MARRIED MY EX's UNCLE

CHAPTER THREE

"You can move in today. Since I have your contact, I'll text you our home address. I have a meeting to attend."

I heard the words, but they felt distant. My mind was still caught in the undertow of that kiss, I kept replaying the feeling of his lips on mine and the warmth of his hand on my neck.

Don leaned forward and pressed another gentle kiss to my forehead. He got into his car and drove off.

I stood there frozen, my heart still pounding against my ribs. My fingers drifted to my lips again, tracing where his mouth had been.

Mrs. Lorenzo.

The name echoed in my head as I finally forced myself to move.

***

The house looked exactly as I'd left it this morning. I climbed the stairs to my room, pulled out my suitcases, and began throwing clothes inside. I didn't have many clothes. My father had stopped my allowance because of a lie Camila fabricated. The little money I make as a hotel attendant I use for important things.

Everything I owned contained a single box. I looked at my room for the last time before leaving. As I passed Camila's bedroom, there were voices.

"Yes, Tom. Don't stop."

"Ohh!! Gawd, you are the sweetest thing Camila. Your breasts are so soft against my hand."

My hand flew to my mouth. They were in there right now.

I should burst in and give them a piece of my mind. Tell Tom that I was disgusted by his face and tell them I wish them a happy married life even when I know it won't last.

But my feet wouldn't move. I stood there, glued to the floor, eavesdropping as my step-sister kept moaning my ex-fiancé's name over and over.

I started to turn away, to preserve what little remained of my sanity, when Tom's voice cut through the air.

" Hailey was so boring. Honestly, who knows if she had some kind of infection down there or something."

The words hit like a slap.

Camila's cruel laughter followed, "She never deserved you, baby. I'm so glad you came back to your senses. She's just so... pathetic."

My nails dug into my palms,

"Speaking of which," Camila's voice turned coy, "What about the family inheritance? You said it would be yours soon."

"Next year," Tom replied,

"But isn't your uncle getting married today? Won't that complicate things?"

Tom chuckled. "Please. My uncle can barely get it up. The man's probably impotent. There's no way he's producing an heir anytime soon. And according to the family trust, whoever has a legitimate child first gets control of the entire family Empire. I just need to get you pregnant first."

A gasp escaped my lips before I could stop it.

The sounds from inside the room ceased immediately.

Then the door swung open, and Tom stood there, shirtless, his hair disheveled. His eyes widened when he saw me.

"Hailey? What the hell are you doing here?"

"I live here," I clapped back, not giving away any hint of jealousy or care. "Well, not anymore. I'm packing."

He looked at my bag, his gaze fixed for rather too long. "Look, about today,"

"Don't." I held up my hand. "I've already forgotten all about that. I just want to move on with my life now."

I turned to leave, but his hand shot out and grabbed my wrist. "Wait."

"Let go of me." I tried to pull away, but his grip tightened. "What are you doing? Are you trying to cheat on your wife already?"

He released me and reached into his pocket, pulling out a thick fold of cash. "Here. Take this. I know this has been hard on you."

"I don't want your money."

"Hailey, be reasonable."

"You should take it." Camila appeared in the doorway, wrapped in the bedsheet. She had a smug smile. "You're going to be miserable without Tom's help. Trust me, you'll need it."

I looked between them, these two people who'd destroyed my life just hours ago, and I felt nothing but cold contempt.

"I appreciate your concern," I said flatly. "But I don't need anything from either of you."

"If it's not enough, I can double it," Tom said, pulling out more bills. "Triple it, even."

"I don't need your money."

I said to his face. Then I dragged my box down the stairs.

"Hailey, wait!" Tom called after me.

I didn't turn around.

Outside, a black Mercedes-Benz was in the driveway, glimmering under the sun. A young man in a crisp suit stood beside it, and he straightened when he saw me.

"Mrs. Lorenzo?" he asked politely.

The name still sounded foreign. "Yes?"

"I'm following your husband's orders to take you home. He said he doesn't want you using public transportation."

Really? Don Lorenzo said that.

"Thank you," I managed.

"Are these all your things?"

I was embarrassed. Girls own a lot of clothes, shoes and make-up. But I wasn't up to that level.

"Yes." I said.

As he was trying to fix my box in the car, Tom came out this time fully dressed.

"Hailey!"

Camila comes trailing behind him in her sheet like a bodyguard.

"Who the hell is this?" Tom demanded, his eyes darting between me and the driver.

"Are you seeing someone? Have you been cheating on me?"

His accusation was so absurd I almost laughed.

"What if I'm seeing someone? You and I are in the past."

Tom pulled my shoulder very roughly.

The driver moved faster than I would have thought possible. His hard hands connected with Tom's face. The sound echoed in the quiet street.

Justine stumbled backward, clutching his cheek. Camila rushed to his side.

"Don't disrespect the young Mrs.," the driver said.

Tom's face had gone purple with rage. "Do you know who I am? I'll have you arrested."

"You're welcome to try, Mr. Tom." The driver opened the car door for me, completely unfazed. "But I don't think your uncle will appreciate you harassing his wife."

The words landed like a bomb.

Tom froze. "His... what?"

I slid into the car, the leather seats cool and luxurious beneath me. Through the window, I watched the color drain from Justine's face as realization crashed over him.

"You married Don Lorenzo?" His voice cracked. "You married my uncle?"

I held up my left hand, showing the diamond ring. The ring sparkled brilliantly, impossible to miss.

"Have a nice life, Tom."

I wiped up the tinted window.