Chapter 153 Dream of me

Chapter 153 Dream of me
Call it pregnancy hormones or just boredom and trying not to stress think, bath became my next favorite.

One sweat drop and I am in the tub.

I don't like the smell of tea and I am washing again!

Gosh! It was fucking 3 am and I snuck out to soak in the tub.

The guest bathroom smelled like rosehip and chamomile. I stood in front of the large vanity mirror, the soft golden lights casting a warm glow over my face. One week out of the hospital, and my body still felt like it belonged to someone else - slower, heavier, more fragile. 

Could be just mood swings, or the fact that Mateowould soon be going to court. I needed to see my father but a Chicken like me refused to call him back and ohh, the DNA test.

What if I just do the goddam NIPP Test because I give myself high blood pressure!

I squeezed a small amount of night cream onto my fingertips and began patting it gently under my eyes. The motion was soothing, almost meditative. I worked it into my skin in slow circles, moving down to my cheeks, then my jawline. My reflection stared back at me - eyes still a little shadowed from exhaustion, but the color in my cheeks was slowly returning. I touched my belly lightly, a habit I couldn't break. The baby was still there. Still fighting. That was enough for now.

The door creaked open behind me. I immediately knew it was him.

Mateo stepped in, wearing only black sweatpants that hung low on his hips. He looked every bit sleepy. Messy hair, rosy face, dare I say cutely-hot with all those tattoos dark against his skin, silver threading through his hair at the temples - but the moment his eyes met mine in the mirror, something softer flickered across his face.

I grinned at him through the reflection. "Running away already?"

He paused mid-step, clearly caught. A guilty smirk tugged at his lips. "I was just... checking on you."

"Liar." I turned around, holding up the jar of night cream. "My back itches. Come help me."

He hates skin care and somehow he has the most perfect skin ever.

He groaned dramatically but walked over anyway, shoulders slumping in mock defeat. "You're going to turn me into a skincare influencer at this rate."

I laughed softly and handed him the jar. He took it with surprisingly gentle hands, dipping his fingers in before starting to rub the cream onto my shoulders and upper back. His touch was careful, almost reverent, thumbs pressing lightly into the knots near my spine. I closed my eyes, leaning into the warmth of his palms.

"You're getting good at this," I murmured.

"Don't tell anyone," he grumbled, but I could hear the smile in his voice. "I have a reputation to protect."

We fell into easy silence for a moment, broken only by the soft sounds of his hands on my skin. Then I decided to push a little.

"You know... if we have a girl, you're going to have a lot of makeup practice on your face. I'm already planning the tutorials."

Mateo's hands stilled. "Absolutely not."

I turned in his arms, grinning up at him. "Come on, Daddy. Think of the content. 'Billionaire does daughter's makeup tutorial.' It'll break the internet."

He groaned, dropping his forehead to my shoulder. "I'd rather fight Rafiq again."

I laughed, the sound bubbling up freely for the first time in days. He pulled back, eyes sparkling with mischief, and flicked a tiny bit of cream onto my nose. I retaliated by smearing some across his cheek. Soon we were both laughing, play-fighting like teenagers, his strong arms wrapping around me to stop my escape.

We both needed an adult to come remind us it was still 3 am in the bloody morning.

"Truce," he said, still chuckling as he pinned me gently against the counter. "You win."

We stayed like that for a while, foreheads touching, breathing each other in. The laughter faded into something quieter.

"Thank you" I said.

He grinned and I could see how sleepy he was. 

"You can go to sleep,I will be there soon" I said softly, tracing a finger along one of his tattoos. 

Mateo shook his head "So I blink and you go all Humpty Dumpty like Lucian? He broke both arms and both legs on different occasions."

I couldn't help but laugh. He sure looks like a worried parent.

Mateo nodded, a fond but pained smile crossing his face. "Yeah. He was... chaotic. Fell out of a tree trying to impress some friends. Broke his arm. Then tried to skateboard down the grand staircase. Both legs. I thought I was going to have a heart attack every time."

I shook my head, amused. "I can't even remember breaking more than my pinky finger as a kid."

Mateo looked down at me, eyes soft. "I can't remember which bone I didn't break. My mother used to say I was trying to give her gray hair early."

We laughed again, the sound filling the quiet bathroom. It felt good - normal, almost. For a few precious minutes, the weight of everything else lifted.

Then I hesitated, fingers still on his chest. "What about telling Lucian? About the court date?"

Mateo's expression sobered. He leaned back against the counter, pulling me with him so I stood between his legs. "I'm thinking of telling him tomorrow morning. I hope he stays home so he doesn't see The interim hearing tomorrow. You know. For Temporary custody, restraining orders, the works. The earlier we do it, the better."

I nodded, resting my cheek against his chest. "I'll be with you."

He was quiet for a moment, then said, "Rafiq accepted a closed court. No media. I don't want this circus in our lives and since he is a kid and it's urgent...better."

"Good," I whispered. "I'll be right there beside you."

Mateo's arms tightened around me. "What if he wins? What if the court-"

"He won't," I cut in firmly, pulling back to look him in the eyes. "Lucian is thirteen. He's old enough to speak for himself. And de facto parent status exists for a reason. Rafiq almost snapped his neck. No judge worth anything is going to give him custody after that."

Mateo searched my face, then gave a small nod. He looked exhausted but a little lighter.

I grinned suddenly. "Now hold still. We've got a face mask and lip mask to wear tonight."

He groaned but let me apply them, complaining the entire time about "smelling like a flower shop." When I was done, he looked ridiculous - green mask on his face, shiny lip treatment making his mouth glossy. I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

Slowly, he ushered me to lay well in the bed. I didn't notice at first.

"What are you doing?" I asked when he suddenly went stiff as a board.

"I have a mask on," he scoffed, trying not to move his face. "I can't shake."

I laughed harder, moving closer until our bodies pressed together. I closed my eyes, resting my head on his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart. He wrapped his arms around me carefully, one hand stroking my hair.

"Dream only of me" he said.