This Game Called Life (Kingdom Book 4)

Obviously picking up on the older woman’s solemnity, all the Kingdom men apart from Jake rose to their feet.

“Stay... all of you stay! I said I had nothing to hide, and I meant it.” Looking over at the three men, MacKenzie gave them a brief look before turning back to Delphine.

“Are you sure, my dear?” Jackson asked, still on his feet.

“I’m sure, Jackson. I haven’t done anything that would cause Carlos to take my baby away from me.”

With a nod of acquiescence, the men retook their seats. Only then did MacKenzie again turn her attention to Delphine. In the moments it had taken for her brief exchange with Jackson, she saw that Delphine’s expression had changed, it was at that moment that MacKenzie realized the older woman had been testing her.

“Okay, this is what I have. Allegedly, the artist known as Carlos Ernesto has announced that it has come to light that the mother of his child is little more than a whore. Therefore, he has taken the step of removing the child from the household of such a woman. To give weight to this argument, both he and his mother have given sworn statements that even while, how shall I put this, ah, yes, with child, and in a relationship with him, you were conducting an illicit affair with one Jacob Kingdom.”

“That’s a lie!” MacKenzie shouted on the conclusion of Delphine’s statement.

At the same moment, Aviva could be heard defending her friend, “That’s a bloody lie!”

“Hold on young lady, I haven’t finished. Not only were you allegedly conducting an affair with Jacob, but also two other men. Again allegedly, you deliberately got pregnant in an attempt to force an offer of marriage from said, Carlos Ernesto.

He also spoke about your affair with him, and went on to say that he has sworn statements as evidence of your attempts to deceive other well-known men in this way.

Further, he alleges that if he had known of your reputation, he wouldn’t have entertained an affair with you. He says that there is no doubt that the child is his, and there is no way he and his family could allow someone such as you, to be in charge of an innocent child.

He goes on to say that he is well aware of the laws that govern his non-return of the child. However, his gravity of action is on a par with the level of his concern for the wellbeing of his child.”

By the time Delphine finished speaking; MacKenzie could see the varying looks of shock and disbelief on the faces of all those gathered in the room. Another woman who had just had her name sullied might have been humiliated by what the lawyer had imparted, not her, MacKenzie was fighting mad.

“That S.O.B. is a damn liar. I want my baby back, and I want her back now!” Pushing her chair back from the table, MacKenzie sprang to her feet. “I’m done with his mess. I’m going over there, and if I have to climb that damn wall that’s what I’m gonna do. If he and his damn mother think I’m playing with them, they better watch out!”

The sound of laughter exploding around the room stopped MacKenzie’s forward momentum. Spinning around she fixed Delphine with a death glare. “You think this is funny? Lady, I don’t know you from a hole in the ground, but you can take your laughter and stick it up–”

“MacKenzie, that’s enough!”

“Enough for who, Jake, you? Well, just so you know, I don’t give a shit what you think either!”

Catching her friend just as she was about to open the door, Aviva caught her by the arm. “MacKenzie, nobody, well I don’t know about her,” Aviva tossed her head in Delphine’s direction, “believes a word of that rubbish. Rushing over there isn’t going to help. Plus, if you go, I’m going to have to go with you, and that’s going to cause all kinds of ruckus in this house.”

Knowing she was being ridiculous, MacKenzie was still reluctant to take her seat. The deciding factor was probably Jason’s rapt gaze on his wife. She knew Aviva was serious; if she tried to leave the house, she would be right behind her. Jason, and probably Jake wouldn’t let either of them get very far before all hell broke loose. MacKenzie retook her seat. Only then did she remember that she had an avid audience. Not wanting to, but knowing she must, she looked over at Jackson and apologized for her language and behavior.

“Think nothing of it, my dear. Given the same set of circumstances I’m sure any of us would react in much the same way.”

The smile that accompanied Jackson’s words went a long way to alleviating MacKenzie’s embarrassment. Refusing to look in Jake’s direction, she instead fixed her eyes on Delphine.

“So what happens now?”

Taking her time to respond, Delphine gave MacKenzie an almost motherly smile as she finished the last remnants of her coffee. “Now you need to brace yourself for the fallout.”

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