Chapter 31: The Proof of Love

“Who said I don’t want to?” I said with a smirk on my face.

He looked at me and chuckled. I raised my eyebrow at his weird reaction.

“What?” I asked with suspicion.

“What—what? Are you serious?” He was laughing but then stopped.

“Of course I am!” I smiled.

He shook his head and took a step back. “No—not this soon, Scar. I think it is best to get our lives settled first. With everything wrong going on, I can’t think of anything good right now.”

I sighed. I couldn’t disagree with what he was saying. To be honest, I also had similar thoughts, but I imagined that maybe Max would need concrete proof that I was serious with him this time. And somehow, this time I was willing to give him anything and everything because I was not going to leave him again, no matter what happened.

“But I…” I continued after a moment. “I want you to be sure that I want to be with you. This way—“

“Are you out of your mind?” He asked as he took a few steps away from me. He looked sideways and I heard a sigh. “Do you think I am such a kind of man?”

“What? No, of course not!” I said and pulled him toward me. “I think it is the opposite.”

“Do you?”

“Yes, Max.”

He smiled. “Then don’t talk about anything like that ever again. You don’t need to prove anything to me. I am with you and that means I fully trust you — and we don’t need to be physical unless you’re comfortable and want to.”

I just smiled at his beautiful words. I didn’t have words to say anything. Everytime, he just rendered me speechless with his thoughts. He was one hell of a man.

“How did you become like this? Did any angel touch you or something?” I laughed and asked him.

He grinned. “They say that an angel named Scarlet managed to make her way into my life and changed me for the better.”

I laughed till my cheeks were all red, while he joined me too. I realised I was the happiest I had ever been when I was with him. Every little thing was beautiful to me. It felt like I could do anything and be anywhere if Max was there with me. It felt as if I had suddenly learned to appreciate the littlest of things.

I would have bet on exactly the opposite when I was with him the last time.

“Scar, do you wanna eat anything?” He asked me after a moment and I nodded.

“I couldn’t be more hungry!”

_____________

“So this is… Max. His full name is Maxence Rodriguez,” I sat in front of Andrew on the floor as he sat on the couch to match his height.

He looked at me and then at Max, who was standing beside me. He had just woken up before we were about to sleep, so I thought it was best to introduce Max. After all, I didn’t think he would like an unknown man around.

“Uncle Max,” He said in a happy tone. “It is nice to meet you.”

“Not uncle, Andrew,” Max sat beside me and I looked at him. He gave me a small smile and I nodded before he turned to Drew again. “I am going to take the place of your father. You can call me dad.”

Drew was constricted at the sudden change of relations, but he took his time in analysing the situation. I had no idea what went in the mind of this six year old when he heard someone new as his father — but I guess it was all for the better because he smiled.

“Daddy!” He shouted and got up, running into Max.

My face lit up as I saw the reaction. With the sudden force, Max was forced backwards and he laid on the floor, with Drew in his hands. He held him high in the air, while they both laughed.

I never thought to see Drew laugh like that. That seemed like the happiness of a child who finally got everything he had wanted in his life. Of course, he had always wanted a father — and Max just filled that empty hole.

“Daddy, please never leave me and mom. I don’t ever wanna be without a dad again,” He said as he got quiet and hugged Max.

Max stood up and patted his head. “I promise you that, little one.”

“Now you should set up your things and when you get tired, you can sleep again,” I said as I pulled him toward me. “Me and Max have been up for a long time so we’ll sleep now, okay?”

He nodded. “Have a goodnight, mommy.”

I smiled. He turned to Max and a bigger smile spread on his lips. “Goodnight daddy!”

Max rubbed Andrew’s head and smiled. “Thank you, Drew.”

“Is this room ours!?” He shouted as he finally looked around — which he probably hadn’t, till now.

“All yours, son,” Max said and his face shone brightly.

“Woah!”

“Okay now calm down and unpack your stuff.”

He nodded.

I had brought whatever important stuff was left in my last house to here just a few minutes ago because I didn’t want to think about my past life after I slept tonight.

I just wanted to be free and think as if a new life had started today. And for that, I needed to look forward and never go back again.

“Let’s sleep,” I heard Max. We went to bed and soon, sleep devoured me.

__________

My eyes opened after long hours of rest. I looked around and everything came back to me as a movie and a smile spread on my lips on its own. I looked to my side but Max wasn’t there.

“Max?” I said as I got up.

“Just in the shower, baby,” I heard him.

“Okay!” I said and got up. I heard the shower close off after a minute while I was combing my hair.

I turned back as I heard the bathroom’s door open. Max walked out with his hair wet and a towel in his hand, which he simultaneously used to waipe them off.

“Damn,” I whispered and looked down.

“What happened, Scar?” He smirked and looked at me with an intense gaze.

“Don’t act so innocent, Max,” I said. “And Drew must be around.”

“No, he went to school.”

“School? But I thought we would change his school. Shouldn’t we?”

“Not in this session. It would affect him adversely. He would lose his friends at such a young age and his studies would be left behind. If we need to change schools, we will do it from next year. Till then, I will keep him safe.”

I smiled. “You’re just so thoughtful.”

“I should be. Otherwise, I wouldn’t deserve you.” He grinned.

I shook my head. “I have to go for a shower. What are you gonna do now?”

“I have to go to the company today,” I heard him behind me. “Would you come along?”

“Should I?” I turned around and asked.

“It is your wish. If you want me to introduce you, you can.”

“Would it be good for business?” I raised an eyebrow.

“How does business matter?” He raised his eyebrows too. “Isn’t this a part of my personal life?”

“But—“

“It is your wish, Scarlet. If you wanna come along, I will wait.”

I smiled. “Then, I will be ready in a few.”

He nodded and smiled back. I went to the shower to have a quick one. The excitement level in me rose.

As soon as I came out of the bathroom, I saw a note kept on the table. I walked over and picked it up.

“I am waiting in the reception. I thought to make amendments regarding the residents of the penthouse so you can get access when I am not around. Come down when you’re ready.”

I smiled like a crazy woman. I never had anyone to care for me like he did and no one was ever so considerate about me and of course, it seemed like no one could make a better father for Drew than him — so how could I not fall for him?

I combed my hair again and after giving final touches to my look, I picked up my phone. Suddenly, I noticed a message.

“This is Ava, Drew’s classmate.”

I raised my eyebrows and looked at the message with a suspicious gaze. Well, okay. Why would she message me, and how did she get my number? Do they even know how to text at this age?

“This is Drew’s mother. Hi Ava. Do you need anything?”

I didn’t know what else to say. I have never really talked to someone else’s kid this way before.

Shockingly, she was online and replied immediately.

“If you don’t meet with Mr. Xavier immediately, you will lose Drew forever.”