Chapter 17

Max's POV

I paced back and forth in the dining room, anxiously awaiting Priscilla's return. The clock struck 10 pm, and still, there was no sign of her. She had sternly instructed me not to follow her, but the weight of uncertainty pressed upon me. What should I do about the custody of the baby? How can I navigate this complex situation? The fear of her running away with my child loomed over me, intensified by the fact that I couldn't marry her until my divorce was finalized. My head throbbed with the weight of it all, and I sank onto the couch, covering my face with my hand. The overwhelming sense of helplessness consumed me.

Suddenly, Liz appeared beside me on the couch, her presence unnoticed until that moment. "Max, don't worry," she reassured me. "She will come back soon."

I sighed, my hope mingled with doubt. "I truly hope she does."

Curiosity got the better of Liz, and she inquired about the cause of Priscilla's anger."What happened?" I couldn't divulge the truth; the secret of this pregnancy would be buried with me. Priscilla would be the mother of my child, and no one would ever know that Nelly was the true mother.

"We simply had a minor disagreement," I replied, concealing the truth with a lie.

The main door opened, and I exhaled with relief upon seeing Priscilla enter the house. Reacting quickly, I stood up from the couch and hurried towards her. Her face was swollen and her eyes were red from crying, giving her a pale appearance. It was evident that she was hurt and lost.

"Priscilla, I sincerely apologize. I never intended to cause you pain. Please find it in your heart to forgive me," I said, expressing my remorse.

Priscilla remained silent, making her way upstairs without acknowledging my presence. I followed behind, pleading with her not to ignore me in such a manner. I acknowledged that I deserved her anger and requested that she not punish herself in the process. Despite my pleas, she continued to walk without uttering a word.

Upon reaching her room, she forcefully slammed the door in my face before locking it. It was clear that her anger was justified, and I accepted that I had provoked such a reaction.

Priscilla's POV

After slamming the door, I quickly made my way to the bathroom, shedding my clothes as I entered the shower. With a twist of the knob, I turned off the cascading warm water that soothed my stiff and cold body. The realization of carrying a baby in my womb hit me like a wave, a feeling of disbelief washing over me. I had never wanted a baby, never prepared for one. The decision that Max had made for me felt like a betrayal, a deep hurt that pierced my heart. My perception of him shattered, revealing a side I never knew existed - a jerk. Acceptance became my only refuge, a way to minimize the pain that threatened to consume me. I had to come to terms with the fact that I would have a baby, whether I liked it or not. This baby would be mine, and I couldn't bear the thought of losing it after carrying it for nine months. If I couldn't raise it, then I had to let it go before I became too attached. Stepping out of the shower, towel wrapped around my body, I changed into warm clothes and sought solace under the comforting embrace of the blanket.

***

I woke up due to hunger, having not eaten anything since the afternoon and evening. My stomach was growling loudly, prompting me to get out of bed and head toward Max's room. Finding the door unlocked, I entered and saw him sleeping on the couch in a sitting position. It baffled me how he could relax when he had caused me so much pain. I approached him and shook his body, causing him to wake up immediately. "Priscilla, what's wrong?" he asked, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. I replied in an unreadable tone, "I'm hungry."

He seemed relieved to see me. "What would you like to have?"He asked, rising from the couch.

" I want to have a burger, fried chips, and cola. "I said fully aware that it was 2 am and all restaurants were closed at this hour.

" Priscilla, Is this your way of punishing me? "He asked and I glared at him.

" Of course, you must be prompted for your actions, but please understand that this is not intended as a punishment, but rather a simple request." I started this with a smirk, emphasizing my disapproval.

"It's 2 am. For God's sake, where on earth am I supposed to find all those things?" he asked, clearly caught off guard. I sneered in response.

"Your problem is not my concern. I haven't eaten anything since the afternoon and evening, and I can only imagine that the so-called baby must be hungry by now." I started this matter-of-factly.

"Fine," he reluctantly agreed, picking up his phone from the coffee table. He proceeded to type something and placed a phone call, clearly taken aback by the situation. Seeing him in such a state brought me some satisfaction, as I had no intention of making life easier for him.

Max's POV…

I was utterly astounded by Priscilla's audacity to wake me up at 2 am, demanding a burger. I had hoped for a chance to speak with her and seek her forgiveness, but this request caught me completely off guard. Nicolas's reaction mirrored my disbelief.

"Hey Nic," I greeted, trying to maintain my composure.

"What the hell, Max? It's 2 am, for God's sake! You've interrupted my blissful slumber. What do you want?" Nicolas complained, undoubtedly wearing a scowl.

"Are there any restaurants open? Priscilla has an insatiable craving for a burger, fries, and a cola," I explained, glancing helplessly at Priscilla, who wore a smug expression.

"What?" Nicolas burst into laughter, which only fueled my growing annoyance.

"Is there something amusing about my request?" I asked, my irritation becoming evident.

"I mean... a burger at this ungodly hour? All the restaurants are closed," Nicolas replied.

"Nicolas, please find a way to get me a burger, fries, and a cola," I pleaded.

"Max, this is hardly fair. You can't drag me into your punishment," Nic protested.

"I'm giving you one hour," I declared and abruptly ended the call.

Priscilla was already sitting comfortably on the plush couch, her anticipation evident in the way she fidgeted with the throw pillow beside her. I joined her, settling down on the couch with a gentle sigh.

"The food will be arriving shortly," I informed her, my voice filled with a mix of excitement and contentment.

"Tell me a nice story," Priscilla requested, her eyes sparkling with a sense of tranquility. "It's good for the baby to relax." As she spoke, I couldn't help but choke on my saliva, caught off guard by her words.

"Priscilla, you're only a few weeks pregnant," I reminded her, my voice tinged with concern. "It's not even a baby yet. How can it listen to stories? Besides, I'm not particularly skilled in storytelling."

Priscilla's expression turned serious as she reminded me of what the doctor had said. "I shouldn't stress myself," she emphasized. "If I'm happy, it means the baby is happy too. So, if I listen to stories, then the baby will too."

God, I couldn't afford to disagree with her. I knew all too well the sadness that would cloud her features if I did.

Clearing my throat, I mustered up the courage to begin. "Once upon a time," I started, my mind racing to find the right words. I had never considered myself a storyteller, but at least I knew where to begin.