Strip!
1463 Words
'His daughter?' I frowned, the phrase alone cracking a wound in my heart.
Is that what this is? How dare he... How dare he walk in like this and talk to me about Elena?
How dare he?!
I wanted to scream at him. I wanted to curse, to punch him right in the face. I felt the corners of my eyes stinging.
He wanted to be in Elena's life now? After having discarded me like I meant nothing back then?
Kiss the hair on my ass!
I forced a smile. “Is that so? Oh, so now you want to be a father to a p********e's daughter? How sweet. But, why do you think we want that?”
His eyes narrowed slightly.“I don't care what you think of me. l know that's what I want and I'll do whatever it takes,” he continued. “I don’t care what it costs. I don’t care what I have to do. I just want to be her father.”
Something inside my chest cracked, quietly. I felt hurt at the realization that he still saw me the same.
Nothing but a vessel, a p********e. I was no one important to him, nothing. " So you're saying I have no say in this? Is that what I'm hearing? Are you threatening to take my child away from me?" I queried, putting a foot forward. I won't let him do this. I have no objection being called a p********e by him, but my daughter? No one messes with her. Not him!
I watched his brows pull together. “That’s not what I meant." he said, stepping forward.
“Isn’t it?” I stepped closer, now staring up at him from beneath his jaw. “You came here after five years,” I continued. “And the first thing you say is that you want her?"
“What about me, Nicholas?” I said, my voice cracking. Though, I regretted saying it out loud. It felt like I was still testing how much I could bleed after having been wounded. I didn't mean it that way, but I couldn't say it didn't come out that way. But it was true, that's how I truly felt deep down.
Silence.
That silence answered everything
My throat tightened. But I refused to show it
I smiled instead. That same practiced smile I had learned to wear when life got too honest.
“Let me guess,” I said. “You still think I’m a p********e?”
His jaw clenched immediately. That reaction alone told me everything.
I laughed again. “There it is,” I whispered. “You can’t even deny it. Gosh, why are you even here?” I can't believe, I just can't!
“Look, I didn’t come here to insult you,” he said sharply. “I came for my daughter.”
“And if I told you I aborted her?” I shot back. “Would you know? Would you still be standing here?”
His expression shifted instantly. Something sharp crossed his face...Confusion? Anger? Shock? I wasn't sure what he felt.
“You didn’t,” he said, with certainty in his eyes.
My lips curled, enjoying the way he squirmed to make sense of himself. “Didn’t I?”
That landed harder than I expected. Even on me.
But then his voice cut through again, cold and controlled. “Madison, I didn’t know you were pregnant. I...”
I stared in his eyes, I don't know for how long. I didn't know whether that was an excuse or a genuine regret on his part.
“Does that make things any better?” I asked quietly. “You kicked me out anyway.”
His jaw tightened. “It’s not the same thing as what happened, Madison. We only parted as you and I couldn't work things out. It has nothing to do with her."
And that did it.
Something inside me snapped completely. So that's how he wants to phrase what happened?
I laughed, I didn't know why I did.
I could feel the tears stinging the corner of my eyes, almost dropping as I laughed. “Oh my God,” I said. “You’re so unbelievable.” I wiped the corners of my eyes with the back of my finger.
“You really think you get to decide what counts as abandonment?” I looked at him again. “You slept with me. Then you told me that was a mistake."
“And now you show up like you’re entitled to a child you didn’t even know existed.” I almost barked. " Do you even hear yourself?"
His eyes darkened.“ You don’t get to keep her from me,” he said finally.
I smiled, slow and dangerous. Looking right in his eyes as I said, “watch me.”
He clenched his jaw tight, but he couldn't retort.
My smile widened, naturally. I enjoyed seeing him powerless like this. I wanted to strip him of everything he held dear. Everything.
I wanted to see him squirm more.
I tilted my head, an idea formed in my head. “Or if you’re serious,” I said lightly. “Why don't you prove that you'd really do anything to be in Elena's life?”
His eyes narrowed. “What?”
I smiled, wider. “Strip.”
His face tightened, he glared at me as if he could tear me apart the next second. But I didn’t look away from him.
Not once.
“Out there,” I added calmly. “On set.”
“Show me you’re willing to be anything for her. You want the daughter of a p********e? How about you prove you're not ashamed of us?”
His expression turned dark instantly. “You-” he started. But stopped.
I watched him carefully. Then I leaned slightly closer, “Or was this all just talk?” I smirked.
Something cracked in him. I saw it. But he didn’t answer. Instead, he turned sharply, “And you think this changes anything?” he said coldly.“I will be in my daughter’s life. And you won’t stop me.”
Then he walked out. The door shut behind him.
I wanted to laugh, but I could only smile, and it broke halfway. Because the moment he left… I stopped pretending.
My knees weakened slightly. But it was too late. Tears burned down my face anyway, hot and damning. I'd been holding them in for long.
Madam Marissa rushed in first immediately, “Madis-"
"What the hell did he say to you?”
I wiped my face quickly and forced my voice steady, “I’m fine.”
Jade stepped forward with tissues. I took them with gratitude.
“It's just… past matters,” I said quietly.
Then I straightened, forced my mask back on. “We finish the shoot,” I said. “Then we go home.”
Madam Marissa studied me for a long moment. Then she finally nodded, “I’ll get Holly.” The door closed behind her again.
I sat there alone for a moment longer, eyes fixated on myself in the mirror, regulating my breath and steadying myself for the next set.
I have a job to do.
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