Dorian
As I told the entire story to Malcolm and Derek. My chest became very light. It felt as if a heavy load was lifted off my chest.
My whole body became light.
However, I didn't get the expected reaction from Malcolm.
He knew the whole story.
He knew the truth all along yet he loved Melody so much. This realization made me respect Malcolm more than I already do.
Derek on the other hand was dumbfounded as he should be. Because every one of us wouldn't be in this situation if his father hadn't started the enmity. His father was a sore loser who couldn't accept that a woman refused him despite his status. And now, Derek is following that same step.
Arrogant fool.
His face irks me so much that I feel like tearing the skin on his face off and feeding it to him. Even though a part of me kind of feels sorry for him though.
This wasn't his fault in a way.
He was raised to always get what he wants just as his father was raised. But if he thinks he can get my woman then he must be joking because I won't let Melody go regardless of whatever happens.
Melody and the twins have come to mean so much more to me than I can express.
"So, Momma... Grandma is a bad person." Giovanni's voice pulled me out of my thoughts as he turned to look at me.
The poor child didn't even know what to call the woman who supposedly gave birth to his mother. This must be too complicated even for a lad as smart as him.
"No, Gio, not bad. She isn't bad. She just made the wrong choice at that time."
I tried to explain in a simple way for him to understand.
"But she drugged Grandpa," He retorted.
I probably forgot that Giovanni's mind works ten times faster than kids of his age.
"Yes son," I agreed as I thought of how to explain better. I couldn't have him hating his supposed grandma even though I hated her myself.
I know that Melody wouldn't want that, so I tried explaining again.
"She drugged Grandpa because someone asked her to. She didn't have a choice. Just like you when Jeremy asks you to do squats." He looked straight at me as if he was starting to get my point.
"You know squats are painful but you have to do it because Jeremy asked you to. Do you understand that now?"
Jeremy is the new guard I hired for the twins after Felix attacked the pack. Jeremy is a tall and well-built man with unlimited strength and unrivalled stamina.
He is a great fighter. So, I asked him to train the twins in combat.
"But I only do squats because I will become stronger if I do. I don't do that because Jeremy asks me to." He bit his lips. "I wouldn't do anything just because someone asks me to. I do anything because I want to."
Goodness.
Sometimes I get confused by this boy's maturity and I keep asking myself if he really is a six-year-old and not some old man in the body of a child.
"That's good," I pat his golden hair. "Because you are responsible for the decisions you make."
Gio shrugged as if he understood what I meant.
"Grandpa hates momma so much because of wicked grandma, right?"
I felt my eyes sting at his words.
Even though he is right, I don't think a child like him should know what hatred is and understand why someone hates his mother.
"No, Gio," Malcolm pulled him into his arms. "Grandpa doesn't hate your momma, okay?"
"But he made her cry every time in Mallory just like King Kong."
Now that's funny.
The fact that he keeps calling Derek King Kong makes me want to laugh my lungs out. But I know that the situation right now is dire and I shouldn't do that.
"I'm sorry that I made your momma cry, dear." Derek tried to touch Giovanni but the boy cringed into Malcom's arms. "I was foolish back then and that's why I have come to apologize."
Gio blinked and his brows raised in amazement as if he heard something outrageous.
Well, that says a lot.
The boy probably doubts the genuineness of his story.
"You want to apologize to Momma?" He repeated.
"No," Derek shook his head. "Not just to your Momma, but to you and Aaron too."
Giovanni's eyes darted in my direction as if he was asking if this was real and as much as I would have loved to scream to him that it's not real. That it's all an act, I couldn't.
I couldn't do that because I didn't want to confuse him.
"You will apologize to Aaron? And me too?" The boy repeated.
"I will, Son." Derek's voice broke. "I just want you all to forgive me."
"What's this about?" Giovanni crossed his arms across his chest and he looked at Derek with scrutiny. As if interviewing him. "Are you planning something again?"
I always feel so proud whenever I see how smart Giovanni turned out to be.
Who would have thought that the boy who went through several resuscitations before he could breathe? The same boy whom we all thought would never survive will turn out to be so smart.
Who would have thought that the little boy who wouldn't stop crying until I held him in my arms was the same one standing before me right now?
I brushed my hand through his hair and he came out of Malcolm's arms to hug me.
"Is he planning to hurt momma again?"
I knew that he was talking about Derek, so I squatted to his height and made eye contact with him.
"You should know that no one can hurt Momma when I'm around," I replied, raising my head to look at Derek.
"But Momma is hurt now and she's gone." He sounded sad.
"Don't worry, dear. Your momma will be back soon." I replied.
The door opened and Melody stepped in looking as radiant as ever.
"I am back."