Chapter 25 Family of the month

The next morning, the pain was much better. She got up and Ayden wasn’t there. The painkillers and the ice pack did help. She walked towards the bathroom to freshen up.

After having a shower, she felt relaxed even if it was for a short time. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt pity for herself. The marks on her body turned purple now and were everywhere. The redness on her face was gone.

Walking out the bathroom with the bathrobe on, she walked towards her closet. She couldn’t wear something which exposed any part of her body because she did care about what mom would think.

Mom was always nice to her and with her, Eve felt like home. She doesn’t want to make her sad.

She took a high neck top with full sleeves and paired it with loose fit black jogger pants. One last time looking at herself in the mirror, she walked out of the room. Mom was sitting in the living room but when she saw her coming, she went towards her.

Mom hugged her all of a sudden and she hugged her back. She needed it very badly. Controlling her tears, she drew back from her.

“Eve, are you okay?”

“Yes mom. I’m good.” She replied.

“Eve, take care of yourself. You keep on falling sick and it pains me. I asked Ayden to take you to the doctor.” Mom said in a sad tone.

“Mom, I’m really fine now. Don’t worry.” She assured her. By this time, Freya came out from her room.

“Why are you wearing such clothes? It’s so hot today.” Freya asked, her eyebrows raising in suspicion.

Mom walked to the kitchen to get something to eat for Eve.

Eve didn’t know how to answer that. Suddenly, Grace, who was in Freya’s arms for the first time, started crying.

“Look at this brat! She cries all the time. I came out to hand her to mom but look, she got her favourite person. Take her.” She said to Eve.

Eve took Grace from her and pressed her teeth to suppress the pain she felt suddenly. Freya looked at her and felt that something was wrong but didn’t care much and went to her room back.

Picking Grace up suddenly caused pain in her right arm. It would be much better if Freya would’ve put Grace in her lap directly just like Bryan did yesterday.

“Give her to me.” It was Ayden.

Ayden asked Eve to give Grace to him and he picked her up. Eve sat down on the couch and he put Grace next to her.

“Call Laura, she’ll pick her up.” After saying this, he walked away.

So this was how he was always like. According to him, dressing up the wound after inflicting them, makes it excusable.

She looked away from him and turned all of her attention to the little girl crying in front of her. Grace was becoming everything to her. She was so fond of her that she wanted to be with her all the time.

“Hello, my little princess. Don’t cry, please. I’ll take you somewhere if you stop crying. I’m not lying baby…. We’ll go somewhere.” She talked with Grace while caressing her face. Grace stopped crying eventually.

Mom and Laura came together. Laura put her food on the table. Eve ate it while playing with Grace. Laura was deeply concerned about Eve’s health and felt bad for her.

After an hour or so when Ayden and Bryan came out of the forbidden room, mom called them.

“Ayden, take Eve outside. She will feel better.” Mom said. Eve wanted him to say no but he didn’t.

“Come, Eve. Let’s go.” And Eve stood up immediately, surprising everyone there. She was scared to defy him again.

“Can we take…Gracie with us? I promised her.” She whispered to Ayden. He looked back at her and she looked down. Maybe she made him angry again.

But to her surprise, he walked towards Bryan and took Grace from him, saying something to him. After that, both of them walked for some time. They finally reached towards the car. After putting Grace on Eve’s lap, he drove.

The whole car drive was soothing for Ayden as Eve kept on smiling while playing with Grace. Seeing both of the angels together, he felt good.

They were on a beach. It was the first time after so long she went out of that house and she felt good, surprisingly. Ayden held Grace in her arms but she started crying.

“No no no…don’t cry baby. See, we are at a beach. How beautiful it is!” She pacified the little baby. But looking at the beach made her a little emotional. She tried to control her tears but couldn’t. Remembering her good days with her family made her heart clench.

Ayden looked at her and then held her hand. Then, walking for some time, they finally sat down.

“Don’t cry, baby.” He said, mimicking her. She just stared at him with emotionless eyes and wiped her tears.

Moving closer to her, he put his hand on her shoulder and gave Grace to her. The three of them enjoyed the view. There were not many people there.

Gracie was very happy with them as she kept on smiling all the time. Both of them played with her.

After some time, Grace fell asleep. They ate something at the nearby hotel. It was a small hotel, newly opened.

They were about to leave the place when the hotel manager came with a gift.

“Your family has won our ‘special family of the month’. This is a special program we do every month.” The other people sitting in the hotel clapped for them.

Eve was in no mood to talk to anyone. She has been like that for some time. Sometimes, even when she wanted to say something, she felt too lazy or maybe she lost interest in everything.

But, even Ayden didn’t correct them and smiled warmly at the people who were clapping at them.

“You’re very lucky. Your husband is so handsome.” An old woman said to Eve. She just nodded.

Eve wanted to laugh at this statement. Everyone can be deceived by that beautiful exterior of his, the truth was only known to her.

“Well, then the man is more lucky. His wife is more beautiful and she gave him the best gift of his life…their child.” The old woman’s husband answered his wife.

Ayden smiled at the couple talking about them. The thought of having a child with her again surged inside him.

Returning back to their car, he put the seat belt on Eve. Then moving closer to her, carefully enough not to wake Grace, he kissed her lips passionately.

Eve didn’t stop him, still scared from him. Also, she was used to it, him forcing her. The naïve girl she was told to play, was what she was actually becoming.