Chapter Twenty Four

She unfurled her eyes. Blinking severally, she put her feet on the marble floor, feeling cold beneath her feet. She was feeling pain in her arm. She hated to be injured. It seemed unbearable pain to her.
Obviously, everyone hates to,
She thought about the last night dream. Light red color hugged her cheeks. She smiled. She wished she could talk to him in real life like she used to do in her dreams. She shook the memories from her head and trudged toward the washroom. She was walking with half closed eyes guessing the way to the washroom. She pushed it to open and locked it behind her. She stood in front of the mirror slightly opening her one eye. She turned on the tap. She splashed cold water on her face to awake herself up. She saw her wet face in the mirror. Her eyes fell behind her back view in the mirror. Liam was standing leaned on the mirror wall. He was just in a towel around his waist. His arms were crossed over his chest. His hair was wet. She could see him absolutely clearly through the mirror. He was looking damn se**. She hadn't seen someone so handsome. He was ogling at her. She smiled. She shut her eyes tight and rubbed her face with the good one hand.
" Am I dreaming with open eyes? Stop dreaming. He's not here. " She said out loud.
She opened her eyes. He had disappeared from the place.
" Told you, " she whispered, rolling her eyes and pursed her lips in a thin line.
She turned to pick up her toothbrush. She reached and caught it. When her eyelashes lifted. She froze and dropped it down. His green eyes were fixed on her. She blinked. He didn't disappear. She moved toward him. He was standing two steps away from her.
Is he real? Nobody tells me he's coming. I should check it, she thought.
She nervously touched his nose with her index finger. He didn't vanish. Contrary, he smiled. She pulled her chin inward while blinking. She moved her hand ahead once more. She pinched the bridge of his nose. He raised his eyebrows. She bit her second hand's first finger and felt pain. Her eyes got wider.
" You're real. " She shouted.
" I am, babe. " He smiled and plucked a long stride toward her.
He'll kill me now. I'm stupid, stupid! Oh my god!
" I'm I'm I'm.... " Her tongue stuck.
He furrowed his brows. He wrapped his arm around her waist. He picked her up and made her sit on the counter. She was looking in his eyes, eye to eye. Was last night also a dream? Did I really do the stupidity? Did I ask him to go out with me? If it's true. I'm dead right now right here. She thought.
" Wh wh...." She stopped and bit her tongue.
He was staring at her in amusement.
" When did yo-u come back? " she finally managed to ask him.
" Just now. " He said.
" Oo. " She relieved and smiled, " I'm sorry. I invaded your privacy."
" Nothing is private from you, babe. " He bent down, putting his arms both sides of her on the counter.
Her cheeks turned red. She was feeling heat. He stepped back and opened the cupboard on the wall. He took out a new toothbrush.
She smiled remembering how he hurled the things when it slipped from her hands. He gave it to her, " Do you want my help? " he asked, glaring at her wound.
" I'll manage. " She smiled to assure him.
"Sure, " he kissed her forehead.
Before unlocking the door, he flushed her a beautiful smile.
She got confused while staring at her opened cupboard. She picked a pink gown and ran her gaze over it. She shook her head and threw it back. She plucked a sky blue dress from it. Throwing it back, she grabbed a peppy pink gown. She did her makeup, rosy pink gloss, a thick layer of eyeliner and mascara.
She went through the regal staircase. Her glance was finding him.
" Rose. " Sudden voice from behind her made her jump.
She turned on her heels, " G good morning, mom. " she managed a smile.
" Morning, How are you now? " she asked, signing at her upper arm.
" I'm fine, mom. " She relieved and smiled, " Where is Liam? " She asked.
" Liam? I don't know, is he here? " Olivia gave her a questioning look.
For a while, she thought she was dreaming of him again. It'd be really embarrassing if she was imagining him again, " He came this morning. He must be in the dining room. " she smiled.
" Sure, " They started to walk toward the room, " Looking pretty, Rose. " Olivia kissed her temple.
" Thank you, mom. "
She took a deep breath when she saw him with dad.
" Liam! I'm glad you are back. " Olivia smiled and stood near Liam.
His smile faded from his face. He looked back at her then at Olivia.
" Yes, " He cleared his throat, " Excuse me. "
He strode toward her. She focused on his face to understand him. He wasn't looking angry or upset. Why did he talk so rudely to her mother? He put his hand on her lower waist and guided her toward the dining table. He pulled a chair for her.
' Something is wrong between them.' She thought.
When Olivia was going to serve pasta on his plate. He stopped Olivia with his hand motion, " We are sharing. " He rudely said.
She couldn't understand this. What could happen between them? She was sure Olivia was happy to see her son, but Liam wasn't. Was Liam upset with her mother because of what happened yesterday. He was hearing everything from the other side of the phone on that day.
What mom did was definitely unexpected. We shouldn't judge things from one side. Sometimes, we can't see what others see. She is a mother after all. She has adored me from the first time we met, she thought.
" Are you upset with mom? Whatever happened yesterday was just a mistake. She is the mother at the end. " She asked Liam. When everyone's gaze whirled to her she came to know. She had spoken it out more loudly than necessary. She was feeling embarrassed receiving all gazes.
" No, I'm not. Right mother? " He said, hoisting the fork up for her to eat.
She turned her eyes on Olivia. Her face gleamed with happiness.
" Of course, not. " She beamed with glee as a kid had recently gotten his long lost toy.
She smiled. Olivia was looking beautiful wearing a huge smile. It showed how happy she was. She took the bite from the fork. She got an eyeful of him. Now she was sure. Something was misplaced. It wasn't because of yesterday's episode. It was definitely something else.
They ate in peace. She was glad after marriage it was the first breakfast with her whole family.
Days were passing. Liam was proving every second of the days that he was the best husband in the world. She didn't hear anyone groaning in pain from that dull and horrible aisle. He didn't force himself on her. This family was perfect, almost what she dreamt about. Kairo often tried to give her a real belly laugh. Which made her roll on her stomach with his jokes. Liam and Danil watched them from a little distance with smiles tugged on their faces. Her mother in law and father played chess at night together in studies. It was quite interesting for her when Nicolas Rodriguez taught her how to play the chess game. Three brothers pretended to hurt as their father didn't teach them chess like this. It was a precious moment for her. She always wanted such attention from her father. She hugged her father-in-law, " Thank you dad, " She smiled with tears in her eyes. She burgled a look from Liam. Who was leaning in the door with a goddess smile on his face which faded after seeing tears in her eyes.
Nicolas kissed her forehead, " I'm glee Liam married you. " He hugged her back.
Olivia cleared her throat, " No tears. " She said, wiping it away from her cheeks.
" Aw! It's happy tears mom, I'm happy. " She smiled bigger.
She could see Kairo pouting. She giggled.

She was sitting in her room staring at the dark blue wall. Door creaked open, emerging Liam. He unfastened his shirt's button and moved toward the cupboard. He plucked his night clothes and walked toward the washroom. He came back with black T-shirt and shorts. She paced toward the balcony to stop the ting in her body. He always made her feel unknown sensations and excitement in her body. His hand snaked on her stomach from behind.
" I never saw dad so gleeful." He whispered.
" Thank you! I'm elated and lucky to be a part of this beautiful family. " She smiled.
" It's hard to stay away from you. "He whispered in her ear.
She shuddered between his arms. She heard his laugh. He always turned the wheels unexpectedly.
" Then, I shouldn't be around you. " She said.
He faced her turning her, " Don't you even dare to think about it. " She saw a twist on his jaw. His eyebrows were arched under a big frown. He embraced her, " I shouldn't talk like his. " He said.
She couldn't control her arms to put around him. Door got a knock.
They broke the hug, " Come in. " Liam said.
Danny came with some papers. He kept it on the glass table and left bowing his head. He held her hand and stopped near the table. He gave her a file and opened a blueprint spreading it on the table.
"What's this?" She asked confusedly.
" It's a blueprint of the school for girls. " He said, running his eyes on her face.
She touched the blueprint with a huge smile, " I didn't get it Liam. " She asked with a smile and puzzlement.
" Your one of the dreams, babe. " He hugged her from behind.
She swirled her neck to look at him. Was he kidding? She didn't get any sign of amusement from his face and something funny.
" H h how? " She stuttered with a smile.
" Do you like it? " He asked.
She gazed in his emerald green eyes. He belonged to the mafia. How could she take this money. When she didn't know how he earned it. Her smile faded from her face.
" It's lovely. But I can't take it. I wanna do it with my own money." she refused him. She was feeling horrible if he lost his temper.
His jaw clinched and lips were in a straight line, " My money is your money, Rose. " He said.
" I I kn-ow y yo.. " She stopped. She was pressing her fingers in her palms strongly so that her fingers started to hurt.
" Say it. " He ordered her.
She breathed in deeply, " You are m m ma--fia. " She shut her eyes firmly and waited for him to hit her. Tears seeped down on her cheeks from closed eyes. That hit never came. She felt his soft touch on her cheeks.
He caressed her cheeks, " Yes, I'm the mafia. " He said firmly.
She snapped open her eyes. Her eyes were finding no remorse in his eyes. Her hands were shivering on his chest. She forgot her tongue. " But I'm a Businessman also. I never have mixed up these two worlds. Most important, " He placed his both hands on either side of her face. He forced her to look in his eyes, " You have nothing to do with my mafia world. " She gulped hard, hearing the firmness in his tone. His intense eyes were fixed on her.
He sighed deeply and calmed himself, " I'm your husband. It's my priority to keep you safe and fulfill your all wishes. I'm going to sign a new contract. They offered me land in India. I know you wanted to run a school for poor girls. " He drew closer to her, " I mean it. You have nothing to do with my mafia world. Do you understand me? " He asked her, staring in her eyes.
" Yes, " She replied instantly. She didn't wanna pull this horrible chapter more.
" Do you like the land and plan for the school? " He asked.
She could take his business money and thought to return it, She thought.
" H how will I arrange other things like books, furniture um, and the salary of the staff? It will not be a small job. " she said.
" I'll take care of that." He wiped his thumb under her eyes, " You should rest. I've to make some calls. " He said with a smile and rushed out of the room. She blinked her tears. She wanted to stop him and smooth his frown. She was fearing from his anger.