Chapter 89
-CIRCENN
As the warm sunlight streams through the windows, I’m already up and about, feeling a sense of purpose and renewed energy. I move quietly through the villa, watching as the others slowly stir from their slumber.
Elena, being the first t to wake u
up, shuffles into the k
kitchen, looking a bit disheveled, and heads straight for the sink, likely out of habit.
She starts scrubbing away at a
y at a nonexistent mess, her movements stiff and awkward.
I can’t help but scoff as I inform her that the villa has its own private cleaning staff, and her reaction is priceless.
She freezes, looking like a deer caught in headlights, and her expression turns from determination to confusion.
It’s clear she’s not used to having free time, and the concept of not having to work herself to the bone is foreign to her.
When the twins wake up Elena finds her footing by helping the twins get ready, using it as a way to sidestep the awkwardness between us.
Naomi is the last to wake up, and she looks seriously joyless and disheveled with her bed hair.
I find myself breathing when she walks into the terrace to meet me watching my coffee cool down.
I can’t believe I’ve become this sucker, for her.
It’s weird.
“You’re awake” she says, squinting at the beach that’s like a million miles away from the villa.
The wind is rough on her hair and she looks like she’s enjoying it.
“Did you sleep well?” I ask.
She glances at me and doesn’t reply.
“Thanks for replying” I add sarcastically.
“You’re being caring, it’s scary” she scoffs, and eyes my coffee on the table in front of me,
“My bad” I mumble.
She scoffs.
“It’s a good thing though, but I’m scared of actually buying your goodness, tomorrow it might be a slap to my face and you might actually say I’m taking advantage of one thing or the other”
I sigh
“Are you still onto that? I thought I apologized for that.”
“You only apologized to me so I could go to that silly auction with you, her hands flap on both her sides.
“I did anyway. You’re lucky” 1 scoff
“Forgive me your highness” She rolls her eyes at me and I catch her blue eyes sealing on my coffee again.
Do
you want this?” I finally ask.
She pauses and then nods carefully.
You
could have said so I scoff, picking it up
You know how you are
“And how and P” I retort, taking a sip out of my coffee
“Hey, I thought you were going to give me that.” She complains.
“I never said that
that We will share” I nod and Like a big sip out of the coffee that immediately and fully wakes me up:
“I don’t share my coffee or any other drinks with anyone, and I’m pretty sure you’ve gotten your morning breath over that “The
Thear her complain
Chapter 89
1 stretch the coffee to her.
“We’ve fucked multiple times, What’s a little coffee?”
My words make her freeze for a bit, her expression turning mortified.
“You’ve gou be kidding me” she rolls her eyes, taking the coffee from me.
“I’m not wrong” I shrug.
I observe Naomi savoring the moment, her lips curling into a subtle smile as she takes a sip from the mug
She closes her eyes, and her tongue darts out to lick her lips, relishing the lingering flavors that leave a satisfying aftertaste
The simple pleasure seems to wash over her, and for a brief instant, her expression softens, revealing a glimpse of serenity. The way she indulges in the moment, her senses fully immersed in the experience, is almost mesmerizing.
It’s as if time stands still, and all that exists is the warmth of the beverage, the comfort of the villa, and the fleeting joy that comes with me and her.
How can something as simple as savoring a drink be so… what’s the word
Attractive.
It’s as if the entire world has melted away, leaving only the subtle curve of her lips, the gentle closure of her eyes, and the soft savoring of the
moment.
Naomi turns to me and I find myself looking away-
How d
did I become this way?
“Oh” she begim. “About last night, I don’t know anything about your family and I’m sorry you had to go through all that. And thank you so much for consoling me. Even if it was a bit weird with your immense goody goody–ness, I appreciate” she nods.
I smile gently
“You’re welcome. It was nothing. No one deserves to grief and hate themselves for what’s not their faults”
She nods and turns back to her coffee, now taking gentle sips that look also attractive.
Am I a goner? For Naomi
Because this all just seems foreign to me too.
I feel like I want to do more for her.
No. I have to do more for her.
I sigh as I reflect on last night’s
is events.
Because I’m struck by the irony of trying to comfort Naomi.
I am not interested in any woman, but she’s an exception and I know for a fact that it’s not because she’s the mother of my child.
There’s more to it.
I know better without the constant reminder from Naomi that our marriage is a mere facade, but I couldn’t help but feel a pang of empathy seeing her so utterly drained and defeated last night.
Her depressed state was taking a toll on me too, and I seriously don’t care about others. I don’t always care but she
I really wanted to ignore her and not press her with more questions, because she’s not the first woman to lose her entire family to a horrible accident on her birthday.
But Yet, in that moment, I couldn’t help but want to offer her some cloth of solace, some gesture of kindness to how disturbed she looked.
“Thank you” Naomi sighs as she empties the mug of coffee.
“It’s nothing” I assure her.
She remains quiet and looks around the place,
“So we have this entire villa to ourselves” She asks
11:32 AM
Chapter 89
“Yeah” I nod
“What do you do here?” She press
Π
“I usually come here to clear my head, I don’t do much I shake my head. “But this is the first time I’m here with family, so I’m hoping you guys get to pick what to do”
“Wow” she scoffs. “You must have been lonely, this place is too lonely for just one person”
“Actually. I have people. Friends” I cough our
“Friends? You, Circenn, you have friends?” She says like it’s a crime.
“Yes” I scoff, offended.
“TII try to believe that she rolls her eyes, holding back a laugh.
My eyes light up when I see them coming
“Well speak of the devil” Is scoff, getting on my feet.
Naomi’s head snaps around trying to see the group of people walking up to the villa, and I nudge her shoulder in a “I told you so manner.
But I just hope Jennie is not with them.
Naomi cannot meet her.
