Chapter 72
Alaia
Nick finally put on his shirt and noticed me when he was about to take a seat.
“What a pleasant surprise,” he smiled genuinely, looking like the boy I fell in love with.
Feeling these sensations, I took a big sip of the wine glass that Sophie had served before leaving.
“How was your trip?” I questioned and swallowed the wine hard, avoiding his gaze.
“It was productive and interesting,” he nodded with another smile on his lips and a certain sparkle in his eyes.
Dinner was served, and it felt as if we did this every day of our lives. My children looked happy, we talked about trivial matters without wanting to touch sensitive points, and it was because I preferred it that way. I allowed myself to live this moment. It was evident that the idea that, if things hadn’t been destroyed, we would be a family, as we seemed at this moment. I realized where my thoughts were going and shook my head.
“Thank you for trusting me,” Nick commented, and I looked up at him. “Killian,” he said, and I nodded.
“You’ve shown that you love them,” I looked at our children, “this time, I allowed myself to doubt your grandfather’s word p>
He exhaled, and a comfortable silence fell between us, our children talking among themselves.
“All our days would be like this,” Nick drew my attention from the plate, looked at the children, and then at me, “I can’t promise there won’t be obstacles to overcome, but this time we could do it together, as a family, with the man you truly love and who will never hurt you again,” his eyes expressed even more than his words.
My heart raced along with my breathing, and I looked at the three of them.
“I can’t do this,” I said, standing up. I saw him bring his hands to his face and hair, full of frustration.
“Loli, let’s go,” I called her, and she came out to take the children. She made them say goodbye to Nick and took them to my car. I picked up my children’s small suitcases before going after them.
“Stop this madness, Alaia,” Nick said loudly, and I stopped. “You don’t love that i***t, you can’t unite your life with someone you don’t love,” I heard his steps until he stood in front of me.
“Cedric is a very valuable person to me,” I said, and Nick moved his neck, releasing tension.
“He has been there in the worst moments of my life, he even saved our children from your grandfather’s clutches p>
At this point, I had begun to doubt that Nick had anything to do with what Killian did that day.
“Your savior, your hero,” he snorted with annoyance, “let me tell you something about heroes, princess,” he remembered the nickname Cedric used to address me.
Nick stood firmly, took my neck, and brushed my lips with his thumb, leaving a tingling on my skin.
“A hero would sacrifice you for a greater good,” he pressed his grip, “I don’t have that remorse, Alaia. I… would burn this world for you p>
I swallowed a lump in my throat looking at his fierce eyes, my whole body revolted and my core contracted. I decided to leave before my impulses dominated me and I did something crazy.
Days later
“Alaia,” Erika entered my office with a new orchid in her hands. Today’s had red petals, they were beautiful.
Erika looked for a place to put them, as my office was full of them.
“Leave it here,” I pointed to my desk, where there weren’t any. I observed her caressing the petals.
“Is it the same as the previous ones?” I questioned, checking it. I knew it was Nick who sent the flowers. I had avoided him all this time, but he sent me a daily orchid, with a promise of love, written by him.
“Yes, they’ve only brought the daily message,” she handed me the card.
I pressed the sealed envelope in my hands and proceeded to open it.
“Another one? But how precious,” Tino commented, coming out of the children’s playroom. Ash came behind him, and both approached.
“Cedric is being very splendid now that there are only a couple of days left for the wedding,” he commented.
“It wasn’t Cedric,” I said, looking at the card.
“It’s Nick,” an involuntary sigh left my chest.
Tino brought his hands to his mouth and let out a dramatic cry.
“That man has given everything for you, God, I even think he’s capable of reaching the altar and stopping the wedding,” he said with wide eyes.
“Honey,” he took my hands, “are you sure about this wedding?” Tino asked me, and I looked up after having lost my gaze somewhere.
“No, I’m not sure of anything at this moment,” I took my face and rubbed it with my hands. Tino inhaled dramatically.
Nick’s actions had managed to confuse me, and I was terrified of allowing myself to feel this for someone who had hurt me once in the way Nick did.
“Aly, you can stop this, until you’re sure,” Ash approached me.
“No, I can’t,” I refused to give up what I had built for Nick, to believe in him again, to love him once more. I had to dominate my feelings.
My cousin and friend stayed by my side. I knew they wanted to say many things, but I had asked them not to do it. They would end up driving me crazy.
We arrived home, and it was just Tino, Ash, my children, and me. The wedding would be the day after tomorrow, and we would travel tomorrow morning. The rest of my family was already in the UK, they had gone to make sure everything was for the big day. I exhaled.
I started packing my luggage, but in a second, I sat on the bed and remained motionless.
“Miss Alaia,” Sylvia called at the door.
“Come in,” I said and put another garment in the suitcase.
“They brought this, this morning,” she said and handed me some documents in an envelope.
“Thank you,” I said and opened the envelope to take them out and started reading them.
Anger invaded me as I read that it was a lawsuit for custody of the children. I read the content thinking it had been Killian, but my eyes opened wide when I saw that his name wasn’t there but Nick’s.
“What is this?” I said, not understanding.
“Nick is the same heartless bastard who abandoned you,” I heard Killian’s voice in my head.
I pressed the papers in my hands and left my room.
“What’s wrong, honey? Why do you have that face?” Ash questioned, reaching me as I finished coming down the stairs.
“This!” I extended it towards them, and they began to read.
“He’s getting revenge for your wedding,” Tino spoke, and Ash hit his shoulder.
“I don’t think so, you already had an agreement about the darlings,” Ash shook his head.
“I’ll find out soon,” I said, taking the papers.
“We’ll go with you,” Tino said, taking a step forward.
“No, just take care of my children, I’ll do this alone,” I walked to find my car keys.
Once I left the house, I realized it had started raining, perfectly. I managed to get a little wet, I got into my car which decided not to start, I growled and hit the steering wheel.
“Where are the other cars?” I asked Sylvia when I saw the empty garage.
“Gavin took them for maintenance, he decided to do it since you would be out of town,” she commented worriedly.
I got into my car and tried to start it again, but it didn’t work. I closed the door hard and walked to leave the house.
“But, honey, have you gone crazy?” Tino shouted from the house entrance.
“It’s just water!” I replied, walking towards the main entrance and directing my steps to Nick’s house.
After several minutes, I reached my destination, and the gates opened quickly after I rang the bell and looked at a screen at the entrance.
He came out with a white towel in his hands and hurried to cover me with it. I moved away from him abruptly when we entered the living room.
“Alaia, what…?” he questioned confused. “Have you lost your mind? Have you come here alone at night in the middle of the rain p>
“What does this mean, Nick?” I threw the papers at your chest and breathed with difficulty.
He took the papers from the floor and began to read them.
“I have nothing to do with this, I’m sure it’s Killian’s work,” he assured, pointing to the papers.
I observed him as my body calmed down.
“I promised you I would never hurt you again, Alaia,” he approached me, and I took two steps back without being aware of what I was doing.
“Please, believe me, s**t, we can’t let them keep destroying us,” he forcefully tore the papers I had brought, leaving small pieces that he threw somewhere.
I lowered my guard when I saw what he had done.
“I’m sorry,” I closed my eyes and shook my head. I had let myself be carried away by anger. I was about to pronounce another word when I saw him throw himself at me and take my lips. I received him and secured the kiss by hanging from his neck. He took my buttocks, and I wrapped my legs around his torso. That’s when I realized that the skin of his chest was uncovered. I caressed his back without stopping kissing him. I felt that we were moving, but I was completely lost in him. I realized we had reached the bedroom when my back hit the soft surface of his bed…