chapter 61: Desert

Armani POV

“I don't agree with you moving out Armani, I have not spent my entire life raising you boys, only for a random girl to come in here and destroy my family, separating me and my sons”, Lilian spat out in anger,

Xhani looked a little distraught at Mother's words, and I realized how bad this idea of bringing Xhani home was.

“Mother, Xhani is not separating us, I am still your son, and I will visit you often”, I said, holding Xhani's hand, but she gently pushed my hands away.

Before Lilian or I could say anything, Xhani jumped in and spoke, “I am sorry Lilian, I did not mean to come here and cause any trouble for your family, I think me and Armani need to spend our time at our separate homes for the time being, and not rush moving in so quickly” before she continued, she looked at me and gave me a faint smile, “I think I will stay where I am right now with my friend, maybe we can talk about this more in private”, she said as she looked at my father and Lilian and smiled.

“Thank you so much for the dinner, it was delicious, but I think I should take my leave now”, she said as she pushed her chair out and stood up.

I held her hand, but she moved it away.

“You stay, I have called a taxi”, she said as she looked at father and mother.

“Thank you, for the food, I will take my leave now”, and with that, she left all of us stunned in the dining room.

I looked at my mother, letting her know that she caused this between me and Xhani, but my mother just smiled and started eating her dessert.

Father shook his head got up and left.

I ran after Xhani, only to find her outside the mansion, waiting for her ride.

“Xhani wait”, I called out to her, she looked up and there was no emotion on her face.

“Don’t please Armani”, she said as she walked away from me.

I looked at her in surprise, I had just got her and now I have managed to push her so far away.

My face filled with sadness and regret.

I walked up to her gently and said, “Look I am sorry about my mother and Laura”, I said before she cut me off.

“Don’t apologize, we rushed into something unknown, and this was the result of it. I am perfectly safe and well respected where I am currently living Armani, so let’s just not talk about moving in or a relationship or anything, because your mother clearly has a bigger plan for you, and I am not included in that life plan”, she said as her Taxi arrived.

She opened the taxi door to sit in when I managed to pull her hand away and slam her body into mine.

I lifted her chin, only to see her eyes filled with tears, and her face was broken.

“Hey, please don’t say that I have finally managed to smile after so many years, you brought light into my dark life, and where my mother is concerned, she doesn’t make my life decisions, I do and I choose you, today, tomorrow and forever”, I said as I kissed her tears.

She closed her eyes, and tears still ran down her cheeks,

After a moment of silence, she spoke again. “Let’s not make a promise Armani, I cannot take another heartbreak”, she said as she pushed me away and went inside the taxi.

“The time we spent together, gave me hope and happiness and I am thankful, but I think it is over”, she said before she asked the driver to drive away. Leaving me shattered behind her with her words.

I froze on the spot as I saw her car drive into the darkness, taking every piece of my heart with her. For the first time in many years, I felt my heart stinging with pain of heartbreak.

For the first time, I felt a warm drop of tears on my cheeks, and for the first time, I felt what real heartbreak feels like.

I stood there, unable to convince myself to walk, just as I was about to lose all hope, I felt my brother's presence behind me.

I knew it was him because he always had this strong smell of jasmine. “Don’t just stand there, brother, go after her”, Nikko said as he came and stood beside me, looking in the direction that Xhani went.

“And how would I convince her to come back brother, after how mother spoke to her?”, I asked him, as I wiped away the tears.

“If she loves you, then she doesn’t need any convening brother”, Nikko said as he placed a hand on my shoulders.

We turned around, walking back inside, when Nikko spoke again, “You know, Lilian is not our mother right, so you don’t have to listen to her”.

We both stopped and looked at each other, Nikko never really cared about anyone in this family, except for me. He hates his father for remarrying Lilian. And he doesn’t give Lilian the same respect as me and Ares. But he has his way, Lilian never really gets in his way. He does what he wants, no matter what damage it makes.

“But she raised us”, I said as I looked at him.

Hearing me Nikko chuckled, “Are you serious Armani, she didn’t raise us, she abused us with her power when we were kids, and she tried to force her way into our home and lives, you may allow it but I won’t, so, as soon as you move out, I will move out with you”, he said as he continued walking back inside.

“Are you serious?”, I said, shocked by his response.

“Yes brother, I will not live in this house with the very people I hate, the only reason I am here, is you”, he said as we got inside the house.

“Now, stop asking so many questions, and go get our sister-in-law, she is damn cute”, he said in a smirking tone and walked up the stairs. Leaving me surprised.