EXPLANATIONS. ADVICES
Four hours later!
Four hours later!
My mom walks to my room. She must be thinking I am deep asleep that's why she almost tiptoeing. If only she knew I have built like a hundred castles in the air I laid on this bed because I haven't even blinked!
I sit down, acknowledging her presence.
She is still mad, but at least now she can spare me a glance and a faint smile.
"Do you feel any better?" She asks, still standing.
I nod my head, lying, because nothing feels better at all. I don't know if leaving a good idea, because now I have absolutely no idea what is going on back in
Andy's house.
Has he already found out that I left? How is he? And Angel? My poor girl! I hope forgives me for this.
I can't help but worry, especially with the picture of that witch back there. She must swimming on cloud nine now thinking that she has won.
May the devil lick her ass!
I know my Andy will come for me!
"Despite being away from me for months, you are still my daughter. I know you so . You can't lie to me."
"I'm sorry, mother. I know this isn't what you would have expected from your . I mean, me falling in love with a complicated man like Andy. But tell me, , do we get to tell our hearts who to fall in love with?"
"You falling in love with him isn't the problem, Tania. The problem is that you 't care to find out who he really was. If he was really divorced. You just trusted so blindly, and look at where that has lent you, huh?"
"I love him, mother. Despite all this, despite his complications, I love him so ."
"Someone is here to see you. Come downstairs." She walks out without on my love for Andy. Will they ever understand me on this?
He is here? Andy came already? I kick the duvet aside, and walk out.
With a racing heart, I walk downstairs, but I can't help the disappointment I feel I don't see his face in our dining area.
So, he sent her? Instead of him coming to talk to me, he sent someone? I can't it!
First of all, I feel like slapping this ambassador of his across her face.
And why is she wearing this look, huh? Is guilt consuming her?
Ooh, seems like I was right all along, huh!
"Tania, my friend!" She hugs, a hug that I don't reciprocate. She notices my , and pulls away from me, bowing down. "I'm sorry."
Sorry? Sorry! Will her apologies take away all this pain that is tearing me into ? Will her sorry undo all the harm that has already been done? Will her sorry solve a damn? Sorry, my ass!
"So, you knew?" I ask softly, preventing the anger I feel towards her from busting . She has the guts to nod her head. The guilt and shame can't even allow her to me straight in the face. "But you hid it from me! You chose to keep me in the all this while! Why?"
My parents and siblings are watching the show in confusion. Nobody seems to what is happening, and I feel bad that they have to find out this way.
But this snake of a friend has to explain this backstabbing betrayal. I can't believe can do this to me. Why?
"I know you must be thinking so I'll of me, my friend, and..."
"Friend? Give me a break, please! A friend doesn't betray you, especially not like !"
"Believe it or not, Tania, I did it for you and Adrian. Adrian deserves to be happy what that woman did to him. That bitch had no right whatsoever to return?
She has no right, Tania! You are the right one for him, not that woman who..."
"She isn't just any woman, Rita!" I shout, shocking everyone.
"I know! And it's precisely for that same reason that I decided to hide the truth you. I know how much you respect bonds and ties, I knew you will not allow to love Adrian if you knew who he was married to. I wanted you two to be without any obstacles."
"Rita, you brought me from here and bundled me into my cousin's home. You me slowly fall in love with my cousin's husband. I even confided in you everything blew out of proportion, but what did you do? You watched me in this mess and did nothing! I asked you a thousand times where his wife , who she was, what if she returns. I can't believe you were that courageous to to my face like that. You watched me prepare for my wedding. You witnessed afraid I was when I was shopping for my gown, but even then, you chose to to me. I felt something was odd that day and I told you, but like always, you me with your lies. I didn't deserve any of this. I would have understood if it was another woman, Rita, but my very own cousin? Do you know how dirty
I feel?"
"I.. I am sorry to cut you short my dear," my father interrupts, "but, what are you talking about?"
"Adrian's wife, the father, is none other but.. ma.. Ma..ria. Maria Rodgers!"
"Maria?" The four mouths shout in unison.
Who wouldn't be surprised? The coincidence is just mind-boggling! Or so I , but now I know it wasn't just a coincidence. My good friend here wanted in this situation.
My family drop to their seats, one by one. No one is saying a word to the other. All four pairs of their eyes were on me, still in bewilderment.
"Adrian loves you, Tania. He is losing his mind back there. Please come back."
Rita begs.
"Did he know? Was he aware that Maria and I are related?"
I'm sorry Andy, but there are so many miseries in this that I don't know what to anymore. I need to confirm.
I cross my fingers, in the hope that her response will not in any way contradict
Andy. I hope it's true that he knew nothing.
"No."
I breathe out a sigh.
"How come?"
"We hid it from him too. I thought it was best if none of you knew."
"Now you see where your smart brain has gotten us to, Rita. Just leave. I need to with my family."
"No, Tania, please! You need to see Adrian. He is worried sick! He turned into a beast since he learnt of your disappearance. He wants you back."
"Tell him that, time, is all that I need. I am with my family, not in a den of lions.
He has no reason to worry."
"You don't get it! He ordered me not to go back without you, Tania. Please, I'm you!"
"Tell him that I am not an object to be pushed anyhow. I need time to think. Just go ."
"If that's what you want. But I must warn you, Tania, he will not be himself until come back to him. I'm afraid of facing him, but I know I can't force you to with me. Take care!"
She turns to leave, but I remember about Angel.
"Rita?" She stops, turning to me, "how is Angel?"
"She was still asleep when I left, but I am sure she will not give Adrian any peace she sees you. You know how much the poor kid loves you, Tania. Are you you don't want to change your mind?"
"No. Take care on your way back!"
She nods her head, and walks out to her car outside.
"I'm sorry, Tania! But you are letting Maria walk all over again!" Mina says before
I can even sit down.
I ignore her and sit down.
I don't need anybody to remind me how much I have lost to that witch! Especially someone who knows nothing about love.
"I agree with your sister. I didn't raise a coward for a daughter!"
What?
"Mother?"
She can't be talking like this! I thought she didn't approve of this relationship from beginning? No, I'm sure! Shouldn't she be madder at me right now?
"Just how much more do you have to lose to that Maria? Are you that weak? Do even love this Adrian as much as you say?"
"Mother, you know I do!"
"Then fight for your love! Defend what is yours!"
"But mother? She is his wife! She is my cousin!"
"Ooh, come on, sis! Do you think Maria would be caring right now if she was the in your place? Did she even think twice before snatching Damian from you?
Sorry, but you are being too sentimental over nothing! Show that bitch how strong
Tania Lawson is!" Mira speaks.
What changed here? Do they like Andy for me that much, or do they just want me get back at Maria?
"You know dear, in this life, you give people exactly what they deserve. They are right. You have let that woman walk over you since you were kids. She may be first wife, but she left. Does he love her? Does he want her back? From Rita's , Andy is just a victim like you are. Are you going to throw away your like that to a person like Maria?"
Even father!
But aren't they all right?
"Listen, Tania. When you love someone, you fight for them, and protect them from and anyone. You went against us just to prove how much you loved
Adrian. Why is that you can't go against Maria? You told me a while ago that you not choose who to love. I tell you what, true love comes once. If you let Maria this war, you will be miserable for the rest of your life. Is that what you want yourself? Because I don't want that for any of my children."
Ooh, mother!
I don't want that for myself either!
CHATER 57
MAKING UP
My bedroom door opens, and my mother walks in. I honestly don't know what time the bright morning it is, and I also can't recall what time I drowned into sleep night. My head still feels so heavy with pending thoughts. I might have been even in my sleep. Pss! Ooh me!
I lazily pull myself up, sitting straight on the bed, and wait for my mother to speak.
She looks so heavily pregnant with utterance, which I don't quite understand we were on a clear page when we retired to bed last night. We had a family dialogue after Rita left, and we came into an understanding. I a wide range of elucidating to do, and I did so without leaving out a thing. I out my all - my feelings, my thoughts, my sentiments, everything.
After the lengthy beneficial lectures, even from my younger siblings, sigh at that, I so much relieved, like a very enormous burden had been lifted off my chest.
Nevertheless, I still found myself ambling in thoughts when I laid down on my , fathoming about their advises and opinions.
"Mother? What is it?" I wreck the lull, because my mother seems to have left her in their bedroom, and her facial expression is crystal clear that she has to say, making me so damn anxious.
"Aaa...you have a guest." She says at last, after what felt like a decade of total .
"A guest?" I query, putting on a scowl. "Who is it?"
"It would be best if you see for yourself dear." She pats my shoulder with her hand, a small smile, and she walks out.
A guest, huh?
I kick off the duvet, and get my ass out of bed, walking to the bathroom to ease my and wash off the eyes logs first.
Let's see who Andy sent today, and it better not be that traitor of a friend, Rita. I feel like killing her for what she did. In as much as I want to understand her, damage she caused is just way too much. I can't stay disgruntled to her all my , but right now, I'm just hurting, and seeing her reminds me the I am in this all glory to her. Her intentions might have been good, but see what they ? It's not just me who is hurting, but Andy and Angel too. My family too is up in this tangle.
I get to the sitting room, stopping abruptly on my tracks after my eyes land on my guest. My heart skips a beat or two. No, actually, a few beats.
He stands to face my direction after noticing my family's eyes on me, his height everyone else's in this humble room, his rich candy odor filling the house. Talk of dominance, and Andrian Ashton is the real meaning of that.
ANDY!
Here he is, standing tall before me. I feel enranged and overwhelmed by his visit at same time. I know I look like a confused idiot in front of them all, because the is, I really am confused. Something is strongly urging me to run in his arms, a picture of him and Maria in her room two nights ago is clearly roaming in my , holding me back.
"He came last night, but he asked us not to wake you up, dear." My father takes the to explain, and rescue me from further looking like a complete idiot. "He explained his version of the story and we understand him, Tania. You two need talk, and whatever you decide, my dear, we are here for you."
It seems like they really have nothing against him, huh! Did he realy divulge to them, including what he was doing in Maria's room the other night?
I spare a glance at all of them, finally stopping at Andy's cold but pleading ones.
He is quite a strong allure, and a heart warmer, because instantly my outrage him has evaporated, leaving me with a strong desire for him. I want so to stare at him the whole day and night, and before the things I want him to evaporates too, I turn my back on them, and make my way out to the bright sun outside.
I keep walking until I get to his black Lamborghini BMW parked at the far end of compound, as his tracks stops just behind me. This sure will be the talk of the for weeks. A Lamborghini spotted in this village, and in Lawson's ? We sure are gonna be the talk of the town. The sparkling machine so oddly in place, just like the owner.
"Ania!" His voice echoes through my ears, making me nearly jump as I turn to face him, leaning my back on the car. He closes the gab between us, just a thin space to prevent our body from brushing each other. "Let's go , Ania. Come back to me. To Angel. To your house, babe. Please, come with ."
I presume that this is the billionaire side of him speaking - the Adrian Ashton, and , not my Andy. My Andy isn't a jerk ass like this proud and arrogant son of...
This one that is speaking to me with so much authority like he is ordering me.
I shoot my eyes at him, scanning his face for any trace of the Andy that I know.
The Andy that I love. The Andy that loves me.
"That must be the newest exotic way of apologising, right?" I snap at him.
He closes his eyes for a minutes, holding his breath for a while, and when he release it, it comes out in a heart - stirring word that weakens my bones, the soft spot that only my Andy knows.
"SORRY!" His pheromones must fleeing from him and taking refuge in me, me susceptible. I am grateful to my sixth sense that is still alarming me my family is just inside the house that is only few steps from us, otherwise I be melting in his arms right now. Truth be told, I missed him. That one day like a whole freaking decade away from him. I terribly miss him, and his apology just hit a very soft spot in me. I know he is truly sorry, because his , this beautiful eyes of his, never lie. "I am sorry, if you felt betrayed by me.
Trust me, I know how much betrayal hurts, and I wear I can never make you feel , Ania. Of all the people in the world, just not you, my love. I am sorry that you in on me and Maria like that. Believe me, I feel embarrassed. I feel so dirty, ashamed, but believe me, like I told you, for you, I can do anything, except with Maria. I would be even disrespecting myself."
Can I please steal a kiss from him? Damn! Him being this vulnerable and honest is my mind out of order. Chill,Tania! Calm your little demons for now! You'll time with your man and when that happens, you will not need to steal a kiss.
You will devour him the best way you please, as much as you want. I swallow hard that thought, blocking my savage thoughts from driving me insane.
I clear my throat, crossing my arms on my chest, and maintaining the eye contact him, which is quite a challenging thing for me.
"I just have two questions, and one request." I utter, and his eyes soften.
"Anything for you." He utters, keeping a straight face, his eyes not relinquishing mine.
"How come you didn't think I could be connected to Maria? Didn't you do a check on me before hiring me?"
"I was so desperately in need of help, and I put my full trust on my friends. The friends that I have. It never would have crossed my mind that they would me someone related to Maria. I honestly didn't know."
"I believe you. So, what is it that you feel for Maria?"
"If there is anything, it's just hatred. It's resentment. You are the one I love, Tania.
No one else. I personally will see to it that Maria leaves for good, but that is after her intentions. She is hazardous, Tania!"
"I know, and here comes my request."
"What is it?"
"We are taking her down together. There will be no secrets between us, Andy.
Anything that concerns her, don't leave me out of it."
"I promise."
I nod my head, feeling so free and at peace. Love is really something, huh!
"So...am I forgiven?" He asks, his eyes darkening again, perhaps with eagerness?
He might be thinking that I am still mad at him.
I lift paws, standing on my toes to match his height. I take a quick peek behind , and when I don't see anyone peeking on us at the door, or roaming at the , I pull him for a long kiss that I was so thirsty for. Darn! Did I miss ? He doesn't seem to have missed this any less either.
I would love to chew his lips until they are swollen, or even take this to a higher , but my parents might just appear from the blue and find us hungrily our lips on each other like this. I will die of embarrassment.
"What do you think?" I ask between broken breathing when we pull away.
He keeps my face between his palms, soothing my cheeks with his thumbs, a small plastered on his face as his lips curve up to crack a joke that sounds too according to his gestures and soft voice. The devilish grin in his eyes, my my!
"I think we both need to make up to each other?"
"Ooh, yeah? And what exactly will I be making up for?"
"For abandoning me. For leaving me. For breaking your promise to me. Don't do again. Please?" His face changes to a serious pleading one on the last five .
Now I feel guilty. I feel like I shouldn't have left. But at least, my thoughts have confirmed. I now am certain about my worth to him. I know exactly what I to him, and what I need to do for him - for us. For this sweet love that is so to rebel against.
"I promise. This is the first and the last time I will run away from our problems,
Andy. From now on, until eternity, I will be beside you."
"And until eternity, I will love you, Tania, and protect you. I love you, love."
"I love you, hun."
At this point, his pheromones have really over worked their magic on me. I crash lips on him again, and he receives the kiss with so much passion, longing, and , what else?
"Mmh, mmh!"
Shit! Damn shi...i...ee...t!
We pull away to the sound of someone clearing his throat behind him. Jeez!
I lick my lips to wipe the evidence of that uncalled for act, but, my, is it helping?
Definitely not, and I feel so embarrassed. I give up licking them, because I don't what sort of naughty thoughts that the sight is giving this guy here. He is the one looking like an idiot, wearing a mega smile just by watching me lick lips. Aah, right! I know what he is thinking and damn, I'm wetting my pants by thinking of what he is thinking about.
We turn around, to the sight of my family standing right in front of us.
Well! well! well!
It seems like their grandiose about my stay here was just but a charade, huh! If not, are they all here all dolly and bubbly with my suitcase? Are they for real?