LOVE IN THE DARK | MAX VERSTAPPEN

Part 11

We're currently on our way to Luka's birthday party and Noah is sat in his car seat in the back of the car, in the worst mood imaginable. I don't blame him because I feel the same.
"Breng me alsjeblieft naar huis mama ik mag Opa niet, we kunnen zeggen dat ik ziek ben" I laugh as Max glares at me.
"I can speak Dutch too Noah, I can understand what you are saying. We're not pretending you're sick so mama will take you home. It'll be fine you'll have lots of fun." Noah huffs as I continue laughing in the front seat. You can't blame a boy for trying. I've tried all morning to get us out of going but Max was having none of it.
"You'll be fine baby, you have your Lightening McQueen teddy with you don't you? You can show Luka and Lio." He grips onto his teddy and nods his head. That teddy has come everywhere with us since all this has happened with Max. I think it's a comfort thing. Whenever we've gone anywhere, especially where there's people he doesn't like, he brings the teddy for protection.

I'm going to find this whole interaction very awkward. Vic hasn't spoken to me because obviously she believes every word Max and her Dad has said about me. The only person who believes me is Sophie and that's mainly because of my mum being her best friend.
Noah grips onto my hand as we walk through the door and everyone turns to look at us. Kelly is stood with P at the side as P comes running over giving Max a hug. He smiles and waves at Kelly and I want to punch him square in the throat. I wave to Sophie as she comes over to say hi to us both.
"Hi Noah, how are you? Are you okay?" Noah shakes his head and says a firm no as Sophie looks at me "He's just tired." She nods her head as she kisses the top of Noah's head. "I'm not tired mama I just don't want to be.." I cut him off because I don't want anyone here thinking I've turned him against the whole family.
"Come on go and say happy birthday to Luka." He nods his head as he goes off towards Luka and Lio. Vic is standing awkwardly at the back of the room and I'm not even battling that one today, so I don't look in her direction instead I look at Max.
Max who is currently stood with P wrapped around his leg as he's talking to Kelly. I can see Noah clutching his teddy and looking over at Max, just as Jos comes walking through the door. Noah literally runs for the hills. He runs straight towards me wrapping his arms around my legs as Max turns to greet his dad.
"I want to go home, please mama." I pick him up as he hides his face in my neck. "Stay with me or grandma you'll be fine I promise you." He nods his head as we go and get a drink and sit down. I really don't see the point in us being here. No one expect Sophie has spoken to us and Max abandoned us as soon as we walked through the door.

I see Jos leave out of the side door and I use this as my one and only opportunity to follow him. I get up and walk towards Sophie asking her if she can watch Noah whilst I nip to the bathroom. I start my phone recording, putting it into my jacket pocket as I head out through the door. He's nowhere to be seen until I hear his agitating, grating voice behind me.
"I was shocked to see you're still alive let alone standing here at my grandsons party." I turn around to see Jos staring straight back at me.
"Yeah well here I am. Why wouldn't I be alive?" Come on, talk away, this is your one and only opportunity where I won't stop you from talking.
"Oh I thought all this would have pushed you over the edge, you know, cheating on my son with Daniel. I thought that eating disorder would have reared its head, plus that along with the heart condition, I was hoping that would be the end of you. Either that or you would have killed yourself." That's it keep talking Jos, you daft old bastard.
"You are one very sick human being, you're mentally deranged something isn't right up there in that head of yours. I also didn't cheat on Max, you and I both know that." He laughs as he takes a step towards me "Oh I know that, I was the one who took the photograph. I told you I would get Max away from you one way or another. I'm surprised he's still latching on to you. Don't get used to it because if I was you I'd watch your back." Oh this is golden. "Watch my back? How so?" He looks behind him as he stares me straight in the face "If you're not going to kill yourself, I'll get someone to do it for you." Thank you very much. I never thought I'd be so happy with someone threatening to get me killed but here I am. What the hell has my life become?

I head back towards the door as I can hear a child sobbing and when I say sobbing, I mean they sound absolutely heartbroken. As I open the door my heart drops, that child sobbing is my son. My son who is currently crying whilst Max is bent down in front of him with P stood holding Noah's teddy. Kelly is stood behind Max with her arms folded looking down at Noah. I suddenly feel incredibly angry.
"Noah baby what's wrong? Come here." I pick him up as he's inconsolably sobbing on my shoulder. I rub his back and glare at Max.
"P just wanted to have a turn of his teddy and he kept saying no. All I said was he needed to share, he wasn't listening to me so I took the teddy off him and he set off crying like this." I look down at P who's still holding Noah's teddy in her hand.
"Pass Noah's teddy to me please P, he's really upset and he's tired. I'm sure he will let you have a turn next time." She passes the teddy to me and I give it back to Noah.
"It's his teddy, he doesn't have to share it when he's using it. If he wasn't using it he'd have passed it to her willingly. He uses that teddy as a comforter when he's uncomfortable or anxious. If you actually focused on your family or even just your own son, you would know that." Max looks shocked as the room has gone silent around us. I rub Noah's back as I turn to Sophie "We're going to go, he didn't even want to come here anyway and neither did I. We should have stayed at home. I never want to be in the presence of this pathetic excuse of a family ever again." I grab my bag as I storm out through the door. I place Noah down as I stroke his face, which is currently red and blotchy.
"I'm sorry that happened to you Noah, it won't happen again I promise you." I put Noah into the car and drive back home as Max is currently ringing my phone none stop.
When he returns home we won't be there, we will be on our way back to Belgium where we should have stayed in the first place. Jos gave me all the evidence I need to bring his whole world crashing down around him. I need to get in touch with a legal team to know which steps I can take next with the evidence that I have, but first I need to get Noah back home where he's safe and happy.

It's time to finally get our lives back and I can't wait to sit back and watch the chaos that's about to unfold. Jos tried to ruin my life and now I'm going to permanently ruin his.
Here's your 'concrete evidence' Max. You're welcome.