Chapter 20

MADDIE

Lizzie's eyes darted between us. "This is a surprise," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

I stood my ground, trying to act as if their presence doesn't bother me at all even though it's the complete opposite. They are the last people I want to see right now.

"What are you two doing here?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease simmering inside me.

Wyatt's expression darkened, and he took a step closer, Lizzie following his lead. "I should be asking you that," he retorted. "What are you doing here, Maddie? In my uncle's office, no less."

I smirked. I was never vindictive type, but I felt at that moment that it was the right time to get back at him.

"I'm visiting my husband," I replied firmly. "We have some important matters to attend to."

Wyatt let out a bitter laugh. "Our wedding was canceled, Maddie. Stop being delusional. I was never going to be your husband," he replied mockingly.

Lizzie's grip on his arm tightened, and she leaned in closer to Wyatt, her eyes never leaving mine. "She's so pathetic," she taunted.

I rolled my eyes, letting out an exaggerated sigh. "And both of you are so dense. I wasn't even in Wyatt's office for both of you to think I was referring to him. God!" I said mockingly.

Wyatt's face flushed with anger and confusion, while Lizzie's smirk faltered.

"What are you talking about?" Wyatt snapped.

"I'm talking about the fact that I'm married to Hades," I said, enunciating each word clearly. "So, should I start calling you nephew?"

Wyatt's eyes widened, and he took a step back as if the information physically hit him. Lizzie's jaw dropped, her grip on Wyatt's arm loosening.

"You're lying," Wyatt said, though his voice lacked conviction. "I can't believe you would stoop down to this level. You're even willing to make up stories just to get back at me?" he sneered. "You're hopeless case, Maddie. I'm grateful that I manage to get rid of you," he added.

I felt a surge of anger but kept my composure. "You can think whatever you want. It doesn't change the fact that I'm your aunt now."

Wyatt's eyes narrowed, and he opened his mouth to say something, but Hades' voice cut through the tension with an authoritative edge.

"Is there a problem here?" Hades asked, stepping into the room with a commanding presence that instantly demanded attention.

Wyatt turned to face his uncle, his laughter echoing through the room. "Thank God you're here, uncle. At least now, we can start straightening out all your lies. Right, Maddie?" he said confidently, his tone dripping with mockery. He then walked towards Hades, who stood silently, his face darkening as he glared at Wyatt. Wyatt draped an arm around Hades' shoulder, giving a patronizing pat to his chest. "Please, my dear uncle, tell this delusional woman that she's not your wife," he said, his voice laced with scorn.

"But actually..." Hades remained stoic for a moment before abruptly removing Wyatt's arm from his shoulder. With a deliberate calm, he walked towards me, his expression firm. Standing beside me, he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close in a protective embrace. "...she is my wife," he continued.

The words hung in the air. And it leaves both Wyatt and Lizzie too stunned to speak. Wyatt's smirk faltered, his eyes widening in disbelief. Lizzie's mouth dropped open, her gaze darting between Hades and me in shock.

Wyatt took a step back, his face a mix of anger and confusion. "What? This can't be true!" he stammered, his voice rising with frustration.

Hades maintained his calm demeanor, his arm tightening slightly around me as if to reinforce his claim. "It is true," he said firmly. "Maddie and I are married. I'd expect you to give her the respect that she deserves."

Wyatt's expression turned a shade darker, his face flushed with humiliation. "This is absurd. You can't just—"

"I can't what, Wyatt?" Hades interrupted, his tone cutting through Wyatt's protest. But Wyatt remained silent, lost for words. "I thought so," he commented when he didn't got an answer from him. "Please do mind that I abruptly ended my meeting that cost ten billion dollars just to sort this mess that you're making here. If you have nothing to say, you can leave now."

"But uncle, can't you see? She was just using you for money! I don't know what she told you to agreed to this, but I'm telling you she's bad news!" Wyatt insisted. "She's probably only doing this to get back at me. She just wants revenge!"

I was so focused on the argument with Wyatt that I barely noticed what was happening between Lizzie and Hades. Lizzie was staring at Hades with a look of shock and disapproval, as if she was silently asking him, "How could you do this?"

I glanced between them, feeling more and more confused. The way Hades looked at Lizzie was just as intense, and it felt like they were having a silent conversation. There was a tense, unspoken connection between them that suggested something deeper was going on.

My unease grew as I realized there was more to Lizzie and Hades’ relationship than I had thought. It wasn’t just a business or casual relationship; it seemed like there was a personal history or emotional weight between them that I didn’t fully understand.

Hades finally broke the silence with a firm voice. "What we do in our lives is none of your business, Wyatt. So, why don’t you take your little girlfriend and leave my office?"

Wyatt’s face turned red with anger, and he opened his mouth to respond, but Lizzie stopped him. She placed a firm hand on his arm and said, "That’s enough, Wyatt. I’m sure your uncle knows what he’s doing," her tone suggesting she wanted to calm things down and that there were complexities Wyatt didn’t know about.

Wyatt looked from Lizzie to Hades, clearly frustrated but now a bit quieter. With one last annoyed look at me, he let Lizzie lead him out of the office. The door closed with a heavy thud, leaving us alone again.

As the room fell silent, I turned to Hades, still feeling tense. “What was that all about?” I asked, trying to make sense of everything.

"It's none of your business," he replied coldly, keeping himself busy on his desk.

I scoffs, "Well, it turns out everything is none of my business when it comes to you," I replied. "I'll be going to the hospital now. You don't have to come."

I didn't give a chance to object. I quickly left his office. Avoiding the chances of bumping with Wyatt and Lizzie in the elevator, I decided to take up the stairs going down the lobby.

***********