Chapter 35

Cayden had gone to work without having his breakfast today again! Bianca thought, sitting on one of the dining chairs. The hell! She watched how Jasmine took the tray of food back into the kitchen.

Soon, Jasmine emerged from the kitchen with another tray on which covered plates were, a rock glass, and an orange drink. She was about to climb up the stairs…

"Doesn't she eat in the dining room anymore?" Bianca raised a brow.

"She prefers I serve her in her room, ma'am," Jasmine said, facing downward.

"For how long?" Bianca asked.

"For a couple of weeks now, ma'am."

"Really?" Bianca took off some strands of her from her face. "Does she even talk to Cayden at all?"

Jasmine shrugged. "Never seen them talk since I resumed…"

Bianca gazed down, fumbling with the gold rings on her fingers.

"B…but," Jasmine said and Bianca gazed up at her with those glowing ocean-blue eyes. "I'm pretty sure they communicate in private."

Bianca's lower arms were placed on the dining table with a rock glass close by. She fumbled with her gold rings and gazed up at Jasmine. "So, you've not noticed anything fishy going down between them both?"

"I… 'm sorry ma'am," Jasmine said. "I…cant relate. I'm also curious."

**

With a glare, Bianca watched as Jasmine climbed up the stairs with the tray. She drummed her right fingers on the table and blew out heavily. Her glare fixed on the stairs, she picked up the rock glass and sipped her drink.

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"Can we talk for a sec?" Sitting on one of the sofas with her legs crossed, Bianca asked. She had her spec on.

Elodre slowed down her pace and paused, adjusting her love-shape spec. She was all dressed in her usual– bodysuit ankle-length gown on heels. Gazing elsewhere, she bit her juicy red lower lip, hesitating. She turned to Bianca and said, "I'm sorry, but we can't." She spoke softly and walked off.

What the!! Bianca's brows furrowed. Slow burning anger creeping from her stomach to her chest, she adjusted in discomfort.

Elodre got out of the living room and shut the door mildly.

Seriously?! Bianca took off her spec and folded her arms, glaring at the door with wide eyes. Astonishment was glowing in her blue eyes.

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"What about we sit out tonight?" The masseur was smiling down at her.

"Maybe," She said, gazing up at him. "But not tonight." She grasped the doorknob and opened it.

"It will always be my pleasure whenever you're ready." He shrugged. He was standing very close to her and…

"I gotta go now," She said.

"Urrm, sure," He poked his right finger into his thick long black hair and scratched his head. "Can't believe I don't know your name." He chuckled softly. "I'm Roberts. Roberts Rodney actually."

"Oh, nice!" Elodre smiled up at him. "What a combination. Roberts Rodney." They chuckled softly. "Well, I'm Elodre."

"Wow! Elodre!" He said. "So beautiful!"

"Yeah," Elodre said. "See you around!" She was about to step out of the massage room.

"Urrm, could I at least see you off?" He was scratching his head and she laughed.

"No biggie!" She said and they both got out of the room.

"Where are you headed, Rodie?!" Stephnie, a red-haired lady was coming toward their direction with a smile.

"Shhh!" He gesticulated. "Don't tell anyone." He winked at her and she shrugged, smiling.

**

The spa was cold, elegant, and glassy with bright emissions of lights everywhere. A lot of activities were ongoing. Different pictures of creams, soaps, and models were mounted beautifully at several spots. A series of footsteps, plus hums of conversations filled the air as people were walking to and fro.

"That was Stephnie," Roberts gazed down at her as they walked amid other people. "She's a masseuse."

Raising a brow while gazing up at him, she smiled and shook her head slightly. "You don't owe me an explanation, do you?"

With a shrug, he said, "Maybe I do."

Walking behind them, someone took a picture of them. "Great! Nice caption!"

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"Oh, Cayden!!" Bianca stood up from the sofa once Cayden emerged into the living room with his suit hung on his right lower arm.

He shut the door mildly. "Mom!" He hugged her with one arm and pecked her forehead. He gazed down at her. "Why did you stay up this late?" He glanced at his wristwatch. "It's eleven thirty, mom."

"Can't go to bed when I know my son isn't back." She was gazing up at him.

"Aww, mom." He tightened his arm around her.

"You've been coming home late lately, and I'm worried." She said,

"Comm'n mom, I'm fine," He said. "Stop worrying about me like I'm some kid."

"Cayden?" Locking her glittery eyes in his, she held his wrist with both hands, feeling the hardness of his steel wristwatch, and this made him curious. "Look, I'm sorry if I've been a horrible mom to you. I…I want you to trust me, please, Cayden. I care so much about you. I'm so sorry."

"Mom," He curved his arm around her shoulders. "Comm'n, let's go sit there."

He gently tossed his suit on the sofa and sat. Pulling her arm gently, she sat close to him. Resting both lower arms on his thighs, he locked his fingers together and hesitated briefly. "Mom, it's fine, okay?" He took her hand into his hard palm and gently brushed it with his thumb. "You're my mom. My beautiful…and crazy mom…" He smiled down at her.

She smiled back.

"I love you regardless." He crossed his right arm over her head and cuddled her.

Resting her head on his chest, she said, "It really hurt my feelings when you yelled at me that night. I felt like a piece of shit…like you never wanna see me around you."

He heaved a sigh, stroking her back. Not after all she'd been doing to his wife. Not when she hated Elodre and could go all the way out to humiliate her. "Mom, I'm sorry…I didn't mean to…to hurt your feelings. But you must understand what I meant. I'm a married man…and I sure need some privacy."

"Especially when we both know how you'd been mistreating Elodre." He added softly.

Gazing downward, her smile slowly faded. Of course! She's aware. He'd always been protecting his dear wife.

"But it's fine." He said, gazing down at her.

She lifted her face and met his eyes. "B…but I haven't been problematic since I came."

Cayden let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, mom."

"Yeah at least," She said. "Has she ever filed any complaint against me since I came?"

This made him think about his wife. He'd really been rough on her lately, hence, she wouldn't even have the nerve to look at him for five seconds straight, much less file a complaint about his mother. Not after he'd slapped her the other day for mentioning his mom. He sighed. What if she had complaints? He wondered.

"Yet, she's not spoken to me since I came," Bianca said.

That wasn't a big deal to him.

"I…I even tried to talk with her today b…but she just snubbed me. That was way too much."

"She snubbed you?" He raised a brow. "Like, she didn't even say a word to you?"

"She didn't even stop," Bianca said.

"Stop?" He asked. "What do you mean stop?"

She hesitated briefly and said, "She was so dressed up…so, I tried to talk to her when she was about to step out." She paused briefly and said. "She's been going out since nowadays."

"Since you came?"

"Yes," Bianca said. "I just wonder where."

Well, he never knew this. She's been going out?! To where?! He wondered. He blew out. He could have asked when Elodre usually returned home but…no. He sighed and said, "She has the right to step out at least. It's not a problem."

Of course! Here we go again. Bianca thought. "Yeah, I was just saying."

"About her snubbing you," Cayden said. "I'm sorry about that, mom. Just give her some time to get used to you." He said.

"Yeah, I get it," Her lips pulled in a smile. "It's all good." She hesitated briefly and said, "I'm just glad things are going on smoothly between you both. But, I wonder why you've not been eating at home."

Oh, damn! Not again! His mom never gives up! She always knows when to hit the hard question.

"Don't tell me that's not a problem as well." She said,

He blew out heavily.

"I'm surprised Elodre doesn't prepare your food anymore." She said,

"Food isn't my problem, mom." He said. "I'm aware that my wife doesn't prepare meals but, why is Jasmine here?"

"So what's the problem?" She asked.

"I've got a whole lot at work going through my head lately. I'm just so carried away."

"Cayden?"

"What, Mom?"

She wanted to speak but bit back her words. She didn't want to upset him. "It's fine, then. But you'd have to eat before leaving tomorrow. Promise?"

He sighed and stroked her back. "Alright, mom. I will."

"Finally!" She grinned.

He pecked her again and said, "I gotta go, Mom." He yawned. "I'm so fuckin tired right now."

"Cayden, you know how much I dislike F words."

He sighed and lifted his arm away from her. "Good night, mom!"

***

Walking up the stairs, Cayden couldn't stop thinking about what his mother had said about his wife. She goes out?! To where?! Was she really cheating on him again?! She must be fickin kidding him right now! This ignited anger in him.

How dare she?!

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