Chapter 4
The next morning, Hudson, despite his well known aversion to germs, tenderly cleaned and redressed my wounds.
The home nurse watched with barely concealed envy. I felt nothing but emptiness.
His heart seemed to break when he saw my crying swollen eyes, that familiar look of worry crossing his face.
“Reese, I know you’re grieving. Trust me, I am too. But you need to rest – I’ve lost our boy, I can’t lose you too. Let me handle the funeral today.”
Handle it? Like you handled murdering your own son?
Swallowing my bitter thoughts, I kept my voice steady.
“No. I need to say goodbye to my baby,”
At the funeral home, I spotted them immediately – Valeria and a teenage boy, practically holding court with my mother–in–law Eleanor. They were making her laugh.
At her grandson’s funeral.
Everyone else wore respectful black. But not Valeria – she’d chosen a skin–tight red dress. The teenager matched in a blazing red suit
Eleanor didn’t seem to notice or care. She fawned over them like they were her actual family, even having the staff shield them with umbrellas from the mild sun.
Valeria’s eyes glittered when she saw me. “Oh Eleanor, sweetie, save the umbrella for poor Reese here. After all, she’s the one who lost her child. And those injuries…”
Eleanor turned to me, her face twisting with disgust.
“It’s just one ungrateful brat gone. Why the dramatic puffy eyes? So theatrical – you’re embarrassing the Montclair Family.”
“Look at Val and Leon – they actually care about family. Rushed straight here off their flight to to check on poor old me. Even brought me this gorgeous jade bracelet. They’re real family – unlike your ungrateful, selfish ass.”
Eleanor never accepted me.
I wasn’t good enough for her precious Hudson. During my years of infertility, she called me useless.
When Noah came, she resented how he always defended me, called him disloyal.
Hudson used to stand up for me. Now? He couldn’t take his eyes off Valeria, looking at her like she hung the moon.
Valeria flashed me a triumphant smirk before clutching Eleanor’s arm.
“Please don’t get upset, Eleanor darling. Besides, Leon would love to be your grandson – your real grandson.”
Valeria sauntered over to me, the teenage boy trailing behind her like a prince.
“Reese, darling! Been forever! Sorry about the outfit, hun – literally just landed from overseas. No time to change! But you’re always so… understanding about these things, aren’t you, sweetie?”
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What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Str
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Chapter 4
“Oh, let me introduce you properly this is my son, Leon Montclair.”
