Chapter 86
-NAOMI
1 sigh.
“It’s the day of my entire family’s death anniversary-
Circenn’s expression remains blank, an opposite reaction to the sympathetic looks I’ve grown used to receiving when sharing the news of my family’s passing.
While others‘ faces morph into sadness and pity, Circenn’s remains a mask of stone, devoid of emotion.
His blank stare is unsettling, making me feel like he’s not truly present at this moment, or that he’s deliberately suppressing any emotional
response
“Let me ask you a question” He says and takes a step forward.
I move back a bit because I know I still reeked of alcohol from last night.
“Sure I mumble.
He asks, in a surprisingly casual tone,
“Do you somehow feel responsible for your family’s death? Do you harbor a sense of guilt with their deaths His question is phrased softly, yet it probes a deeply personal and painful aspect of my psyche, forcing me to confront the dark emotions I’ve been trying to keep at bay.
I pause.
“Then whydo
why do you hate your birthday!” He scoffs.
“Why would you ask me that?” I retort.
“Just give me a bloody reply” He seethes
Sometimes I kind of overlook how downright mean he can be, no, scratch that, I don’t forget, I just try to give him the benefit of the doubt, focus on the few times he’s been decent, which, let’s be real, I shouldn’t be doing in the first place.
“I don’t hate my birthday. I just choose not to celebrate it” I scoff.
“This year is an exception, so don’t be juvenile,” He adds.
Juvenile?
He’s got to be kidding me.
“I don’t want a birthday party or celebration, like I said. I’m fine, why shove someone else’s business up your ass?” I yell angrily.
He remains silent, his eyes fixed on me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl.
He doesn’t utter a single word, just observes me with a calculating gaze, as if sizing me up or trying to read my thoughti.
The silence is oppressive, heavy with tension, before he finally turns and exits the room, leaving me feeling uneasy and vulnerable.
Gosh! I hate him so much
Yeah he’s great in bed, but he’s downright so freaking annoying!
I finally summon the strength to haul myself out of bed and stagger to the bathroom, where I brush my teeth, wash my face, and soak in a warını bath, letting the gentle suds and soothing water work their magic. It’s like a mini–rebirth, shedding my stress and alcohol and any sensual remains from last night wx.
That bath is like a reset button, fixin‘ at least half of my m
my messed–up state, and giving me the strength to tackle the rest of the day
As I step out of my room, the sound of Blake and Jake’s gut–wrenching cries hits me like a ton of bricks, and my leg muscles tense up like I’m ready to sprint.
Himmediately make my way down the stairs, my feet pounding the steps like a drum, my heart racin‘ with worst–case scenarios.
into the room, ready to
y to Larkle whatever crisis is going down, my heart heavy with worry for my habies.
Chapter 36
e the kids seated
on the living room couch, crying their eyes out, with Elena and other maids trying to calm them down.
I pause, when I see
“What’s going on!” My voice trembles.
“I don’t know,” Elena mumbles, “they won’t stop crying and they won’t tell us what’s wrong-
The twins instantly rush up to me, and the moment our eyes lock onto each other, they b around my legs in a tight grasp.
I drop down to their level, sweeping them into a warm embrace.
burst into even louder wails, their tiny arms wrapping
“Babies, what’s wrong? What in the world happened to make you guys cry
ys cry like this?” My tone is sloppy as I massage their heads.
Blake sobs
“Mommy, is it true?”
“Is what true?”
Task.
Jake takes over, crying seriously now, and hitching at his words.
Gosh! What in the world happened!
“Aunt Lillian said that you and Daddy don’t love each other and you guys are going to go away from each other one day.”
My eyebrows spring up immediately.
“What?”
“She” Blake sobs, “She said we’re not a real family”
I scoff, my mouth hanging open.
That freaking bitch!
Why and how could she say these horrible things to my kids?
Just as I’m about to
to try to soothe
he the twins‘ tears away and say something about Lilian, the door swings open and Circenn walks in,
Taking in the scene before him. His eyes scan
the
taking in the scene before him- the twins clinging to me, their faces stained with tears- and for a moment, his expression remains the same, giving away nothing.
But then, his gaze locks onto mine, and I sense a flicker of something – annoyance, frustration, or perhaps even a hint of guilt
“What’s going on?” He growls.
How did he miss them? Or were they not in when he walked out on me!
I sigh in frustration as
as I get on my
✓ FEEL
our Dad what your aunt said to you.”
“Come on,” I touch Blake’s shoulder. “Tell your
Blake sniffs and turns to Circenn.
“Aunt 1
Lilian said we’re not a real family and you’re both going to go away from each other”
Jake chimes in
“And Aunt said you and mommy don’t love each other
Geez.
1 roll my eyes.
“Lilian said that?” Circenn takes a step forward.
“When?” Task
*I took them out to the main wing today because they requested, and I left them to get something and I had no idea Lilian approached them, when Teame
bark they were already bowling their eyes out. I’m so sorry” Elena suddenly chimes in, looking guilty.
Chapter 80
“And you failed to mention this when I asked.” I sighs.
“Looks like Lilian hasn’t learned her lesson” Circean mumbles under his breath so it’s only audible to me
He moves close to the twins and shrinks down to their level.
*Don’t listen to your aunt, she’s probably just tired with her words. I‘
Cince pauses and turns to me.
He continues. “I love your mother a lot
Blake smits.
“Really?”
Blake and Jake never
e never really cared about these things, I wonder how Lilian
lian has fixed her words to their cars.
She’s such a serpent,
“Yeah of course” Circenn gets on his feet.
“Are you Mommy going to leave each other?”
Jake asks.
“No way” Circenn shakes his head and walks up to me.
“If we leave each other, I’m done for, so I can never leave your mother, or you guys.”
Blake sniffs, wiping his tears, buying Circenn’s words.
Jake’s still bawling his eyes out, like he’s waiting for some kinda proof he needs us to show him, to see be a family, no matter what.
re that o
our love is the real deal, that we re gonna
His little body’s shakin‘ like a leaf, his eyes fixed on us with this desperate look, like he’s begging us to prove that our love is the rock he can hold onto in this crazy storm
Circenn’s sigh is like a soft whisper of longing as he gently takes my chin in his hand, taking me by surprise, his touch sending shivers down my spine.
“Jake. I hope you know, your mother is the only woman I’ll ever love, and will never leave” He smiles at his son.
He tilts my face up, his eyes locked onto mine with a deep, burning intensity, like he’s seeing into the very
Then, with a slow, sweet movement, he leans in, his lips brushed against mine in a kiss that’s like a warm breeze on a sum
1 feel myself melting into his kiss, forgetting how much I hated him minutes ago.
soul of me.
on a summer day.
