*
*
Sterling ended the phone call and met Faith's glare from the rearview mirror, if looks could kill, her dagger-like gaze would have sent him six feet under.
The tension in the car was intense, it was a realistic reminder of what he'd just done.
He had his woman and their child with him, but at what cost?
Was it pitiful that he had to use their newborn child to force his wife to return to him?
He'd never always play fair, but he'd never felt so much like a bastard as he did right now, even knowing for certain that he would probably make the same decision again if the situation was repeated.
The driver made a turn and Sterling watched Faith suddenly jump, she was staring outside the window before returning her glare to him.
"Where are you taking me? This isn't the way to your house."
"That's because we are not going to my house, at least for now, Maya is at my mother's place."
Sterling recognized that look in her eyes, relief, and something else. Now that she knew Maya's whereabouts, she probably was planning something, Sterling hoped it wasn't stupid. She probably wouldn't believe it if he told her how much he hated the way things turned out between them. He was tired of fighting with her as well, but this was the only way he knew how to get what he wanted.
And this wasn't about his masculine ego.
He needed her more than he would ever understand. He'd loved her even.
Staring at her now, especially after everything he had done, there was definitely no possibility of her ever reciprocating his affections.
Sterling didn't want her love, at least not anymore.
It was enough that he had her back with him. And this time, there would be no escape for her.
It had only been a matter of time, he'd never let go in the first place.
*
*
It was the longest drive of her entire life. Yes, she had made the decision to stay with Maya, even if that meant that she would be with Sterling as well.
Her whole body was restless. She was yet to know the entire detail of "Living with him". The statement couldn't be as simple as she wished it would be.
The car slowly parked in the driveway of a small bungalow and Faith's heart skyrocketed.
Her daughter was here!
She couldn't explain how she could feel it. She pushed open her side of the door and started to walk towards the beautiful house in front.
It was very much smaller, unlike Sterling's mansion. The seas of flowers around the house gave it some kind of warmth.
Mrs. Barbara was there to welcome them, but Faith didn't expect her to suddenly embrace her.
" Welcome, welcome inside!" The woman beamed.
"Mom." Sterling greeted.
"You have no idea how long I've been waiting for you! What took you so long? Did you have any trouble getting here?"
Faith gently broke out of the woman's grip, she was in no mood to appreciate her warmth, she had to see Maya first.
"Remember I told you that she's been very ill for these last few days, we only managed to get her discharged today."
Faith's eyes flew to Sterling to find him staring at her. What sort of lie was that? Anyway, what could she expect from him? At this point, It surely wasn't honesty!
"Poor dear! You can't keep on standing!" Mrs. Barbara ushered her inside the house. "You need to see her, My grandchild is such an angel! Did you know that she is quite tricky and wants to be carried? My son was also like that__" She continued, completely unaware that each statement made Faith despise the man standing beside her even more.
She had missed the first few days of Maya's life, she wanted to scream that she knew nothing about her daughter and it was all thanks to her wonderful son!
Her own mother had not set eyes on her and the baby and Sterling's mother was already claiming her, Faith couldn't help but be irritated.
The interior design of the house was stunning, it was ordinary, yet beautiful.
Mrs. Barbara opened a door and Faith's eyes feasted on the beautifully decorated nursery. Her eyes fell to the small crib and her heart stopped.
She raced towards the crib to watch a sleeping Maya.
Her eyes watered instantly. Maya was sleeping peacefully, her dark curls seemed more grown than Faith recalled, she also appear bigger, making Faith feel as though she had missed many years of her life.
She was dressed neatly in cute pink clothing, her chubby face made Faith marvel that she had given birth to this little perfect creature.
She knew right at this moment that she had made the best decision of her life, There was no mistake in this.
Faith didn't realize that she was crying as she brought her fingers to caress Maya's very smooth cheeks.
"I just fed her and she fell asleep immediately, I'm sure after these several days, you must want to hold her." Mrs. Barbara smiled softly.
Indeed Faith was eager to scoop her up in her arms, to feel that close contact, but she also wanted to let the child sleep.
She didn't know what prompted her to look at Sterling. There was something in his eyes that she couldn't decipher as he watched her. His eyes were intense and unwavering, making Faith's belly clench tightly.
Perhaps he was plotting another evil against her?
He would not be able to keep his eyes on them all of the time, she would completely rip herself and Maya away from the world where they were currently trapped.
But why did she have to run when he would only catch her in the end?
He was always capable of being a hundred steps way ahead of her each time.
There had to be something she could use to her advantage.
Even knowing him for a very long time, she still didn't know what the almighty Sterling Hunter was scared of.
There had to be something that made him weak and once she got a hold of that, she would strike.
"I made some soup since I was informed that you were coming over today, you've been ill since having Maya, and now that she finally has both her parents with her, we need to get you healthy! I will go heat up the soup!"
If only she knew that the only thing that could get her well was staying away from their toxic family, Faith thought.
Mrs. Barbara was nicer that Faith would have expected, but her son wasn't.
And now, she was alone with him.
Faith did her best to ignore him, that was until he spoke.
"You are tired, you need to rest or you might__"
"What's it to you? Where was your care when you lied against me and made everyone believe that I was a deceptive person!" She whispered aggressively, but in a low tone not wanting to wake Maya up.
"You forged evidence to make them believe I was an addict! I might have agreed to live with you but my feelings about you will never change! I still hate you for everything you've done!"
Faith had to let the emotions out in some way, or the thick clouds of resentment in her heart would eat her alive.
"And as soon as I get the opportunity, I will make you regret everything you've done to me!"
He merely shrugged, his eyes bore amusement and she got the urge to right smack him across his face.
"While we wait for you to do that, you need to relax, you look like you can barely stand up on your own."
Faith's eyes narrowed to slits, he was mocking her!
He was making her feel like a child threatening an adult and she wasn't liking it one bit.
"If you don't listen to me__" Sterling had only closed the distance between them to make her feel uneasy so she would exit the room. He didn't know what prompted him to touch her face. One of his large palms situated at the back of her head, but meeting her angry gaze, down to her luscious lips and heaving shoulders, there was only one thought thrumming in his mind.
He wanted to right now to hold her in his arms and ravish her sweet lips that ...
She probably read the intentions in his eyes because she started to wiggle her head, her eyes wide open in alarm.
"Don't you dare!__"
It was too late.
His hot and demanding lips smashed against hers, swallowing the rest of her words.