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
BEATRICE:Drake was able to listen to our conversation without me noticing it? Was I that invested in Josh? Drake was still waiting for my next statement and I did not know what I should say, honestly. Which was frustrating on my part. I meant, what the heck was wrong with me again? I should be guilty that he caught me talking to Josh over the phone, right? So why was I squirming like a worm? Speak, Beatrice. Don’t embarrass yourself even more. "S-So what if Josh told his feelings?" I asked in return when I realized I should not let any of his reactions get to me. "You think you have a say on that? You don’t. I will talk to whoever I want."Drake opened and closed his mouth. That should be what he would be doing. To keep his mouth shut since he had no say on this.“I hope I am also part of those people whom you wanted to talk to, Beatrice. I missed talking to you.”“If it involves my son, I will. But if not, that’s another part of a lengthy discussion.”He heaved a long sigh. "Do
BEATRICE:"Nothing," I said. "Where is Heather, by the way?" I asked, changing the flow of the conversation. I had to before I could say everything that was on my mind right now. "She's coming, Beatrice. She was sleepy when she answered the phone. But we will just pay her after. She will not mind it since she’s also looking for another type of income for her children’s needs."I bit my lower lip. Was I that selfish to ask someone to babysit Grayson while I take some fresh air?"You think..." I trailed off, but seeing he was looking at me with an intense stare made my tongue roll back. “You think what? It’s fine, Beatrice. You can tell me whatever you want to say.”Heather and I were not different at all. We would do everything just to feed our children.“I’m thinking about Heather. She must have a hard time taking care of her children and providing their needs. Where is her husband?”“The last thing I know, they were divorced. She divorced him since he got addicted to illegal drugs
BEATRICE:I did know how to explain what I was feeling right now. It felt like I was being put in the furnace and was burned alive. Drake’s touches felt like fire spreading across all the parts of my body.Fuck.Five years and my body still ached for his touches. Five years had passed, yet my body still responded to him. And he knew he had the power over me. That was why he was doing this, right? I fanned myself as I continued to feel hot.My breathing ragged. And all I could do was stare at his plump lips devoid of any evidence of cigarettes."I missed your lips, too, Honey," he whispered.He was dangerously close and his voice sent shivers down my spine. “Don’t, Drake.”He bit his lower lip. “Beatrice,” he whispered erotically. He reached out and before I knew it, my feet moved on their own and backed away until I was trapped in the wall.Drake imprisoned me with his presence. My mouth went dry. Did he hear the fast pounding of my chest? Or not?He leaned in, grabbed a few stra