Chapter 34 Family time
True to what Nelson had said, they stepped out about half an hour later.
The air outside was fresh, carrying a faint chill that brushed lightly against Irene’s skin as she slid into the car. The sky was a soft shade of blue, clouds drifting lazily like they had nowhere else to be.
They were all in Nelson’s car again.
And just like last night, silence filled the space.
But it wasn’t the same silence.
Last night, the silence had been thick... heavy with tension, with unspoken thoughts pressing down on all three of them. There had been three people in the car, yet it felt like they were worlds apart. No one had known what to say, and even breathing had felt too loud.
Today… it was different.
The silence was lighter. Warmer.
It wasn’t empty...it was full. Full of something gentle, something almost comforting. It settled around them like a quiet understanding rather than a wall.
And the reason was simple.
Willam.
The little boy sat between them in the back seat, his small legs swinging slightly, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his shirt. He hadn’t said much since they got in, but his presence alone changed everything.
It was like the car had come alive.
Last night he has been so sleepy after the concert, so his charm wasn't exactly active.
Irene sat by the window, her head slightly turned as she stared outside. Buildings passed by in a blur, unfamiliar yet oddly calming. Beside her, Nelson focused on the road, his hands steady on the steering wheel.
Everything should have felt normal.
But it didn’t.
Irene exhaled softly, her brows knitting together ever so slightly.
She was annoyed.
Not because of the sudden change of plans.
Not because Nelson had decided to take them sightseeing instead of going back immediately.
If anything, that part was… nice.
Too nice.
And that was exactly the problem.
Her thoughts drifted again... it was uninvited, yet persistent...
Her thoughts of him.
To her Nelson.
The one from her world.
Her grip tightened slightly on her dress as she leaned her head against the window.
It was dangerous… the way her mind kept trying to connect the two.
This Nelson... the one driving them right now, the one who had casually suggested a trip, the one who seemed… considerate...He wasn’t the same.
He couldn’t be.
Her Nelson would never act like this.
Not with her.
Not even close.
Before she found out about his girlfriend, Irene had always thought he simply wasn’t capable of being gentle with anyone. That kindness just wasn’t in him.
But then... She had seen them.
Together.
Laughing.
Being all lovey-dovey with one another.
Comfortable in a way that made something in her chest twist unpleasantly.
Girlfriend.
Yes.
Her Nelson had a girlfriend.
She had found out only a few months before everything changed and she came here. And for some reason, that moment had stayed with her longer than she liked to admit.
It wasn’t jealousy.
Of course not.
She didn’t care about him like that.
She had just… hated seeing it.
Hated the way it made her feel like something was quietly pressing against her chest, something she didn’t understand and didn’t want to.
That was one of the reasons she chose a college far away.
Far enough that she wouldn’t have to see them.
Far enough to keep her sanity intact.
Because really...
That was all it was about.
Her sanity.
Nothing more.
Irene let out a small breath, shaking her head slightly.
No.
She couldn’t let herself mix them up.
This Nelson wasn’t him.
They just happened to share a face.
That was all.
And yet…
Her eyes shifted, almost unconsciously, toward the front seat.
The way he drove.
The calmness in his posture.
The quiet attentiveness.
It felt real.
Too real.
“…Mummy.”
The small voice broke through her thoughts.
Irene blinked, her focus snapping back as she looked down.
Willam was tugging gently at her lap, his tiny fingers pressing insistently like he was afraid she might disappear if he let go.
“Hm?” she responded softly, her voice slightly absent as she tried to shake off the lingering thoughts.
Willam looked up at her, his familiar big blue eyes shining.
They were so bright... so full of life...that it almost startled her.
“Where are we going?” he asked, his voice bubbling with excitement.
Of course he was excited.
For the first time in what must have felt like forever to him, his parents were going out together.
A proper outing.
A family trip.
Yesterday, he hadn’t really processed it. His attention had been taken by the concert, by the excitement of seeing the pianist his mother had talked about so much. And after that, he had fallen asleep, missing whatever came next.
But today...
Today he was fully awake.
Fully aware.
And fully happy.
It showed in everything he did..the way he sat straighter, the way his eyes sparkled, the way he kept glancing between Irene and Nelson like he was trying to confirm they were both still there.
Together.
Irene’s lips parted slightly as she hesitated.
She didn’t know how to answer.
“I… don’t know,” she admitted after a second, her tone soft but unsure. “Ask your father.”
Willam didn’t hesitate. He turned immediately, leaning forward slightly.
“Daddy, where are we going?” he asked, his voice even brighter now.
Before Nelson could answer, Irene spoke again, her tone shifting just a little.
“Are you mad?” she asked.
Nelson’s brows furrowed faintly, though his eyes remained on the road. “No. Why would I be?”
“I just thought we’d be heading back today,” she replied, her voice quieter now.
There was a brief pause.
Then Nelson spoke again, calm and steady.
“It’s alright,” he said simply. “I thought we could take some time before leaving.”
Another pause.
That was the same thing he said back at the hotel. Irene just asked again to be sure.
“I like it,” Irene muttered, almost under her breath.
And surprisingly... She meant it.
It wasn't being with Nelson that she liked... No. But the fact that he wanted to make things better with his son.
It was cute.
Willam, still leaning forward, bounced slightly in his seat.
“Where are we going, Daddy?” he repeated, clearly unwilling to let the question go unanswered.
This time, Nelson answered.
“There’s a palace around here,” he said. “It’s quite grand. I thought you might like to see it.”
“A palace?” Willam’s eyes widened instantly, his entire face lighting up.
“Yes,” Nelson continued, a faint hint of amusement in his tone. “A real one.”
“A real palace?” Willam echoed, his voice rising with disbelief.
Irene couldn’t help it.
A small smile tugged at her lips as she watched him.
The excitement was contagious.
“Yes,” Nelson said again. “A real palace.”
Willam let out a small gasp, his hands clapping together once in pure delight.
“I want to go!” he declared, as if there had ever been another option.
Irene let out a quiet breath, her gaze softening as she looked at him.
Then, slowly, her eyes shifted forward again.
To Nelson.
To the man who wasn’t supposed to feel familiar.
And yet somehow did.
Her fingers curled slightly in her lap.
This was dangerous.
Too dangerous.
Because for a moment
Just a brief, fleeting moment
It almost felt real.
Like this was her life.
Like this was her family.
And that thought…
It lingered far longer than it should have.
Irene's eyes widened at the realization.
Fuck... Maybe she was starting to enjoy this a lot more than she should be.