Mia was on the floor with the twins. She was building a tower of blocks for Leo, while simultaneously gently rocking Maya in her bouncy chair with her foot. She was laughing, a soft, genuine sound that made William's chest ache.
But every time she stood up or turned in his direction, her face went blank. The light vanished. She looked through him, not at him.
He walked into the living room to pour a glass of water. He needed to make her look at him. To acknowledge him. Even anger would be better than this erasure.
"Leo needs his shots next week," he said.
"I booked the driver. You don't need to worry," Mia said, not looking up from the blocks.
"I am his father," William snapped.
"Biologically," Mia muttered.
William slammed the glass down on the marble counter. "Don't push me, Mia."
Mia's phone rang. She picked it up. Her face transformed instantly.
"Zoe! Hey!" She sounded light. Happy. "Really? Oh my god, that's amazing."
William stiffened. Zoe was Mia's best friend. A troublemaker.
"The application was approved? Yes, I can send the deposit today."
William felt a spike of adrenaline. Deposit?
Mia hung up, smiling.
"You're looking for apartments?" William's voice was dangerously quiet.
Mia turned. "It's not a violation of the prenup."
"You are not going anywhere until my lawyers review everything," he commanded. Panic was clawing at his throat, but it came out as control.
"You can't keep me prisoner, William."
"Think about the press! Think about the family name! If you move out now-"
"Oh, the family name?" Mia laughed, a bitter, sharp sound. "Where was the family name when you were plastered all over Page Six with Lucinda last week?"
William opened his mouth to retort, but his personal cell phone rang. The ringtone he had assigned to the family emergency line.
He frowned, pulling it out. Mother.
He answered. "Mother?"
He listened for two seconds.
The color drained from his face. The glass of water he was holding slipped from his fingers.
Crash.
Shards of crystal exploded across the floor. Water soaked his expensive Italian loafers.
Mia jumped back, startled. She looked at him, ready to fight, but stopped when she saw his expression. He looked like a child who had been struck.
"I... I'm coming. Immediately," William whispered.
He lowered the phone. He looked at Mia, his eyes wide and terrified.
"It's Grandfather," he said. "He collapsed. Massive heart attack."
---
