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
BEATRICE:"Christina. I understand why you are like this," I stated. "But I don't have to prove anything. Why don't you just believe what I said? Since when did I hide anything from you?""Since this day! No. Since that bastard entered your life again. You've been hiding a lot from me since then, Beatrice," she expressed in frustration. How could I tell her if she will only get mad?“I'm sorry, Christina.”“You're sorry? Will you not do this again?”I could not promise that. Especially if Grayson wanted his Dad.Only Grayson? How about you?I don't need Drake in my life. Period. But if it was Josh, I might consider it. “I don't want to promise anything if I won't be able to do it, Christina. I don't want to lie to you, Christina. I will hurt you even more,” I whispered, gripping the phone tightly on my right hand. "You are not always like this, Beatrice. You treated me like your sister. You always update me if you're not in your house. But what is happening right now? You were not
DRAKE:There. I finally said those words, even if I already know that Beatrice won’t believe me. That woman never believed in any words I said. For her, I was a liar and a bastard. “I love you, Beatrice,” I said for the second time as she continued staring at me with a blank expression on her face. Her silence was…made me lose my confidence. After the divorce, women would occasionally throw themselves at me, but right now, the woman I loved won’t even believe any words I said. I had been planning on how I would tell Beatrice of my real feelings, but I did not know how to say those words to her. I feared that she would never believe me after what I did to her. For leaving her just like that. How she looked at me with uninterested eyes after confessing my feelings was like a punch in my gut. Though I deserved it. I deserved this. I deserved her cold treatment after everything.Still…I was not used to her reacting like this. Back then, the old Beatrice would almost kiss the ground
BEATRICE:Does Drake have to ask that? I've been wanting him to do that so that we will be peaceful once again."You're the one who always doesn't want to do it," I said. "If what you claim is true, then give it to me. Disappear from our lives."That would be the most wonderful thing that he would be able to give us. Some kind of peace. If Grayson would ask about his Dad, then I would think of some alibis of where his Dad could be.Do you think it's enough? What if your son will know the truth? Will he not hate you in the end?I will try to make him understand. I will make sure of that.He heaved a long sigh and threw his gaze at the shore."That's a difficult thing to do. Ask me anything else as long as it does not involve leaving you two again, Beatrice. How would I show you that I changed? I'm sorry, Beatrice, but I could not do that. I don't want my son to hate me."Shifting my gaze at the water, I said, "What am I doing? Asking you to leave us? What's my assurance that you honor
BEATRICE:I no longer understand what I was feeling right now as my ex-husband held him in his arms. It felt strange on my part that this felt like it was the most ordinary thing to do. The kiss, I meant.My ex-husband wants to kiss me? Why? That was out of the blue and I did not understand him at first. Or maybe my mind refused to understand what was happening. Everything was becoming confusing. A certain part of me definitely wanted to be kissed and to taste a man's lips. How long has it been since I last kissed? Five years ago? And this man was the only one who managed to see my naked body and touch them.I sucked in a breath as I struggled to keep those memories at the back of my head where they should belong. Those dangerous memories will only awaken those sinful thoughts that were trying to resurface for my ex-husband. Drake was the only one whom I wanted. My body ached for a touch where only a man could satisfy. Where only Drake could satisfy. "Beatrice? May I?" he asked