Chapter 36 Asking the kids for help
NOVA
To take my mind off Dashiell, and the thing that happened in the boardroom, I took half a day off to rest. Brion had already informed me he wasn't picking the kids up from school because he had a meeting with someone. This he told me through a text he sent this morning after he took the kids to school.
Like I said, he hadn't spoken to me since that fateful day, aside from when he deemed it necessary to do so.
"Mum, did you argue with Uncle Brion?" Willow asked, peering at me with her cute eyes.
I stilled at her question before I cleared my throat, forcing a smile as I demanded, "No, why did you ask?"
"Why has he stopped smiling with you?"
"He doesn't help you in the kitchen anymore," River added, his mouth in a pout as he watched me. "Did you do anything to him?"
Now, that amused me. "Why do you think I was the one who did something to him and not the other way around?" I patted their heads, smiling to ease their worries.
"Because Uncle Brion likes you. He can never do anything to hurt you!" Willow argued, folding her arms. "Whenever he helps us with our assignments, we always catch him searching for you." "Tell us, Mum, what did you do to him?"
Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose, looking down at my kids, who didn't seem like they were ready to let things slide until I had told them what was going on. Smiling when an idea came to mind, I leaned down to whisper something to them.
"Will you help me?"
"Of course!" They fist-pumped. "Anything for you, mummy!" They placed kisses on my cheeks before they ran off to do what I asked of them.
Seeing how excited they were to help me, made me realize just how blessed I was to have them. I couldn't imagine what my life would have been had Lilith succeeded that faithful day.
Lilith.
I gritted my teeth, my gaze moving to the curtains as I felt my anger rise. That damned bitch is going to get what's coming her way. One thing I promise her is to make her go through the suffering I endured for two years.
And Dashiell??? He will get it. I was still yet to decide on what to do with him. It wasn't easy thinking of the right revenge for someone like him, who has no ounce of shame. For him, I will have to think outside the box if I want him to feel the brunt of my anger.
Yawning, I got up from the couch and walked towards my room when I heard the front door open and close, letting me know my kids were on it.
Brion was working on the swing after Willow almost fell from it. Calculating the time it would take my baby to reach him, I knew I had to be fast on my feet.
I rushed into my room, and slid under the cover, raising it to my chin as I pretended to be sick.
Biting my lower lip, I counted the time until the moment he barged into the room, his eyes wide with fear as he advanced to my bed. "Nova, are you alright?" He knelt beside me and reached out to feel my forehead. "Willow and River said you weren't feeling fine. What happened? Was the workload too much for you?"
Seeing and hearing how worried about me he was, made me guilty. However, there was no time for me to regret my actions, not when my plan got him to step into my room, a place he hadn't been to since we argued.
"Do you need me to drive you to the hospital? I will -" he paused when I placed my hand over his.
"Can you please listen to me?" I begged, fixing my eyes with his. "I need you to listen to what I have to say."
"Wait... Are you feeling okay?" His eyes dawned with realization as he leaned back, staring at me with open lips. "You asked the kids to lie to you?"
"Because that's the only way to get you to speak to me." I sat up on the bed, still holding his hand, knowing he wouldn't remove his hand from mine. "I'm sorry."
He didn't say a word. Instead, he averted his gaze, his jaw ticking as he kept his gaze on my window. The subtle wind coming from my window blew on his hair, making me itch to reach over and run my fingers through it, but I didn't do that. I knew I still needed to get him to forgive me.
"Brion?"
He still didn't turn, and neither did he remove his hand from mine. His body language spoke what he couldn't utter with his lips.
"I apologize for not informing you about Dashiell. I... I didn't want you to see me in a new light. Not telling you was my way of protecting my image. I wanted -"
"To hell with your damned image, Nova!" He snapped at me, interrupting my words before I could complete it. "Do you know how bad you made me feel? I thought I was more than a damned friend to you!"
"Yes, you are!" I held on tight to his hand, so he wouldn't slip it out. "I see you as more than a friend, Brion."
His head jerked towards me at my words, his green eyes filled with different emotions as he asked in a low tone, "More than a friend?" He looked shocked like he was trying to comprehend my question.
"Yes, more than a friend. You are my best buddy. Which is why I don't want you to stay pissed with me. I missed you," I confessed, staring into his eyes. "Having you give me silent treatments hurts more than anything else. Please don't do this to me," I pleaded, holding his gaze.