Chapter 87 I'M READY
\[CEMETRY\]
"Happy death anniversary, mum?" Jaxon said, staring down at the grave.
Maddox crouched down and dropped the flower. "It's been 19 years since you passed away."
"19 years since your murderer began roaming freely like he did nothing," Jaxon completed, dropping his own flower on the grave.
"Mum, how are you doing up there? Did you find a better guy than old man?"
Maddox nudged his arm, telling him to be serious.
"Just a little bit more, and your murderer will taste the bitterness of hell," Maddox muttered.
Another person joined them.
"Hello, aunt," Drexton said, dropping his flower beside theirs. "How are you doing?"
They observed a moment of silence together before standing and facing each other.
Another car pulled over, and a man stepped out, clad in his black suit.
Nobody bothered as they already knew who it was.
Cesario.
"Son," he said, directing it to Maddox.
Maddox faced him, expressionlessly.
Jaxon's hand balled into a fist as he listened to the old man.
"How are you?"
Maddox nodded, his eyes not leaving Cesario.
As he stared and listened to him, he could feel his skin acting up.
The only thing he was thinking about was having the blood of the old man on his hand.
Jaxon's wasn't left out either. He was orchestrating a million ways to give a person a slow, painful death.
Cesario shifted his gaze to his wife's grave.
"It's been years since she left," he chuckled. "I still miss her a lot."
"Exactly, Dad. She died even though she didn't serve to die," Maddox said, his eyes locking with Cesario's.
"I guess not everybody is lucky, right?" he asked.
Maddox looked away. "You came to see her, do it." he turned to Jaxon and Drexton. "Let's go."
As they were about to leave, Jaxon caught something suspicious on Cesario's neck.
"Old man, what's that on your neck?" he asked.
Cesario's hand reached the side of his neck with a frown.
His heart sank, but he managed to hide it, letting out an awkward laugh.
"It's nothing, and you have no right to talk to me."
His eyes fell on their intense gazes. He had no idea what they were thinking. But the way they were looking at him wasn't normal.
"Weren't you three going to leave? I need to talk to your mother."
"Of course, we were," Jaxon replied, his voice laced with something meaningful.
They left, and his eyes didn't leave Drexton until he went out of sight.
His brain went down the lane as he remembered something.
\[FLASHBACK\]
"Daddy, he's staying with us. He has nowhere to go," little Maddox said.
Jaxon nodded in reply.
"He has been living with us for a whole year. Mum had no problem with it," Jaxon added.
Drexton remained quiet as he witnessed the unwelcome gaze of Cesario.
Cesario just returned from his business trip eight months after his wife had died, only to find out they had brought a stranger into his house.
Not just any stranger, but-
"He won't stay here. He's a bad influence on both of you. Now I see the reason for your weird behavior," Cesarios said, adamantly.
"But, Dad. He's our only friend."
"Maybe you should start mingling with kids of good influence."
"It's fine. I'll leave," Drexton said, and without waiting to hear what they had to say, he walked away.
Cesario took his hand behind him and pinched himself deeply.
His gaze focused on Drexton before he took it to Maddox and Jaxon.
"Go to hell, old man," they said simultaneously and left the house in search of Drexton.
Cesario also came out, eye searching for Drexton.
"He couldn't have gone far." He began, checking the corners of the street.
He put across a call.
"I just saw him. I'll send you his picture. We can't let him escape."
\--
\[REALITY\]
He was already in his car when he snapped out of his memory lane.
"Why didn't I notice it all along? He's the same boy he'd been searching for his whole life."
He typed a number and dialed a number.
"Hello, wifey," he said. "I have news that can help you."
\[JOANNA'S HOUSE\]
Drexton and Joanna sat facing each other. Her tab was with her, ready to jot down Drexton's report.
"So, let's start," she said.
"I felt her again," Drexton said, eyes not leaving Joanna as she typed a few things on her tablet.
"And? Was it for a fleeting moment, or..."
"For hours, her warmth and everything. For a whole night, I could feel her, and this morning, I couldn't feel her again," Drexton explained.
Joanna smiled. "Only for the night? What were you doing with her in the night?" she teased.
Drexton snapped his dark gaze at her, and the smile disappeared from her face.
"So, basically, you regained your senses completely for a few hours, and this morning you are back to your normal self?"
Drexton nodded. "I couldn't feel her, just like last night. I can only feel her if I pay deep attention."
A big, bright smile kissed Joanna's lips again. "You are finally regaining your senses. I'm so happy."
Her eyes went to Drexton, and he remained neutral. She had no idea what he was thinking. Happy or not? She didn't know.
She cleared her throat and took both his hands into hers.
Drexton's hand fell on the hand, and he focused his senses, trying to check if he could feel her.
Nothing happened.
He wasn't feeling her, then why only Ixora?
Why does she make him feel again?
"I'm not going to tell you your report as your doctor today, rather like your mother, or somebody very close and important to you," Joanna said, getting his attention. "Your body might be reacting to Ixora's touch because it has formed a special bond with her. Deep down within your brain, it has learned to master and recognize her touch. She's the only girl who's capable of unlocking the part no one can."
She paused, meeting his eyes. "You are unpredictable, Drexton. No one knows what goes on in your mind. I don't know if you have truly fallen for her, considering the amount of hatred you had for her, and I believe you have. You wouldn't have pulled that charade at her wedding if you felt nothing for her. She being able to make you feel again means she's got the key to your stony heart. Instead of hating her for something that happened when she wasn't even born, love her." She exhaled, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
"Take it from me, Drexton, losing your loved one comes with unbearable pain. I know you have been there a lot of times, but it's time to see the truth. If you lose Ixora..."
Drexton withdrew his hand from hers and stood, his eyes unreadable as usual.
"Enjoy your day, Joanna," he said as he reached the door and held the bolt.
Joanna wiped her tears from her eyes. She didn't realize she was talking to herself all this time.
Living with these regrets breaks her heart a lot. She wished she could turn back the hand of time and make up for her wrongdoing.
"Drexton," she called.
Drexton faced her, looking directly in her eyes.
She was hiding something, and they were aware of it. They didn't dig into her life because they believed she'd tell them when the time was right.
He could sense that whatever she told him, she was referring to herself. That has deepened his interest in digging into her private life. Whatever she was hiding must be so deep for her to cry every time she remembered it.
"Do you three have time to spare tomorrow? There's something I'd like you people to know."
"We'll try," Drexton said and left.
Behind those words, she couldn't tell if it was an assurance. She has to try, finding out about themselves would worsen the situation.
She got her phone and texted Ixora.
"I'm ready."