BEATRICE:As fast as my hands could move, I wiped the drool from the corner of my mouth and straightened myself, pretending that I did not wish the ground to swallow me whole. Damn it.How could I sleep like a baby beside my ex-husband? I did not want him to believe that I was already getting comfortable around him “We are here, Beatrice,” Drake announced. “I hesitated in waking you up. You are sleeping like a baby.”I averted my gaze. “Y-you did not wake me up when I slept on your shoulder. Why is that?” If he only woke me up, I wouldn’t be drooling earlier. “I want you to rest. You’ve been working for five years already. This time, I want you to relax and do nothing.”Such beautiful words that caused my heart to flutter. My body was truly tired from taking care of my son and the bills. And now, it felt so good to know someone was offering his hand to help me. My eyes landed on his lap and did not see any traces of my son. “Where is Grayson?” My heart hammered against my ribcag
BEATRICE:"It is also nice to see you wear one," Drake admitted, shamelessly. "But if not, it's fine, Beatrice. I'm not going to force you to. Who am I to do that?""Who are you, you say? You're my ex-husband, Drake and you will continue to be like that.”“I promise I won't forever be your ex-husband. And you can wear anything you want, Honey.”“So you wanted me to wear one for your eyes only.""You could say that. But I'm not forcing anything," he whispered, his gaze softening. "You should be. You don't have the right and I will wear whatever I like to wear. Let's go, Grayson.” Glancing over my shoulder, I said, "Be sure to put that bag in our room."He quickly followed as if he was our servant. As if he was our loyal dog. Everything he was willing to do for us was still a surprise to me. A billionaire and CEO was willing to become our slave? "Understood, Beatrice,” he retorted while he carried the three heavy bags full of clothes in his two arms as if they weighed nothing. My e
BEATRICE: Realizing the flow of my thoughts, I reprimanded myself for feeling things like that. Had I not learned my lesson? That this man will only hurt me in the end? Why would it feel as if this was the first time hearing someone compliment me? It is not like that, Beatrice. It is the first time hearing your ex-husband compliment you like this. He never spared you a glance in the past. That's why…hearing him say that you are lovely created a new feeling. Still…Drake was incapable of loving someone.Except for your son, the other part of my mind said. Yeah. Except for my son. I should stop myself from liking to hear words like that. "Mommy! Come here!" Grayson called for the second time. "The water is so clear, Mommy! Let's swim together!"He was right. The water was crystal clear and staring at it reminded me of the beautiful blue sky. And the ocean was calm today, inviting me to join them swimming. I hated how Drake continued looking at me. As if I was some kind of specim
BEATRICE: I did not know why my ex-husband was saying those things and if he had the right to be jealous right now, given our past, but one thing was for sure: his jealousy...was a little bit making my heart flutter. No matter how many times I told myself to hate him, the other part won't listen. I felt my phone vibrate again. The notification would not stop coming in, but I did not bother to pick up my phone and read who was the one sending it. Let me enjoy my ex-husband’s reaction and the way he was overthinking a lot. "I don't think you have a say on whoever is texting me. We are divorced, remember?" I reminded him. “Whoever is texting me, you should not care.”"I know. But I still can ask you questions, Beatrice."I scoffed and turned sideways, facing him. "Questions and I have the right not to answer them."“Is it your suitor?” he asked quietly for the second time. "What if it's Josh? I did tell him that Grayson and I are going on a trip," I lied. Let him overthink it eve
BEATRICE:"Your anger is not romantic at all," I muttered, trying to act cool, but my chest was thumping wildly against my ribcage. Why would he be angry? Because his ego was bruised? Or his pride? "My anger is real, Beatrice.""Why?" I pressed. He stared at me for a long time. His eyes seemed like they were searching for something. As he was starting to kill me with anticipation in my heart, I could not help but wonder why he would be angry. I meant…he did not have any feelings for me, right? He sure had no feelings for me when we were married. "I am also asking why. I don't know why I wanted to face Josh and punch him right now for showing his feelings to you. My heart is screaming that I am the only one for you. That Grayson and you belonged to me. I know I don't have the right after what I have done to you and my son." His eyes shifted to the sea and I could see the intense regret as deep as the sea. “I’m scared that it's too late to take you back now.”My chest tightened, hea
BEATRICE:I mentally shook my head. What was happening to me? Don’t tell me...No! That’s not going to happen!“Grayson, we need to shower,” I declared, not wanting to entertain the thoughts that were running through my mind. It was a big no!“But, Mommy! Dad, please help me,”Drake was about to rescue his son, but I narrowed my eyes at him, making him shut his mouth. Understanding what I want, he nodded, and returned his gaze at my son. “I’m sorry, Son. We need to listen to your Mom. Mommy only wants the best for us. Please remember that.”He pouted. “Okay, Dad.” He stood and wiped the sands on his hands and the rest of his body. “I have to swim first. I love swimming, Mommy.” And he left us together.At the corner of my eyes, Drake was watching my son’s every move, making sure that my son was perfectly safe. When he did not become an excellent husband to me, he was an excellent Dad to my son. At least he excelled at the department. I no longer had to dictate his duties and respons
BEATRICE:Sweat started covering my body while my fingers shook as I continued scrolling Josh's messages. Lots of pictures from him and Everette. There was no way that they were edited. He was truly meeting Everette. Or maybe the meeting was already done and it was already too late for me to stop him from telling my younger brother that he had seen me.I bit the inside of my cheeks while my eyes would constantly look at the shower room, as I silently whispered that the two would take their time. I really had no plans of responding to any of Josh's texts, but because of those pictures, I had no choice and found myself texting him.[Where are you now, Josh?]While waiting for his reply, I stood and went to the window, trying to calm down my nerves.I won't be able to relax if I don't receive any text from him. I need to know everything. A couple of seconds later after sending him the text, I glanced at my phone and checked for any of his replies.None.Is he busy? What made him busy?
BEATRICE:I wished Drake and Josh would be mindful of everything that they were talking about. Especially on things such as offering me things that looked like bribery already.After a couple of minutes of debating, I said, “No. Josh, you don’t have to do that. I don’t want anyone to pity me.”He grunted on the other side of the line.“No, Little One. I’m not pitying you.”Who was he fooling with?“Don’t treat me like I am a child, Josh. I know what you’re doing right now. You’re trying to gain my favor all because you like me? Please don’t waste your time on things like that. I don’t want to accept anyone’s mercy.”“Little One…”“Before I forget, you are forbidden to tell my brother that you see me, okay? Especially Grayson. No one and that includes all the members of my family.”“I will follow what you wish.”“Is that a promise?” I asked, remembering what my son always asked me whenever he wanted to get something from me. “because if you’re not going to give me what I want, you shou