Chapter 43 Defending Nova
DASHIELL
When I returned to the house, there was no one there. I knocked on the door for a long time until their neighbour told me she saw them leaving a few minutes ago. It seemed I was late. I didn't take off immediately. I sat on their front porch, waiting, hoping they would return on time, but that wasn't the case. I stayed until it got late before I left.
I couldn't call her because the number I saw in her file was linked to her office. She didn't leave any personal number, probably because of me. She must have known I would look for it, which was why
she didn't put it.
Lilith called me on my way home, but I ignored the call. There was nothing to talk about. Not at the moment. She was calling because of the breakup, and I wasn't in the right mind to speak to her. I will just let matters die down a little before I visit her. I still owe that to her. Having wasted five years of her life, the least I could do was to talk things out with her, to let her know the reasons for my decision, and to make her realize I would support whatever she wished to do.
I took a cab back home, not bothering to call my driver to pick me up. After I alighted and paid the driver, I walked towards my gate, my steps sluggish. I craved nothing more than to plop down on my bed and sleep for a long time, knowing I still had a day more before I saw Nova. I had no plans of visiting her house tomorrow because it was a Sunday. If she still retained most of the things she did when we were married, there was no doubt that she would be in church tomorrow.
Yeah. My wife is such a religious fanatic, something I had always marvelled at.
I had just walked into my property when I noticed a purple Benz parked beside mine. A frown crept up my face when I realized who it was. My mum.
Sighing at the thoughts of an unwanted confrontation, I stepped into my house after unlocking it with my fingerprint. My mum must have used the pin since I haven't changed that. Deep down, I still harboured this notion that Nova would return someday. Leaving the pin the way it would make it easier for her to walk in any time.
"Mum?" I called out, walking into my living room, where I knew she would be. There was no smell of cooked food in the air, which means she either arrived a few minutes ago or was too tired to cook.
"You finally decided to return," she said, her tone taking an edge. Frowning, I walked into my sitting area, where my mum was. She sat on my armchair, with her legs crossed, and her hands placed on the arm of the chair.
Dressed in a black suit, with her hair up in a tight bun, and her lips painted a scarlet red, my mother looked like she was going for a court case, not visiting her son.
If I failed to mention, my mum is a lawyer. A divorce attorney, precisely. Though she stopped working after she got married to my dad, and now manages his property, she still gives out that aura
lawyers always have.
"I had some things to deal with," I grumbled as I walked over to the nearest couch and plopped down, releasing another sigh.
"On a Saturday?" She lifted an eyebrow at that, her gaze incredulous. "We both know you hate working on the weekends, so don't give me that trash." Her tone was as cold as ever. I doubt I had ever
heard her use warm tones on me. Mama Kaka was the only one who showed me what affection was. Same with Lilith. I bet it was why I fell for her. She was the only one who genuinely cared about
me.
With Mama Kaka gone, and my relationship with Lilith in a strain, the only person I could think of to provide warmth was Nova.
"I had a contract to sign," I responded when I realized she was waiting for my reply.
She looked as if she didn't believe me. Even if she didn't voice it out, I could tell.
"Oh, that's good." She nodded, a forced smile on her face as she stared at me. "How have you been doing? You seem like you have lost a lot of weight?"
The question was supposed to be caring, right? Yet, it felt like she was interrogating me. Her stare and the frozen phoney smile made it seem like insects were crawling up my arms.
"You don't have to make it look like you care," I gritted out, fed up with the fake smiles she always sent my way. "Why are you here? I know it's not because you care."
"Oh." She uncrossed her legs as the smile on her lips disappeared completely, leaving her face neutral.
"Why are you here?" I asked once more, my anger getting the best of me. The only reason I tolerated her was because of the bond. As much as I would have loved to sever our relationship, she was
still my mum.
"For how long will you continue pinning over a slut?" She demanded, her gaze sharp and her mouth upturned in a frown.
"Pardon?"
"You know what I'm talking about, Dashiell. It has been five years since that whore left, yet -"
"She's not a damned tramp!" I growled at her, barely keeping my rage in check. "Her name is Nova. Use it."
She looked surprised, and so did it. This was the first time I had raised my voice to her, but not only that, it was the first time I had defended Nova.
Whenever she spoke about her, I always pretended to be deaf, but not anymore. I would never let another person talk ill of my wife. Not even my mum.