Chapter Three
1338 Words
“How are you feeling, my dear?” Augustus asked.
“Better.” Macey managed a smile. She was relaxed, reclining on her pillows.
It had been just over a week since she arrived at the mansion. The staff had been told not to reveal the identity of their guest and to treat her with the upmost care, following doctor’s orders. Luckily, his sons were infrequent visitors and since his birthday party there was little need from them to come home when they saw him at work every day. Normally, Augustus lamented their inattention, but now he was grateful as it allowed Macey to recover without interruption.
“I’m glad,” Augustus sighed. “And the baby?”
“The doctor says its heartbeat is strong, so she doesn’t think there will be any complications as long as I avoid unnecessary stress.”
“Good.” Augustus didn’t try to hide his relief, but worried how the next topic would affect her. “As much as I don’t want to, I need to discuss something with you.”
“Oh?” Macey looked at him genuinely confused.
It seemed she had not heard any rumors about Julius’s continued search. His son was becoming more desperate and Augustus was having a difficult time keeping the truth from him. He was beginning to suspect that Julius found out about the pregnancy, despite Macey’s assurance there was no way for him to know.
“It’s about Julius.”
Macey stiffened and her serene expression fell.
“You should know he’s been looking for you ever since the night you left,” Augustus said. “I haven’t told him you are here.”
“Thank you,” Macey said, after a moment. “I’ll--I’ll leave soon. So you don’t need to worry.”
“Now, hold on,” Augustus argued. “No one said anything about you leaving.”
“But I can’t stay, especially after…”
“After what? Macey, you can tell me. What happened that night?”
Macey breathed deep. She didn’t want to revisit that night, but perhaps it would be best to tell him. Slowly coming to a decision, she started from the beginning. Augustus listened, quietly fuming. How could his son do such a thing to the wonderful woman in front of him? Did he teach him nothing?
“And when I got home…I found the divorce papers.”
“Divorce papers!!!” Augustus leapt to his feet ready to drag his son in front of him at that very moment.
“Dad, please, calm down,” Macey said.
Looking at her pale face, he slowly marshaled his control and sat down again. It was no wonder she had been so unhappy and stressed. Augustus took her hand, holding it gently.
He wasn’t sure exactly when he noticed Macey had developed a crush on Julius. Was it when they were in high school? At the time, Julius had been something of a playboy, going out with several different girls, though he was never serious about any of them. None of his relationships lasted more than a week, but they had an effect on Macey.
Thankfully, she went to public school and was spared watching Julius carry on with his various affairs, but whenever she and her parents visited she had to endure listening to his escapades all the same. Augustus could never forget the look of disappointment and hurt that flitted across her face and darkened her gaze. Despite knowing each other for so long, Julius seemed oblivious to her. She had grown up with the brothers, so they treated her like a sister or cousin rather than a romantic interest.
Julius, you damned fool.
Augustus sighed, “So what exactly did the papers detail? What kind of alimony did he offer?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t read any of it. I just sighed.”
“Macey…”
“I don’t want anything from him,” Macey fought back tears. “If I did take any money it would only prove I’m the gold-digging w***e they claim I am.”
“Macey.”
“Please, just leave it. The papers are signed. It’s over.”
Augustus fell silent. If it was over, why was Julius looking for her so desperately? Something didn’t add up. Could it be? Could Julius have finally realized the truth? Maybe…But was it too little too late?
The woman in front of him was resigned. She had given up the love she had nurtured for so long, truly believing it was over. Would Julius be able to convince her he made a mistake? No. In her current state, she probably wouldn’t even listen.
“Let’s face it, he and I, we’re too different. I just don’t belong in his world and I guess he knew it from the beginning,” Macey let out a sniffle, prompting him to give her a tissue. “It’s better if I just leave. I don’t want to cause problems.”
Augustus studied her for a long moment in silence. Perhaps it was better to put distance between them, for now. Macey had always lacked confidence when it came to standing among the DaLairs. Though they treated her as a member of the family, she could never forget she was still an outsider. Exposure to those harpies undoubtedly solidified her inferiority complex, though Augustus knew she was far superior to any of them.
“So, what would you like to do?” he finally asked.
“I think…I’d really like to go back to school,” Macey answered, after a moment. “I’d like to earn my degree if only to prove to myself I can.”
Augustus smiled, his eyes sparkling. That was it. That was the answer. What better confidence booster than that?
“Where would you like to go?”
Macey hesitated. Originally, she had thought about going back to the School of Visual Arts, but that would mean staying in New York. The chances of running into Julius were low, but they were hardly zero. And once he and his new woman started making the front covers there would be no avoiding it. How would she be able to stand it? No, it was better to leave. A clean break. But where could she go that she could avoid even hearing news about him?
“I’ve always wanted to see Paris.”
“Paris?” Augustus repeated, alarmed that she would be so far away.
He hoped to keep her close enough to watch over her, but perhaps that would be too much for her. March had often told him he was too overbearing. It was true he could exert influence and pressure without even trying. A bird couldn’t fly if left in a cage. But he wouldn’t let her fend for herself.
No. He would do everything he could to support her. She was the daughter of the man who saved his life and the mother of his future grandchild, so he would do everything he could to aid her.
“Very well. Paris it is.”
Macey blinked in surprise.
“Give me a week or two. I’ll send Stephen to secure you a proper living space as well as look into hospitals.”
“Oh, you don’t, he doesn’t…”
“Macey, my dear,” Augustus smiled. “You are, and will always be, my precious daughter-in-law. You are the mother of my grandchild. I refuse to let you settle for anything less than the best.”
Macey bit her lip.
“You want to go to school, yes? And you’ll be having a baby soon. You’ll need proper care and amenities for you and the baby.”
“Well, yeah but…”
“Let me do this for you, Macey. I promise I won’t interfere, but I want to be there for you and my grandchild.”
“Okay.”
“Good. Now rest and don’t worry about a thing. It will all be okay.”
- Writer
