My Ten Years Of Loving Them Novel by Lenoahb _ Novel





My Ten Years Of Loving Them Chapter 01

My ex-husband Randolph Maddox walked into my studio with his pregnant wife, Cynthia Raymond, ready for a family portrait.
Cynthia cradled her belly with one hand and held my son Zachery Maddox's hand with the other.
Zachery looked up at me and murmured, "Mom."
I kept my voice steady as I faced the family of four.
"Hey, kid, don't get mixed up. Your mom is standing right next to you."
Zachery's eyes welled up with tears in an instant.
Randolph froze, staring at me in disbelief.
"You used to say Zach was your whole world."
I gave a wry smile and shook my head.
They seemed to have forgotten how hard they'd worked to push me out so Cynthia could take the place they'd been saving for her.
***
I ignored Randolph's comment and handed him a sample album.
"Here are some parent–child poses. Pick whatever you like."
He blinked, then rushed to explain. "Zach's school just asked for the photos for sports day. I've been swamped and forgot.
"They need them fast, so I didn't get a chance to tell you."
I kept my expression neutral, though it felt ridiculous.
We'd been divorced for three years.
Zachery cried and begged to stay with Randolph back then.
Why would they suddenly need me for these photos?
"Vanessa Hawkins."
Randolph called my name and stepped off the set.
I looked at him, puzzled. "Mr. Maddox, are we doing this or not?"
He came right up to me.
"Yeah. And since you're here, you should be in the photo, too.
"You're Zach's biological mom."
I stepped back, putting space between us.
"I'm the photographer, Mr. Maddox. I'm here to work."
Cynthia's eyes darted between us.
She held Zachery's hand tight, her other hand curling into a trembling fist.
But she stayed quiet.
Just then, another photographer showed up.
I'd been filling in for him.
The family was his client.
I'd only stepped in because his last shoot ran over.
And now, not a single picture had been taken.
I turned to leave, but Randolph asked again.
"You don't have to shoot anymore. Come with us."
"No."
I didn't slow down.
Behind me, Zachery murmured, "Mom, Mom..."
The sound pulled me back to when he was little and burning with a high fever.
I'd stayed up three nights straight, taking care of him.
He clung to me then, calling "Mom" in that same soft tone.
But as he grew older, he slowly pulled away.
Then came the day he shoved me to the floor, yelling in a fit of rage, "I don't want you to be my mom! I want Cindy to be my mom!
"Stop hanging onto Dad, okay?"
Warm blood spread quickly between my legs.
I curled up from the pain, cold sweat breaking across my skin.
But what cut deeper was what he said next.
"Don't even think about having another kid to stay here."
Like father, like son.
Back then, and now.
Randolph had said something similar once.
"You're pregnant. Quit it.
"Think about Zach and the baby, alright?"
The arrogance in his voice was nothing like the terrified boy who once begged me to save him from his gambler father's knife.

READ FULL NOVEL HERE