《Rachel》 Chapter 1 Rachel What¡¯s the best way to forgo everyone and everything that hurts you, for me it is to get drunk. I don¡¯t normally like to drink alcohol because it makes me lose my mind, and I don¡¯t like the fact that something has this kinda affect. If anything I like the most is being sober. So I don¡¯t make any rash decisions that I might regret in the future. But today it¡¯s different, for just one day I want to be free, not caring about anything else in life. I don¡¯t know what the morning brings for me but I wanna enjoy being out of control for once. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing here?¡± I sensed a hand on my shoulder as the ss was taken away from my hand. I groaned loudly, trying to grab the ss back, ¡°Give it back, you¡¯re no one but my boss, why do you care.¡± He stood right in front of me, shooting deadly res at me, as he ced both his arms around my waist, lifting me from the stool that I was sitting on. I pped his face trying to free myself from his grasp but he didn¡¯t even flinch a bit and carried me out of the bar and into his car. ¡°Fight all you want, but you¡¯re allowed to drink more.¡± ¡°Let me go, or I¡¯ll shout,¡± I said, trying to open the door, but it was locked. ¡°Sit quietly, I¡¯m taking you home.¡± he replied, as he buckled my seatbelt.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Our gaze met as his finger touched the bare skin of my hip, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re my employee,¡± he said, separating himself from me. ¡°I¡¯m resigning,¡± I turned my gaze away from him, turning my head to the window. ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to,¡± ¡°I¡¯m not allowed to resign and you¡¯re allowed to cheat on me,¡± Shit what did I say, the alcohol is making me lose my mind. He parked the car on the side of the road, turning his head to me. ¡°We¡¯re not in a rtionship,¡± ¡°But we do have something,¡± ¡°We do, but that doesn¡¯t mean we¡¯remitted to each other,¡± ¡°Yeah, we just fuck buddies,¡± I said removing my seatbelt. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­,¡± Jayce said, holding my wrist. ¡°You ever say that word; you don¡¯t know how precious you¡¯re to me.¡± ¡°How precious,¡± I replied, filling every mere inch in between our bodies, staring right into his eyes. ¡°Rachel..,¡± He said, letting go of my wrist, moving away from me. I took the car key and threw it somewhere in the backseat. ¡°What do you think you did to throw the key?¡± His voice seems calm but the annoyance in his face says otherwise. ¡°You can¡¯t leave, until you answer,¡± ¡°Rachel,¡± ¡°What, you¡¯re angry now, or you¡¯re so desperate to be with her likest time,¡± Jayce put both his hand on my shoulder, shaking my body lightly, ¡°Don¡¯t act like you care,¡± I sighed, as I was finallying to my senses, ¡°You¡¯re right,¡± I said, holding the keys that I acted to throw away, unlocking the door, and left before he could stop me. Without caring to nce back at Jayce I moved forward. I me the alcohol for making me act so stupid, I should have known that this arrangement was nothing but bad idea. All my life I fought to escape the same fate as my mother, but in the end I¡¯m not different from her. I allowed my emotions to rule over my mind and look, what happened. ¡°I hate myself, I hate myself for falling in love, I hate letting my emotions rule my mind, I hate¡­.,¡± I mumbled walking away from Jayce but lost my bnce, getting ready to fall on my ass. But the fall never came. What came was a gentlending on a firm set of arms, with a very familiar pair of eyes staring at me, with his around my waist, leaning over my face as a pair of soft tender lips kissed me. The kiss came as a surprise at first, but I leaned into his touch yet again, allowing my emotions to rule over my mind, wrapping my arms around his neck and deepening the kiss. The kisssted long, with no one of us wanting to stop but atst our lips separated from each other¡¯s grasp, but the hand holding me remained the same. My hands subconsciously his cheeks, the little stubble on it tickles as I gently smooth my hand on his cheeks. ¡°I hate you,¡± I said, even though my actions don¡¯t justify my words. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lie,¡± He said, carrying me to the car. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± I said, borrowing my head in his chest, with my senses enjoying the warmth and fragrance of his body so close to mine. ¡°Home, you¡¯re too drunk to be left alone,¡± He said, easily unlocking the door even with me in his arms. ¡°We¡¯ll clear all misunderstandings in the morning, when you¡¯re sober.¡± He buckled my seatbelt. cing a gentle peck on my lips, before closing the door. ****** Jayce There hasn¡¯t been a time that I¡¯ve ever been attached to a woman other than my mother and sister. My thoughts about rtionships are very clear; I don¡¯t wantmitment andplication in my life. But today, after seeing Rachel all sad, drinking alone in a bar made me angry. I always wanted to protect her even though she was an employee. But, when she is all drunk, vulnerable. alone like this, this doesn¡¯t seem to be possible. It doesn¡¯t change the fact that I hate tomit. But I don¡¯t know what happens to me when I¡¯m with Rachel. I can¡¯t see her with anyone but me, and that¡¯s one of reasons why I crossed my limits and did something I should have never done. I slept with her and looked at what happened atst. I should¡¯ve known that Rachel is not thee and go type of girl; she wantsmitment even if she never epts the fact herself. I sighed, turning to look at the drunken beauty sleeping beside me in the car. I don¡¯t know how much she¡¯ll remember about anything that happened tonight, but what I know is that if Rachel wantsmitment then I¡¯m allowing myself to let all my fears fade and see where this rtionship takes both of us. I¡¯m a selfish guy and I can¡¯t see my girl with anyone but myself. I chuckle and turn my head, hearing Rachel mumble in her sleep. ¡°I hate you,¡± Life is never sad and boring when I¡¯m beside her, she fills color in my ck and white world. ¡°I know you don¡¯t,¡± I mumbled close to her ear, removing a few strands of her hair away from face. Carrying her in my arms, and inside my house. Tomorrow when she wakes up, I want to start a new chapter with her in my life. But tonight I want her to sleep in my arms with her head close to my heart. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll tell you how special you are to me,¡± I said gently, pecking her lip, embracing her petite frame close to my warmth. Chapter 2 Rachel ¡°Ahhh,¡± I groaned, adjusting my eyes to light. God, my head hurts so badly. I massaged my temples with my hand, hoping to get some relief, and turned my head to the side of the bed, only toe face to face with Jayce. Wait, now I remember I was drunk yesterday, and had a fight with Jayce, after that he carried me in his car. Then, what happened next I don¡¯t remember, and how I ended uping into Jayce¡¯s house and in his bed. I checked my clothes quickly, but nothing seems unusual. I¡¯m still wearing the same clothes that I wore yesterday. Jayce seems to wear pjs and a t-shirt which actually seems odd. He is naked sleeper and doesn¡¯t like clothes in bed. So, nothing happenedst night, so why am I here? Wait, I confessed my feelings while drunk to Jayce. Shit, Shit shitt¡­.. what¡¯ve I done. I don¡¯t want a rtionship. Commitments make things worse, and who knows that better than me. I have seen my mother, who was not once happy with my dad and yet never divorced and I¡¯ve faced it myself too in the past. Shit drunk Rachel you made quite a mess for sane Rachel. Good thing Jayce is still asleep, maybe if I¡¯m lucky, I can sneak out and never look back. Yeah, I can go to my old house, no one here knows the old address and no one can find me there, not even Jayce. Move Rachel, I signed, staring st nce at the sleeping and handsome face of Jayce. This is thest time I can see him, I don¡¯t want that image of him to ever fade from my mind. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I said, silently leaving everything that I had in the past, like a coward. This is good for both of us, we never wanted anything serious but I let my feelings rule over my mind and disappointed both of us. Only if I leave we both can be happy, living our lives, like nothing happens. I know Jayce doesn¡¯t consider me someone more than an employee, and just because we share the bed doesn¡¯t mean that we both can share each other¡¯s heart. ******* Jayce I smiled at myself even if half asleep, but I¡¯m happy because I know after today things will only get better and change for the better. I moved to the side of my bed, scanning the space that seemed cold beneath my touch. With my senses in alert I opened my eyes looking at the space where Rachel was sleepingst night, but now she is nowhere to be found. Jumping out of bed, I took rapid steps, scanning every inch of my house hoping to somehow find Rachel but no matter how much I try she is nowhere near my sight. I signed, sitting on the edge of bed with my hands on my head. ¡°Why?¡± I groaned, wanting to form the stress and the anger beneath my heart in words. But I can¡¯t, it¡¯s no use not right now. I then grabbed my phone, calling Rachel again and again, but the phone was switched off.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. I paced around my house, ming myself again and again if only I wasn¡¯t a fool. To ept the feeling in the heart, things would be better, maybe I¡¯m toote. Shut up, I shouted, grabbing my car keys and phone without even caring to change my clothes. I made my way to Rachel¡¯s apartment. I need to be quick, I said driving the fastest and safest as legal I can. Rachel, don¡¯t you dare to leave me, when I¡¯ve built enough courage to ept my feelings for you. I quickly parked my car in front of the apartment building. Running to the door, only to be disappointed with it being locked. Rachel, why are you hiding? I paced around her front door, nearly losing my mind, finding no way to contact Rachel. Shit¡­ I punched the wall closest to me, thinking of finding somefort from my anxiety but nothing helps, it only hurts me this time physically too. I scanned my knuckle that was now bruised, throbbing badly, but at least it helped distract me even for a bit. ¡®Rachel,¡¯ I sighed her name, ying with the bracelet on my wrist. It was a gift from Rachel, and in many ways it was just a replica of her personality, sweet and quirky and yet mysterious in some way. And for now this is the only thing close to me that reminds me of her other than the memories I created with her. I touched the bracelet once more, promising one thing, that I¡¯ll find Rachel one day, and that day I will confess everything that is unknown even the closet in my life to her, and even if even after that her feeling remain unchanged for me, I¡¯ll leave her and never look back, living my life as before, alone, dedicated to my works. Because I can¡¯t dream of falling for anyone but her in this lifetime. Until then, my quest to find my mysterious Rachel starts now. ******* Rachel ¡°Rachel, do you think daddy loves Jane,¡± Marline asks, scanning pictures of Brandon and Jane and cing them beside each other. ¡°You know you¡¯re smarter than any kids your age,¡± I said, sitting beside as Marline smiled at my words. ¡°And yeah I think your daddy loves Jane, and you know a secret..,¡± ¡°What secret..,¡± Marlin said, suddenly excited by my words. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know for sure¡­ but I think, Jane loves Brandon too, in one way or another,¡± ¡°Really, Marlin jumps in excitement in my words. ¡°Hey, but don¡¯t say that to your daddy or Jane, it¡¯s our little secret,¡± ¡°What secret¡­¡­¡± We both turned our faces to see Jane standing in the doorway, with five month old Liam, and loads shopping bags in arms. ¡°Jane,¡± I quickly took long steps to the doorways helping Jane with bags of groceries. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, call me, when you need? ¡± I scolded Jane, only to make her smile and baby Liam giggle. ¡°So cute,¡± I said, watching Liam yawing in his mother¡¯s arms. ¡°Watching you makes me wanna have a baby, but then I change my mind, seeing all the hard work you and Brandon have to put to raise these two devils.¡± ¡°I hate you, Rachel,¡± Marlin said, from behind me, crossing her arms around her chest. ¡°No you don¡¯t,¡± I said, tickling her, making herugh. ¡°See you love me,¡± ¡°Can I y with Liam,¡± Marline asked after a while, as Jane rxed her frame on the couch with Marlin sitting beside her, watching her. ¡°Sure baby, but Liam as you can see Liam is asleep now,¡± Marline looked upset at Jane¡¯s words but then smiled. ¡°Then can you tell me a story,¡± Jane nodded. I sat on the couch watching the three of them snuggling on the couch having a warm cozy family time with each other. It¡¯sforting to see how even without being connected to each other with blood, they findfort and love in each other¡¯spany. I sometimes find myself a outsider watching them interact but I¡¯m happy to find such good people to work for, but I can¡¯t lie that I miss my past life, my old ce, peoples from my past mostly Jayce it¡¯s been a year but yet I couldn¡¯t forgo my feeling for him, I just hope that he is happy and maybe moved on with his life, and maybe married and have kids that are as sweet as Marline and Liam. Even if he is not with me, I wish him all the happiness in life and in future; I wish that I can say the same for me. ¡°Hey guys,¡± I turned my head watching Brandon inside, washing his hands, before sitting beside Jane, ¡°How is my big boy,¡± Brandon smiled, cuddling Liam in his arms. God, they look so cute with Jane snuggling with Marline and Brandon with Liam and with them ying and snuggling with each other¡¯s kids. This image is so cute that I¡¯m so jealous. I picked phone and clicked few pictures, not letting this perfect moment go uncaptured, ¡°So cute..,¡± my words cameuder than I epted and both Jane and Brandon turned their head at me, ¡°Rachel,¡± I smiled trying to act innocent, ¡°What¡­ don¡¯t worry I¡¯ll send you both a copy, for now bye..,¡± I said, grabbing my bag and running. ¡°Rachel,¡± I smiled hearing them shouting my name again andughingter together. They deserve all the happiness in life. Small and simple moments and time with family are something that I would die for, but I don¡¯t think I deserve any of them. For now I have to go to work or I¡¯m going to bete. ******* Jayce ¡°So what do you think about the new recipe,¡± One of my chef questions, distracting my thoughts. ¡°It¡¯s nd, no vor,¡± I slid the te away from me. ¡°But, this time I tried my best..,¡± ¡°Yeah, asst time and the time before that,¡± I stood from my table, wanting to get far away from the person that doesn¡¯t even know how to cook a simple dish like this. ¡°But¡­,¡± Heined. ¡°You know what you¡¯re fired for, just pack and leave.¡± ¡°What¡­but¡­,¡± He continued as I left the room without caring about hisints. If a person doesn¡¯t know how to cook this simple dish I don¡¯t know how he¡¯ll manage to cook dishes that are far moreplicated and precise than this. God, I need some fresh air and maybe liquor. At times like this I miss Rachel even more than I wanted to, she was best, and even without any professional experience and background in food. The vor profile of her dishes, the aroma, the way she presented each and every creation of hers with so much attention and detail. I miss her cooking more than I want to ept it. Even with years of work and learning, I can¡¯tpare with Rachel. It¡¯s almost been a year and yet I couldn¡¯t find a clue of where she is, and what makes my search harder is Rachel being a loner and secretive person, in many ways she is like me. Except for the fact that she is loud and quirky which is quite opposite of what I¡¯m, but staying away from her made me realize one thing that I haven¡¯t realized working with her for years. That her smile and attitude is just a mask that she puts on to hide the true feeling in heart. Her smile is nothing but a shield that she uses to protect herself from suffering, but that day with alcohol in system she finally able to show the pain, the thoughts the feeling she has been hiding for years, and that wasst day she did that because after that night she disappears like mist in air leaving no clue behind whatsoever. I sighed, shaking my head forgoing thoughts of Rachel. I don¡¯t want to think of her not now. It¡¯s been a year and I¡¯m trying my best to find her and ways to contact her. But I¡¯m angry too, anger ont only because she left me alone while I was asleep, but not for once did she think of contacting me, or clear any misunderstanding before she ended anything between us. I know that we were not lovers, not boyfriend or girlfriend, but still we were something, at least for the sake of our work rtionship. She could talk to me for once, before ending everything and leaving with so many unanswered questions behind. Chapter 3 Rachel Droplets of tears streamed down from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks, with my eyes burning.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. If anything I hate in this life and in my work, it is these onions. This one thing makes everything I love about cooking hate. But m rtionship with his onions is something veryplicated its hate and love kind, Love eating and adding them, in the food I make but I hate cutting, copping them But it is what it is, I have loved cooking for as long as I can remember. The first time I cooked something edible was when I was a child, and that was boiled egg. And after that I never stopped. I started reading cookbooks, watching cooking shows, even watching my mom cook and tried everything to learn this skill. I don¡¯t know why but as a child whenever I was sad or the kids my school used to bully me because I don¡¯t have dad, I used toe home and cook even as child all alone in home with my mom working two to three jobs, cooking brings me peace and it still does, maybe that one of reason I decided to make my passion a profession and came to meet Jayce. He was the first person to teach me many things that I couldn¡¯t even learn by myself. And used to love the image spent together, in the kitchen, he might be boss, a teacher in some ways. But hispany is something that I used to enjoy, and always eager for our next lesson together. Until one day everything changed. I signed, with the onions making me cry, my mind reminded me of the first time I came face to face with Jayce, the day when everything started. The very beginning of our story. ***** Today is no more than any other day, just one, same day of me waiting at the table like usual. But this is not something I ever wanted to do, I want to be in the kitchen, with a chef ying with ingredients and creating something and everyone here can devour each bite forgetting about anything about food they taste. But look want am I doing I¡¯m Here waiting tables, wearing this ridiculous outfit, I mean look at me, standing here with a shirt that seems so tight that at any moment I walk, the button will going to popped out ripping the shirt of my chest and the skirt its so short that I don¡¯t think I can bend down even if wanted without showing my ass. God, I sighed, with my leg throbbing, if Ipalinging before about the clothes, which are not even that bad than the heels, for godsake we are waiters not striipers, weaning something like this and disying yourself. But I can¡¯t do anything about it, you know the phrase, that beggar can¡¯t be choosers, that¡¯s me. I need money and more so the experience even if it¡¯sing from a waiting table. I want to open a hotel of my own and there I first rule will be no heels or short skirts that are my number one priority. ¡°Rachel food for table six,¡± I nodded, loading my hands with tes, walking my way to deliver the food. And as I was walking, my legs twisted in the worst possible timing and way I could have imagined, making the tes of food fly in the air, dropping on the floor and on me, with my bodynding on something stiff yet soft. My eyes are closed as I¡¯m hoping that this all to be a stupid dream and wanting wake up at any moment now. But my heart knows this all is reality and it¡¯s my job that I have only started working a few weeks ago, and I also got paid for the expensive crockery that I broke. ¡°You okay,¡± I heard a soft mumbling voice in my heart, as I felt an arm wrap around my waist. I quickly opened my eyes, startled by the sudden closeness. And notice that the stiff, soft thing Inded on is nothing but thep of one of the customers, Shit, Rachel now I¡¯m definitely going to lose my job. Startled by the closeness between us and people in the restaurant, eyeing me suspiciously. I stood quickly, wanting to separate myself from the stranger. Only to groan loudly and lose my bnce again, don¡¯t tell me I sprained my ankle. ¡°Hold on,¡± I heard the voice of a stranger again, as he wrapped his hand around my waist, preventing my fall, staying deep in my face with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± I mumbled. I feel so helpless now with all eyes staring at us. ¡°Rachel, what do you think you¡¯re doing,¡± A voice shouted and made me stand still even with my leg hurting badly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s just heels¡­,¡± I tried to speak with my voice shaking both from pain and fear of losing my job. ¡°Oh don¡¯t give me this silly excuses, pack your stuff and leave you¡¯re no longer needed here,¡± ¡°But¡­,¡± I tried to exin. ¡°And who do you think you¡¯re to fire her,¡± All the eyes turned to a voice that wasing from a stranger supporting me. ¡°What do think about the ridiculous uniform of waitress here, what do think this ce is a family high end restaurant or strip club,¡± ¡°It is what it is,¡± said the manager, staring ring at the stranger beside me. ¡°And as guest I don¡¯t you have the right to interfere in matter rted to employee here,¡± ¡°Rachel, clean this mess and leave.¡± ¡°But¡­.,¡± I tried to say yet again but was ignored with turning his back on me leaving the room like nothing happened. I turned my head to stranger who is still holding me, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for ruining your meal, if please let take you another table as I clean the mess I made,¡± I separated myself from trying to walk only to stop and whimper in pain. I took a deep breath trying to take a step, only to be stopped, with a hand on my shoulder, turning me and making me sit on one of the chairs. ¡°Sit,¡± The stranger that helped me before said as he kneeled down, putting my feet on hisp, checking my sprain. ¡°It¡¯s all red, you need to see a doctor before it gets any worse,¡± he seems worried but why. ¡°Rachel, we¡¯re still here,¡± the manager¡¯s voice shouted again. ¡°That guy..,¡± he mumbled, standing on his feet, giving a deadly stare to the manager. ¡°You what, I had enough of you treating your juniors like ve,¡± ¡°What can you do about it,¡± the manager challenged ¡°Try me,¡± he said, picking up the phone. Damn this stranger is fighting for me, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen a guy, not even my own father, ever take a stand for me, like this. The call ended, and the stranger turned his attention to me. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± he said, holding me tight, putting all my weight in his arms. ¡°But..,¡± I said, but he only smiled, turning his head to the manager. ¡°Pack your thing or you might not have the time to do it on time,¡± ¡°What..,¡± He questioned. But without caring about him we walked slowly towards his car. And drive to the nearest hospital. The memory of that day is still clearly vivid in my mind. That was the first day that someone took a stand for me, even as a stranger, Jayce supported me but it¡¯s sad that none of us wanted anything serious with our rtionship. I sighed, shaking the memories of the past from my mind and continuing my work. Chapter 4 Jayce I sighed, standing outside the small restaurant. I don¡¯t even know what I am doing here, but this is not the ce that I wanted to visit, but since my car decided to stop working right in front of this ce I¡¯ve no choice but to wait here for someone toe and pick me up from this suburban town. ¡°So, what can I get for you,¡± said a waiter as soon as I made my way inside, sitting on the table. ¡°Whatever sells the best,¡± I said casually, not caring to stare at the menu. ¡°Sure,¡± he smiled, leaving alone with a ss of water. Sitting alone in this nearly empty ce, I nced around the space, scanning my surroundings. This ce is small and seems quite old for style of interior and furniture, but still this space has quite a calming and I don¡¯t know the right word to describe it but it has quite a homey vibes and atmosphere around here, and what strange is that I like it even when it¡¯s quite opposite to my style or choice. ¡°Here, you go,¡± my thoughts got diverted by the waiter¡¯s voice, who had two handfuls of tes cing them both in front of me. ¡°Our best and all time favorite by the best,¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much for just me,¡± I said, looking at the amount of food. ¡°Nah, just have a bite, and who knows you might want some more,¡± ¡°Anyways, what is this dish called?¡± ¡°It¡¯s one of our originals, and bestseller, if you¡¯re so interested why you don¡¯t talk to the maker and creating of this,¡± I nodded, taking a spoonful of food, and was surprised by the vors of its contents. I closed my eyes and a moan slipped unconsciously from my mouth as the food melts in my mouth. Damn, this is the type of food I would¡¯ve liked to devour, but no one can satisfy my standards or needs regarding the type of food that I want. Sometimes being a chefes with pros and cons of its own. I don¡¯t know or speak about others but for me personally, cooking day in and day out and being around food sometimes gets so much that at one point I can¡¯t even make myself a bite. At least for the very beginning of my career at one point it became so much that I don¡¯t know how I was discovered by eating disorder. While everyone in life loves and devours my food, I myself can¡¯t even bring myself to take a bite. I guess that¡¯s why from time to time I started going out from time to time eating somewhere where someone else cooks for me, at least that way I can taste and learn something more, while getting some food in my system. I smiled, remember a vivid memory of past of how one day when I waiting in restaurant for food, came a anglending right on top of me and inp, that was first time I met Rachel, without knowing the fact that after that day she is going to someone very precious, and close to heart. Until the day when she left without even a goodbye, and till this day I¡¯m trying to find her, just so I can clear any misunderstandings and hard feelings between us. But¡­I sighed; Rachel is nowhere near to me. ¡°So, where is the created of this masterpiece,¡± I said, looking at the waiter standing in front of me ¡°We¡¯re so sorry but just as I was going to call her, she seems to disappear without any notice,¡± the waiter replied, staring at anywhere but at me. ¡°But why..,¡± I asked. I really wanted to meet the master behind this masterpiece. ¡°I don¡¯t know but that how sometime Rachel is..,¡± ¡°Wait, Rachel¡­.¡± Did he mention Rachel, or something else? ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s one of Rachel¡¯s original,¡± He said, this time with a smile. ¡°How long has Rachel been working here and do you have any pictures,¡± I said, hoping for it to be true. ¡°A year or soter, she works at night only, and her home is around the corner,¡± he said, rippling in the direction of her home. ¡°But why are asking,¡± I smiled with hope in my eyes . Maybe after a long whole year I truly can find Rachel, but it is dangerous how this waiter shares her address with a stranger like me. ¡°Thanks and don¡¯t share any women addressed to random strangers, it might be dangerous,¡± I said, tipping the waiter a heavy amount before leaving with hope of finding my Rachel after all this time. ¡°Please just don¡¯t run this time; I¡¯ve many things that I would¡¯ve liked to clear to you.¡± I smiled, walking my way towards the address given by the waiter.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. God, how it has been Ist saw Rachel¡¯s face, her smile, the rose fragrance of her shampoo, the warm of hugs, the food that she used cook for me, so I could ovee my eating disorder, and most importantly Rachel, as how she was, sad yet smiling, hurt yet smiling no matter how bad the circumstances are for her, but always faces everything with badass smile on her face. When I first met her at the restaurant I thought she was one of the silent, fragile, who needed support to ovee her nasty boss, but she surprised me personally, showing me the other side of her personality, the one she hides behind her professionalism. Damn, I¡¯ll never forget the day, when we came out of the restaurant; my arms were wrapped around waist with her ankle sprained, as we¡¯re walking towards the parking lot. ****** ¡°You can leave me here,¡± I looked at the girl in arms who a few minutes ago seemed to be in so much pain but now I look at her acting so strangely. ¡°I can drop you home if you want,¡± I said, in an attempt to help her, but in reply she gave me a stinging look. ¡°No, I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, trying to separate herself from me. But cried in pain as my arms were a little away from her waist. ¡°Yeah I can see, let me hail a taxi.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she shouted this time fully separating herself from, walking away in an ufortable weird manner because of the pain. She then stopped, sighing loudly, not moving but just staying still. I walked towards her, as I gently ced my hand on her shoulder, my attempt made her startled as she quickly wiped her face. I don¡¯t know for sure but she was crying. ¡°Let me help you,¡± I said, as softly I can. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just leave?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t,¡± my words came shock t OK both her and myself, I don¡¯t even know why am I doing this, she is no one to me, I don¡¯t even know her name, but still I don¡¯t have the heart to leave in so much pain, I don¡¯t know why but I have never felt protected towards any woman other than my sister. ¡°And why,¡± she asked, giving that sting look again. Well I can¡¯t say that I felt protective towards her that might ruin any chances to help her. ¡°Because I can¡¯t leave my employee here alone in pain.¡± Again the sting eye, ¡°I don¡¯t work for you,¡± ¡°You do actually,¡± I said, tightening my grip on my waist. ¡°The restaurant where we met in mine,¡± ¡°Wait,¡± she shouted, pushing my chest to separate us both and resulting in falling to the ground. ¡°Shitttttttt,¡± ¡°You okay,¡± I asked, crouching down beside her, checking her for any wounds. ¡°Are you a fool, you could have hurt seriously,¡± I shouted, annoyed even though I wanted to, I sighed trying to calm myself. ¡°You want me to help you, Fine,¡± I said, calling for a taxi. ¡°I¡¯ve a taxi, you go alone.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± She tugged my arm as I was about to leave. ¡°I don¡¯t want to rude, it just that¡­..,¡± She hid her nce avoiding looking at me. ¡°I don¡¯t have home to go,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I was house hunting for a while, but couldn¡¯t find anything fit on my budget,¡± she sighed. ¡°Where were you leaving until now,¡± I asked, not trusting her words. ¡°With my boyfriend, but then he decided to cheat on me and we broke up and now I¡¯ve lost my job too,¡± I don¡¯t know what to say or do about her situation but the thing is I can¡¯t leave her here alone. ¡°I might regret itter,¡± I mumbled. Staring at her face, I don¡¯t know why but she seems familiar even though this is the first time I am meeting with her. Someone who was the very reason for me to be who I am now, a better version of Jayce. Maybe that¡¯s why I don¡¯t have the heart to leave her here alone with her ankle sprained. Chapter 5 Rachel I sighed happily, stretching my arms, although I am tired as heck with all the work, and babysitting but at the end of the day I¡¯m happy, satisfied with myself. Nowadays there are two things that make me forget that helps me forget Jayce, one Brandon and Jane babies and two of myte nights at this restaurant. I don¡¯t know why seeing people happy and satisfied by my work, either by eating something I cooked or the time they spend with me, makes my days fulfilled. Even though food and cooking reminds me of my spend with Jayce and every time I¡¯m cooking I don¡¯t know but it¡¯s seems even far away from me there is part of with me every time I hold a knife, spat or seeing the happy satisfied look on the peoples face thates and devours my food. And that is something I will always be thankful to Jayce, it¡¯s because of him that I¡¯ve so much from, if it¡¯s not for me then I would have never discovered that I¡¯ve some kind of thing with cooking too.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. I remember the first time I was on his house when my ankle was sprained and I didn¡¯t have anywhere to spend the night, that time Jayce lend his hand to me, allowing me stay at his house but me being me a fool, I totally mistook his attempt causing a fight and misunderstand in between us. Damn I¡¯m still a fool I guess somehow, I don¡¯t know. I smiled remembering my very first night at Jayce house, our very first misunderstanding and the very first time that I¡¯ve ever cooked for someone other than myself. ****** Tonight is the worst day of my life. I lost my job the very night I started working. I sprained my ankle so badly I couldn¡¯t even walk on my own and worse of worse the person who helped me and whosep I have fallen is technically the real boss. I don¡¯t think my words make sense, because hell I¡¯m confused, and my mind is nk. I don¡¯t know what to do; I don¡¯t have time to rest. I barely have enough money to survive and now I¡¯ve a sprained ankle. What am I going to do? I sighed, hopelessly seeing no solution to my problem, beingpletely helpless on a cold winter night. I wish that I have a brother or someone that has always been for me. I shook my head trying to avoid the thoughts, because technically I do have a brother whom I hate step brother to be fair and not only I have a whole step family for whom my dad left me and mom without looking back. I just hate it and even if I die I won¡¯t get any help from them. ¡°I might regret itter,¡± I nced up looking at the person helping who calls himself my ex-boss¡¯s boss, wondering what the heck was going on in his mind. Why doesn¡¯t he leave me and go away wherever he wants to be? I don¡¯t care, as long as I¡¯m alive I can do something, but what that¡¯s I¡¯m questioning myself. I don¡¯t want to ruin my dignity by doing something I will regretter, but I¡¯m here cold, hungry and worse sprained. ¡°Come,¡± said the stranger, holding me in his supportive arms. ¡°Where?¡± I questioned, not knowing the exact meaning behind his words. He sighed, rubbing the back of neck with one of his hands while the other held me. ¡°To my home,¡± I stared at him questionably, ¡°Why,¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t have the heart to leave her all alone and worse injured,¡± ¡°But why do care, just leave me,¡± I argued, even when deep inside I know that I¡¯m a fool rejecting his offer, it¡¯s just I don¡¯t have a hard trusting someone, damn I hardly trust my own mother and he is aplete stranger nothing else. ¡°You are employee and it¡¯s my responsibility to see if you¡¯re fine or not, mostly when one of my staff is responsible of your condition,¡± I still don¡¯t trust him and stood still with my eyes ring at him. He sighed again, ¡°See I don¡¯t have a whole night to argue with here, you came whether you want or stray here, choice is yours,¡± he replied as his foot tapped the ground, desperately waiting for my answer. This time I sighed, not finding any choice but agreeing with him, ¡°Fine,¡± He nodded without saying a word, taking me with him to his car. And that was a night that changed everything in me and my life, making me discover things that I would never know I had in me until my time spent with Jayee. None of us at times knows that our weird encounter might result in something so sweet but yet sad at the end, making things pretty much unforgettable for me for this whole time. ******** ¡°Sit,¡± the moment we entered his house, he ordered,¡±Don¡¯t move,¡± leaving me alone in the living room as he left. I roamed my eyes all the space I¡¯m in right now, questioning if he is who he ims to be, owner of such a big ass restaurant, but his house has nothing that makes him seem like he is rich, maybe he likes simple living. Who cares? But the ce is very cozy and homey. I hear footstepsing in my way and enter him, dressed differently, wearing afy t-shirt, and pjs holding a first aid kit in hand. He sits beside me, touching my ankle cing it over hisp. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked, because this is the first that anyone holds with such caressing touch that tingles down to the spine. ¡°Keep quiet,¡± he replied, diverting all attention to my sprained ankle. His fingers lightly touched the space that was bruised, pressing it gently, ¡°Not much swelling,¡± he mumbled, not leaving my feet and sprayed something cold on it. I don¡¯t know why, but my mind is so much focused in him and way he gently caressing my skin, taking care of me, that my pain suddenly seems to disappear so how, as my heart started pounding in chest rapidly, even my breathing also does seems to increase, I don¡¯t even why I am reacted like this to him, maybe because he is first man in my that ever even once cared for me. I shook my head, wanting to remove any unwanted thoughts from my mind. ¡°You¡¯re fine, two to three day and you can walk normally,¡± he replied, gently cing feet on the ground. ¡°Just don¡¯t apply to much pressure for a few days,¡± ¡°Are you a doctor,¡± I asked, out of curiosity watching him attentively caring for my feet. ¡°No, but I know two or three things about sprains and injuries from personal experience and treating my sister.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± I nodded, not knowing what to say, and just in moments like this something embarrassing happened and my stomach groaned loudly. Shit, I sighed hiding trying to avoid his stare but to my surprise he said nothing butughed carelessly. ¡°Let me get some food,¡± he said, still smiling as he ruffled my hair with his palm as if I¡¯m a child. I watch his ass disappear in the kitchen and touch my head where his hands touched a few seconds ago, smiling on my own. WTF is happening to me. He appears a few momentster looking a bit disappointed, as he ran his hands over his rumbled hairs, ¡°Sorry, right now there isn¡¯t anything apizing or fulfilling in figure right now,¡± He stooped as thinking something and than his face lights up with a smile forming on his lips, ¡°On the good side it¡¯s actually better, right now I¡¯m cook something for you,¡± He finished, trying to move but I stopped him with a hand wrapped around his wrist. ¡°Wait, can Ie with you,¡± I asked hesitantly, not wanting to be more of a burden on him than I already am right now. He nodded, giving me his hand and holding me, as we made our way to his kitchen, which to my surprise is quite bigger and more fully functional than what his house seems to be, like a restaurant kitchen. I mean even by looks it seems that this guy cooks rerly, or he is passionate about food. ¡°Hey,¡± a handnded on my left shoulder diverging my attention to the man beside me. ¡°What are you thinking, in your mind?¡± I shook my head trying to avoid the question but then decided to answer anyway. ¡°Your kitchen is beautiful and quite big aspared to your house, why¡± He smiled, making me sit on one of the kitchen stools. ¡°Well because I live alone, and big houses need a lot of maintenance, money and people to run. So this for me is enough to live,¡± Good point, I guess. ¡°And as for the kitchen, this is where I spend my maximum time, so I want the best I can afford,¡± I nodded, watching him as moves around the space, getting things from here to prepare food. I look at ignents that he ces on the kitchen table, raw veggies, meats, different types of seasoning and spices and can¡¯t help myself from asking the question roaming in my mind watching him. ¡°Are you from scratch,¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I like my food,¡± he ripped with a lopsided grin. Starting to chop some vegetables in a very fast and precise manner, so beautiful that the view is hytypizing for me to watch. ¡°Are you allergic to something or are you on a special diet like vegan or vegetarian,¡± He asked, cing a pan on a burning fire. I shook my head, ¡°NO,¡± ¡°Great,¡± He grinned again, putting some veggies into a sizzling pan, making a pleasant sizzle sound. He looks so focused in his work with giving his full attention to nothing but food around him. The aroma of food is tantalizing around the whole house, making my mouth watering, and my stomach hungry than it was before. He is some kind of food genius. The way he works making things seems easy yet so mesmerizing. And before I knew it or reacted, he ced a te full of mouth watering, tantalizing food in front of me. ¡°Have a taste,¡± he said, putting a fork in my hand. Not wanting to wait anymore I nodded, putting a spoon full of the tantalizing food in my mouth, the moment the food touched my mouth all my senses awed as my eyes closed with even my knowing, with moans escaping from my mouth without even my mere knowledge. I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m doing and only came to my senses when I heard a sound of throat cleaning, making me open my eyes, only to see dark, almost serious feral eyes staring at me watching all my reactions. Chapter 6 Jayce I cleared my throat, clearly not knowing what else to do. Never in my ten years of my cooking career have I seen anyone devour my food with so much passion. I don¡¯t know what to think of it right now. I can¡¯t even describe how turned on I¡¯ve been only by watching a spoonful of the food in her mouth, and to make things worse for me the moan that escapes from throat acted like oil in my already fired up senses. I turned my head trying to avoid my stare only to find eyes staring at my back. I took a deep breath trying to calm my unbnced senses and shook my head to remove any unnecessary thoughts. ¡°You want anything else,¡± I shook her head on my question, trying to avoid looking at me. ¡°Okay, call me, if you need anything, I¡¯ll be in the living room.¡± ¡°But aren¡¯t you going to eat anything,¡± I shook my head at her question, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry,¡± I said, trying to leave. She held my hand, stopping me, as I turned my head watching the sincere look on her face. ¡°You must eat, you haven¡¯t eaten in a restaurant because of me,¡± she said with a sad expression on her face. I sighed, as I took a te of food for myself, sitting beside her, which gained a smile from her, as she resumed devouring the food with the same passion from before. We both ate our food, quietly one saying anything and as both were empty tes, I stood up taking the tes towards the sink and started washing them by hand. ¡°You don¡¯t own a dishwasher,¡± ¡°No, I like washing them by hand, it calms me when I¡¯m tense,¡± which I¡¯m right now, but I¡¯m not going to do that out loud. ¡°You¡¯re different,¡± I heard her mumbling voice.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°What do you mean by I¡¯m different?¡± I asked, suddenly curious by the way she looked at me. ¡°You heard me,¡± she asked, and I nodded drying my hand, leaning on elbow with my hand pressed on chin on the kitchen table staring at her. ¡°I mean you¡¯re rich yet you live in small house, with very little luxuries and even by talking with I can say that you¡¯re very kind, I mean look you helped, treated my wound, even when I¡¯m just a stranger for me,¡± I smiled listening to her honest answer. ¡°I likefort more than luxury and this ce gives that and I¡¯m alone, so this much space is more than enough for me. And I¡¯m anything but kind, so don¡¯t misjudge me by the way I¡¯m with you, I can be as cruel as one can be when needed,¡± I said, giving an honest reply for her honest question. ¡°I helped you cause it is one of the staff ¡®s fault for mistreating his juniors.¡± She nodded her head. ¡°Can ask you a favor,¡± She asked just as I was about to leave. ¡°What?¡± She stopped thinking before speaking. ¡°Can you not fire the manager, I mean it was not totally his fault, I was not working very well,¡± I stared at her not knowing what to think of her right now, she is for real asking me to not fire that rude bastard. ¡°Why do you want that?¡± ¡°I want him or people around him suffer because of his job,¡± ¡°That not possible, and you might have noticed it today cause it was you first day, but I¡¯ve heardin about him for months and his habit of mistreating his juniors especially women, I mean look at you, he tally ruined the dress code of female waiter of family restaurant to booze bar,¡± I said, not wanting to listen to any of her exnation. But looking at my sad face doesn¡¯t work for me. Even though I met hours before, I hate her sad face. I want to smile. I sighed, ¡°Fine, if you care that much about that fool that I¡¯ll pay his one month sry in advance, that way he have enough to get through until he finds a new job and all except nothing more from me,¡± I said defeated but my words did works putting a big smile on face, which for some reason made me smile too. ******** Rachel I¡¯m walking faster than I should, it¡¯s almost as if I¡¯m running but I don¡¯t care, I have duties that needed my care on times like this, Brandon have to run for emergency delivery, and Jane is also out of town on times like this, so I have take care stay the night with Marlene. I don¡¯t have any problem babysitting at night. All I¡¯ve to do is stay with Marlene and that¡¯s all. I came in front of Brandon¡¯s door in no time only to find Brandon standing there all dressed up, ready to up. ¡°Ready to leave doc,¡± I waved, teasing him with a bit of a smile. Brandon sighed, shaking his head, ¡°I¡¯m not but I have leave, please take care of Marlene,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry she has greatpany,¡± I said, praising myself. ¡°I doubt that,¡± Brandon said, padding his hand on my shoulder. ¡°But I trust you,¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re crying with all thesepliments,¡± I replied, acting to wipe my fake happy tears with a smile. Brandonughed. Leaving me alone. Seeing his back disappear in the dark. I sighed, as stretching aching arms and stiff shoulders. It¡¯s been such a long day but I don¡¯t let my emotions show up in my face, relieving my vulnerability to the world. I once made the mistake of doing that with Jayce and I¡¯m still regretting it now. Anyways, time to check on Marlene. I made my way inside Brandon¡¯s house and then inside Marline¡¯s room only to find her curled up in her bed with a dinosaur Jane gifted her on one of her birthdays. I smiled adoring the picture in front of my eyes. It¡¯s cute to see how connected Jane and Brandon and their children are together, even without being rted to any bond or blood, they are a family that builds with so much love and care for one another. Seeing them makes me dream of having a family of my own, even though I hated the idea of family my whole life. I shook my head removing the unnecessary thoughts and dreams in my mind, families are not for me, and I¡¯m better off alone than someone like my mother only to regret it all my life. I made my way towards the living room, trying to rest my eyes for sometime on the couch. Brandon does have a spare room for days like this but I don¡¯t think I can sleep even though I¡¯m hell tired. And just when I was trying to sit on couch, there¡¯s a knock on front door, I checked the person through security cam, before opening door, only to find standing face to face with the least epted, and has been avoiding for years, ¡°Rachel,¡± he said, surprised to find behind the door. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ¡°Take a guess,¡± I rolled my eyes, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°Where is Brandon?¡± ¡°Work,¡± I replied, keeping my answer as short as I can. He nodded, ¡°Cane in,¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t to be alone with strange at this time of night,¡± ¡°Stranger, Rachel, I¡¯m brother,¡± Here ites the topic that I want escape in every possible, ¡°You might be Brandon¡¯s co worker, friend but not my brother Daniel,¡± Yeah this famous brain surgeon is my half brother, a seed of my father¡¯s affairs like me, and that is what makes us hate our rtionship more. ¡°You can¡¯t change the truth by your lies, I don¡¯t even why you hate me so much, we were best friends, school bloodies and someone who can lean on one another when in trouble,¡± He said, talking about sweet memories we shared before the truth came out. ¡°What changed, you are the striking image of him and that¡¯s what changed, we close when we were friends, but now when learned that you¡¯re someone that someone rted to him,¡± ¡°That means you hate yourself too,¡± ¡°You¡¯re right I hate the fact that I¡¯ve his blood running through my veins, the fact he the reason I¡¯m in this world, makes my life worse than before, you even know how much I hate myself to be rted to the person that has been the cause of mother¡¯s pain, misery,¡± I said with my sense raging in fire with every word I speak of that person. Daniel sighed, staring at me. ¡°I know what it feels like to be rted to a person that has been the reason for the pain of your loved ones.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I questioned, wanting to know the reasoning behind his words. ¡°Take care,¡± Daniel mumbled, and shook his head, gently kissing my forehead before leaving me alone, with my thoughts and agony. Chapter 7 Jayce Waiting, waiting and Waiting that what I¡¯ve been doingst four hours, no one not even Rachel seems toe, I don¡¯t if this right address and that time I couldn¡¯t even ask if I¡¯m in right or waiter tricked me. Fuck, I sighed, pacing in around, hiding my hands in my coat pockets, I don¡¯t know what temperature right nk, I just go somewhere warm or take hot bath but I don¡¯t want to miss my only chance to meet Rachel, I just see how she is, her smile, and if I get a chance I do want to ask her why she left me right before the moment I was finally deciding to ovee my fear of love and confess my feeling for her. For once I want to be Rachel. I pulled my phone hoping to pass some time engaging myself in some silly game but bad luck it ran out of battery. I¡¯m so pissed right now, like I haven¡¯t been in years. I¡¯m this close to meeting Rachel yet time doesn¡¯t seem to pass. Why is everything right now making me feel annoyed? All I want is to see Rachel once again. Some more passed of me procrastinating, and I noticed footsteps approaching and the sound of two pairs of footsteps, echoing in the silence of night, and here. I don¡¯t know why, but I decided hide myself, watching them approaching closer and closer and to door, that ording to waiter is Rachel¡¯s house, and that¡¯s when I noticed that the woow, but even under so muchyers I¡¯m cold hecman with guy is no other Rachel, her hair that been once dyed blond now, seems to be in its original for a deep shade of brown, her face clean with no makeup, and what is weird is smiling with the stranger like she have never been with me for once. She was never so cheerful and frank around me, like she is around this man. Who the hell is? ¡°Only a few days and then you¡¯ll leave,¡± I heard Rachel say to the man in front of him. ¡°What if I want to stay longer?¡± He smiled, as if they were very close andter he ruffled her hair, like I used to do. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll kick you out,¡± Replied Rachel, acting annoyed, unlocking her door. ¡°I know you love me and you can¡¯t do something so bad,¡± Love, what am I hearing is true or my ying with me. Rachel loves him. ¡°Yeah, yeah,¡± Rachel smiled, showing her tongue, before entering her house with the man she brought with her. I¡¯m dumbfounded. I don¡¯t even know what to think of the situation now, all hopes, of seeing Rachel, confessing my feelings, building a life with her; all those things go right into the drain after watching how happy she is with him. Rachel was never like this with me. I shook my head, walking back from where I came from; at least she is happy, even without me. I wish nothing but her happiness. And for me I¡¯ll continue my life like I¡¯ve been before Rachel came in it. Maybe that¡¯s what I deserve. ******** Rachel I entered the inside not thinking much about this mere conversation with Daniel, yeah it¡¯s true that he once was my best friend, someone who older than me yet someone with whom felt deeply connected with, he was someone who always protected me when someone at school bullied me, because of silence and introverted nature, even without knowing the fact that we are someone connected we were connection, he was my protector, someone with I shared all my secret, because I know he will hurt me even unintentionally. But things change drastically when mom died when I was fifteen, and I don¡¯t from where my father about whom I never knew that excited came in taking in his house and his life and that when I learned that fact Daniel is in fact my half brother and we are rted and also that fact somehow from very beginning he knew all about truth from the very beginning. Still things were not as bad I epted it to be but the more day that spend in their house with them truth seemse out little by little in pieces. The fact Daniel¡¯s mom hates and she doesn¡¯t like my presence in her house or around her husband or son. And I don¡¯t think I me her for that because every time she sees me she sees the image of the woman that he cheated with, behind her back. I didn¡¯t even know what to do at that time; I was just a teenager struggling with my life,ing face to face with one after another truth that was hiding from me all this time. The fact that each and everyone in my life, whom I love and whom I thought loves me the same, has cheated me one way or another. My mom, Daniel, and Jayce, maybe that is why I stopped hiding myself behind my fake smile and cheerful fake personality. I can¡¯t show my real self to the world if in return all I get is hurt and cheated. The Rachel that everyone knows or sees, cheerful bubbly always that makes everyoneugh is nothing but a coward that is too afraid to show her real self to the world. I¡¯m not what others think of me and I don¡¯t want to change it. I shook my head trying to remove the painful memories of my past that I want to forget but sadly can¡¯t. And that¡¯s when I heard the sound of someone sneezing from outside. I thought to ignore thinking maybe it was some pass by but then I again heard the same sound repeatedly. With the teaser in my I open the checking, then sneeze badly and why. ¡°Daniel,¡± I said, as I saw him. Sitting in front of Brandon in these very cold wearing so little warm clothes. ¡°What are you doing here, and why haven¡¯t you left?¡± He looked at me with a small smile on his face, ¡°Waiting for Brandon.¡± ¡°You know he never has a fixed time toe home,¡± I sighed seeing his miserable stage. ¡°Come in inside and wait, I don¡¯t want to reason for your death.¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Daniel smiled, wasting no time making his way inside the house. Sitting on the couch, I watched how badly he was shivering. I don¡¯t know why I was outside but right now it¡¯s not time to ask a question. I left quickly, bringing some warm nkets wrapping my body with it. ¡°Tha¡­nk you.¡± He replied, still shivering. I left again and this time brought a hot cup of cocoa with me. This might help him warm up quickly. ¡°Drink it while it¡¯s warm,¡± I said, giving the cup sitting opposite to him. Daniel took a sip watching me with a big smile on his face as took sip after sip. ¡°It¡¯s been years but you still remember this,¡± He said with a smile, showing me a cup of cocoa. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean,¡± I said, trying to avoid the question by turning my face away from him. Daniel is one of those people who read me like an open book and the act of hiding isn¡¯t in front of him. He grinned. ¡°Remember we¡¯re children and I used to make it while tutoring you, and then you asked me to teach you a recipe and then you were the one who made it for me, when I was preparing for my med school. I¡¯m happy that you still don¡¯t forget everything.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s you who forgot things,¡± I mumbled remembering his hurtful words from the past. Daniel¡¯s eyes stared at me and the look on shows that he doesn¡¯t know what I¡¯m talking about. ¡°What do you mean?¡± asked Daniel. ¡°Let it go,¡± I said, not wanting to talk about a hurtful past. Trying to leave, but Daniel grabbed my hand, stopping me from moving further. ¡°Not this time, you¡¯ve to say what changed, what I did so wrong that you stopped talking to me, what happened to our childhood rtionship, our bond that wasn¡¯t bound by blood but love. Today you have an answer.¡± Daniel said, not wanting to end this conversation here and in the middle. Fine if he wants answers I¡¯ll give him one. Chapter 8 Rachel ¡°Remember my eighteenth birthday,¡± I said. Daniel lifted his face with his eyes focused on me. ¡°How can I forget? I nodded, I knew what he meant. It was the same day a big tantrum happened in the house with a big fight between Daniel¡¯s mom and his and my father too. The fight was so big that it even resulted in divorcing them both. I don¡¯t know, what was the reason behind their fight that was so big that it resulted in separation, even being a cheater can¡¯t separate Daniel¡¯s mother from father but a fight did. ¡°What happened that day?¡± Daniel questioned, breaking the silence in between us. I shook my head thinking about telling the truth and breaking my promise that I made only Daniel¡¯s benefit or letting it go. But I guess it¡¯s a little toote to forgo the topic itself. ¡°I don¡¯t know, I don¡¯t want to hurt you by telling you the truth,¡± I said, procrastinating to speak or let go. Daniel smiled, ruffling my hair, like he used to when we were younger. ¡°I don¡¯t thing at anything can hurt me more, that it already did,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I asked, not knowing the meaning behind his words. But Daniel smiled, shaking his head, asking to continue. I nodded as my thoughts went to the night of my eighteenth birthday. The day was almost going to end but nobody for once has wished me, till now. I don¡¯t care about anyone else, but even Daniel has been away since morning and not once does he wish me. All this time, even before we found out that we were siblings, he wished me, but this way when we live in the same house he is nowhere to be. I hate that I¡¯m so lonely, I hate that I have no family, no one calls my mine, even Daniel is starting to behave weird, maybe he is busy but he could at least call. I sighed making my way down the hall. When I heard the sound of breaking ss that wasing from the master bedroom. I don¡¯t know what is happening inside, so I walked standing just outside the door, when the voices of shouting. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a liar,¡± Shouted Daniel¡¯s dad. ¡°Look who¡¯s the one speaking about lying,¡± that¡¯s Daniel mom her voice sounded raged. I don¡¯t know what they are talking about but the fact that I¡¯m interested in whates next from their mouth, is making my feet frozen at the same spot. ¡°It¡¯s not the same thing all this time. I was guilty thinking I hurt you without knowing the fact that your lie was always in front of me with me and still I was so blinded that I could this time,¡± He sighed, with a voice sounding less reddened but heavy. Maybe by emotion, I don¡¯t care. Let them I¡¯m anyways going to move out this ce tomorrow and I don¡¯t want mess upon mood, listening to fucked up fighting about their fucked up rtionship. But my feet froze in ce hearing something that I¡¯m having a very hard time trusting. ¡°All this time I thought Daniel was my son, my heir, my own blood but he is not,¡± WTF is the old man talking about Daniel is not his son but he looks so much like him how can this be the truth. As I was struggling, having a hard time digesting the news, the door opened with meing face to face with Daniel¡¯s mom, her face staring at me raged in fury, and all I did was run not wanting to be a victim of her anger. I sighed, opening all my emotions and secrets in front of Daniel but I¡¯m just too afraid to look at him, right I don¡¯t know how he will react to learning the truth that he is technically not the real son of his dad. But to my surprise Daniel isn¡¯t sad at all butughing, as if I told his joke or something. I don¡¯t know what is happening to him, maybe he is too sad to think rationally. ¡°Daniel, are you fine,¡± I asked, being too worried about him. ¡°Rachel, I¡¯m an adult and a doctor, I don¡¯t think it is something big enough to upset me,¡± He sighed, with a smile still remaining on his face. ¡°It¡¯s good to know at least why dad started acting weird after your birthday, and knowing that I¡¯m not the one who is at fault. Well in other words I¡¯m, who cares I¡¯ve at least.¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. I nodded, with a small smile. ¡°So everything is back to normal like it used to be, or you still have any hard feelings for me,¡± said Daniel. ¡°I never once had any hard feelings for you, I kept my distance from you because your mom asked me to,¡± I mumbled. ¡°What did she say to you?¡± Asked Daniel, ¡°She, I¡¯ve to leave the house and never contact anyone else, otherwise dad will never add your name in the property bill and also will stop paying for auctions,¡± I sighed remembering her words. ¡°I know how badly you wanted to be surgeon and that¡¯s I thought staying away from me is good for you and your career,¡± ¡°Are you a fool,¡± Daniel raged and hugged me tightly. ¡°How can think of doing so reckless, are you nuts, my mom was manipting you to do what she wanted, and she used me as a weapon, you don¡¯t know how she if she wants she could sacrifice meforher benefit, but you¡¯re too naive too understand that, I don¡¯t even know how you survived all this years all alone,¡± ¡°Daniel,¡± I mumbled. ¡°Shh, remember my words when we met for the first time at school,¡± I nodded. I remember I was ten at that time and a few boys older than me bullied me, cause I don¡¯t have a dad. Then Daniel silenced everyone and sat me, wiping my tears. ¡°You¡¯re different, that¡¯s why they hate you, you don¡¯t have dad right,¡± I nodded looking at eyes . That seems scary but the way he talks to me, makies me like him. ¡°Do you have a brother,¡± I shook my head. I nodded, holding me and taking me with him to the bullies. ¡°You guys, this girl you see is my little sister, and if you or anyone else dared to hurt, you¡¯ll get your ass kicked by me, Understand,¡± He shouted thest part loudly, letting them hear loud and clear. And nodded there, a smile blossomed on my face seeing someone caring about me. Daniel turned, looking at me. ¡°You know I always wanted a little sister of my own , someone whom I can take care of, but my parents never gave me one, well no worries now I¡¯ve one,¡± he finished ruffling my hair. Even at that time without knowing the fact that we¡¯ve same dad, whichter turned out to be a lie, we¡¯re family. I smiled remembering old times, and Danile ruffled my hair with hand like he always does. ¡®Godthing atst I¡¯ve Rachel my sister with me,¡± Daniel mumbled, hugging me once again. ¡°I guess i should leave now,¡± ¡°Why were you here and with a bag,¡± I asked, noticing a big bag with him that I hadn¡¯t noticed earlier. Daniel smiled, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°Well I thought maybe I could stay night here today,¡± ¡°And why that, you¡¯ve home right,¡± I asked. Daniel hid his ce from me, looking anywhere but at me. ¡°Fine, don¡¯t give that deadly start, to your big brother,¡± I sighed, waiting for a moment. ¡°I burned my house,¡± ¡°What the Fuck,¡± I shouted, not trusting his words. Chapter 9 Jayce It¡¯s been a year since that night, and after that night seeing Rachel so happy with someone else, I haven¡¯t made any attempt to contact her even though I know where she is but It¡¯s sad that even I was so badly searching for her everywhere, I can and now when I know where she really is, still I can¡¯t make attempt to talk to her. I guess I¡¯m happy at the fact that even without me being a part of her life, she is happy, even if it hurts me that that someone is not me but someone other than me. I sighed, making my way inside the restaurant today is big day for sister and I don¡¯t want to ruin it for her, by looking so fucked up. So I stered a smile on my face even if it¡¯s fake, it works for me. Today she is going to introduce me to her boyfriend, that she has been talking with me for so long, praising him like a demigod or some other, well I don¡¯t care who he is. If he hurts my sister he¡¯ll for sure get hurt. I entered, only to find the one that I¡¯ve avoided sitting with him. It¡¯s been a year and they are still together, that clear the fact that they both are serious about their rtionship. I want to leave. I don¡¯t want Rachel to be with me, my presence might ruin the happiness of her date. But I don¡¯t think my sister should being any minute now, and it¡¯s an important day for her. So, I stood around the corner not to make a mark, and I guess I¡¯m blessed to be wearing a hoodie even in this fancy ce. I hide my face as much as I can with a hoodie, watching Rachel. She has changed since thest time I saw her, she has grown more beautiful, and with the gold dress that she is wearing. She looks like an angel. I have the urge to run to her seeing her like this wrapping my one hand around her bare waist and the other around silky straight hair iming her lips with mine. I sighed I don¡¯t have the right to it even in life again I guess, it is not mine anymore, sadly. And Rachel left, maybe todies, I take it as my move but for some reason I stood there scanning the person Rachel is with, I mean he looks fine, dressed in casuals but the question is not looks the real question is he good enough for Rachel. And just as I was scanning him, a woman who looked very simr to Rachel alert from the back, in a red dress, walked towards him and hugged and kissed his lips. WTF is going on in here, he is with Rachel and now he is with someone else. I was about to kick the hell out of him, when Rachel walked in hugging the woman too, and when I saw her face, the woman was none other than. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± I walked towards, without even caring about Rachel seeing me. ¡°Jayce,¡± I cheered, hugging me. ¡°Meet Daniel my boyfriend and Rachel her sister,¡± ¡°Sister,¡± I shouted, thest word louder than I epted too and the eyes of people around the restaurant turned to me. I apologized, lowering my tone, looking at Rachel who was looking anywhere but at me, hiding her nce, when does she have a brother? I need answers. I have been waiting for years. I grabbed Rachel¡¯s hands, but her so-called brother stopped me. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°Talk out some misunderstanding,¡± I said, not leaving her hand. Rachel looked at her brother and nodded as he freed her hand. And I took it as much as chance to drag her out of the restaurant to my car and drive somewhere she can¡¯t escape, not this time, not before she answers all my questions. The question has been poking me from inside out for years. She only knows how to answer. ******* Rachel ¡°There is no escape until you answer all my questions,¡± Jayce said, locking the door of his house and pacing around like an angry beast. If anyone sees him acting like this they might get scared but that is not the case for me here. I trust Jayce with everything but my heart. ¡°What kind of answers,¡± I asked.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t act innocent, you know what answers I need from you,¡± Yes, I know but do I want to confess, that might be a no from my side. I stood silently, watching Jayce getting more and more annoyed by my silence. Jayce sighed loudly, as he stood in front of me, with his eyes staring at mine. ¡°Let me ask you then. Why did leave that day unannounced, you can at least¡­,¡± Jayce stooped, turning his back on me. ¡°Talk to me for onest time before leaving,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that would make a difference, it¡¯s not like you care,¡± I said atst the words that were in my heart for a long time. I know he wouldn¡¯t care if anyone in life cared if I lived or died, recently Daniel does but other than him none. Jayceughed at my words like a freak as if I shared a joke or so, turning his face at me, his face that seems clearly a mixture of anger and pain. ¡°You¡¯re right I don¡¯t care, maybe that¡¯s why I¡¯ve searching for you like a freak for years,¡± ¡°Jayce¡­,¡± I mumbled not trusting his words, he has been searching for me but why? ¡°You know what, leave, I don¡¯t care like you said,¡± Jayce said walking towards his bedroom without even turning a nce at me, locking himself inside the room. I stood there dumbfounded silently, watching Jayce in all pain and anger. He was waiting for me, searching for me but why. People say women are hard to read but as a woman I say that men are harder to read because at least we women cry and are not scared to show our emotion that is hiding beneath our heart, but men they just keep silent hiding their pain and anger , everything inside hidden from the women. I¡¯m saying all are the same but I¡¯ve seen enough to say maximum are. Chapter 10 Rachel Alone in the living room of the ce that holds some precious memories of my life. I don¡¯t know, but after being away for so many years from here this ce somehow makes me feel nostalgic. Time seems to have stopped here, as I looked around nothing has changed in here so far, everything seems as it has been years ago. Maybe that is one of the reasons I don¡¯t have the heart to leave, even after hearing Jayce¡¯s scolding so much. I moved around slowly inspecting every inch of it. Somehow it seems weird for me to see that Jayce is still stuck in the past but then I look at myself and notice he isn¡¯t one who is stuck in the past. I sighed moving further into the room where I used to live before setting up my own apartment. And surprisingly everything is the same here too, the ce seems clean, just everything is where I ced it thest time I was here. Watching all this more and more questions pops in mind. I don¡¯t know what to do, about the suition in here, Jayce closed himself in his room, hows house is stuck in a time capsule or something simr. Moreover, the underlying thought and emotions that¡¯s fighting toe out from both of our hearts but we don¡¯t even know how to speak or make conversation like normal human beings. Things are when you don¡¯t know how to express yourself. I made a mistake leaving living years ago without speaking what was in my heart to Jayce, and now I guess it¡¯s toote to cry of the mistakes of the past. All I can do right now is wait for Jyace toe out and talk about something that has been long underlying in my heart but I am too scared to talk to anyone about it. But maybe now is the time to step up and take action before it getster than it already has been. ******* Jayce I shook my head, punching my fist on the wall, until the throbbing pain made me stop doing it. I waited so long to have a chance to talk to me now that she is here with me, so close. I can¡¯t make myself speak my mind. No, I need to calm down, and talk to her, so there isn¡¯t any hard feeling in between us that is already bothering both of us. I don¡¯t know but for some reason the event and the sudden act of wanting to talk to each other and clear everything in between us, yet not being able to speak the feeling in one another¡¯s heart somehow seems very simr. The memories brought a smile on my face, even back then we acted like a fool hiding our true self like now. But in the end things did turn out great. And I know onlymunication can make any difference in both our situation, I hope its not toote to clear things between us, I hope things work out just as it didst time, maybe if better because likest time I don¡¯t want our realtionsahip be only about sex I want more of Rachel. But everytime I take a step forward trying to act as my heart wants, my phobia of rtionships and my pastes in my way, making it worse for me. Maybe now is the time for action, confessing the feeling in my heart no matter what the result, there is no point in hiding not now. I take a deep breath trying to calm my nerves, opening the door and being surprised by Rachel standing in front of me. Both of us are staring at each other, no one is making the first move to start a conversation. It¡¯s insulting how even being an adult man, I¡¯m too scared to talk about the feeling in my heart, maybe one of the reasons for it is that I care about Rachel, something that is quite odd for me. I¡¯ve never been in a rtionship before. There were random hook ups here and there, but then Rachel changed everything in life, giving me a different perspective of life. And once I do want to be in a rtionship and see how things work out, but the only person I want to be is Rachel. She doesn¡¯t have a mere idea how important her existence is for me and in my life. And after four years watching her here in my house with all the memories I¡¯ve built with her. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if youe out and we clear out any difference in between us,¡± Rachel said, with her eyes not leaving mine. I nodded my head at her words. Cursing myself inside, all this time I was thinking the same but I was just too scared to speak up. Good thing Rachel is the talkative one in between us. I hope her talkative nature also helps us to clear theplications in between us. ******* Rachel Sometimes you¡¯ve so much that you talk about and share but you just can¡¯t find the right time or the right words to deliver your feeling to the one. Yeah and that¡¯s the time for right now. Jayce is in front of me but yet I couldn¡¯t find the courage to speak to him, but I do have to take action. I don¡¯t wanna act like a coward likest and run away hiding. I take a deep breath trying to calm all my senses. ¡°I think it¡¯s better if we talk out and clear any differences between us,¡± I finally said. Jayce nodded his head following me to the living room. ¡°Let¡¯s start with my first question, why did you leave me alone that day while I was sleeping.¡± I nodded my head; I think there is no hiding from it now I need to say why I took such a rash decision. ¡°I thought it better for both of us if I leave,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jayce asked with his face calm and demure. ¡°We¡¯re not in a rtionship, you¡¯re my boss, and other than that we are only sex mates,¡± I said even if it was very hard to, but that is the truth. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for not informing you before, but I guess I was being too selfish. I know you never wanted anything serious between us, yet I helped myself falling for you,¡± I sighed, I never thought it would be that hard to say this to him face to face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for ever asking more than I deserve, I just don¡¯t want to bother you that why I left unannounced,¡± All this time I was talking, Jayce stared at me silently, maybe my words are not convincing enough for him or anyone to believe but from a small age I have learnt from my experience to never hope for more than I deserve, cause it¡¯s only me who is going to get hurt by my expectations.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Don¡¯t apologize; you deserve everything you want in life. I was a fool for avoiding the feeling I have for you in my heart, fool enough not to realize how much I love you until you left me that day. You don¡¯t even know how lost I was not being able to find you all this time,¡± Jayce said, hugging me in arms. ¡°Rachel, I love you, can you give me a chance to be brave enough to show how much I love you,¡± I separated myself from his embrace, ¡°Jayce¡­, I want too, but¡­.,¡± ¡°But¡­what?¡± Jayce replied with his hands caressing my cheeks. I sighed, taking a deep breath with all my insecurities that were lying somewhere under me to the surface, ¡°I¡¯m scared; I don¡¯t wanna do the same mistakes as my mom.¡± I finally said the words that I¡¯ve never spoken to anyone before. ¡°All her life she loved someone who never cared for her, and because that she suffered all her being alone even in her deathbed he never once came to see her,¡± ¡°Not every man is like your father, I¡¯ll never leave alone,¡± Jayce caresses my cheek again with his finger wiping the tears from my eyes. ¡°No one made the way you did, never before I was desperate to be loved someone, never had anyone made so insane to search the whole country just so I can confess to her,¡± I¡¯m inck of words of words after hearing his confession, I don¡¯t trust my sense right at moment, I don¡¯t what am I hearing is true or my minds ys tricks with me or all these is dream. I don¡¯t know but I¡¯m utterly dumbfounded after hearing his world. ¡°You okay,¡± Jayce asked. I nodded, I don¡¯t know what to say, words don¡¯t seem to be out of my mind. ¡°I know these all too to ept right now, even though we used work together, we barely know about each other,¡± I nodded again, he right, we both very sensitive personality and we barely used shares our problem let felling to each other, the only thing we used is bed. ¡°Let¡¯s start from the beginning,¡± Jayce said, reaching out his hand for a handshake, ¡°Nice to meet you, I¡¯m Jyace, I¡¯ve been admiring you for quite a long time but I¡¯ve never found the courage to speak up before,¡± he smiled, introducing himself. I smiled shaking his hands, ¡°I¡¯m Rachel,¡± Jayce then suddenly took my hand moving to lips, nting a gentle kiss on it. ¡°Do you mind going on a date with me, tomorrow,¡± ¡°I guess we skipped many steps,¡± I said, teasing him with my words. Jayce smiled. ¡°We can¡¯t make the mistake of rushing and ruining everything, good thing take time,¡± ¡°Really,¡± Jayce nodded. ¡°Then pick me up at 7 sharp but now get out,¡± ¡°Why?¡± Jayce protested. ¡°I don¡¯t want to leave, I¡¯m afraid the moment I leave I¡¯ll see again,¡± ¡°Jayce,¡± I said with my hands on caressing his cheeks, with both our eyes looking at each other. ¡°The first step of any rtionship is to trust each other, trust me I¡¯ll never leave you like before,¡± ¡°I trust you,¡± Jayce replied, hugging me tightly. ¡°I¡¯m just scared to lose you,¡± Jayce, I never thought I would love so much. I really shouldn¡¯t let my insecurities rule overst time. I should have stayed. Maybe things would be different if I did. ¡°I will never leave you, Just never break the trust I have for you,¡± I mumbled the words more to myself than to him. ¡°Never,¡± Jayce mumbled, separating himself from me, nting lips on lips kiss me deeply and passionately, even after all years nothing changed, his kisses as passionate as it was before, the way his hands are same gently and warms as his before holding me caressing me, our sexual chemistry is still on point but is emotions, and feeling for each other that we have to work on to make thing work for us. His words, his touch, wherever he is close to me, nothing matters; everything fades when I¡¯m with him. Breathing heavily we broke the kiss. ¡°I should leave; I don¡¯t want sex to ruin things between us like before,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think you can me sex for that, if we haven¡¯t been so closed up with each other, and shared what in our heart thing might be different,¡± I ripped, breathing heavily. ¡°Still, I promised to take it slow, I won¡¯t rush,¡± Jayce said, nting his lips on my forehead. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll try my best to give you the best date you deserve. I want to make up for all our lost time and memories, I want to date you, kiss you, make you my girlfriend and announce to the whole world that you¡¯re mine.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you thinking so much,¡± ¡°No, all these I¡¯ve hidden what we have to world, as if our rtionship is something that I should be ashamed of but this time I wanna show everyone how proud am I to be with you,¡± ¡°Jayce,¡± Hearing him say all these words to be made tearing, tears glistering from my eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know what to say, after hearing all these¡­.,¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to say anything, your tears say everything,¡± Jayce dried my eyes with the back of his hands. ¡°Let me drop, or else your brother might think that I kidnap you,¡± I smiled at words, holding his hands and walking to his car. Chapter 11 Jayce ¡°Are you sure that guy is your brother,¡± I asked Rachel, standing outside her home. ¡°You both don¡¯t have any simrities at all.¡± ¡°Half brother,¡± Rachel corrected. ¡°And, trust me, he is a good guy, he loves Grace, and I have seen how his face shines whenever he is with her, or talking about her,¡± ¡°I trust you, but that doesn¡¯t mean I trust him.¡± ¡°I know you are like a father to her, maybe that you think like that,¡± Rachel said, smiling at me. ¡°And it¡¯s better if you meet him yourselves than standing here questioning me.¡± I nodded, making my way inside the house. ¡°Wee, took you both long enough to be back,¡± just upon Brandon presenting both of us with a suspicious nce, acting like a father, who caught his daughter messing around with a random boy. WTF, who does he think he is judging when he is dating my sister? If it wasn¡¯t for Rachel, I would kick his ass hard to never sit again. ¡°Brandon, no need to be so nosy,¡± Rachel said, punching her brother¡¯s arms yfully.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. Brandon gave Rachel a small smile, before turning his deadly nce at me. ¡°I don¡¯t trust a person who has already hurt you once,¡± ¡°I ept, I was a fool for taking care of her at first, but I love Rachel and that is the truth, and don¡¯t you forget that you¡¯re in the same boat as me,¡± I said, reminding Brandon of his position. ¡°You guys stop,¡± Grace shouted, walking from one bedroom. ¡°I¡¯m here trying to rest; you guys are fighting like cat and mouse.¡± ¡°Sorry babe,¡± Brandon replied, hugging Grace by rubbing her back gently. ¡°What happened to you? Why are you so pale?¡± ¡°Can we all sit first,¡± I nodded, taking a seat beside Rachel as Brandon passed a ss of water to Grace, who she dly epted, giving him small but gentle. Seeing both their interactions, anyone can see that both love each other, but it still seems too much for me to digest. So much has happened in one day that my brain seems to not function so well. First, after years of finding out, I found Rachel out that too, with my sister and her brother. Daniel. All this time, I was thinking Daniel was Rachel¡¯s boyfriend but that turned out to be wrong and he was her brother, andter this same guy out of nowhere turns out to be Grace¡¯s boyfriend. I mean why is, guys after girls I cherish the most in life. I don¡¯t know what to think for now, but if I genuinely love Grace, then who am I to judge? All I want is my sister¡¯s happiness, nothing more. ¡°So, we both have news to share. We were hoping to say that at a restaurant but someone ruined everything.¡± Daniel said, eyeing at me. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, what I¡¯m thinking is true,¡± Rachel said, smiling cheerfully. ¡°What?¡± I asked, not having a mere idea of what they were all thinking about. ¡°Jayce, I¡¯m pregnant,¡± Grace replied, cing her hand on her stomach. ¡°You¡¯re pregnant,¡± I mumbled, with all my senses numbed. Okay, I had enough for today. ¡± If you want to share something else, say it now because I¡¯m tired of all the surprises.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not happy,¡± Grace asked, looking sadly at me. Shit, me and frigid emotions, that¡¯s why Rachel left me and the same reason made Grace sad, when she is happy trying to share her joy with her only family. ¡°Grace,¡± I said, kneeling down, beside her holding her hands in mine, giving her my best smile. ¡°I¡¯m very happy, it¡¯s just I don¡¯t know how to express myself sometimes.¡± Grace nodded, smiling back. ¡°I know how much you love kids, so much so that even your career is dedicated to them,¡± I ced a gentle kiss on her hands as I continued. ¡°Sometimes it¡¯s hard to forget that you are not that same girl with pigtails running behind me, for deserters, the same girl who can¡¯t sleep at night alone just because she is scared of the monster in the cupboard. I still can¡¯t believe that you¡¯ve grown up so much that someday you¡¯re going to be a mother.¡± ¡°Jayce,¡± Grace mumbled, hugging me tightly with tears filling in her eyes. ¡°I love you, and I¡¯ll love your baby the same.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Grace replied, wiping her tears. ¡°And I¡¯m sorry for not telling you about Brandon, everything happened so fast, and you were also busy.¡± ¡°You did what I think best for all of us, don¡¯t stress, and if you have any carving, ask me what my skills are for,¡± Grace smiled on hearing my words, hugging me again. ¡°And you take care of her,¡± I said, eyeing Daniel. ¡°You have to ask me for that,¡± Brandon replied, separating Grace from me and hugging her. ¡°Both of you shut up,¡± Rachel said, pulling at her. ¡°And congrattions, Grace, thank you for loving my brother and giving him the gift of a lifetime.¡± ¡°I can say the same,¡± Grace replied, hugging Rachel. ¡°Thank you for teaching Jayce the importance of love.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t Brandon and you go inside and rest, while me and Jayace make something healthy yet delicious for all of us?¡± ¡°Good idea,¡± I replied, sending both of them inside to rest. ¡°You¡¯re going to be an uncle and I¡¯m an aunt.¡± Rachel said excitedly, hugging me tight. ¡°Don¡¯t remind me,¡± I sighed. ¡± Do you think Daniel is good for Grace?¡± ¡°Jayce not again,¡± Rachel rolled her eyes upon replying. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s not ruin the mood, well Rachel,¡± Rachel hummed as she took a gulp of her water. ¡°How to feel about us being parents,¡± ¡°What?¡± Rachel shouted, choking on her water, sshing it all over me. Chapter 12 Rachel ¡°Baby, you can¡¯t be serious right now?¡± I said, wiping the excess water from my mouth. ¡°I mean, no one is stopping us,¡± Jayce smiled, tracing his thumb gently but seductively over my lips. ¡°What about taking one step at a time,¡± I replied. ¡°Taking things slowly,¡± ¡°I know, but it¡¯s never toote to n things first,¡± Jayce wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling my body closer to him. ¡°So, what do you think about having two or three, maybe four?¡± ¡°How about focusing on Grace and her baby first,¡± I pushed his body away, separating him from me. ¡°And don¡¯t forget what we promised to Grace and Daniel.¡± Jayce sighed loudly, giving me a sad but cute face. ¡°You¡¯re so cruel,¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± I pulled his hand while walking to the car. ¡°So, what do you think a pregnant woman likes to eat?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me? I¡¯m the wrong person to answer that question? Ask your brother if he is a doctor,¡± Jayce sounded annoyed as he mentioned Daniel¡¯s name.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°Surgeon,¡± I corrected. ¡°Let¡¯s buy something healthy, andter we will research on this topic,¡± Jayce nodded, starting his car, driving us to the nearest supermarket. ¡°Have you decided what you¡¯re making,¡± asked Jayce, eying the aisle of food. I shook my head. ¡°Not yet, I want to cook something delicious yet healthy, but I can¡¯t decide. What to¡­.?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take everything that is necessary and leave,¡± Jyace said, piling random things in the cart. ¡°Maybe we cane up with something while cooking,¡± I don¡¯t want to protest, because I know, even with very simple and few things, Jayce can make things so delicious and alluring. Who knows that better than me? ¡°How about some ice cream,¡± I said, as we cruised to the frozen food aisle. ¡°What¡¯s Grace¡¯s favorite? ¡°She likes every vor, but chocte is her favorite.¡± ¡°So, chocte for her, vani for me and Daniel and what vor do you like the most?¡± Jayce seemed disheartened by the words, as his face changed all of sudden from smiling to serious in mere seconds. ¡°You don¡¯t know,¡± he mumbled, the voice sounded as if he was speaking to himself rather than to me. ¡°How could I speak about likes or dislikes before,¡± I said, staring at his face. ¡°It¡¯s only recently or today that you said so much about yourself to me.¡± Jayce nodded, holding my hands in his hand. ¡°I was a fool, to not recognize the meaning of you being in my life. Only when you left did I realize I love you and now this ice cream also made me realize how close I was to the one that I truly cherish.¡± ¡°Jayce,¡± I mumbled. ¡°You¡¯re not the one to be med here, we are both learning from our mistakes, together.¡± ¡°Together¡­..,¡± ¡°Yes, together we are growing to trust each other, and in this we aren¡¯t the one to me. You and I both have never been with someone that¡¯s devoted to you, someone you can trust and love. We are both learning and growing, slowly.¡± Jayce nodded, listening to my words quietly. ¡°Remember it was you who said, we can¡¯t rush things this time, one step at time,¡± I said, squeezing him gently, trying to provide somefort. ¡°I love you,¡± he mumbled with a small but genuine smile on his face. ¡°Love you too,¡± I replied gently, kissing his lips. ¡°Now, let¡¯s finish what we came here for.¡± I said, separating my body from him. Jayce nodded, as he pulled my body in his arms, smashing his lips on me. ¡°Jayce, we are in the supermarket,¡± I said, breaking the kiss, even though I was enjoying it damn so much. Jayce smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s continueter then,¡± ¡°It¡¯s only been a day and you¡¯rete. Select your own words. Who was the man who wanted to take things slow,¡± I smiled, teasing him. Jayce¡¯s expression suddenly turned serious hearing my words as he grabbed my cheeks in between his palms, staring at my face, ¡°I still can¡¯t believe that you¡¯re with me, after so many years, finding you like a madman do. I don¡¯t even know I¡¯m being rational now, but I am scared that you¡¯ll leave again, all alone if I take my eyes away from you, or don¡¯t know how I feel about you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not gonna leave you, never.¡± ¡°I know, but¡­ still I don¡¯t want to repeat the same mistakes likest time. I love you. I want you to feel it not by my words but by my actions.¡± Tears started steaming from my eyes after hearing his words. I wish that if I had not left him alone, then things might have been so different, but I can¡¯t change the past nor do I regret my decision because of our separation thest few years. We find strength to look beyond our phobias of rtionships and take action, confessing what we truly feel about each other. ¡°Okay, stop making me cry,¡± I said, drying my tears with a smile on my face. ¡°Don¡¯t forget we promised Daniel and Grace to cook something delicious. So buck up¡­.¡± Jayce smiled, nting his over my forgotten, kissing gently. ¡°You never change,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to¡­ Anyways, what¡¯s your favorite ice cream vor?¡± ¡°You¡­.,¡± ¡°Sad, you can¡¯t eat me, at least not here,¡± I replied, walking away from Jayce. ¡°Don¡¯t test me, you never know what I¡¯m capable of doing,¡± Jyace said, holding my hand, turning my face to him. ¡°Well I¡¯m okay if you¡¯re, let¡¯s,¡± I replied, teasing him, with my words and my smile, nting a gentle kiss on his lips. ¡°So what do you prefer, the bathroom or dressing room?¡± Chapter 13 Rachel ¡°What took you guys so long,¡± asked Daniel, seeing us enter the house. I turned my head at Jayce who had his handful of groceries, before answering anything. ¡°Nothing, we just can¡¯t decide what we want to buy, and making a decision takes time.¡± Daniel nodded, but I¡¯m not sure that he epted the answer I had given him. Whatever, I can¡¯t tell him the truth that I was flirting with Jayce and trying to seduce him. I sighed remembering the rejection I got in the supermarket. I would never have guessed that Jayce had changed so much in the past few years, that he even refused sex with me. That¡¯s unbelievable. In the past, we were humping like rabbits at any chance we had, but now sex is thest thing on Jayce¡¯s mind. ¡°Where is grace,¡± asked Jayce, distracting me from my thoughts. ¡°She¡¯s asleep,¡± Jayce nodded, cing the bags on the kitchen counter. ¡°Let her sleep, I think you should take some rest too. Me and Rachel can handle things here.¡± ¡°Okay, call me if I need help,¡± Daniel said, leaving both me and Jayce alone. We both started working silently, no one wanted to say anything. The tension that we had in the supermarket still exists between us. ¡°So what is on the menu tonight,¡± I asked with a smile, trying to change the subject and ease some tension between us. ¡°Grace likes chicken, so I was thinking maybe something with chicken,¡± Jayce said. ¡°Great, how about lemon chicken? It is both delicious and healthy too.¡± Jyace nodded, starting to prepare the ingredients for the dish. We both start working as silence surrounds us. We were helping each other, but yet not talking. The tension which was surrounding us before is somehow still between us. I don¡¯t know how to make things work and lighten the environment between us. But before I could think of anything, Jayce spoke, breaking the silence himself. ¡°I know you¡¯re sad about my decision earlier, but I do believe in myself. I literally want to make things work between us.¡± Jayce said, turning his head towards me. ¡°I was so different before, I have never realized how important your presence was in my life. At the beginning of the rtionship, you were just a vessel to satisfy my cravings, but as time passed and we came closer and to each I realized how important you¡¯re to me, you are a light to me. You dark world. And slowly I learned how important you¡¯re to me, but my fear always kept me bound from taking the next step, the step that is crucial to any rtionship. I was scared that you would reject me,¡± Jayce sighed. ¡°Scared that you¡¯d leave me, but that when I found you drunk and you confessed your feelings I knew that I had to speak now or I might lose you forever, but who would know that would be the day I saw you,¡± Holding both his hands in mine. ¡°You¡¯re not the only one to me here, we both made mutual decisions and somehow we knew that we foundfort in each other¡¯s arms.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Jace said, squeezing my hand. ¡°But there is so much that is still a secret from you, things about my past, and until I share all those things with you, I don¡¯t think I can do as you want. You know what I mean¡­¡± I nodded, ¡°How about sharing a bit each day, because you aren¡¯t the only one with secrets here.¡± JAyce nodded, with a smile. And with these little conversations, the tension that was in between us, somehow seemed to disappear. ¡°Let¡¯s cook fast, I¡¯m hungry,¡± ¡°Me too,¡± Jayce smiled. As we both prepared the meal with such ease, talking to each other andughing at each other¡¯s jokes. And within a few minutes the food was cooked and served. ¡°Wow, everything looks so delicious,¡± I said, admiring our handy work. ¡°We are professional, this is what we do day and night.¡± ¡°Yeah right,¡± I said, tasting a spoonful of food to taste. I closed my eyes as a moan escaped from my mouth as the vor of the tender chicken melted in my mouth. It was delicious. I¡¯m sure Grace will like it too. Opening my eyes, Jyace¡¯s face came shockingly close to mine, with his pupil dark, and face stern. I don¡¯t know what he is up to but he raised his hand, moving it towards my face, his thumb gently gliding over my lips, before moving it towards him, and sliding in his mouth, sucking his thumb, slowly yet seductively. ¡°Delicious¡± I moaned, unknowingly watching his expression, all senses numb. ¡°How the fuck am I going to take things slow if you act like that?¡± ¡°Like I do when I act,¡± Jyace replied, turning his head, waking away, leaving me with a teasing smile on his face. ¡°Fuck you¡­,¡± I said, to his back. ¡± And I literally mean every tiny bit of it.¡± ¡°What are you guys doing here?¡± I turned my head looking at the source of the voice that wasing from Daniel, who is standing with Grace, staring at my face as if I have grown an extra pair of eyes. Did he hear my conversation with Jayce, or not? I shook my head, diverting my head, from unnecessary thoughts, why should I worry about what he heard or not. Yes, I shouldn¡¯t.This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. ¡°Great timing guys, dinner is all ready,¡± I said, changing the subject in an attempt to divert everyone¡¯s mind. ¡°Let¡¯s eat before everything gets cold.¡± I started serving the food as everyone took their seats, Grace and Jayce both sat either side of mine on the table. Everything seems fine, until Grace ces her hand on mine, staring at my face sternly, ¡°Can we talk after dinner, just the two of us,¡± she said as she turned her head, continuing to eat her food. I nodded my head, starting to feel some tension on the air. Chapter 14 Rachel After having quite a stressful yet demanding dinner, we all sat down on our patio with each one of us devouring some ice cream for dessert. Both Jayce and Daniel also seemed to be getting along well together, talking to each other, andughing together. I guess it will be long before they start to ept each other¡¯s rtions, clearing all other differences in between them. And while I¡¯m seeing them both chatting together, I¡¯m worried about what Grace wants to talk about to me because her face doesn¡¯t seem to change even after dinner. She seems to be in some kind of deep thoughts, I don¡¯t know what, but the question is, do I want to ask her the reason for it? I guess I have to, she is pregnant and her mood affects not only her health but also her baby¡¯s. Grace is both Daniel¡¯s girlfriend and the mother of the child and Jayce¡¯s sister, so my rtionship with her doubles somehow, so taking care is somehow my responsibility too. ¡°Grace, you are feeling cold, do you want me to bring you a nket,¡± I said, trying to start a conversation with her. Grace turned her face at me, and nodded her head gently. But as I was about to make my way inside the house to grab a nket, Grace stopped me by pulling my hand. ¡°Can you talk now, inside?¡± she said, turning her head and looking at the boys. I nodded my head, following Grace inside the house. Entering the house, the first thing that came out of Grace¡¯s mouth was, ¡°Please don¡¯t ever leave Jayce,¡± Her words startled me at first, so much so that words couldn¡¯t escape from my mouth. ¡°He never shows it, but he is lonely, so much that sometimes to find a littlefort in life, he goes to lengths that no one could, like he did to find you.¡± I stared at her, and it clearly showed her concern for her love that she had for her brother. ¡°Grace¡­.,¡± I mumbled, words that didn¡¯t seem to escape from my mouth. ¡°I have seen him all alone, finding you like a mad man. When you entered his life, it was the first time that I had seen a smile from his heart. He is happy to be you, even if he can¡¯t ept the fact on his own. Later you left, and he changed all together. He became worse than before when you came into his life. He was not living his life, he was just functioning like a robot.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Grace, I¡¯m sorry for what I did with Jayce, but at that time I thought i was doing what¡¯s best for both of us, even when it hurts both of us in the process,¡± I replied, ¡°And trust me, I¡¯ll never leave Jyace unless he wants me too. I tried to assure her with my words. ¡°I hope so, all I want is him to be happy,¡± she said, grasping me in her arms and hugging me warmly. ¡°I¡¯m that somehow we are dating each other brothers,¡± We separated from the hug, smiling at Grace¡¯s words, ¡°Ask me anything you want to know about Daniel, I know every nasty secret of his,¡± I said, trying to cheer up the environment, making Graceugh at my words. ¡°Well, the same goes for you, I might be too young for Jayce, but I still know many things that are unknown to others,¡± Grace replied with a cheerful smile. With the atmosphere changing around us, and both of usughing, our conversation continues. We talk about many random girly things, sharing some secrets of each other¡¯s lovers, such as inappropriate childhood memories, like how one time a girl kissed Daniel in second standard and fainted because of the kiss. This particr incident is still funny even after all these years. We don¡¯t know how much time had passed, but no one seemed to care about it, until a voice interrupted our conversation, startling both of us. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Both Grace and I turned our heads to the source of the voice that came from Daniel. ¡°Nothing,¡± replied Grace, looking at me with a smile on her face. ¡°Just girly talks,¡± ¡°It¡¯s toote, I guess I¡¯ll leave now,¡± said Jyace, checking the time on his phone. ¡°I guess you both should leave,¡± Grace suggested, pointing her finger at both me and Jayce. ¡°Both,¡± Jayce and I said at the same time. ¡°Yes, go away and spend some time together alone.¡± ¡°But¡­Jayce was about to say but was cut in the middle by grace. ¡°Not buts, just go, have some private time together and let Daniel and I have some time alone,¡± ¡°Grace¡­,¡± Jayce and I said at the time. But this time we were interrupted by Daniel. ¡°I guess she¡¯s right,¡± Daniel turned his face, looking at me. ¡°You both need it,¡± I guess I should do as they say, it¡¯s not that they are asking me to do something that I really don¡¯t wanna do, I want to spend the night with Jayce alone, and now I have the best opportunity for it. All I have to do is go with the flow. ¡°Fine,¡± Jqayce said, with a sigh atst. ¡°Can¡¯t believe I have been forced to spend the night with my own girlfriend,¡± I sighed at him, even if that was just for an act. ¡°Well, I can¡¯t believe I have been kicked out of my own house,¡± Both Daniel and Grace walked us to the front door, and I was very surprised by Daniel¡¯s behavior. A few minutes ago, he was the one who couldn¡¯t stand Jayce¡¯s presence and now, look at him sending me off with him. Strange, but do I mind? Nah¡­not a single bit. ¡°Bye¡­, and thank you for a lovely and delicious dinner,¡± said Grace, hugging me. ¡°Take care, and call me if anything happens,¡± said Daniel, hugging me tight before turning his head at Jayce. ¡°Goodnight,¡± ¡°Goodnight,¡± replied Jayce, hugging Grace. ¡°And you take care, and call me if he messes up with you,¡± Grace chuckles at Jayce¡¯s words, looking at Daniel, before nodding her head. ¡°I can say the same , you know,¡± said Daniel, annoyed by his words. ¡°Guys calm down,¡± both Grace and I said at the same time, breaking out inughter. Chapter 15 Jayce A calming, soulful night spent with the people you love in your life. Something that I could have never imagined before, meeting Rachel. It¡¯s surprising how my life has changed in thest 24 hours. Yesterday, at the same time, lonely, alone somewhere in the kitchen chopping vegetables, just distracted my thoughts, trying to forget the sorrows of my life and how here I¡¯m now, happy, smiling with the love of my life back to me, and the news of a new member that going to be soon going to member of my little family. I don¡¯t like Daniel, and that is a fact, not because I misjudged him, being Rachel¡¯s boyfriend, or because he is the one who is dating my sister and soon to be the father of her child but I hate him, because both the women that I love and care about in life, loves him too. And that¡¯s the fact that annoys me most about him. But the thing is, I can¡¯t separate him from my life, not when I see the love and care in his eyes very clearly. And judging by Grace¡¯s past boyfriend and her choices of men, I can be 100% assured that he is a far better choice than any of them, he loves her, and she loves him too. And that¡¯s what¡¯s important now. ¡°Hey,¡± my thoughts got distracted when a hand padded on my back only to find Daniel standing beside me, with two cans of beer in his hand. I thanked him when he handed one of the cans into my hand, taking a big gulp from it. ¡°So¡­ what are you doing here all alone,¡± asked Daniel, taking a sip of his own beer. ¡°Thinking¡­, that¡¯s how I hated you all the time because I thought you were dating Rachel,¡± I replied, taking one more big gulp at Rachel the can. ¡°But, the truth is you¡¯re dating Grace, while Rachel is your sister¡­.. How are always following the women the love in my love,¡± Daniel smiled, taking the empty can out of my hand, handing me a new one. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I could say the same to you,¡± ¡°I hate the fact more than the fact that I mentioned before.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what they are saying, but look,¡± Daniel said, pointing his hand at a girl who was smiling and talking with each other. ¡°Seeing them, I think we should also try being a family.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know about us¡­..,¡± I said, turning my head, looking at Grace and Rachel, ¡°But I have never seen Grace so happy before. She was always so so introverted that everyone misjudged her for being mean to others, but the truth is she just doesn¡¯t know how to express her feelings to others,¡± Daniel nodded his head, as if he knew what I was trying to say. ¡°Even Rachel is so happy, she is someone who always has a smile on her face, making everyone else smile, but deep down she is always so lonely, she too has a hard time expressing herself. But she hides it with a fake smile on her face, to fool others,¡± ¡°I know¡­¡­,¡± I mumbled. Rachel was always the strong one who never showed her weakness to others, and hid it well with a smile. Whereas Grace is quite the opposite to Rachel, she acts strong but deep down she hides her sadness, so much so that she is seen as mean to other people, even though all she was trying is to protect herself from any emotional harm. But Grace was always misjudged because of her behavior. ¡°They are both simr to each other yet so different, maybe that¡¯s why they get off well together,¡± I said, taking a sip of my beer, which somehow tastes nd to my mouth even though it is the same beer that I was enjoying before. ¡°I was fifteen, when I learned for the first time that Rachel was my sister,¡± Daniel said, out of nowhere. ¡°After that day, everything about our rtionship, our lives. Even Rachel as a person changed totally.¡± ¡°Why what happened that day¡­?¡± I asked out of curiosity. ¡°Her mother died¡­.. Daniel mumbled, emptying the can in one long swing. ¡°Ask Rachel. She is the only one who has the right to share this story.¡± I nodded, not wanting to force him to do something he doesn¡¯t want to do, and he said Rachel only has the right to share what she wants or wants she doesn¡¯t want to share. No one else. ¡°All I say is nothing remained the same between us after that day, it was a terrible day for both our lives, something that Rachel and I want to delete from our past but we can¡¯t.¡± Daniel shook his head, as if he was trying to forgo all the memories that he had of that day, taking the emptying can from my hand. Walking back to the house. ¡°Wait for me,¡± I said, walking along with him. We both stood outside the door, no one trying to enter the house, trying to hear what the girls were talking about that made themugh so loudly.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. I heard Rachel¡¯s voice from behind the door, ¡°There was one time that I remember when a girl kissed Daniel on the lips on the second standard and he fainted right after the kiss¡­..,¡±ughter broke out from behind the door. And I turned my head to look at Daniel, who didn¡¯t seem to be so happy about the fact of Rachel sharing his nasty secret with his girlfriend. I tried my best to control myughter, trying to avoid my nce at Daniel. While also trying to stop Daniel from entering the house. But Daniel somehow still managed to enter the house, interrupting the conversation between the girls, ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± Both of them turned their faces to look at us, more like at Daniel, before breaking into loudughter. Chapter 16 Rachel ¡°This was all so fun, right,¡± I said, stretching the sore muscles of my arms. ¡°Tired,¡± asked Jayce, turning his head and looking at me. I shook my head with a smile on my face. ¡°I feel overjoyed, that¡¯s all. I had never been so happy before, spending time with the people that loved me, having a warm family dinner, all these small pleasures that I never had in my life before you.¡± ¡°I feel the same, I¡¯ll not lie, it wasn¡¯t my first time having a warm family dinner, but it was my first since that day,¡± replied Jayce, with his eyes focused on the road as he was driving. I nodded, ¡°I know, losing a parent as a child is never too easy for anyone,¡± Jayce nodded at my words, ¡°No one knows that better than us,¡± he said, turning his face, giving me a small smile. I shook my head, I didn¡¯t want memories of our past to ruin our today, so I tried to change the subject, looking out the window, everything seemed so beautiful and shining in the night of the full moon, ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful outside.¡± Jayce nodded at my words, ¡°But inside it is more beautiful,¡± Jayce turned his eyes on me. ¡°Very beautiful.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to distract me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just saying the truth,¡± Jayce smiled. I turned my head, acting annoyed, even though I liked everything about the new change in Jayce. I like how he is so open about his feelings through his words, he is trying very hard to forgo his past mistakes, and take steps for the new chapter of our rtionship. I should also be as open as him from now on, trying to express what is in my heart. ¡°Jayace,¡± I called, and he hummed at my words, with his eyespletely focused on the road. ¡°Let¡¯s not go home today,¡± ¡°Where do you want to go then,¡± asked Jyace, stopping on the side of the road with his face turned on me. ¡°I don¡¯t know, anywhere far, where I can be alone with you, no one but us.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Jyace looked surprised at my words, staring at me with concern, ¡°Why¡­?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know but I want to be you alone, just you and me.¡± ¡°Rachel, I don¡¯t know why¡­, what¡¯s going through your mind, but if that¡¯s what you want¡­., then let¡¯s do it.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to thank me, these past few years were stressful for both of us. Maybe a rxing trip is what we need now.¡± I nodded, maybe he is right. I don¡¯t know, I just feel so overwhelmed now, I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m sane now. Why do I want to be alone with Jayce? I don¡¯t know. ¡°Okay, we will do as you say, but first why don¡¯t, let us go home,¡± Jayce said, holding both my hands in his, giving me a small smile. I nodded at his words, consoling myself in the warmth of hisforting arms. ******** ¡°Wee home,¡± Jyace said, parking his car outside his house, with a profound smile stered on his face. ¡°We missed you,¡± ¡°We¡­,¡± I questioned, not understanding his words. ¡°The house and me.¡± ¡°I was here yesterday too.¡± ¡°There is a big difference between yesterday and today.¡± He said, walking around and opening the door for me. ¡°Yesterday we were alone but today we are together with each other. Together with the one we love. ¡± Jayce mumbled thest part with his mere centimeters away from my ears, alerting all my senses, sending goosebumps all over my body. ¡°Jayce¡­,¡± my voice came out, a mere whisper, being so close to him was making all my senses numb. ¡°Lets go,¡± he replied, holding my hands, walking, hand in hand in the house. I don¡¯t know why, I feel so overwhelmed, as my eyes roam on each and every space of this house, maybe because this ce holds so many memories of us, even without being in a rtionship. Jayce and Rachel had a bond that many don¡¯t. So much time has passed since Ist came to this ce. I know it was just yesterday that I came here, but it still feels very different. The emotions that I¡¯m going through are very different. Being here reminds me of every little detail of the time I spent here with Jayce, as my mentor, a friend, a lover. I can¡¯t describe how important the meaning of this ce is in life. ¡°What happened, why are they so silent?¡± Jayce asked, distracting me from my thoughts. I shook my head, ¡°I feel overwhelmed being here, after so long.¡± ¡°I know, it¡¯s been a long time for me too,¡± Jyace said, eyeing his surroundings. ¡°What do you mean? You live here right.¡± Jayce shook his hand, pulling me on the couch with him, making me sit on hisp. ¡°After you left, I stoppeding homepletely,¡± ¡°Why?¡± I ced my head on his chest, as Jayce wrapped me in the warmth of his arms. ¡°Everything here reminds me of you,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but things were getting so overwhelming for me that this house that was once feels like home. Starting to feel like a prisoner always makes me realize that I lost you.¡± Jayce¡¯s words sting my heart like needles. How can I be so selfish? I never once considered Jayace¡¯s feelings, his emotions when I decided to leave him. He was fighting through so much all this time alone. ¡°You didn¡¯t lose, I¡¯m here with you. Right,¡± Jyace nodded with a smile, staring at my face for a long time and then wrapping his arms tightly around me, as if at any moment I might disappear from beside him. ¡°Don¡¯t you ever leave me.¡± ¡°Never¡­..,¡± Chapter 17 Jayce I don¡¯t know why but I still can¡¯t trust myself that Rachel is back with me and not only that, she loves me as much as I love her. I hope this is not just me imagining things, but I know that is not the truth because when I turn my head I find her right beside me, with that smile on her face. God, how much I have missed her and the sweet innocent genuine smile of hers. Not the one she sters on her to fool others, but the one thates right from her heart. ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡± asked Rachel. ¡°You¡¯re beautiful,¡± I said, the first thing that came to mind while looking at her. ¡°Yeah, and you¡¯re just a fool,¡± She replied,ughing out loud. ¡°Stop buttering me up, and watch the screen.¡± I turned my head to the screen of television, groaning out loud. ¡°What so interesting about bunch of people sucking there faces in a setup lone ind,¡± Rachel turned her face, eyeing me in a weird manner. ¡°First it is not sucking face kissing. Second, I¡¯m bored. That¡¯s why I¡¯m watching a bunch of rubbish on the television.¡± ¡°You know normal people sleep by now,¡± I started staring at the watch on my phone, clearly at 1:00 am. ¡°I¡¯m not sleepy, at all,¡± Rachel sighed. ¡°Then what do you want to do expect watching random peoples sucking faces,¡± Sheughed again hearing my words. ¡°It¡¯s kissing, not sucking face. And if you hate it so much then I¡¯ll turn it off¡­¡­.¡° Rachel said, with a mischievous smile on face. ¡°But it¡¯s one condition.¡± I guess I know what she wants. But I want to hear the words from her mouth. ¡°What condition?¡± ¡°Kiss me,¡± ¡°So after watching random people¡¯s faces, you want suck mine.¡± Rachel groans hearing my words, but on the other hand I wasughing looking at her like these. ¡°Stop with your sucking, It¡¯s Kiss for God sake.¡± ¡®I know very well what a kiss is,¡± I said, wrapping my arm around waist pulling her body closer to mine. ¡°Jayce,¡± Rachel mumbled, as her breath quickens.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Are you nervous,¡± I asked, with our faces a mere inch away from each other. So, closing that one more moment can make our lips touch each other. ¡°No¡­,¡± she said, her voice sounding more like a mere whisper. We stayed like for a few seconds at each other, with her eyes staring at mine. Rachel eyes like a mirror to her clearly shows the emission that¡¯s running through her mind, the same eyes, that right now filled with so much love, but behind all the love I can also hear the sadness, the hollow part of her soul, the despair, the fear that resulted in our seperation. The pain that I want to fill by giving her all the love I have in life to her. ¡°Jayce¡­..,¡± Rachel mumbled, with her hand brushing gently on my cheek. I grabbed her hand in mine before stering my lips over hers. Grasping, Rachel parted her mouth slightly, and I slid the tip of my tongue between her inviting lips, teasing her tongue. In the meantime my hands moved around her figure, hugging her tightly. I can barely breathe with my heart beating fast as Rachel¡¯s hands move over my chest and inside my shirt. I kissed down her jaw, I moved my left from around her figure to her hair, grabbing a handful of it tilting her head back, to her allowing my lips to freely explore over her neck. Things were starting to get all hot all of sudden as Rachel ripped my open calling my name out loud. ¡°Jayce¡­,¡± I broke the kiss staring at her face, ¡°Do you want to stop,¡± I said, breathing heavily. ¡°No,¡± She said, pulling my body up close, smashing her lips on mine, kissing passionately. God, what am I doing, it was me who said, we continue our rtionship with any sex fror few days, but now look us now. Its hasn¡¯t even been 24hrs and we here savoring each other. Things were just about to get hotter, but Rachel¡¯s phone started ringing. Both of us tried our best to ignore the call but ast we both sighed as Rachel grabbed her phone. ¡°Shit¡­,¡± She sighed and cursed, staring at the caller id. ¡°No you¡¯re not disturbing,¡± Rachel said on the call, eyeing me. Who the hell is she talking with sote, is it Daniel. And what she does by not disturbing these people clearly distrubed us. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be there in five,¡± She said, ending the call. And grabbed and started fixing her clothes and hair. ¡°Where are you going sote?¡± I asked, watching her rushing things. ¡°Today so hammering that I almost forget about my two babies,¡± ¡°Babies, What babies, whose babies.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you sometimeter, I¡¯ve really gone now.¡± she said, rushing towards the front door. ¡°You¡¯re not going alone at this time.¡± I said, picking the keys of my car. ¡°Jayce, you¡¯re worrying over nothing,¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going alone, that¡¯s final, either I drop you or you¡¯re not going,¡± I said, opening the door for her. ¡°Fine,¡± She sighed, with anger, ¡°But at least changed into something appropriate,¡± I am looking at a shirt that now is hanging from my body, with all its buttons broken and torn in some ce. ¡°You¡¯re righte with me,¡± ¡°Wait, why me? My dress is fine.¡± Rachel prostested. ¡°Well, you can¡¯t see what I can do,¡± I said, staring at the back of her dress, with the button to be broken at any moment now. ¡°Pick anyone you like,¡± I said, opening the one side of my closet that has been closed until now. Rachel¡¯s eyes popped iwde as her eyes scanned inside the closet. ¡°Why do I still have them?¡± ¡°They are the same as youst left them,¡± I said, picking one random t-shirt and sliding it over my head. ¡°Everything here is the same as youst left them,¡± ¡°BUt why¡­?¡± ¡°Maybe because I missed you, maybe because I want to cherish each and every memory we might spend in the house.¡± ¡°Jayce¡­.,¡± Rachel mumbled. ¡°Are you not gettingte now,¡± Rachel nodded with a smile, following me outside to the car. I smiled at myself, shaking off the sad memories of the past. Because now is not the time to cry over our past, it is now time to rewrite our happy future together. Chapter 18 Rachel ¡°Jayce can¡¯t you drive fast,¡± I sighed, staring at time on my phone. I promised Brandon that I¡¯ll be there in five minutes but it¡¯s half an hour and still on the road. ¡°I can¡¯t drive faster than this, it¡¯s dangerous,¡± he said, ignoring my road with his eyes focused on the road. I know it¡¯s not Jayce¡¯s fault but I¡¯m still stressed, maybe because of the energy that Brandon and Jane are facing right now. I hope and pray that there isn¡¯t anything serious and Maroline is fine. ¡°What are you so worried about?¡± Asked Jayce, seeing me all stressed in the car. ¡°Calm down,¡± He pressed afort hand on my thigh that I don¡¯t even noticed was shaking. I nodded my head. Taking a deep breath. ¡°Marline slipped from stair and broke her leg, and now both Jane and Brandon are taking care of her, and Liam is alone cause Marlone want Jane to be her, they both are in the hospital and they want me to care ofim for the night,¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand a single thing you have mentioned,¡± ¡°I¡¯lll exin everything once we reach the hospital,¡± I said, closing my eyes. It might seem to others that I¡¯m overreacting, but only I know how important are Marlin and Liam for me in my life. I might be a nanny who takes care of them from time to time but in this few I developed a very strong bond with them that might be too hard to describe even for me. The kids are an essential part of my day to day life. When I was alone their pany gave me strength to be happy, and their parents Jane and Brandon showed me the true meaning of family that I never knew growing up. ¡°Everything will be fine and I¡¯ll always be there for you,¡± Jayce said with a smile. I smiled back gently, squeezing his hand on my thigh. ¡°We are here,¡± JAyce said, parking the car. ¡°Finally,¡± I sighed, I called Brandon asking for his location, and entering the hospital with Jayce walking alongside with me. After some I see, Jane with little Liam snuggle in her arm, as she pulls him to sleep. ¡°Jane, how is Marline,¡± Jane turned her head upon hearing my voice, along with Liam who was staring at me with his big brown eyes. ¡°She need undergo some surgery,¡± ¡°It¡¯s that serious,¡± I asked, in concern. ¡°I don¡¯t know much, there are some reports that are yet toe¡­¡­, Who is he?¡± Jane asked, staring who is standing beside me. ¡°He is Jayce, my¡­,¡± ¡°Her boyfriend,¡± Jayce added in my ce. I don¡¯t know but it sounds so weird calling him my boyfriend, even when we are in a rtionship, maybe because of our weird past. ¡°I think I¡¯ve seen him somewhere¡­,¡± Jane mumbled, her eyes not leaving Jayce. ¡°Maybe in some cooking show,¡± Yeah he is quite well known in what he does, even if lives quite a normal life. Jnew shook her head, ¡°No¡­. wait I have seen in your phone,¡± ¡°Phone,¡± Both Jayce and I mumbled at the same time.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Yeah, if I¡¯m not wrong you¡¯re his picture on your homescreen,¡± ¡°Jane, you don¡¯t have to say that out loud,¡± I groaned, turning my head to look at Jayce who had a devilish smirk on his face. ¡°I Relived your secret I guess,¡± she said, giving a small smile and left after seeing Brandon walking towards her. ¡°So I¡¯m not the only one that¡¯s crazy about you,¡± Brandon smirks. ¡°Shut up,¡± I granted again making my way towards Brandon and Jane. ¡°Thank God Rachel you¡¯re here,¡± Brandon said, looking all tired and stressed. ¡°So, how is Marline,¡± ¡°Stressed, crying. It¡¯s all my fault, I¡¯m not a good dad to her. I should have taken better care of her,¡± ¡°It¡¯s not your fault, bad things happen that don¡¯t make you a bad dad,¡± Jane said to Bradnon, cing aforting arm on his shoulder. I tried my best to not make my situation worse than it already is, taking Laim away from Jane. ¡°You guys, take care of Marline, and Liam will stay night with me.¡± ¡°But Rachel¡­,¡±Jane tried toin but was stopped by Brandon. ¡°She is right, it is not good for Liam to stay the night in the hospital.¡± ¡°Brandon is right, Marline needs you and I know even you can¡¯t leave her alone in this condition,¡± Jane nodded at words, caressing Liam¡¯s hair. ¡°Please take care of him,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Liam is with his favorite person, right liam,¡± I said, bouncing liam in my arms making him smile. ¡°Here are the keys,¡± Brandon handed me the keys to her house. ¡°And call me in case of any emergency,¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have worry about anything, just take care of Marline,¡± Both Jane and Brandondon nodded at my words, ¡°Who is he? Asked Brandon, staring at Jyace who was silently watching us talk. ¡°The guy who pictures Rachel carries around her phone,¡± Jane said, with a mischievous smirk on her face. ¡°Wait, he is the one but what about other guys Rachel dates asionally,¡± Bradnon said, eyeing Jayce. ¡°What guys?¡± questioned Jayce, looking at me. ¡°I¡¯ll tell youter, now drop me in Brandon¡¯s house,¡± I said, changing the subject. ¡°Wait, I can¡¯t leave you alone,¡± said Brandon. ¡°Jayce, I¡¯ve to take care of Liam,¡± ¡°Then I can help, but you¡¯ll not be alone,¡± ¡°See I can¡¯t trust some random dude with my child,¡± said Brandon, staring at Jayce. ¡°See I know you are concerned but I can¡¯t leave Rachel alone,¡± Jayce replied. ¡°Rachel say something to your boyfriend,¡± ¡°Jayce, Brandon is right. You¡¯re aplete stranger to them.¡± ¡°I know that too, but I still can¡¯t leave you alone.¡± ¡°Rachel,¡± Both Brandon and Jayce groaned at the same time. ¡°Wait you guys,¡± Jane interrupted. ¡°Rachel, do you trust Jayce,¡± Questioned Jane. ¡°I do¡± ¡°And we trust you, just don¡¯t break our trust,¡± Jane said, looking at jayce. ¡°You can stay only because the trust I have in Rachel,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never break your trust on Rachel,¡± Jayce nodded at Jane¡¯s words. ¡°Jane..,¡± Bradnonined at Jane¡¯s words. ¡°You can¡¯t just trust him like these,¡± Chapter 19 Rachel I don¡¯t know what is happening here or why Jayce demanded this weird request. What is he trying to do? And what¡¯s with his positive behavior? I can¡¯t understand. I sighed, having enough of his weird behavior and how to scold him, making him leave the night alone with Liam. But before I can say anything, Jane steps in to stop Brandon, cing aforting hand on Brandon¡¯s shoulder as she eyes Jayce with some anger. ¡°This argument will get us nowhere, so both of you calm down. Brandon Marline is all alone, she might be asking for us. And Jayce, you need to understand that this is not the first time that Rachel has been babysitting one of our children at night, and we trust her, but you are aplete stranger. So¡­.,¡± Jane sighed. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re overstepping your boundaries by asking our permission to put your once in our pce and think,¡± Jane made up her point, which I clearly agree withpletely. ¡°Jayce, Jane is right. Jayce, you should stop now?¡± Jayce sighed loudly, staring at Liam¡¯s tiny figure in my arms. ¡°You guys are right, but trust me for once.¡± ¡°This man,¡± Brandon groaned, trying his best not to curse in front of Liam, looking at Jayce with fury. This argument seemed to go nowhere, and I didn¡¯t know what to do to convince Jayce at that point. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again, Rachel. Do you trust Jayce with all your heart?¡± Jane asked, looking defeated by the never-ending argument. ¡°I do trustpletely, but it is not about my trust. It is about yours.¡± ¡°And I trust you,¡± Jane said, turning her head at Brandon. ¡°We should leave.¡± ¡°But Jane¡­.,¡± Brandon tried toin again, but Jane ced her index finger on Brandon¡¯s lips, making him silent. ¡°No more arguing. Let¡¯s trust Rachel on this,¡± she said, kissing Liam¡¯s head onest time before pulling Brandon towards her. Once they left, I turned my head to Jayce with fury. ¡°What was that about?¡± ¡°What?¡± Jayce tried to ignore my remark with a big smile on his face. ¡°At least I can be with you all night.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the answer to my question,¡± I said, following him. And we both walked towards his car. ¡°Jayce, stop trying to run away from me,¡± ¡°I¡¯m not running. I¡¯m just trying to help you.¡± He opened the car door for me, acting like a gentleman. ¡°Help me¡­. how, by running my rtionship with the people that truly care for me,¡± Jayce looked sad at my rude remark. ¡°I¡¯ll never do that with you, and you know that.¡± I sighed, ¡°But Jayce, do you agree that you¡¯re wrong back there?¡± ¡°I know, Rachel¡­., but my fear of losing you again. Make me do that.¡± ¡°You have me¡­,¡± I said, cing my hand on his thigh. ¡°For now, but what if you change your mind? What if¡­..,¡± ¡°Jayce, nothing will change. I¡¯ll not leave you ever again.¡± Jayce sighed, cing his hand on mine. ¡°Still, I can¡¯t help but¡­.¡± Jayce shook his head. ¡°You know what? Tomorrow morning, pack everything you need. You¡¯re moving in with me.¡± Where does this topice from? ¡°m down, we can have this conversation after reaching home, and Liam needs to sleep.¡± I changed the subject. Jayce nodded, driving silently towards Jane¡¯s house. The drive to Jane¡¯s house went inplete silence, with both of us not trying to make a single noise. Maybe what happened in the hospital is still bothering us in some way or another way. But I¡¯m too tired of any arguments. Today has already been so hectic for both of us. Have our misunderstandings, Grace and Daniel being pregnant, all this in just 24 hours, and the day is not over yet. Just minutes ago, Brandon and Jayce argued just because of me. I don¡¯t even want to guess what is going to happen next. I hope it¡¯s something good.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ******* Jayce I don¡¯t know what it is now, but I¡¯m so tired, both physically and mentally. I don¡¯t know how long this continues. So much has happened in so little time that it is taking me a hard time to ept everything. Having Rachel in my life is a blessing. I don¡¯t think that I deserve her. But with Rachel being in life again. Alsoes the insecurities that somehow are building inside me, having her away from me for so long. The fear of losing her again. I fear the suffering that I have been through when she was not with me. Until now, I had not realized the fact, but now I know. How important Rachel is in my life. I was never too broken when my dad died or after the death of my mom, even though they both hold a very important ce in my heart. I was never, when Summer left me, for someone else. But I don¡¯t know why Rachel¡¯s absence has such an impact on my life. I don¡¯t know why her presence impacts me so badly in my life. And the phobia of losing her again kills me from the inside out. So bad that I¡¯m scared of falling asleep. I¡¯m scared that she will leave again while I¡¯m asleep, like before. My feelings for Rachel are more than love. If one can say so, I not only love her but I also want her to buy me every time and everywhere I go. Maybe that is the reason why I created such a scene in the hospital. I know both, whatever their name was not wrong, all they wanted was the safety of their child, but what they don¡¯t know is the insecurities that I have. I love Rachel and I know she loves me, too. But I can¡¯t make myself trust her again so easily. At least not until I know she will never leave me again. Call me a possessive psycho. I don¡¯t care, but Rachel is not going anywhere without me. Chapter 20 ¡°Jayce, can you take care of Liam while I bring the milk for him?¡± I asked, making Jayce sigh at my request. ¡°Fine, give him me,¡± He cuddled, crying Liam in his arms who had just woken up from his slumber. ¡°Don¡¯t act sad, you¡¯re the one who wanted to join me here,¡± I said, looking at Jayce¡¯s sad face as I went to the kitchen for Liam¡¯s milk. ¡°I¡¯m not sad, maybe nervous.¡± ¡°Nervous, why?¡± I checked the temperature of the milk before holding him in my arms. ¡°I never held a baby in my arms before,¡± he said, staring at Liam¡¯s face, as while Liam¡¯s all focus was on the bottle of milk, sucking it with all his concentration. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not surprised, but it¡¯s great practice for you,¡± ¡°How?¡± Asked Jayce, caressing Liam¡¯s head. ¡°You¡¯re soon going to be an uncle.¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Jayce nodded with a smile. ¡°How old is he?¡± ¡°Liam, he almost one,¡± Jayce nodded, being silent for watching Liam for moments, caressing his hair. ¡°You seem to like him,¡± Jayce nodded at my words. ¡°He is adorable, unlike his father.¡± ¡°Father?¡± I guess he was mistaken about Brandon and Liam¡¯s rtionship like many others. ¡°Brandon is not his father?¡± ¡°That can¡¯t be true. That guy was too protective of him,¡± Jayce said, staring at me or answering. ¡°Trust me, this is the truth, both Jane and Brandon are friends and Liam¡¯s jane ex¡¯s child,¡± ¡°They both don¡¯t seem friends to be for a bit,¡± I smiled, putting Liam on his bed. ¡°I agree with that. Their rtionship is more than friends, but they have yet have realized it themselves,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Both Brandon and Jane have traumatic past, maybe that¡¯s they can¡¯t see the love they have for each other,¡± ¡°So they can¡¯t see it but can,¡± Iughed at his words. ¡°If only you have seen them together, you¡¯ll start to think like me.¡± ¡°Okay¡­, look, he is asleep,¡± Jayce said, looking at Liam¡¯s sleeping frame. ¡°We should leave,¡± I mumbled, kissing Liam¡¯s forehead and silently leaving the room with Jayce. ¡°You seem very attached to the kid,¡± Jayce said after stepping out of the room. I nodded with a smile. ¡°I have seen from the tiny he was in Jane¡¯s womb. Maybe that is why.¡± Jayce smiled at my words. ¡°I can see how much you love him.¡± ¡°I love you, too,¡± I said, wrapping my arms around him. ¡°I love you too,¡± he said, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead. ¡°Now, go take some rest. You look exhausted.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, I still have so much energy left in me,¡± ¡°Sleep, I¡¯ll take care of Liam, if he wakes up,¡± ¡°But¡­.,¡± ¡°No, but,¡± He picked me up in his arms. ¡°Where do you sleep on time like this?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a guest room to the left, but Jayce, I¡¯m not sleepy at all,¡± I protested. ¡°I know you have insomnia but that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t rest,¡± ¡°I rest on the couch with your arms around me.¡± Jayce raised an eyebrow at my suggestion. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡± I jumped out of his arms, taking him to the couch, making him sit as Iy my head on his shoulder. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem toofortable,¡± Jayce suggested, trying to adjust the sitting position, making me sit on hisp rather than on the couch. ¡°Now that¡¯s fine,¡± ¡°Jayce.., you know we are in someone else¡¯s house,¡± Iined, even though I enjoy sitting in this position. ¡°We are doing anything naughty, so I don¡¯t think they will mind,¡± Jayce said, holding me tight, putting my head on his shoulder, and cuddling me like a child. ¡°Comfortable,¡± Jayce asked. ¡°Very,¡± I replied, hiding my face in his chest with a big smile on my face. This is the first time Jayce had to hold me like this, and I love it. ******** Jayce I smiled, staring at Rachel¡¯s face, with her mouth slightly open as she slept, with her head on my chest and around her body. I can¡¯t describe how much I love being with them. It might not be asfortable for me, but Rachel seems to have her best time cuddling in my arms. I smiled, moving her hair away from her eyes. She seems like the child in this position, an adorable, carefree child that enjoys being sleepy with her favorite stuffed toys wrapped around her. Well, in Rachel¡¯s case, I guess I¡¯m her stuffed toy, looking at the way shey on top of my chest. Damn, she is adorable, and with every passing second, I think I¡¯m falling even more than I was before. While Rachel was enjoying her slumber, I tried to close my eyes too, but before I could sleep, I heard Liam cry from his room. I don¡¯t have the heart to wake Rachel up, so I waited for a few minutes hoping he would calm down, but no, Liam cried harder with every passing minute. So, with no other option in hand, I picked Rachel gently up and away from my body, gently. I didn¡¯t want to disturb her sleep and ced her frame on the sofa. I ced a gentle kiss on Rachel¡¯s forehead before going to Liam, who stopped crying just by seeing my face. ¡°So your attention,¡± I mumbled, picking him up and checking his diaper like I saw Rachel. ¡°Everything seems fine, so why are you crying?¡± What the hell am I doing talking to a baby who I don¡¯t think understands my words? But even though he smiled, he understood me. I tried putting him in a crib, but he started crying again. ¡°You don¡¯t want to sleep.¡± I carried him in my arms again and he stopped crying again. Damn raising babies is not a simple task. I don¡¯t know how Rachel does it in day-to-day life. ¡°I wish you could talk. At least then you could tell what you need,¡± I said with a sigh, but in my reply, I only got two adorable, enormous pairs of eyes staring at me. I don¡¯t want to do I don¡¯t want to wake Rachel up, but I also do not know how to deal with babies. ¡°Let¡¯s see,¡± I scanned Liam¡¯s bedroom, trying to find anything that can help him sleep, and my eyesnded on a children¡¯s book by myself in the rocking chair. I guess stories are a good way of putting children to sleep. I picked one of the books and sat on the chair with Liam on myp, as I scanned the contents inside the book. The book is all filled with pictures and very few words, but the book seems to grab Liam¡¯s attention as his eyes keep staring at the vibrant-colored pages. ¡°It¡¯s adorable, right,¡± I said, starting to read the book to Liam, who seemed interested, I guess. But one book was not enough to put this child to sleep, so I read book after book, so much so that even now I¡¯m starting to feel sleepy but Liam she seems very awake for a child as big as my gym bag. Well, I¡¯mparing a child to a gym bag, now for sure, I¡¯m not in the right state of mind after all these children¡¯s books. And before I knew it, everything turned dark in front of me, with a tiny being rxing on my chest. First Rachel and now Liam, on my chest. I don¡¯t think my chest is thatfortable for them to be falling asleep over it, with all the hard bulky muscles on it. Chapter 21 Rachel ¡°Stopughing for god¡¯s sake,¡± Jayceined with a long sigh but I couldn¡¯t stop myughter. After what my eyes have witnessed. ¡°Rachel,¡± Jayceined yet again. ¡°It wasn¡¯t so funny that you areughing so hard,¡± Jayce is wrong with these. It was funny as heck, so much that the image is still vividly printed on my mind. And every time I look at Jayce, I couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Rachel¡­.,¡± Jayce sighed. And I covered my mouth with my hand, trying my best to hide myughter. ¡°Sorry, but the scene of Laim sucking on your nipples¡­., is,¡± I couldn¡¯t evenplete my words and startedughing again. ¡°Very funny,¡± Jayce added, annoyed. ¡°Yes, very funny¡­ But tell me what you were doing topless, with Liam lying on your chest,¡± I asked. Jayce sighed, pointing his finger at the stain on his shirt. ¡°Liam vomited here, and I have no choice. But to undress and clean the mess.¡± ¡°Okay, but what about Liam lying on top of you?¡± ¡°I tried my best to put on his crib, but he will start crying, so I have no choice but to make him sleep that way,¡± Jayce was trying his best. Despite that, the image of Liam sucking on his nipple is something I can¡¯t forget so easily. ¡°Next time, don¡¯ty topless with a child. You¡¯re lucky he didn¡¯t bite you,¡± I said. Jayce smiled at my words, getting close to me, with his lip right next to my ear. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he can¡¯t bite as hard as you.¡± My cheeks turned red with his words. ¡°Jayce..,¡± I¡¯m at a loss for words. Why did he mention something like here and now? ¡°Shut up, we are with a child and to mention in someone else¡¯s house,¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, he is too small to understand and other than him, we are alone,¡± Jayce smirked devilishly. I pushed his chest, creating some space between our bodies. ¡°Go away and help me feed Liam,¡± I turned my head, trying to hide from his nce. Jayceughed. ¡°You¡¯re cute when shy,¡± ¡°Shut up and bring some milk.¡± Jayce runs to the kitchen to grab some milk, but Liam didn¡¯t seem to be interested in his bottle anymore. I thought he was hungry, that¡¯s why he was crying hard, but now, it is starting to worry me. Maybe he misses his mom. I don¡¯t know, maybe he has a stomachache. ¡°Liam baby looks like your favorite star,¡± I said, holding Liam¡¯s favorite star stuff toy in front of him, but he threw it away. ¡°I wished you could talk like Marline.¡± I sighed. Being a babysitter is not as easy as people think. I¡¯m out of options now. My mind is nk and I don¡¯t even know what to do. I just hope Janees soon, as she said on the phone. Maybe the presence of his mother can calm Liam down. ¡°I don¡¯t know how to stop his crying,¡± I said with a sigh as Jayce ced aforting arm over my shoulder. ¡°Can I?¡± Jayce opened his arms, taking Liam from me into his arms. ¡°What are you going to do?¡± I questioned, watching Jayce as he cuddled Liam gently in his arms. ¡°I don¡¯t know if it works,¡± Jayce replied as he ced Liam across hisp on his belly and started rubbing Liam¡¯s back gently. I curiously watched Jayce¡¯s actions, as he continued rubbing Liam¡¯s back, and within minutes Liam burped loudly like an adult human being, and it was all silent and calm. What the hell happened, and how does Jayce know how to do it? With Liam now calm, Jayce pacified him, cing him gently in his crib as if nothing happened. ¡°What did you do?¡± I questioned. ¡°And how do you know the reason for his crying?¡± ¡°Remember how Liam vomited on my shirt and then again when you were feeding him and Liam ignored the bottle?¡± ¡°SO¡­,¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I noticed Liam is having a difficult time because of all the air inside, this is why he is so cranky.¡± ¡°Okay, but how do you know he was cranky because of all the air?¡± ¡°Did I mention that I raised my sister from when I was ten and also babysit as teenagers,¡± Jayce smirked at his own words? ¡°No, you haven¡¯t,¡± I sighed. ¡°Thank God you were here. I was so worried. I guess I should resign,¡± ¡°Rachel, bad thighs happened to everyone, and I know you handled it all even without me.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­..¡± ¡°I have seen how much you love and care about Liam, and if you want to resign I won¡¯t stop you, but is this what you really want,¡± Jayce said, holding me inforting arms. ¡°Liam is fine, so don¡¯t worry.¡± I nodded, holding him tightly. ¡°Thank you,¡± ¡°You are wee,¡± He replied with a smile, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead. ******* ¡°Thank God Marlene is fine,¡± I said, as Jayce and I went inside his house. ¡°But she is still bedridden¡­ it¡¯s so sad, right? I mean how¡­,¡±N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. ¡°Shhh,¡± Jayce ced his index finger on my lips, making me silent. ¡°Good, she is fine and Liam is also with his mother, but you also should get some rest.¡± Jayce ced an index finger on my lips, silencing me, and carried me in his arms, towards this bedroom. ¡°I can walk,¡± Iined, even though I¡¯m very enjoying thefort that I¡¯m feeling being carried in his arms. ¡°No, your body needs rest. You¡¯ve run all day long, with so little rest,¡± ¡°I can say the same to you.¡± Jayce stared at the stain, which was still present on his shirt. ¡°But I need to take a shower first,¡± I nodded, watching him undressing the upper half of his body. With my eyes on him, scanning his every stance and movement to the point where he started taking off his pants, standing in front of me only in his boxers. But that¡¯s when the show stops, and Jayce, with a devilish smirk on his face, walks inside the bathroom, closing the door, leaving me with just a mere image of his beautifully carved body, leaving me unsatisfied and tired alone in his bed. Chapter 22 Jayce What can more can be more satisfying than a hot shower when every part of you is aching fromck of sleep and day-to-day hustle. I groaned as the warm water touched my naked body, warning all the distress away from me. Something a little hot can make such a difference in our lives, something that we unsee on a daily basis. Things that might be normal for one but for a luxury that barely can¡¯t afford. I smiled, remembering the feeling of Liam¡¯s small, fragile body. Today was surprisingly weird and quite a hustle but in a good way. As a child, I always took care of Grace when her mom was at work. Being an elder after my mother, I have taken on responsibilities like no one could think of. I used to like caring for children as I always took care of Grace from when I was ten. Maybe that¡¯s one of the reasons I started babysitting children in my pocket and helping my mother in running the house. But at some point, I was so over it, with all the crying, diapers, milk, and cranky children, that somehow I started making myself separate from them and avoiding children at any cost. But who would have that Grace will bring back my old memories and the feeling that I used to feel in the past around children? Today was the very first time after a while that I was not annoyed but was loving spending my time with a child. I smiled, wiping my body from a towel. I guess that¡¯s what I get from spending my time with Rachel. She has brought so much happiness to my life. Things that used to bring me joy, but with time, they started to bring me despair. With Rachel in my life, the feeling of joy returned again, the joy that I used to feel back when I was young. Somehow, Rachel brought it back to life. Maybe that is why I can¡¯t cope with the despair of losing her and searched for her everywhere like a freak. ¡°Jayce, how long are you going to be in the bathroom?¡± Rachel called, knocking on the bathroom door, and distracting me from my thoughts. I smiled at hearing her calling my name again. I love when I hear her calling my name. This is the joy that only Rachel provides me with, something that I have missed for so long. ¡°Coming,¡± I replied, wrapping a towel around my hip, and walking out of the bathroom. Inside, Rachel¡¯s eyes don¡¯t seem to stop looking at me. Her nce is naughty that it seems like she is undressing me with her eyes, with whatever little fabric is left on my body. ¡°What are you doing?¡± I asked, even though I clearly know the answer to my question. ¡°Nothing, just admiring the view,¡± Rachel smirks, devil silly, biting her lips. I sighed. I don¡¯t know how long I can control myself if I don¡¯t do whatever she is doing. ¡°What are you wearing?¡± I asked, scanning the man¡¯s T-shirt that Rachel¡¯s wearing. ¡°T-shirt¡­.¡± she replied, eyeing her figure. ¡°I can see that, but whose?¡± With jealousy burning in my eyes, I questioned. I don¡¯t like how the uncertain man t-shirt is wrapped around Rachel¡¯s figure. ¡°Who do you think?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know why I¡¯m asking you, but I don¡¯t like it. If you want a man¡¯s t-shirt I can give mine,¡± Rachel smiled at the words before walking to me and wrapping her arms around my neck. ¡°You¡¯re cute when jealous.¡± Rachel pinched my left cheek, treating me like a child. ¡°Rachel¡­,¡± I caught her hand, moving to my lips and kissing it. ¡°You know how hard it was for me to bring you back into my life. I¡¯m just afraid that you¡¯ll leave me.¡± ¡°Jayce, I¡¯ll not leave. I don¡¯t know how much more time I have left for you.¡± Rachel sounded annoyed, but then kissed my lips. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, this t-shirt is yours,¡± ¡°What?¡± I questioned, scanning the shirt up close. ¡°But¡­,¡± Rachel interrupted before I could finish my words. ¡°I took it with me when I was leaving you,¡± ¡°But why¡­?¡± ¡°Why? Because I know I will miss you, and this t-shirt makes me feel close to you,¡± Rachel added. I don¡¯t know what to say after hearing all those words.¡®You shouldn¡¯t have left me in the first ce if you miss me so much.¡¯I wanted to say those words, but I stopped myself. I know my words will hurt her more. ¡°You don¡¯t miss me now. I¡¯m here right in front of you,¡± I said instead. Rachel nodded with a big smile on her face as I wrapped my body tightly around her. ¡°Are you not cold?¡± Rachel said, rubbing her on my naked chest and back. ¡°Not when my girlfriend is wrapped with me,¡± We stayed like these for a few minutes and I noticed Rachel with her eyes closed, her head on my shoulder, yawing. She is tired, and her body is showing clear signs of it. I carried her petite figure on the bed, covering her with a nket, her hands still wrapped around me, not leaving me. ¡°Sweet dreams,¡± I mumbled, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead, separating myself from her, and changing into my PJs. Covering myself, cause I don¡¯t know what will happen if Iy naked with Rachel on the same bed. Things might get pretty hot and I don¡¯t want thetest, not today when she is so tired. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me,¡± Rachel mumbled in her sleep, cuddling her body with mine, with her head on my shoulder. ¡°Never,¡± I mumbled, nting a kiss on my hair. Rachel smiled even when asleep at my words, cocooning herself on my body and with the nket. I smiled, watching her sleeping face, something that I missed for a long time. Rachel is conscious and cuddles in my arms, her mumbling while asleep. Something never changes, and I never want her to change a bit. Because that is what made me fall in love with her in the first ce.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content. Rachel being Rachel. ¡°I love you,¡± I kissed her forehead before closing my loosing myself in the warmth of her body. Chapter 23 Rachel The sun was beaming through the blinds, causing me to stir. As I try to hide my face, snuggling myself in thefort of Jayce¡¯s arms. I smiled as Jayce¡¯s arms tightened around my body. I didn¡¯t even realize until now how much I miss being with him. The feeling of his arms around my body, with my head on his chest. I feel Jayce¡¯s hand on my head as his hand gently caresses over my hair before he nted a gentle kiss on them. ¡°I know you are awake,¡± Jayce mumbled, with his lips close to his ear, so close that it tingled, making meugh. I opened my window, only to find Jayce smiling as he was staring at me. ¡°Just a few more minutes,¡± I yawed, hiding my face in his chest. ¡°You can sleep as much as you want, but you gonna miss the things that I¡¯m nning for us today,¡± Jayce¡¯s words caught my attention. ¡°What?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a surprise,¡± Jayce added, with a devilish smirk on his face. ¡°You know I don¡¯t like surprises,¡± Iined. ¡°Well, I don¡¯t care,¡± Jayce teased. ¡°At Least give me a hint,¡± ¡°No chance,¡± ¡°I hate you..¡± I said, separating myself from him. Jayceughed. ¡°I know you don¡¯t. Now stop pouting, and get up,zy head.¡± Jayce stepped down from the bed, holding his hand out to me. ¡°Come on, don¡¯t bezy,¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. ¡°Go away, I want to sleep,¡± I said, covering my head with a nket. ¡°Rachel..¡± Jayce sighed, but then removed my nket and carried me in his arms to the bathroom before opening the shower right over me. ¡°What the fuck?¡± I shouted as the cold water touched over my body. Jayce on the other stood there with me,ughing. ¡°Karma baby,¡± ¡°What karma?¡± I questioned, walking away from the shower and grabbing a towel, trying to dry myself. ¡°Remember one time you threw ice water on my head, just because you don¡¯t like some random girl flirting with me?¡± ¡°That incident happened about two years old ago, and you still remember about that.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t forget anything that is rted to you. The time that I spent with you was the best moment of my life.¡± I smiled, happy at the fact of how Jayce cherished every small moment that we shared together. ¡°Well, I missed the target. I wanted to throw the water on her, but you came in between,¡± I added, trying to change the subject. ¡°But you going to pay for what you did now,¡± I came close to me with a smile, his lips up close to my ear, ¡°How¡­,¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± I questioned, as Jayce wrapped his arm around my waist, his face just a mere inch away from my face. ¡°If you want, I can be a ve for a day. Master,¡± Jayce teased, biting the tip of my ear. ¡°Never knew you were into these types of things,¡± I smirk, wrapping my hands around his neck. ¡°I¡¯m not, but we can try if you want,¡± Jayce added. I pulled his face close to mine. ¡°How about doing something casual before we start taming you as my salve,¡± I teased, trying my best to stop myughter. But Jayce breaks up inughter at my words. ¡°I don¡¯t know that I can ever win with the naughty mind of yours,¡± ¡°Why do you ever try, then?¡± I asked. ¡°Well, it¡¯s fun to at least give it a try.¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± my words stopped with my loud sneeze. ¡°Let¡¯s get the bath ready for you,¡± Jayce said, separating himself. All of a sudden, the mood around the bathroom because of my sneezing, ¡°Jayce¡­¡± ¡°Wait, let me fill the tub,¡± Jayce replied, filling it with fragrant bath bombs and salt, spreading the aroma all around the bathroom. I didn¡¯tin because I started to feel cold all of a sudden with my body shivering. ¡°Take a bath before you get sick,¡± Jayce added, walking towards the door. ¡°And whose fault is this?¡± I added, sliding the t-shirt out of my body and throwing it at Jayce. ¡°I¡¯m sorry,¡± Jayce said, turning his head and looking away from me. I don¡¯t know what he is apologizing for. Is he apologizing for seeing me naked or for pouring cold water on me? ¡°Why are you apologizing? It¡¯s not the first time you saw it like this?¡± ¡°I will go make us something to eat,¡± Jayce said, leaving me alone. ¡°Jayce¡­¡± I called, but Jayce ignored me. I sighed, soaking my body in warm water, and groaned as the water eases all tension and can help soothe my aching muscles. Damn, I was so in need of this hot bath that I didn¡¯t even realize it until I was inside the tub. This is life, and I¡¯m so happy about it. Thest few days were the best. I met Jayce, and we cleared all our misunderstandings, and are back together. Both of us babysitting Liam, the view of watching Jayce taking off Liam, made me dream of a future that I didn¡¯t know will evere true. Andstly sleep on the same bed, snuggling in each other¡¯s arms, waking up and seeing Jayce¡¯s face right after opening my eyes, and Jace being all gentle and caring, showing his true emotions and feeling to me, something that he has never done before. I didn¡¯t even realize how cold my life was in need of some warmth until Jayce came and brought some of his warmth into my life, making me feel the passion, the joy. I didn¡¯t even realize how lonely I was being away from him for many years. I thought what I did was good for both of us, without even realizing how my actions became the reason for both our pain and loneliness in our life. But things are different now. We are together stronger than before and I smiled, hoping for the best for a happy future together filled with so much happiness and love for each other. Chapter 24 Jayce ¡°Fuck¡­¡± I cursed, closing the door of the bathroom, holding my hand to my heart, that is thumbing in my chest as if I were a teenager. Sharing the same space with Rachel was dangerous. I knew it, but didn¡¯t realize that it was going to be that hard. I took some deep trying to calm down my thumping heart, which seemed to be popping out of my chest at any moment now. Rachel was never the type of girl who was shy, she speak what was in her mind, at least when thingse to sex. Other than that, she is pretty good at hiding anything else. I have to be careful around her, or I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m able to control myself. I mean, just a nce is enough to screw my mind. I don¡¯t even know what would have happened if I hadn¡¯t left the bathroom. I guess that was what Rachel had in her mind before attempting to act by throwing the only piece of clothes that was covering her nudity. I don¡¯t want to control my feelings, but I have to if I want to give Rachel what she deserves all this time. I tried my best to shake off the image that my eyes had just witnessed inside the bathroom. ¡°I need to cook and get things ready for tonight.¡± Why the hell am I talking to myself? I made my way to the kitchen, making some super simple and fast food and cooking. I made some phone calls, making arrangements for everything that I need to make tonight special and memorable for Rachel. I want to have her best time today, and also to assure her that I¡¯m nothing like her father and never going to cheat or leave her. I want Rachel to see my love, not through my words, but by my expressions of showcasing it to her. ¡°Jayce,¡± I heard Rachel¡¯s voice as I was serving. And fuck me. ¡°What the hell are you wearing?¡± I asked, scanning her figure that was covered only in a towel. ¡°You can get sick walking only in a towel and that too barefoot,¡± ¡°But I have nothing to wear,¡± Rachel said with a smile. ¡°Wear my clothes then,¡± I replied, holding her hand and taking her to the bedroom. ¡°You know, Rachel, your actions are making me think otherwise¡­. I think your intentions are good at this point.¡± ¡°Maybe, if it works, but so far it seems like I¡¯m failing,¡± Rachel said, taking the shirt I took out for her. ¡°You don¡¯t seem interested,¡± ¡®Fuck,¡¯ I cursed in my mind. ¡°You even know how interested I am.¡± Rachel smirked, with her now fully covered in my clothes. ¡°Show me then.¡± ¡°I will, but now is not the right time for this,¡± I replied, nting a gentle kiss on her forehead. ¡°Then when?¡± ¡°Later¡­¡± ¡°But..¡± Rachel sighed. ¡°Let us eat before it gets cold,¡± ¡°I hate you..¡± I smiled at her words. ¡°Sometimes you make me think that you only love me because of sex.¡± Rachel smirked at my words. ¡°Sex with you is great, and it is one of many reasons for dating you.¡± Her words made me curious as I pulled Rachel close to me, smashing her body within. ¡°What is the other reason for loving?¡± ¡°You¡¯re curious, I see,¡± Rachel said, smirking like a devil. And I nodded my head, not trying to hide it. ¡°Fuck me and I will tell you.¡± Rachel¡¯s words made meugh out loud, ¡°No one has ever been so interested in me as you.¡± ¡°Well.. they don¡¯t know like I do,¡± ¡°So, you know me,¡± Rachel nodded. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­,¡± ¡°Why..?¡± ¡°If you know me, you should also know that I have a genuine reason for me to make you wait,¡± I said, trying my best to act sad about Rachel¡¯s actions. ¡°I don¡¯t know that you only love me because of sex,¡±This belongs ? N?velDra/ma.Org. The surrounding atmosphere all of a sudden turned all serious, and I think took me too seriously. Rachel wrapped her arms around my waist, enveloping me in her arms. ¡°I was only teasing you. Fool, I love you, and I can wait as much as you want.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I replied, squeezing her tiger in my arms. ¡°I was also teasing you,¡± Rachel pushed me away from her hearing my words, ¡°I hate you.¡± ¡°I know you don¡¯t,¡± I said, touching my lips to her and sharing a quick but passionate kiss with her, and even when in anger, Rachel didn¡¯t reject my advances. But wrapped her arms around my back and turned a quick kiss into a hot and intense, something that is so passionate. I can hardly control myself before my senses take over, ruining everything that I have been nning for so long. ¡°Rachel,¡± I broke the kiss, breathing heavenly. ¡°We should stop, I know,¡± Rachel said the words in my mind, breathing as heavily as I. I pecked her lips onest time before taking her hand and making ours to the kitchen. ¡°Sit,¡± I said, making Rachel sit on one of the kitchen stools as we both continued eating the food I cooked for us. Rachel groaned simrly to the way she did the first time I cooked for her. ¡°Don¡¯t make that sound. You know what that does to me,¡± I said, my eyes staring at every mere action of hers. ¡°Huh¡­ What?¡± Rachel replied, before taking a spoonful into her mouth that made that sound again. ¡°Something never changes,¡± I smiled, hearing Rachelugh at my words. ¡°I will stop now,¡± Rachel said, not being able to control herughter. I can¡¯t help myself but join her,ughing at naughty acts. ¡°Trust me, you gonna regret teasing me,¡± Rachel smirked at my words. ¡°Show me how,¡± ¡°Later..¡± I said, getting close to her with my face a mere inch away from her, with her eyes all focused on mine. ¡°You don¡¯t know what kind of effect your actions have on me, but you willter. And I will make sure that you do.¡± Chapter 25 Rachel ¡°Jayce, are you going to tell me where the heck has been driving us for a long time?¡± I sighed, resting my head on the headrest. ¡°Calm down and just rx,¡± Jayce said, giving me a small smile before turning his focus to the road. ¡°It¡¯s been one hour,¡± Iined. ¡°No, to mention this ce looks pretty damn scary,¡± ¡°It¡¯s not scary, it¡¯s calming.¡± I scanned his face, only to find him smiling. ¡°Calming yeah, more like horrifying,¡± ¡°Not it not,¡± ¡°It is, I mean, look how stranded these ces are. As far as my eyes can see, there are only trees and empty roads, and maybe some animals here and there,¡± Jayce turned his face to me again, giving me a small smile. ¡°Take a deep breath and take a nap or something, and let me handle everything else.¡± ¡°But¡­ Jayce¡­.¡± ¡°Chill, I will wake you up when wee to our destination.¡± ¡°At least tell me where we are going,¡± I tried to ask him onest time. But Jayce just smiled, with his eyes still on the road. ¡°You¡¯ll know everything when we reach our destination.¡± I sighed, losing all my hope of getting any answers from him, and turned my head to the window. I opened the window, allowing the cold air to touch my face, and with the gentle wind came the tantalizing nature fragrance that smells like pine wood and cinder with the earthiness of nature mixed in it, so fresh and calming, simr to what Jayce mentioned. But I never confess the fact that he was right. I smiled, with my eyes scanning at all the greenery alongside the road as my eyes began to get heavy, with the sensation offort embracing me in its grasp, making me fall into slumber. ******* Jayce I smiled, looking at Rachel sleeping with her mouth slightly open. She looks so innocent, like an angel sleeping like this, but only I know what a devil she is when she wakes up, always trying to seduce me with her tricks. I don¡¯t know how long I have been driving for three hours, I guess, and I¡¯m very close to my destination in just a few more minutes. The only thing that I hope for right now is for Rachel being happy, and see what I have nned for her. Maybe I should have included her in my ns, but then again, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if things were that way. I just hope she likes everything, or else I don¡¯t know what I am going to do. I should stop thinking so negatively. Rachel would like it, for sure. I should stop procrastinating now and drive fast. I need to get there before it gets dark. I don¡¯t even want to talk about how dangerous this ce gets after nightfall. There have been wild wolves and all. I don¡¯t trust the rumors, but some people even im to have seen wolves turning into humans. I don¡¯t even know who the idiot is that is spreading rumors like this. Maybe I am an idiot for bringing my girlfriend to a dangerous ce on our first date. I don¡¯t know. I shook, trying to remove all the negative thoughts from my mind. All I remember now is how this ce has so many precious memories of mine, this ce where dad proposed to mom for the first time and they even got married here. I want to have the same love as my parents. They are people who truly loved and supported each other in happy and hard times. They thought about the true meaning of love. If it wasn¡¯t for dad¡¯s ident, mom and dad were still together now, supporting me, and guiding me. Maybe then I wouldn¡¯t have made the mistake of hiding my feelings for so long, and maybe then Rachel would never leave as she did in the past. I sighed, not allowing emotions to ruin my mood on this very special day. I was a fool in the past, but things changed and I have grown so much in the past few years. I know hiding my feelings will get me nowhere. It will only make me lonely in the process. If I want something, I¡¯ll try my best to earn it. It can be anything, money or love or trust if you want it to build slowly over time until the one you have all for you. I earned my money over time and all I have to do is earn Rachel¡¯s love and her trust in me, so she will always be there with me by my side, never leaving me alone ever again.This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. Chapter 26 Rachel ¡°Jayce, where are we going?¡± I asked as he walked with me, with his hands wrapped around my waist and my eyes covered in blindfolds. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything,¡± ¡°That¡¯s the point, and don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m holding you tight,¡± Jayce said, and even with a blindfold, I can say that Jayce was smirking, staring at me like that, holding onto him. ¡°There are steps, being careful,¡± he warned. I don¡¯t know when we reached the ce Jayce wanted to, as I was asleep, and the moment Jayce parked his car, he covered my eyes with a blindfold, not letting me see anything. I panicked at first seeing Jayce acting so very suspiciously, butter I calmed down with Jayce¡¯s presence around me. ¡°I hope you love what I nned for you,¡± he mumbled, taking a few more steps and stopping, sliding the blindfold away from my eyes. I blinked a few times, trying to adjust myself to all the bright lighting surrounding me. The thing my eyes noticed first was Jayce standing in front of me in a ck tuxedo, holding out a bouquet of red roses to me. ¡°Thank you.¡± I took the bouquet from him. ¡°Where are we? And when did you change?¡± Jayceughed at my words. ¡°After so much hard work, you noticed my tux,¡± he shook his head, holding a big smile on his face and kneeled in front of me. I made a mistake I guess. I roamed all around the space we are in, and my mouth pops open, starting with the beauty of the ce that Jayce brought me. ¡°The day you fell on myp was the day things started changing in my life. Like an angel you came into my life, changing it little by little, making me who I am,¡± Jayce said. ¡°Jayce..,¡± I mumbled, but other than words, it didn¡¯t seem toe out of my mouth. ¡°You taught me to be happy in hardship. You taught me the meaning of love. You taught me how to look beyond my fears and try to take risks in life, and as time passed, I don¡¯t how, but slowly I started liking little things about your food, the way you smile and make others smile, the importance of cherishing every moment of life even when things are as good as we want it to be. And with time, you became my life.¡± I don¡¯t know how to respond to hearing all those words from Jayce¡¯s mouth. He was never the one who shared his feelings with others, but I looked at him, opening his heart out to me. I kneeled with him, holding his hands in mine. I don¡¯t know what else to do, rather than to be there with him, always. ¡°Rachel, I love you. I know I was a fool in the past, and maybe I could be a fool in the future, too. But I promise to never hurt you or leave ever again. You¡¯re my life. And I don¡¯t know what I would do without you.¡± ¡°Jayce,¡± tears started streaming from my eyes, and words didn¡¯t seem to form in my mouth. The only thing I want is to be with them forever and ever. I wrapped my arms around him, crushing him in my grasp. Tears started dripping from my eyes. Who could have thought that behind this strong, mysterious man lies a loving heart that holds so much love for me? ¡°I love you too¡­., I don¡¯t know how to describe my love for you, but I can¡¯t dream of living without you in life,¡± I mumbled. ¡°Rachel,¡± Jayce whispered, staring at my face, gently wiping the tears from my eyes. ¡°You look handsome,¡± I replied with a smile. Jayce shook his head, staring at me and nting a gentle kiss on my forehead. ¡°You were crying right now and now you¡¯re flirting with me,¡± ¡°I can¡¯t waste my time being sad all the time. I want to smile and enjoy my time with the one I love.¡± ¡°Good, you look beautiful when you smile,¡± Jayce said, standing up and holding out his hand to me. ¡°Come with me,¡± Jayce said, holding my hand as I stared around the ce we were in. It seemed like a resort, with all the greenery surrounding us, a river right beside the ce where we are standing right now, and everything was decorated with fairy lights and roses and looked so beautiful in the nighttime. But why is no one here with us? Everything looks so empty, as if we are the only people in the resort. Where are all the other people? ¡°Jayce, why are you alone here?¡± I questioned, as Jayce walked me toward a table. ¡°Because we are the only ones who are here, other than the staff,¡± he said, pulling the chair out for me, and making me sit on it. ¡°But why¡­?¡± I wanted to ask. But a waiter walked by our table holding a bottle of champagne and pouring it for us. ¡°Anything else, sir?¡± the waiter asked Jayce. ¡°You can bring the entr¨¦e,¡± Jayce said, and the waiter left at his word. ¡°Jayce.., why are we here alone?¡± I asked once. Jayce smirked at my words. ¡°Well, I booked the entire pce for us.¡± My mouth pops open hearing his words, ¡°But why?¡± ¡°Because I wanted to surprise you.¡± ¡°Jayce, you don¡¯t have to do this for me? I love you even without all this.¡± Jayce smiled at my words, holding my hand from below the table, gently nting his on my lips. ¡°I know, that¡¯s what makes me love you more,¡± Jayce mumbled. ¡°But this ce holds precious memories of my parents and me, and I want to share them all with you, but alone.¡± ¡°But still¡­¡± I wanted to say, but Jyace captured my lips with him, kissing me again, but this time it was not gentle, it was strong and passionate, with his mouth putting his calm on mine. Things were just getting hot, but then Jyace speared him with a smile on his face. ¡°Just enjoy yourself while we are here and let me show you how much I love you.¡±This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org. I didn¡¯t want to say anything to him after the passionate kiss, numbing my thought process, so I just nodded my head, emptying the ss of change in front of me. Jayceughed, looking at me as he filled my ss again. I don¡¯t know if this is the beginning. Then what has Jayce nnedter for us? Chapter 27 Jayce ¡°This is the ce where my dad proposed to my mom,¡± I said, sharing the deepest memories that were even unknown to my sister. Hearing my words, Rachel gently ced her hand over mine from over the table, giving a smile at me. ¡°Is this why you brought me here?¡± I nodded at her words without giving them a second thought. ¡°All I wanted was for you to feel your importance in my life.¡± ¡°You did, by sharing the memories of your parents with me,¡± Rachel said. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe I wanted the love that my parents have, the kind of life they shared which was all blissful and happy,¡± I said, squeezing Rachel¡¯s hand gently. ¡°I know how blissful it can be to see your parents loving each other. I haven¡¯t had the same experience as you do.¡± Rachel replied, looking sad all of a sudden but then hiding her sadness with a smile on her face. ¡°I wish I knew the feeling of seeing one¡¯s parents, both truly devoted to each other.¡± ¡°I know everyone has unique experiences, different lives¡­. I have seen my parents loving each other so much. But then, I have also seen my mom all depressed and alone after dad¡¯s ident. She just became a hollow soul after dad¡¯s ident, and seeing her like that somehow made me scared of falling in love.¡± I said, but then sighed, remembering the traumatizing memories of the past. ¡°Jayce, not everyone has the same fate as others, and being scared of not stepping forward in life will only make you lose the pleasure of experiencing the happiness that is waiting for you.¡± ¡°I know¡­, maybe that is why I once tried my best to be in a rtionship, to love someone, as my dad did to my mom,¡± I sighed, as I shared a part of my life that not many know of. ¡°What happened¡­, then, what changed?¡± Asked Rachel, squeezing my hand gently, trying to provide somefort to me. I smiled, staring at my face. She was not you. I wanted to say the words out loud but I don¡¯t know why, but I couldn¡¯t. ¡°The rtionship turned out to be the worst decision of my life,¡± I added. ¡°Maybe we are not meant to be together.¡± ¡°Are we?¡± Rachel questioned, staring at me. ¡°Yes, we are together because that¡¯s what is right,¡± I said, without even a single doubt in my words, speaking with all honesty. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you know, but your presence in my life makes me what I¡¯m now.¡± Rachel didn¡¯t say anything, but just stared at me with all her focus. ¡°My past made me hate the thought of even trying to fall in love, or else it¡¯s given all the reason that I am someone who doesn¡¯t deserve to be loved by anyone,¡± I said, shaking the memories of my past, away from me and of my head, and smiling and looking at the future that was sitting right in front of me. ¡°But everything changed when you came into my life, even when our rtionship didn¡¯t have the best start of it all, and we had our ups and downs, but you made me want, and cherish you as if I¡¯m someone very important to you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re,¡± Rachel interrupted. I gave a small smile, kissing her hand. ¡°I know. Maybe that¡¯s why I wasn¡¯t able to leave you, even when you left me alone. I don¡¯t even have words to justify the feelings that I have for you, but Rachel never doubted my love. I can never think of sharing with someone who isn¡¯t you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I can also ever dream of sharing my life with anyone but you. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you too,¡± I said, but our conversation was interrupted by the waiter who brought out meals. ¡°What timing?¡± I mumbled, trying too hard not to be angry, interrupting our time, but then I calmed down to see Rachel¡¯s eyes devouring the dishes on the tes. I guess our conversation is long forgotten by seeing all this food. ¡°Wait, when have you ordered?¡± Rachel asked, staring at a te with her favorite dish on it.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°When I was arranging everything else,¡± I couldn¡¯t help but smile, staring at Rachel¡¯s face as she digs in without even a second thought and starts devouring her food. ¡°It¡¯s always a pleasure seeing you devour yours with so much pleasure,¡± I mumbled, too low for anyone to be heard. ¡°You said anything?¡± asked Rachel, looking at me. I shook my head with a smile. But out of nowhere my attention goes to the drizzle of sauce that is slipping slowly from my lips, but before it can spill down further I move my hand gently, gliding my thumb over my lips, wiping the sauce from her and taking it to my mouth, devouring its vor. ¡°Delicious,¡± I hummed. Rachel looked startled by her actions. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­. tasting food,¡± I said, stating the facts. ¡°You¡­, don¡¯t mind me if I do the same to you,¡± Rachel said, giving me a devilish smirk before starting to devour her food, moaning in between bites and trying to tease me. And I agree that it works, ¡°I won¡¯t, just be ready to pay for teasing meter.¡± ¡°How?¡± Rachel questioned and presented a spoonful of food in front of my lips. ¡°You¡¯ll get to know, soon,¡± I replied, devouring the food that was presented to me by Rachel. ¡°So how is it?¡± Rachel asked, like she always does after cooking any new creation of hers. I can¡¯t stop smiling, looking at her face with so much charm. ¡°It¡¯s delicious, but not as delicious as the food you make for me,¡± I said, with all honesty. Rachel smiled at my words, sticking her spoon on the te and devouring the taste of it with the same pleasure and teasing. ¡°Delicious,¡± she groaned, with a devilish smirk on her face. ¡°I can see that,¡± I mumbled, trying so hard not to lose control over her moaning and teasing. I can¡¯t lose my mind over Rachel¡¯s food porn, not now, maybeter, for sure. Chapter 28 Rachel ¡°You look happy,¡± Jayce asked as we walked by the riverside. ¡°Are you kidding me? How can anyone not be happy after such a wonderful proposal and a delicious lunch?¡± I said, enjoying the chilly breeze of the night that gently touched my body. ¡°Not to mention the fact that there is no one but us here,¡± Jayce smiles at my words. ¡°No one but us,¡± ¡°I know, and I¡¯m loving every minute of it,¡± I said, swaying gently to the music of nature.¡±I don¡¯t want the night to end.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it won¡¯t,¡± Jayce mumbled, checking his wristwatch. ¡°Just a few more minutes,¡± Jayce mumbled, staring at his watch and then at the sky. ¡°What?¡± I questioned, but Jayce took my hand and led me to the riverbank, where there was a lone house floating alone on the big river. ¡°Are we going in the boat?¡± I asked as Jayce walked into the boat and pulled his hand out for me. ¡°Yes, nowe on,¡± he replied. I nodded and grabbed his hand, and he pulled me with him. But because of my clumsy nature, I can¡¯t help falling on Jayce¡¯s body. My body was lying on top of his. ¡°Sorry,¡± I said, trying to stand but slipping and falling on him again. ¡°You¡¯re adorable,¡± ¡°Am I?¡± I asked, fanning my eyshes at him, trying to act cute. Jayce chuckled and nodded his head as we both stood up together. As he started the boat, he said, ¡°Buckle up, and seat tight.¡± ¡°Where are we going again?¡± I asked, looking around my surroundings, which had nothing but water as far as my eyes could see. ¡°You¡¯ll know soon,¡± Jayce said, giving a small smile before turning his head and looking at the watch and then at the sky once again. I didn¡¯t say anything after that and started to scan my surroundings. Everything looked so beautiful here, but it¡¯s a bit cold for the type of clothes I am wearing now. ¡°Rachel,e here,¡± Jayce called as he stopped the boat in the middle of the river. I made my way toward him, standing beside him. And Jayce wrapped his arms around me from the back. With my back leaning against his chest, he pointed his finger toward the sky. ¡°Look¡­¡± he said. ¡°What?¡± I asked, not knowing what I should look at in the sky-the stars or something other than that. ¡°Be patient, and don¡¯t look away any moment now,¡± Jayce said, holding me tight. I¡¯m very confused. I don¡¯t know what is going on inside Jayce¡¯s mind, but anyway, I did what he asked me to, and tried not to move my eyes away from the sky. And then the magic happens, just before my eyes, appearing as a streak of light, like fireworks lighting up all over the sky, glowing. So beautiful and radiant, falling from the sky like a fireball. ¡°One of your many surprises,¡± I mumbled, leaning against Jayce. I felt him smile at my words, even without looking. ¡°If you like it, then yes.¡± ¡°What if I don¡¯t like it?¡± I asked. Even though it¡¯s a lie, I want him to know how he reacts to my words. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ Maybe I will try something better next time,¡± he replied, sounding a little disappointed by my words. ¡°I don¡¯t think you can find anything better than a meteor shower.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t like it, then what¡¯s the use?¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s true, I don¡¯t like it,¡± I say, turning my head toward him, trying to mess with it a bit. And Jayce signed off on my words. ¡°Because I love it,¡± I exined, smiling and staring at the face that had lit up with my words. ¡°Stop messing with me and look at the sky, before it fades away,¡± Jayce said, turning my head to the sky and covering my body with his jacket. I smiled at his little but sweet actions and continued to stare at the beauty in front of me. ¡°I have never seen something like this before.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful,¡± I mumbled, not turning my eyes away from the beauty of the meteor shower. ¡°Yes, you are so beautiful,¡± Jayce mumbled, hugging me close to my back. I turn my eyes to look at him, only to find him staring at me rather than at the meteor shower. ¡°Beautiful,¡± Jayce whispered again, with his lips just a mere inch away from the ear. I can¡¯t stop smiling and looking at it like this. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re even looking at it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking at something much more beautiful than that,¡± he said, and I saw his eyes glistening in the night¡¯s dusk as he continued to put all his focus on me. ¡°Do you not want to make a wish?¡± I said, turning my eyes to the meteor shower and then to Jayce. ¡°What wish?¡± Jayce questioned. ¡°I don¡¯t do anything you want. My mom used to say that if you wish in front of a shooting star, your wish wille true.¡± ¡°Do you believe that?¡± Asked Jayce. I shook my head. ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­ I have never seen one before. This is my first time seeing something so beautiful.¡± Jayce looked surprised by my words. But then he smiled, nting a gentle kiss on my hair. ¡°Then I¡¯m d to do that honor for you.¡± I smiled, looking at him. ¡°So, what do you want to wish for?¡± I asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, I have everything right here, in my arms.¡± Jayce smiled, tightening his arms around me. ¡°I don¡¯t need anything when you¡¯re with me.¡± ¡°What if something bad happens to me, or we might separate yet again?¡± I said, just trying to tease him a bit. But my simple joke turned out to be so serious. ¡°You can¡¯t leave me,¡± Jayce said, turning to him, hand holding both sides of my shoulders, staring at me with so much worry and dismay in his eyes. ¡°Jayce¡­. I was just kidding,¡± I said, trying to ease Jayce¡¯s dismay. Jayce sighed loudly upon hearing my words and hugged me tightly in his arms. So tight that, as if at any moment now, I will fade away before his eyes. ¡°I can¡¯t live without you. Don¡¯t you ever repeat these words to me?¡± I nodded my head as we broke from each other¡¯s grasp. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­.¡± Jayce nodded but said nothing and only kept staring at me silently for a few moments. Until he remembers something very important. ¡°Wait a minute, I have something for you.¡± ¡°What?¡± I ask, looking at him curiously. ¡°This,¡± Jayce said, pulling something from his pocket that appeared to be a jewelry box. I don¡¯t know what¡¯s inside, but looking at the size of the box makes me think of others. ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Jayce said, answering my curiosity. ¡°What is inside it, then?¡± Jayce didn¡¯t answer my question but opened the box, and inside was a beautiful silver pendant with a star on it. ¡°It¡¯s beautiful,¡± I said, as Jayce wrapped it around my neck. ¡°What is this?¡± I asked, looking at the star on it.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. ¡°It¡¯s a north star pendant,¡± Jayce said. ¡°Do you know what that symbolizes?¡± I shook my head at the words. ¡°It means just like the north star who helps people who lost guidance and path, you helped me, Rachel, you¡¯re are my north who always shines the brightest, and no matter how lost but with you, in my life, I will always find my path. Like the north star, you will always guide me, whenever I am lost or alone.¡± Jayce said, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead. ¡°You¡¯re my north star, Rachel, the one who gave direction to my life.¡± ¡°Wow¡­ You know sometimes I¡¯m scared-what if all this is a dream? I don¡¯t know¡­.¡± those are the only words that cane out of my lips. ¡± ¡°Stop¡­ All that negativity in all your thoughts. And ignore the mistakes we both made in the past and be happy that we are stronger together than ever before.¡± I nodded at his words. ¡°You¡¯re right, nothing bad will happen when we are together,¡± Jayce nodded. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit,¡± he said, nting a gentle kiss on my forehead. ¡°Look, one more star,¡± ¡°Where?¡± I asked. ¡°Right in my arms,¡± Jayce said,ughing loudly. ¡°Too funny,¡± I said, pushing him down on the ground,ughing at him. But not before Jayce pulled me along with him onto the floor of the boat. ¡°Much better,¡± he said, wrapping his arms around me and starting to nt kisses on my lips, face, and neck, making his way down slowly. Chapter 29 Rachel I sigh happily as the kiss deepens, Jayce¡¯s lips slightly panting from yours as he trails more kisses down to my neck, brushing featherlight kisses against my corbone. Jayce continues to kiss me with utter abandon, sending a shiver down my spine.N?velDrama.Org owns this text. In between the kisses, the two of us stumble eagerly across the boat and into a tiny room. Jayce sits on one of the cushioned benches and pulls me into hisp. For a long, heated kiss that leaves my heart pounding. I stole a moment to catch my breath as he gazed into my eyes. ¡°You sure want this?¡± he asks, with his intentions clearly written on his face. I nodded my head, and his hands immediately reached for the fastenings of my clothes, tugging the zippers and sps aside. He then pressed a kiss to each new section of my bare skin. Jayce¡¯s action helps boost my confidence too, as I slide off hisp and toss thest of my clothes to the floor, leaving me all bare before him. I then push him back against the wall, evoking an eager grin from him as he begins to unfasten his vest while I tug at the belt of his pants. With thest of his clothes scattered to the floor, Jayce lowers me into the bench, pillows all scattered in his haste, with his body strong andforting as its presses against mine, he begins to kiss down the curve of my chest teasing and nipping at each and every sensitive spot he can find¡­, until he pauses and looks up with a question in his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t know how lucky I¡¯m to have you back in my arms and in my life again,¡± he said, breathing deeply. ¡°I love you¡­¡± The words are enough to make me shiver, but then he slides down to the bench, kissing my stomach, slowly making his way down to the cover of my hips. Jayce then presses a lingering kiss on my inner thigh¡­, then shifts higher, sending a sudden jolt of pleasure through me, making me moan loudly. On hearing my man, Jayce¡¯s lips move more ardently against me, each caress of his tongue stoking a fresh wave of pleasure, but not quite as much as I need. ¡°Please,¡± I moan. But Jayce ignored my plea and propped himself up over me, his gaze full of desire. ¡°Not so easily,¡± he smirks and then instantly sweeps me into his arms, his breath hot against my neck, as he strides across the room to a spot with more purchase. I wrap my legs around his waist as he presses my back against one of the walls, one arm propped against the wall, the other steadying me as I finally rock my hips against his. Jayce grains with pleasure and bucks his hips again, sending pleasure sprawling through me. The boat started shaking a bit with our rattling moments as our bodies moved in rhythm. I move my hand to grip Jayce¡¯s back, slick with sweat, feeling his muscles work as he steadily picks up his pace. With each thrust, my body fills with more pleasure than thest more, almost more than I can bear. Until finally, we both cry out at once, heat flowing through me in an ecstatic rush, making me all limp to Jayce, with both of us breathing hard. Later, Jayce wraps an arm around me as we both recline among the cushions, nting a gentle kiss on your forehead before wrapping his arms around you as the aftershock slowly ebbs away. ******* I couldn¡¯t ever imagine myself being so happy. Things might have started so badly at the starting point of my life, but now when I look back, I don¡¯t regret my past when it was the reason for providing me with such a blissful and happy future. A future where the one I love not only loves me back but also cherishes me as if I¡¯m something very precious to him in his life. I¡¯m so happy even right now in the arms of my lover, who has showcased to me the other side of himself, the side that I have seen before, the side that is familiar but yet unknown to me at the same time. Now that I think about it, I can¡¯t help but blush like a teenager, remembering the time I spent with Jayce just moments ago. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s going inside that pretty head of yours?¡± asked Jayce. ¡°Nothing much,¡± I replied, turning my face to look at him and leaning my head on my chest as his hands kept ying with my hair. ¡°Nothing much means something,¡± his lips found my ear as he whispered.¡±Tell me.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jayce. For everything, for this beautiful evening, for¡­¡± ¡°Shhhh, no more talking.¡± He ced his index finger over my lips, stopping me from talking anymore. ¡°And you deserve more than this.¡± Jayce paused and sighed. ¡°And maybe someone better than me, but I¡¯m too selfish to leave you, someone.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not the only selfish one here,¡± I replied, leaning down and whispering in his ear. ¡°And no matter what, you¡¯re getting rid of me so easily.¡± ¡°I never want to. All I want is to chase you to heaven and hell if possible, but leaving you is impossible for me.¡± Jayce smiles. ¡°You¡¯re a drug that¡¯s both healing and lethal at the same time.¡± ¡°How?¡± I asked, bewildered by his words. Jayce smirks, staring at my face. ¡°Because with you, I¡¯m alive, and without you with me, life just seems more like passing time.¡± He then kissed my hair. ¡°You deserve far better than me, Rachel.¡± ¡°Nope, we are better together and will be forever like this,¡± I replied, snuggling myself close to his arms with my head resting on his chest, rxed, and feeling more loved than I ever felt before in my life. ¡°Always,¡±Jayce smiled, whispering close to my ear, sending a wave of tingles all over my body. ¡°Always,¡± I nodded, staring at his eyes that are filled with love and adoration for me. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!