His Ruthless Revenge (A Dark Bully Romance)

Chapter Forty Seven

Louise

"So, how long has Chase been away for?" Lydia asks me, curling her feet up on the sofa beside me.
"Too flaming long." I snap bitterly, rolling my eyes at her. "I don't know what the hell he's playing at to be honest."
"He keeps in touch with Billy though, right?"
"Of course. He's always been really good about that. He's a great dad." I reply truthfully, smiling warmly.
I take a sip from my wine glass and run my fingers through my hair. I only went to the hair salon this afternoon and know it looks perfect but still can't help playing with it.
I was hoping a little pampering would make me feel better but it surprisingly didn't.
I left the hairdressers with this empty feeling in my stomach and knew I didn't want to be alone tonight. I ended up calling my friend Lydia and asked her to come over and keep me company instead.
"You certainly won the lottery there." She sighs enviously. "He adores you and Billy. Anyone can see that."
"I just need to know when he's coming home." I complain sadly. "Billy keeps asking where he is and needs Chase here just as much as I do."
Billy suddenly bursts into the room and hurls himself into my lap. I had no idea he was still awake and hope he didn't overhear me discussing Chase.
"Are you talking about daddy?" He demands excitedly, answering my question about overhearing us.
"Yes, we were talking about daddy but you should be in bed by now." I chastise him gently. "What are you doing up so late?"
"I heard voices." He answers readily, leaping out of my arms and straight into Lydia's instead.
"He's just being nosy, aren't you?" She teases him, tickling his tummy as he squeals delightedly.
"I'm not nosy!" He exclaims loudly, giggling uncontrollably as she continues to have fun with him.
"Ok, you might not be nosy but you are getting super tall! You'll be as tall as me if you keep on growing." She jokes playfully, raising her eyebrows at me at the same time.
"He takes after Chase." I reply wistfully, trying my best to conceal the sadness in my voice.
"Mummy, when's daddy coming home?" He asks abruptly, a solemn look on his face as his demeanour changes.
Playtime has stopped and I know I don't have the answers for the confused little boy staring back at me. It breaks my heart that I can't be truthful with him and admit that I don't know.
"He'll be back soon, baby. He won't be away much longer."
"But I miss him." He murmurs softly, lowering his head.
"I miss him too but we both have to be really patient and wait a little while, don't we?"
I quickly scoop him up and tell Lydia I've got to put him back in bed. I end up making lots of lovely promises to him as I tuck him in, placing a kiss on his forehead as he snuggles down beneath the blankets.
"And then you and daddy will get married and be together forever?" He asks me eagerly, a joyful look on his face.
"Yes but that's our little secret, isn't it? We don't tell anyone about that as we still want our wish to come true." I remind him, stroking the hair back off his face.
"And if you tell then it won't come true." He repeats obediently, closing his eyes as he makes a wish.
"It's way past your bedtime now so I want you to go straight to sleep, ok?"
"Goodnight, Mama."
I close his bedroom door behind me and stay listening for a few moments. His room is silent so I'm fairly convinced he's gone back to sleep again.
"He's too cute." Lydia chuckles, smiling at me as I join her again. "It makes me want one."
"It's hard work." I point out, taking a seat beside her. "Trust me."
"And this is why Chase should be here helping you out."
"He will be as soon as he can. Chase has never let us down before." I state decidedly, hoping to convince myself.
"You don't think he's back with that girl, do you?"
"I don't know who you mean." I respond evasively, pouring myself some more wine.
"Come on, Louise. You know exactly who I'm talking about."
"You mean April." I say darkly, despising the sound of her name coming out of my mouth.
"You don't think he's with again?"
"No way." I say adamantly, shaking my head. "She's ancient history. I got rid of her a long time ago."
"What do you mean by that" Lydia asks, her eyes gleaming as she hopes to find out some gossip.
"I may or may not have got pregnant with Billy on purpose."
"Louise, you told everyone that was an accident!" She exclaims loudly, slapping me on the arm.
"It's not like I had a choice if I wanted to split them up." I tell her, failing to mask the triumph I still feel about that.
"I thought you said he was unhappy in his relationship when you two slept together?"
"Look, it was so long ago. What does it matter now?"
"I guess it doesn't unless you think he might be seeing her again. If they only split up because you got pregnant then they might have some unfinished business." She warns me, shrugging her shoulders as though it's an actual possibility.
"Absolutely not." I announce boldly. "There's just no way."