Chapter 53

53 53- No Need

Ever since she saw Valerie’s name flag on his phone screen, she didn’t stay in that office. The food was still left on her plate, but she got out of the room without a backward glance.

Though she did hear him telling her that he was busy n a meeting. But that didn’t bring peace to her mind.

f he cared about her, not as his mistaken wife but as he mother of his kids then he should have been pfront and told that damn sister of hers that he was usy with his kids‘ mom.

Marissa. Mr. Sinclair wants to talk to you,” Marissa was ping something vigorously on her laptop and didn’t en bother to raise her eyes to look at Dean’s face.

‘e have already discussed vital things during our ich. Now if I keep visiting his office, I won’t be able

tasks. Please ask him to let me work or I’ll

do

ign.”

my

threat had the desired effect on Dean and on the sident of MSin. After that, nobody dared to call her

53 53–No Need

or disturb her.

“What is going o You look upset. You were just fine before lunch,” Marissa’s wrists already hurt with lots of typing, so she got back in her seat for a moment and closed her eyes for a minute.

She felt Delinda’s hand covering hers that was placed on the desk, “You can talk to me if you want, Marissa!” The middle–aged, kind woman suggested to her in charge who had been anything but mean to her.

The way she helped her with her son’s treatment was such a kind gesture and Delinda wanted to pay it off with empathy.

“You said you are a single mother,” Marissa asked Delinda whose smile vanished from her face and was replaced by a frown.

“Yeah. I am,” Delinda mustered a smile, “He loved me so much. The moment, I conceived my little one, we

decided to get married. His family wasn’t happy, but we did go ahead with the decision,” Delinda was staring into space, “There were only three days to our wedding when I got a call that he had an accident.”

Marissa could see agony on her face, “More than his

53 53- No Need

death, the thing that shattered me more was the attitude of his family. He belonged to a loaded background, yet his family ditched me and said that the boy I was carrying in my tummy was never his, to begin with.”

Marissa could see the u.

heduled tears, “They never

accepted me, and I was left alone with my boy. So, I

started my business so that someday I might stand face to face with my son’s grandfather and tell him that… See! I never needed your money. You shove your money up your ass,” the last sentence made Marissa giggle.

“Our story seems similar,” Marissa held back Delinda’s

hand.

“Why? Your kids‘ father also died?” Delinda asked, curiosity etched on her face.

“Oh, no. No. That’s a long story. I loved him but he ditched me. Didn’t trust me. Now when he is aware of his kids, he is ready to accept them, but he doesn’t want me in his life.” Marissa smiled sadly.

“So, he is your ex… and you are his ex too. Right?” Delinda probed trying to understand the situation that

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53 63 No Not

sounded complicated.

“No. I’m not his ex,” she said but Delinda’s brows

furrowed in confusion, How to tell her that she is still

married to Rafael?

There was no proof

wedding, so no divorce took

place.

“He just doesn’t accept me in front of the world. For him. I’m like a dirty secret where he wants to shoo me away in a closet. It’s basically a tangled mess.”

She smirked and started playing with the paperweight. placed before her.

“Have you accepted him yet, Marissa?” She glanced at Delinda, who wanted to hear more of it.

“What do you mean?”

“What I mean is…” Delinda leaned forward her voice dropping to a whisper, “Have you accepted him in front of this world? Because if you haven’t, you can’t blame him. What if he is waiting for you? A woman he knows nothing about except that she is the mom of his kids. He can’t make big claims unless he is sure what you feel about him, Marissa, I know it’s all a gamble. But I insist that if you want him to accept you and

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present you in front of this world as his beloved… then you need to take the first step.”

Delinda had a point.

But how to tell Delinda that he was always head over

heels for Valerie? He never liked brunettes.

During their datin

riod, Valerie made it a point to

say repeatedly how he despised Brunettes.

Marissa had to blink several times to control her tears,

“He has moved forward and is only here in my life to

meet kids.”

“What if he is also thinking the same?” Delinda

whispered again.

“Meaning?”

“What I mean to say is… Marissa… what if he also thinks that you are letting him into your life because of kids and you have moved on too.”

They both jumped in panic when a loud voice rang in the hall, “Ladies and gentlemen. Just look at this!” This was Dean who was showing the event stage drawing to

everyone.

The whole room buzzed with the cheering.

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12 53. No Need

“You did good, Peter!” Delinda cheered for the guy who was blushing from all the teasing. Delinda had left the seat while Marissa was still stuck in the line the older

woman just uttered,

“What if he is also thinking

same?”

***

“Marissa. My bosses used to tell me that I’m a workaholic. And now look at you,” Dean took off his coat from the stand and picked up his laptop bag.

It was the end of another workday, and everyone else had already left the office.

“It’s not about me being a workaholic, Dean. After becoming a mom, one needs to perform her duties before time. So, that in case of any emergency or urgency, I should be one step ahead.”

“If your work is done then I can give you a ride home,” after his offer Marissa opened her mouth to say no when a heavy voice spoke behind her.

“No need. I’ll drop her home tonight.”

54 54–It Wasn’t OK!