Rafe walked unsteadily up the stairs one by one to the second floor of his mansion. He finally came back to this place after a full week of working to find evidence of Cooper Smillow's involvement in the Las Vegas shootings. He flew to Las Vegas after he managed to bully Cooper, then he worked and worked until he didn't realize he had spent too long in Las Vegas. But mostly it was because of his promise to Maria. He feels responsible for solving the shooting case and punishing the people who killed Weston.
Now he was feeling extremely tired. He had never felt this tired and was eager to go home for the years he lived his life as a loner, independent man. His head repeatedly showed pictures of Lexie waiting for him at home. Even though they were just fake pictures created by his wild imagination, he was still happy and anticipating his return today. In fact, Lexie never waited for him to come home. Lexie is actually happy that he is gone and absent for a week from this house
"Daddy, what are you doing out there?" Her beautiful round eyes flashed a gleam of intense curiosity as they sat in the living room conversing. A light and pleasant midnight conversation. Cooper didn't even think that his little daughter would still be up in the middle of the night just waiting for him to come home. "I do a lot out there, Brittany." "Like what?" “Hmm… let me think.” Cooper put his index finger under his chin. The corner of his eyes glanced at his little daughter who was still waiting for his answer with enthusiasm. He loved Brittany's round eyes that seemed to radiate light from the whole universe. “I sent things. Fulfill the wishes of the buyers.” "Are you a courier?" "No. I'm the boss of the couriers. You know, I earned a lot of money because I was the boss.” “Wow that's great!” Brittany clapped her hands enthusiastically as she swayed her legs hanging over the chair. "You're going to
When they arrived at Cooper's massive mansion, people had already arrived to pay their respects to Cooper. Men in black suits and women in black dresses huddled together to form small groups to talk about the good and bad of Cooper during his life. Lexie's hand gripped tightly by Rafe. She could feel an overly intense pressure on her palm. Like Rafe was about to crush her hand instead of gently grasping it. Behind Rafe's calm face hid a deep tension. They both wore sunglasses that were able to hide their facial expressions from the mourners who stared at their appearance with various kinds of speculations in their respective minds. Rafe and Lexie walked hand in hand into the very large hall of Cooper's house to see Cooper's coffin, which looked so cold and gray. No one actually stood by his coffin as a representative of the family to greet the mourners. The coffin was alone and only accompanied by dozens of photographs of Brittany which were displayed in a room that
Elliot's Tavern is a noisy place to eat. It was more like a bistro than a tavern that would give a simple image to anyone who heard its name. Lexie felt grateful that Kaella managed to choose her outfit well. A knitted dress, coat and boots are perfect to wear to this place. Rafe seems to like her outfit tonight because the dress fits perfectly, has long sleeves and accentuates her curves perfectly. “Your friends used to have fun in a place like this?” "It seems so." They walked in, jostling with some young people who were spending the weekend with their friends or their loved ones. Rafe suddenly became very protective in this place. He wrapped his arms around Lexie's waist tightly, keeping her within his reach. He made a fierce look like a doberman as a group of young people flirted with Lexie. "I think I'd poke their eyes out if they did it to you one more time." "Relax, Rafe. You shouldn't take their jokes seriously." "To me it's no
"What? Who are you?" "This is my table and my lover." The man shouted angrily while embracing his pouting lover. Lexie quickly got up from her seat and stepped aside to give the table to the grumpy lovers. “I have to go back to Rafe. I will try to free Gideon as soon as possible.” Lexie whispered next to Clarkson quickly and then darted away through the crowd of people who had just arrived for dinner. Lexie walked briskly across the dance floor. Her mind was unfocused, between thinking about Clarkson's words and her worry that she'd been away from Rafe for too long. She was completely unaware of the gaze of someone nearby until suddenly her hand was violently pulled, and she slammed into the man's body hard. “What are you doing—” Lexie's words hung in the air when she saw the face of someone who had just grabbed her hand. "Where have you been? I checked you in the toilet and you weren't there." "I-I'm sorry, Rafe. I got lost wh
Lexie was awakened by a loud thud on her bedroom door. Someone outside was banging on his bedroom door loudly and shouting a series of words that were too fast for him to digest with his sleepy brain. “— Lexie!” Lexie inched to sit on her bed. She rubbed her slightly sore eyes slowly while gathering all her soul that was still floating in the air. “Lexie, open the door. Lexie, hurry up and get out.” "Jacob? What happened?" Jacob's voice sounded panicked and Lexie immediately jumped out of bed and rushed to the door. She quickly turned the key to her room, then opened it wide to find Jacob panting with a panicked face. "There was shooting downstairs. Someone infiltrated the dungeon, shooting at Wren and Gideon." "Oh Lord! Are they safe? How is Wren now?” Lexie clasped her palms over her mouth, her eyes starting to glaze over. "I don't know. We have to get out of here now. This place is not safe.” “But where is Ra
Rafe opened his study door and found an odd silence. He walked out with heavy steps. His back still ached after several very painful whips. He clung to the door frame and groaned softly. There should be a few of his men hanging around his house. He often saw them sneaking into the kitchen to make coffee or looking for food to keep them up at night. But awkward silences always brought worse disaster. Rafe quickly walked out to check on Bernard, the new gatekeeper. Since Jacob was also involved in the shooting incident in Las Vegas, he always brought Jacob to take care of matters relating to the shooting there. Jacob is another living witness besides himself and Lexie who can help him convince some of his hired detectives to find the mastermind behind the shooting. When he arrived outside, the cold air hit him fiercely. The bleeding back of his skin felt very sore and painful. Rafe clenched his jaw to fight the stinging pain that ran down his back, then walked to the c
"Was the bleeding fatal?" "Quite fatal because he had been left lying on the floor with a hole in his stomach for so long." “Oh, isn't this Doctor Wren? He's been missing since a few weeks ago." "You know Doctor Wren, doc?" "Of course. We ate in the cafeteria together. He's one of the great doctors here. How did he get this wound?” “Shot. That's what I got from the medical team's statement. He was brought from the house of billionaire Rafe Wilder." “Hmm… I didn't expect Wren to be close friends with that businessman. Get two bags of blood. He must be operated on immediately.” Wren faintly heard noises around him. He tried to open his heavy, sore eyes. That's difficult. His whole body was in excruciating pain. Especially in his stomach that feels wet since earlier. Wren... Wake up Wren... Lexie? Lexie?! Where are you? I'm here. In front of you. Wren
Rafe cut the steak slowly with regular movements, then put it in his mouth and chewed it slowly. He surveyed the people around him with a murmur of vigilance and thoroughness. The seat in front of him had just been left by Lexie. He then put down his knife and fork, turning slowly over his back to see Lexie's back drifting away. Did that woman think he would believe so easily? Rafe smirked. He picked up his knife and fork again and ate quietly. He is not easily fooled. Even with a sudden seduction or sweet attitude thrown at him. He knew how Lexie had been doing all this time. Lexie would rather eat alone at his house than be accompanied by him and sit at the same table with him. Her sudden request to eat out with the excuse of being tired of eating alone at home really sounded ridiculous. Lexie obviously had other plans behind her spoiled behavior whining about wanting to have dinner at this tavern. And he happily followed the foolish girl's wish to see what she was playing
Lexie watched Rafe leave in silence. Guilt gripped her heart because Rafe saw her with Justin. Although it is unlikely that anything will happen between her and Justin, but Rafe seems quite jealous of their closeness. She was just grateful that Xena was sleeping soundly now. She couldn't imagine what would have happened if it had been Xena. "Come on Lexie. We have to hurry because we have wasted quite a bit of time.” Justin led her to the elevator. His arms were still slung over her shoulders and he pressed the lobby button for both of them after the elevator doors closed. "Is he still rude?" "What?" Lexie asked looking up. "Your husband. I used to see you cry because of that man. Is he still as rude as before?” "Sometimes." Lexie answered half dreamily. No marriage is absolutely flawless. There are always fights and arguments in every marriage relationship. Even she couldn't keep herself away from all domestic troubles. Rafe or Xena h
"Dance with me, lady?"Lexie looked up, left her cherry juice and smiled gently at the man who had just reached out in front of her. She didn't waste the opportunity to dance with this handsome man and took his outstretched hand in front of her face."Of course. It's an amazing party and I can't miss dancing with a guy like you." Lexie smiled gently.The man led her to the center of the ballroom, joining another couple who had already started their dance. His wide palm gripped Lexie's tiny palm which was so soft. He smiled widely at everyone, as if he was celebrating his success in persuading a princess to dance with him."Beautiful music. Thank you for asking me to dance."Lexie pressed herself against the man, holding on to his sturdy shoulders and they began to move in sync with the melodious classical music. The soft violins play beautiful notes with the rest of the orchestra. Lexie closed her eyes while following every movement made by her dan
Tonight was really fun for Rafe because he was in the midst of a harmonious complete family. There is a father-in-law who is so kind to him, a lover or a future wife or maybe his wife and an adorable son. They had dinner together happily at the dining table. There were loud laughter from his father-in-law and spoiled whimpers from Archer if Lexie started forbidding him to do this and that. Everything seemed so good to Rafe that he was reluctant to return to his miserable life in New York. If he could, he wanted to be in the midst of this family forever. And in order to make his wish come true, he needed to improve the conditions between himself and Lexie. He needed to make it clear to Lexie that he wanted a complete family and didn't want to live apart like he used to. “Archer is asleep?” Rafe deliberately waited for Lexie in front of her bedroom. Tonight he was supposed to sleep in Kaella's room, but he hadn't been in Kaella’s room since then and had just stood by t
Fifteen minutes later they arrived at Lexie's beautiful two-story house filled with various kinds of plants in the front yard. Rafe was almost surprised to see so much change in the house. The last time he came here, the house had no woody trees. But now the front of Lexie's house was filled with giant pots filled with woody trees that were struggling to grow into giant-sturdy trees. The flowers that were once only planted in two small pots, have grown into a bunch of colorful flowers that have been transplanted into the ground. "There have been a lot of changes in this house." “My father used the garden next to the house as a garage because it wasn't safe to park the car just on the side of the road. Sometimes there are naughty children who scribble on the car body with spray paint. Some time ago our neighbor was screaming hysterically because his Mercedes Benz had been scribbled with a series of obscene swear words.” “Your father has done the right thing as
Rafe stepped off the plane and was greeted by a light drizzle in late summer. The soothing scent of wet earth relaxes him for a moment. A little man who will be his driver today to go to Lexie's house has just opened an umbrella near the plane steps, getting ready to umbrella him. Rafe actually had absolutely no problem walking in the rain. This is really refreshing and can wash away a little bit of his anxiety that is thickening more and more. "Thank you. Before we go to Lexie's house, I will pick up my son at his day care. He'll be home in thirty minutes." The man nodded after handing the umbrella handle to him. Rafe walked slowly behind the man to his car which was parked near the hangar. He inhaled strongly the scent of summer which was about to fade and be replaced by the cold, gray scent of autumn. Time flies so fast, and he hasn't been able to summon Xena back so he can surface like he used to. "Please come in, sir." The man grabbed the handle
Lexie stepped aside for a moment from the commotion of the bridal shower which was really noisy and excited. Tomorrow morning Kaella will marry her lover, and today will be her last day as a single. So everyone was excited to have a party in one of the finest suits at a five-star hotel in Charleston. Her cell phone has been ringing loudly ever since. She had ignored the call because she was pinning the crown for the bride-to-be and taking pictures with the rest of Kaella's friends. Now she would pick up Rafe's call and talk to him because Rafe must have called her for something important. “Hi Honey, sorry for not picking up your call. I was at Kaella's bridal shower. It's very noisy in here. Tomorrow you will come to her wedding right?” Lexie finally found a comfortable and quiet place to talk to Rafe. While everyone was partying like crazy in Kaella's suit room. She has a balcony which is very quiet and with a beautiful view of the city of Charleston. Folly Beach wa
Xena looked to the side, at the statue of the cross that soared up to the church ceiling. He imagined the look on his face that looked ridiculous as he said those bullshit words. There is no love in his heart. It should be like that. But strangely he felt love when he was with Lexie. At first he felt loved, and more and more he felt like loving. It was the most complicated reciprocal relationship he had ever experienced. His week-long trip to Chicago wasn't strictly business. He purposely distanced himself from Lexie to reflect on all this. Does he really love Lexie? Did he really want to be with Lexie forever? And after a week of excruciating contemplation, he finally came to the one answer that he wanted all of that. He wanted to love Lexie, he wanted to be with Lexie, and he wanted to make Lexie happy. Unfortunately this body does not belong to him. He couldn't be selfish by removing Rafe forever from this body. And he had to do something to fix all of this."Xena... are y
There are so many things that it can sometimes be confusing to the point of misleading. Some of them sometimes appear in the form of secrets that are difficult to understand. Like Xena and Rafe who are very elusive. Even though they live in the same body, they have two separate elements. Had they come together, the two of them would probably have been a formidable fusion of two elements. It would create a man with the perfect personality. It should be like that. But in reality it is not easy to unite two elements that are already separated.Lexie stood on the balcony alone looking up at the starry night sky. Tonight the air is very warm, suddenly she couldn't sleep because she was thinking about many things. First she thought of Xena who suddenly disappeared without a word. The rest of the day she spent thinking about the man's whereabouts now and the possibility if Xena and Rafe fused into one unified element. It would definitely be great if they could unite to occupy their
"Wren! I can't believe it's you." Lexie hugged Wren very tightly after she opened the front door wide and told Wren to come in. It's really an unexpected surprise that she can meet Wren who is now super busy. After a week of living in New York, Lexie finally got to meet Wren. "Long time no see and you are getting more beautiful and sexy." Wren chuckled as he patted Lexie's shoulder a few times. God only knows how badly he missed this woman. He had lost track of Lexie ever since Lexie disappeared and Rafe gave him a stern warning not to try to get someone to track her down. "You say I'm sexy? No way. I got fatter after giving birth. Come in." "But you actually look sexier. You used to be so skinny, you know. I prefer your new look." Wren studied Lexie's body from head to toe. Her long hair has now been cut shorter with a very beautiful wavy style at the ends. Lexie gained weight of course because her arms and curves were now more beautiful than