The Billionaire's Game(27)

Maddie smiled dreamily. “Yes. Much to my husband’s dismay. He’s thrilled, but he worries about the risk factors.”

Mia snorted. “If your man never cooked, I’m surprised you lasted seven years with him.”

“It was the acceptable thing in my culture. My foster parents were very traditional immigrants and so was my ex-husband. They were used to the woman doing the cooking, cleaning, and female chores.”

“Maybe it’s time to learn more about your American culture,” Maddie mused. “Most women work or take care of children, and men share responsibilities. If they don’t, we give them a swift kick in the ass.”

Asha smiled at Maddie’s comment as she dug into her purse, looking for her photos, and continued to explain what her life had been like to Maddie and Mia because they asked what seemed like a million questions about her upbringing and her marriage. She answered all their questions, skirting around the domestic abuse part of her history. Finally, she found the photo of her mother and father, along with her pictures of her work.

“So they sold you?” Maddie said angrily, sounding as outraged as Kade, virtually repeating his words, after Asha told the two women vaguely about her marriage, minus the abuse details. “Honey, it wasn’t all about the culture. There are Indian women here who are doctors, lawyers, and rocket scientists. You’re American with Indian blood, but you’re still American and living in America. And Indian women do incredible things here, get wonderful educations. I think your foster family and your ex-husband thought they were still living in India. And I don’t think they were very nice people either, regardless of their heritage.”

Asha sighed and plopped into a chair beside the bed. “My foster parents don’t talk to me anymore because I divorced Ravi.” Not that they had communicated with her much anyway after her marriage. They spoke to Ravi, but they rarely asked about her.

“We get to screen your next husband,” Mia said, her voice making the statement sound more like a threat than a joke. “If there’s no give-and-take in the relationship, you can’t marry him.”

“I won’t marry again,” Asha answered in a hushed voice.

“Of course you will. Mia and I were both older than you when we married Max and Sam,” Maddie said fiercely. “You just need the right guy this time.”

“I can’t have children,” Asha admitted reluctantly. For some reason, these two women made her want to spill all her secrets to them.

“You can adopt if you want kids. And depending on the reason, there could be other options. Do you know why you can’t conceive?” Maddie asked gently.

“I don’t know. It didn’t really matter. Ravi said he got checked and he was fine. He said it was my defect.”

“You’re not defective just because you can’t have a child,” Maddie said, exasperated. “Marry a man you love, and you can work out the rest when the time comes. Love is everything, Asha. You can work around other problems.”

Asha fidgeted uncomfortably in her chair. “There was never love in my marriage.”

“There will be next time,” Mia said sympathetically. “Maddie and I will make sure of it.”

Asha didn’t think there would be a next time for her, but she smiled at the two women on the bed, her heart squeezing inside her chest because they were concerned about her.

This is what it’s like to have friends. Real friends who care.

“Thanks,” she said simply, handing Maddie the photo of her parents, and Mia her work pictures.

“Your father was very handsome. And this is definitely our mother,” Maddie mused, staring at the photo Asha had handed her. “She looks happy.”

“I like to think they were very happy,” Asha told Maddie.

Maddie leaned back on the bed, stretching her back. “She had a difficult life. I hope she was happy in the end.”

“You’re not bitter about her giving you and Max up?” Asha questioned, wondering how Maddie could sound so sincere about wishing her mother happiness.

“No. Not anymore. I have Sam, and I’m happier than I could ever have dreamed I would be. Whatever happened, I like to think she did it to give Max and me a better life. Maybe she had no choice.” Her hand went protectively to her belly, rubbing it absently. “How my life is now makes up for any unhappiness I had in my earlier life. We’re having babies, and I have a brother and sister now. I don’t have any regrets. I have a wonderful future to look forward to. Everything that happened has led me to this wonderful life and Sam.”

Maddie was glowing, and Asha knew it wasn’t just from the pregnancy. That was the look of supreme happiness, and Mia had the same glow. Did loving a good man really make a woman this happy? Sadly, Asha was fairly certain she’d never know.