Chapter 107

Liliana's pov :
I couldn't sleep at night, my mind was still wondering about my dad and Ben's words. My dad needed to learn a good lesson, he couldn't be so cruel. I won't let him do that with Ben! If he was acting like that after just knowing his one son's girlfriend, I couldn't imagine how he would react when he would find out that Richard wasn't straight!.
This was the second time when I was spending a sleepless night, the last time when Jay broke up with me in Singapore, I was feeling the same, empty and broken!.
Suddenly I was feeling like I screwed up everything. I could help Ben but I was standing there like a statue and instead of running behind him, I chose to stay with my mom and wipe her tears off.
Why didn't he tell me that he was dating someone? Was I that bad sister whom he couldn't trust? Didn't I deserve to know about her in a good way? Didn't I tell him about everything about my life even before he asked?
I couldn't sleep so I decided to go on the terrace and watch the sky. Maybe the stars would bring me peace and I would be able to take a nap.
Grabbing my phone from the table, I went to the only place in this palace which felt like home and stood there beside the fountain.
Jay had called me several times but I wasn't ready to talk to him yet. I hadn't decided if I could share this thing with him or not! His dad was finally home after a long time, and I didn't want him to worry about me.
Taking a few deep breaths, my overthinking brain took a break and I drifted off to sleep while watching the stars.
The birds were chirping a sweet melody and I smiled before yawning and uncovering my face from the blanket. Mornings like this were my favourite. If the Queen would have allowed me to shift my room on the terrace, I would have shifted here a long time ago. There was something about sleeping at the terrace that all my worries were over and I was ready to face the world again. Maybe the fresh air of this little heaven could make me feel better in all situations.
I took my phone and called Jay, no matter how busy he was, I had to tell him everything because if he would get to know about this later, he would be mad at me for hiding my troubles. And hiding something from him was impossible, he would get in just one look at me that something was wrong so there was no benefit from hiding.
Spending a good time doing exercises at home and taking a long shower, I walked down and met everyone at breakfast. Richard was still not there, he wasn't at home in the night either. God knew what he was doing and where he was!.
Actually, I wanted to know but I avoided asking this to mom because she wasn't looking any good.
"Good morning!" Smiling, I greeted both of them and my mom looked at me as if I was an alien.
"Morning!" Both of them replied with different expressions. Of course, my mom was sad and my dad had a blank face as usual!
As always we quietly finished our breakfast, and I didn't ask any questions to my parents as Jay and I had decided to meet Ben first.
"You're happy because now you'll get the 50%, right? You never cared about Ben, he was a fool to love you and trust you. But let me clear one thing that you'll never have 50%!" My mom uttered with gritted teeth and so much hate in her eyes.
She didn't even wait for my answer and turned her heels on. I couldn't believe that my mom could think of me like that, I never cared about money and that's what I got from my mom in return.
My phone rang and I hiked to the outside where he was waiting for me. Without saying a word, I sat in the passenger seat with goggles so he couldn't see my puffy eyes.
He closed the door, walked to the driver seat and started driving without saying anything. That was fucking weird, I didn't expect him to be silent. After ten minutes, he stopped the car and looked at me with concern.
Jay took my hands in his and took the sunglasses off my eyes. "I don't know how to handle this and what to say?! But I know that it's hard to digest. I tried contacting Ben but he isn't answering my calls, I guess we should give him some time with his girlfriend. Don't you think that his happiness is more important than your curiosity?"
I didn't know how to react or what to do either so I just hid my face in his chest and started sobbing. My mom's harsh words had broken my heart as if last night was amusing for me.
Draping my arms around his shoulders tightly, I cried in his embrace for a long time. He let me cry and fondled my hair gently.
"I was so happy last night but everything changed in a second. Last night was a complete disaster for me, my dad and brother were fighting like enemies."
"I'm here to make you happy again. Everything will be alright, Love!"
"I hope so…"
He pulled me out of the hug and made me look into his eyes. "First, Ben is a grown-up man so he can decide with whom he wants to be and being on your lover's side is something I also would have done for you."
I complained, "I'm happy for him and I really respect his choice but he didn't trust me and tell me before. I didn't expect this in that way, I thought that he would tell me first if he ever fell in love but he didn't."
"Are you feeling betrayed or a little mad at your brother?" He asked me and I just nodded. "Let's go to my office!"
"Fuck! I'm sorry! It completely slipped my mind that you are going to join the company today." I lowered my head, I wasn't treating him well. I shouldn't have been so selfish and forget that.
"Relax, Love! Dad has said that it's better if I join the company after the New Year as they are too busy to teach an intern." He shrugged and kissed my forehead.
I smiled slightly and laid my head on his shoulder. He drove while holding my one hand in his with the gears and I didn't protest as the roads weren't loaded with the crowd so he could manage driving like this.
I didn't even realize when I fell asleep, the next moment when I woke up, I found myself in a strange place but in a comfy bed.
"Morning, princess!" Jay muttered and I looked behind me. He was gazing at me sweetly, holding his face in his hands.
My eyes reached to the big ass clock which was telling me that it was 5 o'clock. Damn! I slept till the evening, I was such a heavy sleeper. "It's evening." My hands covered my mouth and I gasped when he came towards my side shirtless. His chiselled chest was fully on the display and I was shamelessly gawking at it.
"Don't drool over my sexy chest!" He winked at me and I averted my eyes.
"Why are you roaming half-naked here? And where are we?"
"In my office. Because I slept here with you, too. Not in that way, but I also fell asleep as I spent last night with my dad in the games room. I woke up just ten minutes ago."
"Do you have a bedroom in your office? Are you kidding me?"
"Yes, we do have! Even if I wouldn't have, I would have arranged it for my princess who fell asleep in my arms."
Sticking out my tongue at him, I hid my blush and ran to the washroom to freshen up. When I came back, the aroma of fresh pancakes and ramen noodles welcomed me.
He pulled out a chair for me and without giving him a second glance, I dug in the food. I was feeling so hungry as I had already missed lunchtime and in the morning, I just ate a toast for breakfast.
"Should I be envious of food? You can ditch me for the food." He wasn't eating anything, he was staring at me with his cute face.
I giggled and kept eating my food. But at the moment, the thought of Ben and my mom's words came across my mind, the chopstick dropped from my hand and I stopped eating.
"What are you still hiding from me?" Jay cupped my cheeks and started feeding me.
"My mom hurt me today. I saw hate in her eyes for me. She thinks that I'm happy because I'll get 50% from my dad's properties now," mumbling my thought, I leaned my head towards his chest.
"She is just hurt and she didn't mean it. When she'll realize her mistake, she'll apologize to you for sure." He promised me and wiped my mouth with his thumb.
"But how could she think that I don't love Ben?! I never cared about money, she was behaving like she didn't know me at all," I protested and stood up from the table.
Jay encircled his arms around my belly and plopped his chin on my shoulder as it was his favorite place to rest. "Everything will be alright, baby. You just need to have patience and give everyone some time to absorb the things. She is your mom, she would be more hurt than anybody else."
"How can you be so mature, Jay? I was feeling so devastated last night that I didn't receive your calls. Still, you aren't pissed off at me. You weren't there but you can understand things better than me."
He twirled me so I was facing him then. "Because I can understand you and this situation very well. Do you remember how I reacted like an asshole when I got to know about Barbie and Theo?"
I shook my head as yes and he carried me into his arms to the bed. He gently positioned me in the bed and sat next to me, holding my hands.
"I was feeling the same as you are feeling now. My heart was broken because Barbie kept things from me even when I shared everything with her first. But you were there by my side to help me in being happy for my sister and accepting what makes my sister happier. I'm doing what you taught me, I'm not mature, I'm a crazy freak who didn't know how to react and digest the shocking things but you made me a better mature man. Sometimes I think that I was just a boy but you're turning me into a gentleman." He stroked my hand and kissed my forehead.
Jay was indeed right. It was like history was repeating but this time, I was in Jay's place and Ben was in Barbie's place. The difference was that his parents accepted Theo and my parents didn't accept that poor girl who loved my brother.
I slowly pulled him closer so he could sit beside me and I could hug him and doze on him like he was my pillow or bed. "Now I'm feeling guilty for being mad at Ben."
His hands buried in my hair and caressed it. "No need to feel guilty! You're the best sister, there must be some reasons for Ben keeping it from you. Just give everyone some time, and then talk to Ben! Okay?"
"Mmm-hmm" I kissed his cheek and smiled. His finger traced the curve of my nose and he smiled widely.
He bent forward and locked our lips. My hands tightened the grip on his shirt and his tongue darted out and licked my lips slowly. Our tongues danced together deliberately and with a last smooch, I parted away my lips from him only to miss the taste of him.
"Did my mom call?" I was out since the morning so she must have called several times and she would be there with the list of her nagging questions but if he would have answered the call, she wouldn't ask me anything because she liked my boyfriend more than me.
"Nope! Don't you wanna know why I brought you to my office?" He diverted my attention to his question so I wouldn't feel sad but I knew that my mom was hating me now and I couldn't feel happy anymore.
Half-heartedly nodding, I rose from the bed and took the views of my surroundings. This place needed a renovation, it wasn't designed according to Jay's taste. This room was too ordinary to be his office.
"Don't be too shocked! It's not my cabin, it was the only empty cabin where nobody comes so I took you here. My dad has appointed a designer to design my office so I want you to help the designer. I want it to be designed according to my girlfriend's choice." He walked me out of the room and locked our hands before tugging a strand of my hair behind my ear, kissing the tip of my nose.
"It's cute but our tastes are different and I don't think that you'll like my choice either." I bluntly said and started walking along with him.
He waved me off and rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on!" All the people in his company were ogling at us as we made our way to the elevator and I couldn't stop blushing.