
So far, he’d been right. Three days in, and he still showed no signs of illness.
After a quick shower where she washed and conditioned her hair for the first time in days, she risked a glance at herself in the mirror. Her skin was still pale, dark smudges lingering beneath her eyes, but at least she no longer looked like she was on death’s doorstep.
Pulling on her clothes, Madison’s mind drifted to their conversation the day before. Knowing Jax was due at Felix’s, she had already begun to panic. Jax was much better and didn’t need regular breathing treatments anymore, but he wasn’t a hundred percent yet.
When she’d found Alex in his home office, she stared nonplussed at the make-shift playroom he’d erected by his desk.
He arched a brow at her. “When I said I had things handled, I meant it, Angel. I spoke with our lawyer. Amanda explained to Felix’s counsel that Jax’s pediatrician believes Jax is still contagious and that the visitation this weekend should be cancelled.”
“What?” Madison was torn between outrage and monumental relief. “When did she say that?”
Alex’s lips lifted. “We had a conversation, and she agreed Jax was better off at home. Felix didn’t object.”
Madison snorted softly. “Only because he doesn’t want to get sick.”
She still had a hard time processing all of it. Alex had handled it—like the partner he’d promised her he’d be.
How could I not be head over heels for him?
With a groan, Madison shook her head. She was a mess. Her feelings so entangled she wasn’t sure how to handle them.
She was in love with him.
She couldn’t lie to herself anymore.
A few times over the last few days—when he was being especially sweet with Jax or making sure she had her favorite type of tea—she’d felt so full of emotion the words almost slipped out.
But she couldn’t tell him.
He didn’t want those words from her. He’d made his position on it abundantly clear, and she was terrified that if she told him… if he knew… It would wreck what they had created together.
Alex cared… maybe even loved her in his way. But he would never admit it to himself, much less her. If she pushed, there was no doubt he would shut down.
She had to keep her feelings to herself, because the moment she let them out and he rejected her, she wasn’t sure her heart would survive.
Madison descended the stairs slowly, and spotted Angela dusting the banister. At the foot of the stairs, Jax was on his knees, diligently pushing a plastic dump truck with Dino perched inside, across the foyer, talking to himself. The sight of him, healthy and happy, made something loosen in her chest.
Alex might never love her, but look what he’d already done for her.
Angela looked up as Madison neared, her face breaking into a warm smile. “Look who’s up and about. How are you feeling, dear?”
“Better.” Madison returned the smile. “I’m still a little tired, but I no longer feel like I’ve been hit by a truck.”
“That’s good. Alex checked on you before he left, but you were still asleep. He told me not to disturb you.”
“He left?” She tried to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
“About an hour ago. Just ran to the office to pick up something, but he should be back soon.” Angela wiped off her hands on the rag. “Can I get you something to eat? Alex said you’ve barely eaten. I made a pot of vegetable soup, but I can make you something else, if you’d like.”
“Vegetable soup sounds amazing.” Madison smiled, bending down to give Jax a hug. “Hey, buddy. How are you?”
Jax gave her a toothy smile and wrapped his arms around her neck, squeezing tightly.
“Have you had lunch yet?”
“He did, but I’m sure he’d like a yummy snack, wouldn’t you, sweetheart?”
Jax beamed up at her.
Angela handed Madison a bowl of soup, then settled Jax with several small pieces of peanut butter crackers.
“This is delicious, thank you.”
“I’m happy to help. I’ve been missing this little guy. Alex told me how sick you’ve been.”
“It wasn’t fun.”
“Alex also mentioned that you are going to be interviewing nannies because Jax isn’t going back to daycare.”
Madison groaned. “I completely forgot about that.”
“I’d love to keep an eye on him until you find someone,” Angela offered hesitantly. “He and I get along, and he’s just the sweetest little man.”
“Are you sure? That’s?—”
Angela cut her off. “I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it. Besides, I’ve raised my own children and helped with plenty of others. I’d be happy to do it, at least until you find the right person.”
Relief flooded Madison’s chest. “Thank you. That would be amazing!”
The doorbell rang, the sharp chime cutting through the peaceful lull of the morning. Madison frowned at the same time Angela did, both exchanging a look.
“We expecting anyone?” Madison asked.
“No,” Angela said slowly, her forehead puckering with concern.
“Maybe Alex ordered something?” Madison reassured her. Her gut told her otherwise, and so did Angela’s expression.
“Whoever it is had to go through the guard gate at the front of the neighborhood.”
Brushing her hands down her sweatpants, Madison peeked out the window and saw the side profile of a woman standing by the front door.
“Looks safe enough,” she said, and hurried to the foyer to pull the door open.
The woman on the other side was devastatingly beautiful in an icy, untouchable kind of way. Black hair fell in curls to below her shoulders, and large diamonds sparkled in her ears and at her throat.
Madison wasn’t easily intimidated, but fresh off the flu, dressed in baggy sweatpants and a T-shirt that hung off her frame, she felt like a hag.
The woman’s gaze swept over her, distaste clear on her face. “I need to see Alex.”
Madison bristled at her supercilious tone. “He’s not here.”
The woman’s lips pursed, as if she couldn’t decide whether Madison was lying or just useless. “I’ll wait.”
She moved to step inside, but Madison shifted, blocking the door. “And you are?”
The woman glared, clearly not accustomed to being questioned. “Who are you?”
Madison folded her arms across her chest. “I live here.”
The woman’s lips curled. “His standards are slipping if this is how he allows the help to dress.”
Madison’s hackles rose. “Not the help .”
“Oh.” Her eyes narrowed, and her nostrils flared. “You’re her.”
She studied Madison’s face and then let out a soft, almost amused huff. “Ah. That explains it.”
Madison’s jaw tightened. “Explains what, exactly?”
But the woman was already stepping inside, pushing past Madison. She was about to grab the bitch and throw her out, when Angela, who had been hovering in the hallway with Jax on her hip watching the scene unfold, spoke up.
“Hello, Selena.”
The woman spun to face her. “Angela, I see you are still taking advantage of my son’s charity.”
Son? Oh my god, this is Alex’s mother!
Selena’s attention landed on Jax. “That’s right.” She sniffed. Actually, audibly sniffed as if Jax were an unpleasant smell. “I heard there was a child.”
An instant flame of anger flared in Madison’s chest, but she kept her voice calm. “You’re Alex’s mother.”
Selena’s icy blue eyes locked onto Madison’s, and she could see the rage simmering there. “My son is an important man. The son of an even more important man. You may have gotten your claws into him, but I promise you I will rip them out.”
“I know exactly who Alex is.” Madison smiled sweetly, hiding her own anger. “He’s my husband.”
Selena sucked in a breath through her nose. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done to him? For a man like him to take on a nobody and another man’s son.” She glanced back toward Jax with something approaching disgust. “It makes him look weak.”
From the corner of her eye, Madison saw Angela hustling up the stairs with Jax, wisely fleeing from what was promising to develop into a nasty confrontation.
Madison’s nails dug into her palms as she struggled to hold on to her temper. “Anyone who makes the mistake of thinking Alex is weak is a fool.”
Selena’s lips twitched, as if she found that amusing. “You think you know my son better than I do?”
“Yes,” Madison snapped.
“Do you think you’re the first pretty woman to trap a man?” She tilted her head, eyeing Madison with cool calculation. “It won’t last, you know. He’ll grow bored with you soon enough, and, hopefully, there will be time to repair the damage to his standing.”
Madison kept her expression impassive, but her blood was boiling.
You can’t punch his mother.
Selena took a slow, deliberate step closer, voice lowering. “I can see you don’t believe me. “Does he tell you he loves you?” Her smile was cruel when she added, “I believed those lies once, too.”
Madison wanted to scream.
No. Because you broke him.
Instead, she lifted her hand, flashing the giant sapphire ring and diamond wedding band in the woman’s face. “I don’t know. I think he’s planning on keeping us.”
Selena’s eyes darkened, lips pressing into a thin line, but before she could say anything else, the door opened.
“Madison, go upstairs,” Alex ordered, his voice lethally cold. She spun to look at him, and her breath caught. He was almost unrecognizable in his fury, his eyes like chips of ice. “Now,” he barked, not looking at her.
Without a word, Madison climbed to the top of the stairs and turned down the hallway so that she was hidden just out of sight.
“What are you doing here?”
Madison didn’t think she’d ever heard him use that tone of voice before, and it sent a shiver through her body.
“I heard you are ruining your life and your relationship with your brother.”
“You still bother to follow the gossip even from an ocean away? I thought there wasn’t anything left to interest you here.”
Madison’s heart stuttered, recognizing the words as the ones he’d used to explain that his mother had moved away after his father died.
Leaving him behind.
“How can you even think of defying Mikhail? You need to remember your position.”
“Did you speak with Mikhail?” Alex’s tone was ice cold.
Selena scoffed waving a dismissive hand. “Not in person, but I hear he is unhappy with the situation you’ve created. A public argument with one of his allies? That was stupid. All this because you’re blinded by some woman. Don’t you even care how this affects me?”
“She isn’t ‘some woman.’ She’s my wife.”
“You’d choose her over me?”
“She. Is. My. Wife,” he roared, and both Selena and Madison jumped.
Alex’s mother pressed her hand to her chest. “Are you serious? You’d defy your brother for her? After everything I did to put you in your position. Where you are today is due to me. And you’re going to throw it away for her and her brat.”
Madison saw Alex’s shoulder rise and then fall with a deep breath. “You are my mother, and, for that, you are owed a degree of my respect. But if you ever…” His voice lowered to a gravelly growl. “ Treat my wife or any of our children with even an iota of disrespect, you will be dead to me.”
Selena glowered at him, but Alex only stared stonily back. Eventually, she threw her hands in the air dramatically and stalked to the door, spinning at the last second.
“I spent years trying to make you into someone worthy of your father’s name… your birthright. You would do well to remember that no matter how well you dress or how much money you make them, you’ll always be the bastard son of a man who never wanted you.”
Madison couldn’t see Alex’s expression, but his shoulders stiffened.
“That was hurtful,” he mocked. After a deliberate pause, he said, “I suppose it’s hard to grasp loyalty when the only person you’ve ever been devoted to is yourself.”
Selena slammed the door, making the pictures on the wall shake.
Alex let out a heavy sigh and bowed his head. “You are going to want to talk about this, aren’t you?”
Madison stepped into view and slowly descended the staircase. When she reached him, his lips curled in a smile, but his eyes were flat. “If you’re taking notes, that was a masterclass in maternal affection.”
“Why do you do that?” Madison didn’t return his smile.
“ Do what?”
“Pretend like everything is a joke. Like you don’t care.”