From Divorce to Billionaire’s Baby

Chapter 17: Tension

As soon as we step through the door of the lake house, I feel it, the shift in the atmosphere. The lake house has always been a place of beauty and serenity, but today it feels heavy, almost suffocating. Helen’s pristine appearance and polite smile do nothing to hide the tension lurking beneath the surface. She’s watching me closely, as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I brace myself, knowing all too well that this weekend will be a test. Helen has never made things easy for me, and with the baby on the way, I can only imagine what she has in store.

“Well, well,” Helen starts, her voice laced with a familiar condescension, “I must admit, Tess, I never imagined you would be one to get pregnant.” She glances at my belly, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. “Especially considering you were married to my son for two whole years, and nothing happened then. Quite the surprise.”

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I’m too stunned to respond. I can feel the blood rushing to my face, a mix of anger and humiliation brewing inside me. My hands instinctively move to rest on my belly, as if shielding our daughter from her venomous comment.

Before I can gather myself, Ryan steps forward, his expression hardening as he looks at his mother. “Mom!” he says, his voice firm but controlled. “That’s enough.”

Helen raises an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “I didn’t mean any harm, Ryan. I was just making an observation.”

Ryan’s jaw clenches, and I can see the tension in his posture. He must have an idea of how these comments affect me, and he’s not about to let it slide. “Tess doesn’t need your ‘observations.’ She’s carrying our daughter, and that’s all that matters. I won’t have you making her uncomfortable this weekend.”

Helen’s smile tightens, and for a moment, I wonder if she’ll push back. But instead, she lets out a small, dismissive laugh. “Of course, darling. I didn’t mean to upset anyone.”

I know better. Every word from her is calculated, designed to push buttons. She’s always been this way, carefully crafting her words so that they seem harmless on the surface, but underneath, they cut deep. And she knows exactly where to aim.

I loath her.

Ryan turns to me, his hand resting on the small of my back, a silent gesture of support. I nod, trying to smile, though it doesn’t quite reach my eyes. I appreciate him stepping in, but the damage is done. The weekend is already off to a rocky start.

As we move further into the house, Helen walks ahead, leading the way toward the rooms. The familiar scent of polished wood and fresh air fills the space, but it doesn’t calm me like it used to. Instead, I feel on edge, knowing that Helen’s words will linger with me for the rest of the day.

When we reach the staircase, Helen stops and turns to face me with that same tight smile. “I’ve put you in the same room as always, Tess,” she says sweetly. “You remember, don’t you? The room you and Ryan used to share.”

Her words are a dagger to the heart, twisting the knife she planted moments ago. She knows exactly what she’s doing, reminding me of how Ryan and I used to stay here during our marriage, pretending to be a happy couple for the sake of appearances. She knows that Ryan always left the room at night, and I would end up sleeping alone, feeling more isolated than ever.

Ryan stiffens beside me, and before I can say anything, he speaks up again. “Mom, Tess, and I will occupy a different room. This isn’t like before.”

Helen’s smile doesn’t falter, but I see the flicker of annoyance in her eyes. “Oh, of course. I just thought... well, you know, old habits die hard.” She lets out a soft chuckle as if it’s all a harmless joke.

I swallow the lump in my throat, feeling the weight of the past pressing down on me. This weekend was supposed to be a chance for Ryan and my parents to reconnect, to focus on our future as parents and grandparents to the angel growing inside of me. But with Helen around, it’s becoming harder to imagine that happening.

“I’ll take Tess’s things upstairs,” Ryan says, cutting through the tension. He grabs the suitcases and heads toward the stairs, leaving me standing with Helen.

I force a smile, knowing I must play the game, at least for now. “Thank you for having me, Helen.”

Her eyes flicker over me once more, a calculating look passing over her face. “Of course, dear. After all, you are the mother of my grandchild.” There’s something cold in her tone, something that tells me she doesn’t see me as part of this family, despite the baby growing inside me.

I nod politely and follow Ryan up the stairs, my heart heavy with the weight of everything unsaid. As I reach the room, memories flood back, memories of lonely nights in this very house, feeling like an outsider in my own marriage.

Ryan is already in the room, placing my bags by the bed. He turns to me, his expression softening. “I’m sorry,” he says quietly. “About my mom. She can be... difficult.”

I let out a small laugh, though there’s no humour in it. “That’s putting it lightly.”

He steps closer, his hand finding mine again, grounding me. “We’ll get through this weekend. Together, when you want to leave, just tell me.”

I nod, appreciating his words but feeling the weight of doubt creeping in. Helen’s presence is a reminder of the cracks in our relationship, the fractures that led to our divorce. I wonder if we’re as different now as we like to think, or if this weekend will only highlight how much we’ve stayed the same.

But for now, I push those thoughts aside and focus on the present, on our daughter, and on surviving this weekend with Helen without falling apart. I won’t give her the satisfaction of breaking me, I will break her on way or another. I am no longer weak, I am stronger now.