Being his wife

Chapter Three

Seth walked into his office with Liam close behind. Dropping his tablet on the desk, he loosened his tie with a sigh.

"You've been sighing since morning. What's going on?" Liam asked, rolling up his sleeves.

"I think she's avoiding me," Seth admitted, leaning against his desk, his expression clouded. He couldn't tell if Gina was truly avoiding him or if he was reading too much into things.

"Gina? Why would she avoid you?"

"Ever since we got back from vacation, she's been... different," Seth replied, shaking his head. "I'm not sure what I did."

"Have you tried asking her?" Liam leaned back, raising an eyebrow.

"She leaves early in the morning and goes to bed before I get home. It's been three weeks," Seth muttered, glancing away.

"Three weeks, and you're still guessing?" Liam smirked. "Honestly, that's why you should've dated alllll those girls. I'll get married soon, I won't always be here to give you advice you don't even pay for," he joked, flicking his head back in amusement.

"Wait—you're getting married?" Seth raised an eyebrow.

"Why, did you think I'd stay single forever?" Liam shot back with a grin.

"Is it the doctor?" Seth asked,

"Which doctor?" Liam asked, clutching his chest in mock offense.

The door opened, and Montserrat entered. "Good afternoon, gentlemen," she greeted, setting a stack of documents on Seth's desk.

Liam turned to her with a grin. "Hello Chica Bonita, are you going on a date? You've caught my eye twice today," he quipped.

Montserrat chuckled, gesturing to her outfit. "Not a date—Gina helped me pick this out," she said.

"Are you still single?" Liam asked, his tone shifting to a light flirt.

Montserrat took a seat with a knowing smile. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I'm still single," Liam replied, causing her to roll her eyes with a laugh.

As Liam and Montserrat chatted, Seth was lost in thought, replaying the last few weeks in his mind. Suddenly, he slapped the document on the desk, startling both Liam and Montserrat.

"What the—" Liam began, but Seth was already up, grabbing his jacket.

"Where are you going?" Liam called after him.

"Home," Seth replied without looking back, leaving them in stunned silence.

"Is he okay?" Montserrat asked, her tone turning serious.

Liam shrugged, chuckling. "Just drunk on love."

"Really?" Montserrat's smile faded as she watched the door.

"Have you ever seen him like this? He and Gina—they're perfect for each other," Liam said with a laugh.

"Perfect?" Montserrat repeated, a glint in her eye. "I don't think so." She turned and left the room.

Montserrat was the adopted daughter of Theresa McGregor, Seth's aunt. She married Hector, who turned out to be the real son of Theresa, playing undercover to get an inheritance from both his Mexican father's inheritance and his grandmother's inheritance. And then there was Patricia McGregor, whose betrayal had cut even deeper—Montserrat had been kidnapped alongside Gina and the surrogacy doctor, leading her to loose her child.

He would have been two now. Meanwhile, Patricia's son still lived, sheltered under Seth's protection. She had chosen to work under Seth as a means of survival, managing the small share she inherited from the late Gloria McGregor. And yet, memories of the past haunted her, sparking a quiet fury she struggled to contain.