Christian

What a fucking mess. I have spent most of the night staying up thinking about what to do about the whole Kate situation. In the end, I decided I have to talk to her. I tried to call Ana and let her know, but her phone was switched off and Taylor informed me that she is at her shrink's office.

I want to tell Elliot, but first I need to know exactly what Kate is up to. Since Elliot is at work, I had Taylor drive me over to his house. Honestly, I do not look forward to this meeting, but I need to see for myself what is going on before I talk to Elliot, which I'm planning to do later tonight.

When Kate opens the door she actually gapes at me.

„We need to talk."

„Of course, Ana told you. You really sucked her back in didn't you?"

„No Kate, I'm manipulating Ana or try to suck her back in as you say, we are trying to build a foundation for our relationship, so open communication is important." I let her know and she just glares at me, but steps aside for me to get in and I nod at Taylor to follow us. If she tries anything and then wants to spin it around it could end badly and I'm not taking any chances.

„So, Ana told me you are pissed because years ago I blew you off?"

„You called me a slut!" She hisses and I roll my eyes.

„Without any disrespect, but if I called you that, you probably did act like a slut, because I'm not in the habit of insulting females unless they just don't take the hint."

„You arrogant asshole, you should have been happy that a woman like me showed interest in you!"

„Look, Kate, I didn't come here to fight. I wanted to talk, but let's be clear, you are not my type and you've never been my type. You need to let this go because my brother deserves better."

„Oh fuck off! He is not even your real brother." Kate hisses at me and that hurts.

„Ok... honestly, I was hoping to solve this, but this isn't worth it. You just like being miserable and hope you get the help you need." I say choosing not to pick a fight and leave.

„Bellevue, Sir?"

„No, Ana's I need to see my daughter." I mumble and stare out of the window until I arrive.

Ana

Arriving back at home, I get inside and find Gail in the living room vacuuming.

„Where is Arielle?"

„With Mr. Grey in the backyard... he seemed upset." She tells me, so I walk into my backyard and find Christian sitting on the swing with Arielle.

„Missed you daughter?" I ask with a smile and sit on the swing next to his.

„Yes." He says and kisses the top of Arielle's head.

„What is wrong?"

„Fucking Kate."

„What did she do?"

„I went to see her, talk to her... she was her usual hostile self, but she said something that really fucked with me... she said Elliot is not my real brother and it had me thinking, it's true, the only person on earth who is truly related to me is Arielle... there is no one else."

„No! Look at me, Kate is wrong, you have a family and it doesn't matter if you are related by blood or not. I mean look at Ray and me, we are not related by blood, but he is my Dad and there is nothing in the world that can change this. Don't let what Kate said get to you."

„It's just, do you think my parents ever regret that they adopted me? That Elliot or Mia wish they wouldn't have me as their brother?" He asks and I want to murder Kate. Christian was making so much progress and she just had to spew her poison at him making him upset.

„Christian, your family loves you... of course you sometimes get annoyed with each other but that is normal, no family is happy and loving 24/7. Just look at Arielle, I can promise you, there will come times where this little angel will turn into a little devil and test our patience to the limit, but that won't make us love her less, it's just all part of the deal. When I was fifteen, I wanted a nose ring and Ray was completely against it, we argued about it almost every day and then he stopped one of my friends last minute from piercing my nose with a needle. I have never seen him that mad, but just one day later everything was fine again. And let's be real here, Grace and Carrick probably had moments with all three of you where they thought they made a mistake... Elliot is a recovering manwhore and Mia... well she's Mia." I say the last bit as a joke and his lips twitch.

„Yeah, Mia is a handful." He muses.

„I know, but you still wouldn't trade her for anything in the world, because she's your sister."

„You are right... it's just I don't know why what Kate said hurt me so much."

„You've just been through a lot... and Kate was always great at hitting people where it really hurts... don't let her get to you."

„I want to tell, Elliot... not just because of what she said, but because if at one point he finds out, I don't want him to find out I have known for a while..."

„He is stopping by for lunch." I let him know.

„So, you wanted to tell him too?"

„I'm just done with having secrets in the family... do you want to tell him?"

„Yes, I don't want to offend you, but he is my brother and I feel like it is better if I tell him."

„No that's ok... do you want to watch Arielle, I better start cooking now, your brother eats like a horse." I tell him, kiss Arielle's chubby cheek and get inside to cook lunch.

One thing is for sure though, if I run into Kate anytime soon, I will kill her. The last Christian needs right now is for Kate to upset him, especially when he and his family are still working out their issues together.

Christian

I hate this, I fucking hate that I have to be the one who tells my brother what a fucking bitch his wife truly is, but I also don't want this to blow in my face when Kate for whatever reasons comes clean to him.

„Thanks for lunch, Ana... I have to run."

„No, cancel whatever you have to do, bro, we need to talk." I say and Elliot frowns, but makes a call.

„I'm all yours."

„Great... Ana do you have a beer?"

„No, but I'll check the garage, Sawyer probably has beer." She says and a minute later she hands us each a bottle and I walk into the backyard with Elliot.

„It's about Kate."

„Oh fuck me, what has she done now?" He sighs and leans against one of the big trees in Ana's backyard.

„She was here yesterday when I brought Ana home from our coffee date... I wasn't here for the exchange between Ana and Kate, but she called me and it was bad."

„Bad how?"

„Kate wants Ana to get rid of me, so she wouldn't have to see me anymore."

„Fucking hell, I'm sorry bro... I don't know what is wrong with her. She was fine until you came back from Taiwan... since then she is on a fucking vendetta against you."

„She told Ana that years ago, she tried to hook up with me and I blew her off rather harshly, I don't remember it... but apparently she is still pissed about it and the fact that Ana has the life she wanted for herself." I tell him and watch as he processes this.

„You really don't remember?"

„No, I mean I don't want to sound cocky, but women try their luck with me all the time, I usually ignore them, but Kate must have really annoyed me for me to tell her off. Women like that are not my type, so I normally don't even give them a second glance."

„Fuck." He mutters and runs his hand through his hair.

„Look... I hate to be the one to tell you this..."

„No, I want to know... well I don't want to hear shit like that about the mother of my children, but it is what it is and glad you told me."

„There is more."

„More... wait, did she try something after I got together with her?"

„No, no... but today, I decided to confront her, it didn't go well, she was her usual bitchy self and told me it's none of my busy, because we are not real siblings." I slowly tell him and I see his face turn red with anger.

„She said that?"

„Yes... no, Elliot wait, don't confront her while you are this angry... your kids are home, they don't need to see this and she will try to use this to her advantage."

„Angry... I'm beyond fucking angry... for all those years she put me in a position where I had to defend you, where she made you look like the rude one in the situation, when it was her being pissed because you didn't want to fuck her... I cannot fucking believe this... I mean maybe she was acting all this time... after all, she never wanted kids, I was the one who talked her into it... and you want to know how? With Ava I promised her that we would get a bigger house and staff, so she wouldn't have to deal with it... with Jamie she got the fucking 250k car she always wanted and with Brianna I bought her 100k worth of jewelry... you want to know more shit none of you guys know? We have a live-in nanny... because it's too much for Kate to look after her own children while being a stay at home mom... the only reason no one knows is because she wants to portrait herself as mother of the year when she is anything but. The only times she has ever changed a fucking diaper was when family or friends were around and she couldn't just call the nanny to do it for her."

„Why did you never tell me?"

„Christian look, I really, really loved Kate when we got married... and I didn't even want to confess to myself that things weren't going great. I mean, for me, mom and dad have always been my role models when it comes to a happy marriage and I guess I just wanted the world to believe that my marriage is just like that... and if I was to divorce Kate it would have a huge impact on our family... I mean Mia is married to Kate's brother... her parents are so hands-on with their grandchildren and I just don't want things to turn to shit. So, I tried to keep it all in but I don't think I can do it anymore." He says and I look at him.

„Do you think she would even want to take the kids from you in a divorce?"

„Of course, because she knows with the kids she can expect a much bigger amount of money than without them."

„You should talk to Dad about that, tell him everything, have him recommend you a good family lawyer and file for sole custody... if that's what you want."

„I don't know... I mean I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life, but what kind of woman would take a guy with three young children?"

„Elliot, believe there are plenty of women out there who would love to date a guy who already has kids, be it because they have kids too, they just love kids or are not able to have kids so dating a guy who already has children is ideal for them... but fuck man, you deserve so much better..."

„Yeah well... we can't all find a girl like Ana." He laughs.

„I guess not, but believe me, you'll find the right one if that is what you want. If not, sit down with Kate, have a serious talk... maybe get marriage counseling... you know you have options, but don't stay in a marriage just because of what other people think of you or for the benefit of your kids... because they'll know if you guys are happy or not."

It's true, our parents rarely fight, but I remember when I was about six or seven they got into a fight and weren't talking to each other for five days and for the entire time I thought they would get a divorce even though they tried hard not to fight in front of us. Brianna and Jamie might be too young to realize what is going on, but Ava will notice without a doubt.

„This is a fucking disaster... well, I guess I just get it over with... thanks, bro... for telling me and having my back." He says and surprises me by hugging me before he leaves.

„How did it go?"

„Kate is a cunt." I blurt out.

„I hate that word... but sadly I'm not disagreeing... are we still on for dinner with Jason and Gail tomorrow night?"

„Yes... is Arielle still taking her nap?"

„Yes, but I want to wake her up now or she won't sleep tonight."

„Can I take her for a walk?"

„Christian, you know you don't have to ask. Go and have a great afternoon with your daughter."

„Will you join us?"

„Sure, I need to change, you get Arielle ready and we meet outside." She says and runs upstairs, while I follow her to go to the nursery. Hopefully spending the afternoon with my girls will take my mind off things because the last thing I want or need in my life right now is any kind of drama...

If you want the conversation between Elliot and Kate next chapter let me know :)