Chapter 189
Aileen
As I stand beside Liam, he puts on his suit in a little bit of a hurry while engaged in conversation with me. It’s not easy to pretend that everything’s alright with me because he knows me so well but for now, I’ll do what I can. “So, any word from Stephanie?” I ask. “You’ve barely mentioned her.”
He gives me a half smile, pulling on the necktie hanging around his neck. “I didn’t know you’d be interested.”
I get closer and take over to complete his look.
“I know she hates me,” I say to him. “How could I not want to know about someone like her?”
He sighs. “She and I have barely spoken. She’s made a few attempts but it hasn’t really worked out, only because I was on my honeymoon.”
“Is she going on this business trip with you?”
“Yeah, Josh, too.”
I roll my eyes, drop my hands and get away from him.
“Hey,” he chuckles. “They’re my friends and we’ve always been a team. “Don’t worry. Everything will be alright.
His reassurance comes with another smile where he shows off his pearly whites and I nod in understanding.
“And what about Kate?”
He rolls his eyes, seemingly irritated by the mention of her name. “Don’t even go there. I’m definitely so different from who I used to be and it’s all because of you. I intend to keep things as they are, okay? Come here.” He holds out his hand while standing in place and I shake my head, taking my time while approaching him.
Placing my hand in his before I’m close enough, I gasp when he suddenly pulls me closer, his hand firmly resting against my waist as he teases to lower it to my ass.
“Whoa! Easy, tiger.” I giggle, placing my hand on his chest.
“I have to go now.” His voice is quiet as he takes in the view of my face.
“You do realize that I’m going with you all the way outside, right?” I remind him.
“I know that, but I won’t be able to do this, so let me. I should be back in a few days. We’ll definitely make up for it.” He suggestively licks his bottom lip.
I sigh, shaking my head at how soon this is happening and it’s just the beginning. Deep down, I’m relieved that he’s going away for a few days. I don’t see myself being in the moment with him if he was to make love to me, not with everything on my mind. I first need to get
some answers.
We hold hands as we head outside and I keep glancing at him, wondering what his reaction will be when he finds out the truth I’ve been hiding from him. What will he think of me? And what will the truth might mean for the press if they find out?
Trying not to think about it, I make the most of the last few seconds with him as we step outside, the bodyguards traveling with him already waiting.
“My mother-in-law called,” I say to him.
He raises his eyebrows in curiosity. “She did?”
“Yeah, just a few minutes before you stepped out of the shower.”
“Is there anything special you two talked about?”
“She wants to see me today so we can grab some food with Charlotte.”
“I guess she can’t wait to spend time with her daughter-in-law. It’s only the first day we’ve returned.”
I force a chuckle, aware that Mrs Richards would see me differently if she was to find out about my biological parents.
“She also spoke to my parents and it turns out they’ve been bothering her while we were away since they couldn’t reach me.”
He furrows his eyebrows. “What? For how long has this been going on?”
“It’s been a few days now.”
“Then why didn’t she mention it to me before?”
“I guess she didn’t want to ruin our honeymoon. She said she was able to handle it all on her own.”
He proudly nods. “Knowing my mother, I’m sure she definitely put them in their place.”
“That’s exactly what I thought but even with that, they’ll never stop and that’s why I’ll take care of it. I know what they want and I’ll let them have it. Only then will they stop all this.”
“You know what? I’ll stay out of this because that’s your decision and because of the way your family makes you feel, you’re free to do whatever you want. But if you need anything, just let me know. “Of course.” My lips curve into a smile.
He kisses me on the cheek, then on my lips and finally, on my forehead. His lips are so warm that I feel the sensation in my heart and I need something like this.
With a final goodbye, he gets in the backseat and the limousine drives off to the airport.
Just as I lose sight of it, I head back inside, reaching for my phone and calling Mery for us to meet up but she can only do it in a few hours.
Her suggested time clashes with net
meeting my mother-in-law, so send her a text, requesting that we meet an hour earlier to have a meal with Charlotte and she has no objections.
I still have so much to unpack as a way to get my mind off the articles about who my biological parents are and just as I begin, I pause, bothered by how my adoptive parents shamelessly made their demands to my mother-in-law. Like my life depends on it, I scroll on my phone, unblocking each of them, something which I lied about earlier to Liam.
I then dial my mother’s number and she picks up in an instant.
“The nerve of you to call me after blocking all of us! Ungrateful!” she yells from the other end of the line.
I scoff. “That’s the first thing you say when you can finally speak to me again?”
“What the hell is up with that condescending tone? Is it because you’re a billionaire’s wife? You better listen to me. You’re going to give us what we deserve no matter how much you try to ignore us!”
“Is that why you went as far as bothering Mrs Richards with this? I’m actually glad you did because she put you in your place.”
She clears her throat from the other end of the line. “Just…just give us what we freaking want!”
“And then you’ll leave me alone?”
“Isn’t that obvious? What else could we possibly want from you after that?”
“Fine.”
She chuckles, her tone turning sweet. “See? That was so easy. Why not always be such an amazing daughter like this?”
Not falling for it, I shake my head and say, “I’ll need some time to get it all done.”
“What? We’re not moving today?”
“I just told you I need some time.”
“In that case, get us one of those fancy apartments we can stay in at a daily rate.”
“No. I’m not doing anything more than what I already have in mind and that’s what you’ll take, so stay where you are.”
I hang up on her, throwing my head back with my eyes shut as I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. I just want them out of my life.
–
Meeting up with my mother-in-law for the first time after my honeymoon at one of her famous five-star restaurants is a little awkward as she won’t stop asking about my honeymoon. Her questions make me a little embarrassed. “Did my son make you happy?” She raises an eyebrow with a smile.
“Uhm… yes, he did.” I nervously chuckle.
“Excellent. Your real life together starts now and no matter what comes your way, keep that fire between you two alive.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” Before she
can say something that will make my face turn red, I rush to change the subject.. “You once asked me about what I intend to do. For now, was wondering if I could join you in the work you do at the orphanage and children’s hospital. I know this is something I’ll love doing because I can make those children happy. I also can relate to the orphans.”
“If you want to do this with a pure heart, then you’re welcome. A heart of gold when it comes to the children is one of the first reasons that made me fall for Dominic. could see that he wasn’t doing it just for the cameras so he could boost his reputation.”
“Speaking of reputation, Liam told me what is expected of me.”
She firmly nods. “So far, I believe you’ll do well because you’re a good girl. That’s why I expect you not to bring shame to our family.”
I swallow hard, fearing what the reaction will be once this gets out. I shouldn’t let that happen.
Just as I play out all the possibilities in my head that might come out of who my biological parents are, I flinch a little when a third person sits with us. I look up and I’m met with a bright smile from Charlotte.
“Hello! I’m sorry I took a while to get here. One of my meetings took a while. Shall we order?”
Her presence lightens the mood for the rest of my time with the two of them as we discuss a range of topics. I needed that so I don’t dwell on what is yet to happen.
The two of them are such busy people that right after our delicious meals, they have business to attend to and I don’t mind as it’s finally time to meet Meryl, so I get in my car and instruct the driver to take me to our meeting place.
I pick her up, both of us sitting in silence as we glance at each other. Why does it feel like she’s just as nervous as I am?
The car finally pulls up to the address and the two of us step out, my heart pounding hard in my chest as my breath gets a little heavy because this is it.
“Hey,” Meryl says, reaching for my hand. “Are you really ready to do this?”
I exhale deeply. “Yes, let’s go.”