CHAPTER 65: NOT READY FOR MARRIAGE
LILY’S POV:
After dinner, everyone retired to their respective rooms including Niki and I.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.
“I need to take care of something, I will be back in 30 minutes”, Niki said once we both freshen up, separately of course.
“Where are you going to?”, I asked in concern, the look and vibe he had on was serious, like he was preparing to go murder someone. I shivered at my own thoughts.
He put on his shirt and gave me a forehead kiss.
“Don’t wait up for me okay?”, He said and I nodded. Niki left the room to God knows where, since he didn’t tell me where he was headed, I didn’t pressure him for answers.
I’m still notpletely over the fact that he is a mafia and I sometimes shudder with the thought that he has killed people before. He tells me that they are all bad people but I can’t rule out that they are still human beings.
I shook my head to get rid of those thoughts and tried to get something to keep me busy, Niki said not to wait for him but I couldn’t sleep, I decided to
read a book to keep me awake till he gets back.
‘He said 30 minutes after all’.
Tomorrow is the ball and the mansion has been quite busy. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was going to happen at the ball.
‘Maybe it’s just my nerves’, I told myself.
I checked the time, it was a few minutes to 6pm, I sighed and continued reading the book.
It was 10:30 and Niki is still not back, I was now getting worried.
‘What if he has gotten into trouble? What if he got shot like before and won’te back for days? What if he is de–‘.
“SHUT UP!”, I said to myself.
I was getting dizzy and I couldn’t hold back the sleep anymore. Still on the bed with the book in my hand, the words were bing blurry and just when I was about to doze off, the door slowly opened and my eyes came wide open.
“Who’s there?”, I asked. The room was not entirely dark as the light from themp I was using to read was lit.
The figure came into the light and I gasped.
“Niki!”, I said and rushed to his side, he had bruises on his forehead and the side of his lips. I felt a sharp pang of pain when he suddenly hugged me and sighed.
“What happened?”, I asked him, trying to break from the hug but he didn’t let go of me.
“Just let me hold you for a little while”, He said and I nodded, patting hisrge back.
***
We both were on the bed, cuddling and Niki fell asleep in my arms after many failed attempts in helping him dress his wounds.
I sighed as I yed with his silky hair, thinking about what might have happened for him to get such bruises. I know Niki to be strong and powerful, for him to get such injuries only mean the person or people he fought with got even more serious wounds.
I gently took his head andid on the pillow, slowly sliding my hand from under his neck. It was difficult to not wake him up with my movement but also surprising that he was fast asleep.
I finally got out of bed and Niki wasying on the bed with his belly and his back to the ceiling. I sat by the side of the bed and gently raised his shirt, careful not to wake him, I gasped and covered my mouth at the sight of arge bruise on his lower back.
My eyes got teary and my lips trembled, I felt so bad for him and I just wanted all his pains to go away, I couldn’t do anything for him.
I got back on bed and covered him with the nket, then I went to sleep too.
***
I felt something touching my face and I woke up, my eyes locked with that of Niki, he was tracing something on my face. He had a stressed smile on his face, I sat up and check the time, it was pass three in the morning.
“I’m sorry I woke you up”, He said and I was immediately greeted with the smell of alcohol and tobo. He has been up for a while and he went drinking and smoking.
“When did you wake up?”, I asked.
“Just an hour ago or more”.
“Were you drinking?”, I asked the obvious.
“Just a sip”, he replied. Niki wasn’t drunk at all but he did look tired.
“But I can smell the alcohol on you… even cigarettes”, I said and he chuckled but immediately stopped when he felt pains on his jaw.
“Are you alright?”, I tried touching his face but he seized my hands and kissed them.
“I am more than alright. You are here with me and that’s all that matters”, He said and I smiled, but I feel there is more to his words.
“You need to get your wounds checked”, I told him.
“I will”, He responded. I knew he wouldn’t but just didn’t want me to worry anymore.
“Promise?”, I asked and he nodded. I didn’t push any further.
We went back to bed with our own thoughts, I wished I could read his thoughts and know how he got his wounds but if wishes were horses right?.
***
I woke up but Niki wasn’t by my side, it was 7 am so I got up, freshen up and went downstairs for breakfast.
The mansion was busier than yesterday, all the maids and workers were moving about, either carrying something or helping with something. All for the fundraiser ball today.
I was excited but also nervous for the ball, this was going to be my very first big event. I wasn’t sure of how to feel because I was Niki’s girlfriend, so obviously I would have lot of eyes on me.
‘What if I mess things and end up embarrassing Niki and The dimir family? What if those rich and influential folks don’t like me? What if I trip and fall on the stairs in front of everyone?’.
“Oh God no!”, I shudder at my own thoughts, Mr dimir will hate me the more, Mrs dimir would be disappointed in me, Anastasia wouldugh at me and Niki?… I don’t want to know what he will think of me.
I got to the dinning room and everyone were already seated, including Niki. He looked at me and I shed him a surprise look, he smiled at me.
“Come sit with me”, He said, pointing at the vacant seat next to him, I bowed my head and walked towards Niki as everyone had their eyes on me.
I sat down and a maid brought a clean te for me.
“Good morning everyone”, I said shyly.
“And here I thought you didn’t want to join us for breakfast”, Mr dimir said without looking at me and I felt really embarrassed. I kicked Niki under the table but he didn’t move.
“It is my fault father, I overworked herst night”, Nikimented and I almost spat out the food in my mouth, I shot dagger eyes at him and he winked at me.
“So should I be expecting a little nephew or niece soon?”, Galina asked and I choked on the water I was drinking.
“Not yet baby sister”, Niki replied.
“Yes, they need to register their marriage first before babies starting in”, Mrs dimir said and my eyes almost popped out from it socket.
“M-mom uh– we are n-not ready for marriage”, I managed to say and the whole table turned awkward.
“What do you mean?”, Niki quietly asked.
“I mean– Come on, we are not in that stage to be thinking about marriage… right?”, I said. A dark cloud suddenly appeared over Niki’s head and I shivered.
‘What is his deal?’, I wondered.
“Let’s eat”, Niki said and I continued eating, not realizing the damage I had cause.
It was the truth after all, Niki and I just started dating and are still getting to know each other, marriage is a big deal and not something we should rush into.
I like Niki, heck I love him! but I was not really for marriage or babies, not yet.
Niki didn’t look at me through out the breakfast but asionally put food in my te and poured juice for me.
Mr dimir talked a bit about the ball and some of the elites who will be present, the hosts, the food and some other stuffs I didn’t know. The ball is to start at 10pm.
Anastasia looked very happy about the ball, Galina was quiet and I know what was the cause. Mrs dimir and her sister, Maria were all smiles and Roman… he kept a neutral expression.
After breakfast, everyone went their different way and I could sense Niki still was not himself.
We got into our room and Niki immediately pinned me to the wall, breathing heavily like he was trying to control himself, his eyes were like an abyss making me shiver.
“Lily…”, He called and I gulped.