Until they got to their part of the apartment, Laura wouldn't stop peppering Alexa's face with kisses. She was so happy that she had found her after the hassle.
Riley, who was trailing after her, had a long face. She didn't like the way Laura had spoken to Antonia back there but she couldn't bring herself to say it to her.
Now sitting on the edge of the bed where the other twin lay, still asleep, Laura cupped Alexa's face in her palm and then began to search her face.
After a brief silence, she pulled her into a hug and then began to stroke her hair."Lexa, you made momma worried."She mused, kissing her head.
Pushing her away from herself, Alexa pouted, "Why did you talk to that lady that way?"
"Why is that? She did something wrong and so I had to correct her."She replied with a scoff. She didn't want to remember anything about Antonia else she would flare up.
"She didn't do anything wrong. I was the one who went to meet with her, she even said she would talk to you."She scoffed.
"Talk to me about what?"
"I told her you were bothered and she said you had a lot of things on your mind so I begged her to speak with you."
At this point, Laura's heart dropped into the pit of her stomach as she bit her bottom lips. She was blaming herself for her rash action but the deed was already done and there was no going back.
"Mom, are you really not going to tell me what's bothering you?"She asked, tugging her arm.
Unable to keep still as guilt racked through her, Laura planted a swift kiss on her forehead and afterwards dashed out of the room.
Riley, who had heard everything, turned her face away, pretending not to know what had happened.
"Please look after the kids, I will be right back."Laura rapped and then dashed out.
Now in the hallway which was deserted, she rested her back against the cold wall before heading towards the kitchen hoping to see Antonia so she would apologize for her harsh words but she didn't.
Now sitting behind the island table, she had a glass in her hand and each time she remembered the look on Antonia's face, she tightened the grip on her glass as her eyes burnt with unshed tears.
"I would have just left with Alexa instead of asking her to have her own kids."She muttered and then burst into silent tears, using her hair to shield her face.
Unable to keep up with the guilt that was threatening to tear her apart, she pulled herself up and with hurried footsteps, she made her way towards Christian's bedroom.
She knew that she would be there at that time.
On arrival, the couple was arguing, and so she leaned against the door, listening to every bit of their conversation as guilt continued to eat through her.
Several times, her hands went to the knob in an attempt to push the door open but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She felt if Antonia saw her, she might decide to lynch her considering her angry tone.
When Antonia had asked Christian if he had loved her, she leaned in and since she was curious to know what his response was going to be, she pressed her ear against the door, her heart in her mouth.
To her disdain, Christian didn't say anything and the next minute, she began to hear approaching footsteps.
At once, she pulled herself away from the door and then proceeded to turn around to leave but before she could make the attempt, the door flung open as Christian appeared.
Looking at her for a while, he exhaled and after looking over his shoulders to see what Antonia was up to, he stepped out and closed the door gently.
"I want to speak with her."Laura whispered but instead Christian blocked her path, preventing her from making a move. Frowning hard, she attempted it for the second time and it was still the same.
On her third attempt, Christian grabbed her arm and then pulled her to the study. All through their walk there, she kept looking over her shoulders to see if Antonia was going to step out but that wasn't the case.
Now in the middle of the study, Christian rested against the table and with his hands tucked into his pockets and legs crossed, he said, "You went overboard with your words, why did you allow your grief to take over your sense of reasoning?"He asked, his voice mild and gentle but Laura knew he was boiling on the inside.
"I didn't mean to. It's just that, I was… if she was in my place she would have done the same thing."She scoffed.
"She wouldn't."Christian snapped and she bit her lips, trying not to explode in his face. She hated the fact that he was painting her wrong doings in her face.
"Right now, all you need to do is to apologize to her and then everything will be fine."
"That's exactly what I wanted to do before you pulled me away."She snapped at him and he shook his head sideways for a while before holding her shoulders.
"Wrong timing."He said.
"Wrong timing?"
"Yeah. The drama is still fresh in her head, you should give her some time to heal from it and then…"
"Heal? It's going to take years before it happens. Please allow me to go see her now, my conscience keeps pricking me and it makes me feel sour."She muttered."I should have been more careful before spewing those hateful words at her."She muttered, fiddling with her dress as a deep frown make its way to her face.
"i have a plan."Christian said and immediately Laura snapped her head in his direction, her eyes almost bulging out in anticipation.
****
"Dinner will be in a few hours, I will get her to come around."He said, staring at his wristwatch.
"She won't."She replied at once, her face clouded with disappointment.
"She will, I will see to it."He affirmed only then did she give in, though she still felt he should allow her to apologize to her now that the memory was still fresh in her head.
During dinner, Christian personally went to fetch Antonia but she refused to follow him despite his persuasions. She knew he was doing it because Laura was going to be at the table and because she didn't want to meet with her, she refused.
"Should I ask the maid to bring your dinner here?"Christian asked, crouching beside her.
"No, I already told you I don't have an appetite for anything."She snapped back at him, using the book she was reading to cover her face but he brought it down.
"Please, you haven't had anything since after breakfast."He cooed.
"As if."
"Fine! Laura wants to apologize…. I didn't ask her to do this, it was her own decision."Now holding her hands, he said, "Let's not drag this further, okay."
"Fine, I'm right behind you."She said, shoving him off.
"No, we are going together."He replied stubbornly and after much persuasion, she gave in and together they went to the dining room.
When Laura saw her, she flashed her a smile but she received a scowl in return but that didn't deter her.
"Let's eat."Christian said, holding up his cutlery.
Midway through their meal, Laura who couldn't hold back anymore despite the glares Antonia was shooting her way went ahead to apologize.
"Please forgive me, I will ensure that I don't use that tone next time no matter what happens."Laura said, reaching out for her hand.
At first, Antonia resisted her touch but when Christian urged her with the looks he was passing her way, she gave in and both parties got reconciled.
After dinner, while Laura returned to her room, the couples did the same.
Now lying on the bed, Christian wrapped his hands around Antonia's waist who had her back turned on him. Still not reacting to his touch, he pushed her hair away from her ear and then leaned in.
"About your question…"he said, staring at her face.
"I love you."He said and with a smile etched in her face she turned in his direction.
"Yes, I really do."
"I love you too."
That night, they ended up having sex.
The following morning when Christian woke up, his hands immediately went to her side of the bed but she wasn't there.
Opening his eyes, he pulled himself up as he wondered where she had gone that early and at once his eyes went to the closet.
Just when he was about to swing his leg off the bed and check if her clothes were still intact, she walked in with a tray.
"Breakfast is ready."She announced with a smile.