Chapter 57 Jamie's request

(Rafael's POV)
I was not in a very pleasant mood, but, considering Lena, I gave Ava a chance. However, after Ava gave me her business card, I had a different thought.
I thought of all that my father had once done to me. I was hypnotized at first, and Rachel was one of the masterminds. Lena's memory loss may also be related to Rachel.
Shortly after that, Ava was contacted. Ava was not surprised that I contacted her about it, but on the contrary, she told me on the phone that she had been waiting for me.
We agreed to meet at a coffee shop, and when I got there, Ava was already there.
"Rafael, I thought you wouldn't contact me." Ava looked calm.
"Why do you say that."
"Lena looks happy, and to be honest, I wouldn't have seen it at all if you hadn't told me she had memory loss."
I understand what Ava means.
Lena is doing well now even with her memory loss, and perhaps it's a good thing that Lena never remembers. After all, the memories of the past are cruel, and these will always torment Lena.
However, I chose to contact Ava.
"I'm just trying to prevent those people from hurting her again, and since they could do it before, after that, there will be times when there's no way to prevent it, and I have to figure it all out."
"You love her, Rafael."
I listened to Ava's comment, but inwardly I didn't agree with her.
Even though all of them think that I am doing something for Lena, in fact, only I know that I am making up for Lena. I had made a lot of mistakes, and since I had the chance to choose again, I would not make them a second time.
"Raphael, as much as I would like to help you, there is not much I know." Ava's expression had become serious.
"At first, I only know that Rachel did specifically find some people who are related to hypnosis, perhaps, Lena's memory loss also has something to do with them, but, I am not sure. To this day, I have never contacted Rachel again, I have been abroad for five years and she has no more interactions."
I knew that what Ava said was true and, indeed, she had no reason to lie.
"You know, who were the people that Rachel reached out to in the first place?"
Ava sighed, then, she stopped talking, and after that, she started thinking carefully.
I didn't bother her.
If Ava doesn't manage to recall it, I may have to go to another person, and that is my father.
Lena lost her memory, but I know she must have wished more than anything that she could bring this back together.
Even if she would know exactly what I did to her, I wouldn't regret it.
"Raphael, I don't have the means to tell you this anymore, I don't know the details, I only know that the man's last name is Johnson, but, as you understand, there are too many people with that last name, and it's hard to find the one you want in a short time."
Ava's fears were well-founded, but this waste of time and money was never something I needed to fear.
Ava's help has been very useful to me.
"Thank you, knowing this information is enough for me."
Ava smiled at me.
After we separated, I handed the characters over to Landon. I think that there should be new results soon.
After work was over, I came back home. Lena was reading a book in the living room.
I knew she was very passionate about knowledge, and at this time, I didn't bother her.
I lightened my pace and walked past, only to have Jamie run out of nowhere.
Lena still looked up, and then, she saw me.
"It looks like you're back early today."
Lena smiled at me.
He has been much more forgiving of me, even though, we haven't done anything until now, but Lena has become more and more like a wife to me.
"Nothing is going on at the office, so I'll be back early."
"Would you like some tea, that's what I just made."
I certainly wouldn't deny her such a request.
However, Lena did not keep her attention on me.
Jamie is much better and he doesn't need our care much anymore and can talk a bit.
I sat aside on the couch and watched Lena quietly.
Five years of separation has made us even less present with each other.
Lena turned another page of the book and I just kept watching her. Nothing came to disturb us, and even though I did nothing, I felt a sense of satisfaction. And this feeling has completely intoxicated me.
I didn't know exactly how much time had passed when Lena suddenly looked up, then, she took her glasses off and looked at me with some surprise: "Rafael, when did you come over?"
"I'm always here, Lena."
She looked even more surprised.
"You've been here? How long has it been? Shouldn't we be eating?"
"Not yet, no one has come to call us."
"Where's Jamie?"
"Playing on your own, you don't have to worry."
Lena asked a lot of questions in one breath, and then, she finally calmed down.
I knew that she didn't know what else to ask anymore.
Such an opportunity is really rare, just the two of us. Lena is not in a hurry to leave, and neither am I.
She finally looked at me, and I had been looking at her the whole time.
I knew her well enough that the moment Lena got up intending to leave the place, I stood up and reached out to take her into my arms.
These actions happened so quickly that neither of us probably reacted to it all.
Lena was a little afraid to move, I hugged her, and such a movement already made me in a pleasant mood.
"Are you going to hold me like this all the time?" Lena's voice was a little dull as she spoke.
"Of course not, I'll let you go when Miller comes to call us."
I've been wanting to do these for a long time.
But my movements didn't stay that way, as Lena soon started pushing me.
I could see that her ears had turned red.
"Raphael, can we not be here, I don't want to be seen."
"Anywhere else, can I just do that?"
"No! Don't misinterpret my meaning." Lina looked anxious, and of course, I knew that wasn't her intention, but it could make her nervous, and I didn't mind doing that.
"Lena, take it easy, even if we keep hugging like this, it won't matter."
"Rafael, we're not even boyfriend and girlfriend."
My eyebrows raised as I looked down at Lena and reached out and cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at me.
This time, I wasn't going to condone her: "Lena, we're married, you're my wife, and I think you should understand that."
Lena let out a laugh as I didn't push hard and she easily broke away, "Rafael, I chose to stay because of Jamie and as soon as Jamie gets better, I'll leave. I hope you can understand that even if we are a couple, that was only five years ago, now we are just ordinary people, friends, or whatever."
I looked at Lena, her gaze was still firm, but I always felt that I saw something else in it, but what exactly that emotion meant, I didn't understand.
I let out a sigh. Eventually choosing to release Lena, "Do you not want to know whatever happened?"
I saw Lena hesitate for a moment, but, soon, she smiled at me, "I will find the answer myself, until then, we have nothing to do with each other."
I was just about to continue my rebuttal to Lena when Miller's voice came over, "Ma'am, sir, it's time to dine."
Lena looked like she was relieved as she walked past me.
I didn't dwell on the matter any further.
During dinner time, we kept silent.
Jamie looked at me and then at Lena and said, "Daddy, why aren't you talking to Mommy?"
Lena interrupted me, "Jamie, no talking during dinner."
"But Dad and Mom used to talk."
I'll reward Jamie for that later.
"Mommy's mad, Jamie."
I looked at Lena and my tone was all a bit smug.
Lena gave me a look, her eyes all confused.
Jamie looked at me too, then, I let out a laugh and didn't give Lena a chance to stop me, "Because we always sleep in threes, Jamie."
"Why is Mom angry?"
Lena was just about to speak when I interrupted her again, "Because Mommy wants to sleep with me."
"Rafael, don't be ridiculous!"
I shrugged and deliberately lowered my voice and continued, "Jamie, Mom didn't want to upset you, which is why she wouldn't let me talk about it."
"Rafael!"
Lena stopped me loudly, and I knew that I had achieved my goal.
"Jamie, don't listen to him, I never thought of it that way."
I met Lena's gaze without any pressure because my purpose had been achieved.
Jamie will soon do what I want.
Lena would never have imagined.
Sure enough, Jamie sighed, and he glanced at Lena somewhat nervously, and then at me.
Lena was still whispering to reassure him.
Then Jamie shook his head, "Mom, it's okay, I can sleep by myself."
Lena's expression froze, "No, no, Jamie, Mommy can keep sleeping with you."
"Jamie wants to sleep with you because he's afraid that Mommy will walk to again, and as long as Mommy doesn't leave, Jamie can sleep by himself too!"
I sighed softly, and Lena couldn't get a word in edgewise now. She blinked and looked into Jamie's determined eyes, her gaze eventually gentling.
Then I heard Lena say, "Okay, Jamie, Mommy's not going, and Jamie's sleeping alone, okay?"