Chapter 131

Chapter 131
After a long, soothing evening bath, I changed into a cute nightgown and headed to the kitchen. The cool tiles felt good under my bare feet. I grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the fridge, the condensation slick against my palm, and poured a generous amount into a glass.
As I savored the tangy sweetness of the juice, scrolling mindlessly through my phone, a message popped up, halting my thumb mid-swipe. My heart did a little flutter, anticipating something good, but that feeling vanished as soon as I read it.
"I warned you not to meet with him, but you didn't listen. Now watch and see what happens to those who do not listen."
A shiver traced its way down my spine, raising goosebumps on my arms. I reread the message, trying to decipher its meaning. Was it a threat? A warning? My stomach churned with unease.
After a forced, lighthearted chat with everyone, trying to mask the growing anxiety gnawing at me, I retreated to my bedroom. I adjusted the duvet, smoothing out the wrinkles, and lay on the bed. My eyes were glued to the ceiling, my mind racing, replaying the message over and over.
"Great," I muttered to myself, a wave of frustration washing over me. "I haven't had a decent night's sleep in days, and tonight is definitely going to be another sleepless night, all thanks to this stupid message."
Driven by a mix of fear and defiance, I grabbed my phone and composed a message to Jayden. My fingers trembled slightly as I typed.
"We still have some unfinished business. Let's meet again. Tomorrow, lunchtime, same restaurant. Goodnight." I hit send, a knot of anticipation tightening in my chest.
I placed my phone on the cabinet beside my bed, switched off the lights, and tried to settle in for the night, hoping against hope that I could resolve this whole mess.
Jayden stepped out of his bathroom, absently drying his wet hair with a towel when his phone buzzed with a message. He grabbed it from the bed, his curiosity piqued.
He read the message, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Hmmm...sounds good," he murmured, a glint of amusement in his eyes.
He quickly texted back his reply, then tossed his phone onto the bed and headed to his closet, a newfound energy coursing through him.
My phone vibrated, jolting me slightly. I reached for it, my heart pounding in my chest.
Jayden's message was on the screen. "Sounds like a date. Sure. See you tomorrow. Goodnight."
My heart skipped a beat when I read the first part. "Date? He's out of his mind," I thought, a mixture of annoyance and something else I couldn't quite name bubbling inside me. "Now go to bed, Monalisa. It's going to be a great day tomorrow," I told myself firmly, trying to banish the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
I placed my phone back on the cabinet, but just as I closed my eyes, the door creaked open slowly. I raised my head slightly, squinting in the dim light.
Joshua stood there, clutching his favorite plushie, his eyes wide and a little uncertain. I sat up immediately, a wave of warmth washing over me.
"What's my baby boy doing here?" I asked softly, my voice filled with love.
"Not baby," Joshua mumbled, shuffling his feet. "Mum, can I stay with you tonight?"
"Of course, baby," I said, my heart swelling with affection. "Come, come to mummy." I spread my arms open, a genuine smile lighting up my face.
"Thank you, Mum," Joshua said, his voice filled with relief.
He climbed into my bed and snuggled beside me. I tucked him in, wrapping my arms around him, feeling an overwhelming sense of peace and protection. He was my world. I kissed his forehead, and soon, we both drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up early, feeling surprisingly refreshed. For some reason, I wasn't feeling weak or tired. I had actually had a good night's sleep.
"Maybe it's because Joshua stayed with me last night," I mused, a smile playing on my lips.
I pulled the curtains open and pushed the window wide, letting the fresh morning air and the warm sunlight flood into my bedroom, chasing away the lingering shadows of the previous night.
I went into my bathroom, took a refreshing bath, and got dressed for the day. When I came out, Joshua was already up and had gone to Donald's bedroom. Donald always helped him get ready in the mornings.
I found Tricia in the kitchen, busily fixing breakfast. I joined her, eager to help.
"Good morning, Tricia," I said cheerfully. "Why don't you go get ready for work? I'll take over here."
"Oh, that's so nice of you, Monalisa," Tricia said, looking relieved. "I'll be back in a bit." She carefully placed the spoon down and left the kitchen for her bedroom.
I finished making breakfast, humming softly to myself, and set the table for everyone.
We all ate together, the atmosphere light and cheerful, and then left for the office. Donald and I decided to take Joshua to his new school first, to check it out and make sure he felt comfortable.
We loved the school, and luckily for us, Joshua seemed to like it too. We spent some time with him, exploring the classrooms and the playground, and then, with a promise to pick him up later, we bid him goodbye and drove off to the office, feeling a sense of accomplishment.
while we drove down to the office, I recalled the message I had received last night.
"I can't wait to meet Jayden and get all the answers I need and that sender bitch... I'm going to deal with her...in such a way she never expected it." it muttered..
"Are you okay Mona? Donald asked.
"Oh yes I'm good. I'm just... nothing. Just drive " I smiled at him.
"Okay. if you need anything...let me know."
"Yes"
"Mona..."
"Yes,?
"Always remember...that I'm here for you, always" he said touching my hand.
"Yes I know. Really comforting" I smiled at him.
"Good"
immediately, I looked away.
I couldn't wait for the clock to strike lunchtime, I need to see Jayden.
But the...for some reason, a part of me was excited to see him. Why?
Perhaps....do I...? No way right? No way!