CHAPTER 84: GO OUT?

"Why do you suddenly want to take responsibility for me? I thought you wanted noth-"

Ian’s weird smile remained in place.

"Let’s get this pressing problem of that hunger off first."

"I just need to see a doctor. It might be just a cold coming up...."

"I’m sorry," He whispered and slid off the bed, coming around it to her side, then held out his hand to her.

Shelby looked up at him in puzzlement but accepted the outstretched hand anyway, her small hand disappearing in his larger ones. She held on tightly and got off, her stomach still growling. Embarrassingly, she lowered her head and followed him as his rich chuckle filled the room.

Gone were the hostile comments and the cold outlook. It was as if they had never had that conversation at all.

Shelby followed him, and they entered the room where he had disappeared for the salad last time.

She had also been curious about what was behind that door, but seeing it, she could not mask her surprise.

"You had this here?"

"What did you think? That I had nothing but just my bedroom here?" He chuckled in amusement.

She stepped back into the bedroom and then into the new room, still marvelling at the stark difference between the two.

"You’re going to yank my arm off with all this back and forth," he said softly, bringing her attention back to him.

"Sorry,"

She brought her gaze back to him, examining his features. Standing before him, Shelby felt so small.

’He is truly a big man,’ Her eyes followed his muscular stature and then to his long black hair hanging loosely on him, the bushy long beard and facial hair that looked to have not been trimmed in ages, and finally met his startling grey eyes.

"Am I that interesting-looking?"

Shelby nodded gravely, "Yes!" Her answer surprised Ian because he had never expected her to agree so bluntly. He burst out into a hearty laughter that even surprised himself.

"Ahhhh!" Shelby suddenly screamed in surprise.

"Ian, what are you doing!?"

She felt herself float around as Ian lifted her up. Her arms automatically went around his neck as his beard rubbed across her chest, tickling her.

Ian took a few strides and placed her on the island in the middle of the room.

Yes, the room was a full-blown modernized kitchen, fully equipped by the looks of it.

"Stay here for a bit," he kissed her forehead and turned from her, busying himself around the place. She blushed at the attention he gave her, crossing her legs and dangling it as her eyes followed him. She shifted around until she found a good position and continued observing him.

Just then, Ian took off his thick bathrobe.

’What is he doing!’

Shelby covered her face with both hands, but she opened two fingers and peeped through it, her curiosity getting the better part of her.

’Is he naked underneath?’

Nope, he was not. She was a tad bit disappointed in that though. He hung up the robe on a hook behind the door and picked up an apron.

’Why does this look so familiar?’ Shelby thought as Ian came up to her. Even though she had already seen his bare chest before, seeing him walk up to her in just shorts and the apron hanging on him was too much for her eyes. Especially when his flat nipples and hairy chest were almost right in her face, her heart thundered so loud that she could not hear what Ian said to her. He pulled her hands off her face and turned his back to her. Shelby reached out and helped him tie the robe.

Throughout this time, Ian had just one thought, ’I am way better than that chicken!’

He smirked and looked at how flustered, and almost red Shelby looked.

With the apron on, he opened a few drawers until he found some pasta packets.

"Ian?"

"Huh?"

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure,"

He said, stopping briefly to give her his full attention.

"When will you ever get out of this room? I don’t mean to snoop, but then – also, I know this is more than just a bedroom for you. It wouldn’t surprise me if you have a whole house in here somewhere, lol..."

Ian approached her, leaning on the counter and staring at her intently, making her squirm.

"... I mean to say. I know you deeply loved Aliya-"

Ian’s heart clenched in discomfort at that statement.

"... I think for the sake of that love, you need to take care of all that she also loved."

"I-"

"I’m sorry, can I finish?"

Ian nodded and waited for her to continue.

"Have you thought of how the children have been faring for these couple of years while you wallowed in self-pity and misery in here?"

That statement came out too strong. A little stronger than Shelby had intended, but she pushed through. ’I might as well finish everything I want to say. Besides, at the end of the day, it all depends on him.’

"Let me tell you a story...."

***

"When I came here a few weeks ago, I was astounded to know that they were not your biological children. I don’t hold any of that against you for loving a woman enough to ’adopt’ her children as yours. I actually commend you for even thinking of taking them in when they had no one. You had no obligation whatsoever to do this, but you chose to do that.

The first thing that struck me was the attitude of everyone in relation to them. The first time I saw their room, I was very much surprised. I know that the three children should be grateful to have a roof over their heads and their living arrangements are probably better than those in the orphanage, but in this huge estate, the three have to share a room? Maybe I am being overly concerned about this trivial thing.

During my first dinner with your parents, I noticed the children were absent. Mind you, they have never had any dinner with the family.

I kept asking myself why? But then, I realized that your parents have no obligation to honour those children. Once they do the bare minimum, they have done their part. This indifferent attitude also reflects on how the workers here treat them too. To sum it up, the children almost always take care of themselves.

Look at me rumbling!

What I want to tell you is that I felt a little overwhelmed to be the stepmother of three children, but I think they need more than this. I am just a stranger to them, and they will feel a more closer bond to you.

When I dared ask of their whereabouts during one dinner, the atmosphere froze a bit and then, I found out that, it was the norm for them to eat in their room.

That day, little Gabriel was so happy to have gotten a new mother. In his haste to show me something, he bumped into a tall side table in the dining room with a vase.

The vase, unfortunately, shuttered to pieces.

I left the table to tend to him, but before I got to him and even find out if he was hurt, a worker was ordered to send him back to his room and not to be let out for days as a punishment. I will never forget the anger on the faces of Alex, your dad and your brother, Brad and the crisp command that followed: "Get him out of my sight!"

I later learned that the vase had been a gift, but then, I asked myself, would he have had to go through that if Gabriel had been a true blood of the Thornstons?

More than Alex and Brad’s reactions that day, it was the fact that everyone else had treated that as a ’normal’ occurrence that disturbed me.

So’ I’ll just say this, "It’s really not my place how you treat them. But if you love her as much as you say you do, then do not let her children suffer because she will turn over in her grave if she ever comes to know this...""

***

"Anyway! That is what I wanted to share.... It feels so good to get that off my chest."

Ian continually stared at her.

"Don’t get me wrong, Ian, I am not telling you to explain yourself to me. You don’t owe me nor anybody that..." She waved her hands in front of herself. She was a bit flustered thinking that she had overstepped her bounds by saying that.

However, Ian straightened up, returned to his cooking task and had the pasta boiling in no time. Within about ten minutes, he served just plain pasta sprinkled with some herbs and cheese. It was as if she had not said anything to him.

"Sorry, this is what I could whip up in no time. I don’t have much ingredients at hand, so-"

"I am even surprised that you had any ingredients." She decided to go along with him.

"Try it!"

She wanted to ask why he thought his meal would be any better than those she had eaten in the past few meals. But Shelby was just too hungry at that time.

She took the fork that Ian handed her, still seated on that high counter and took a bite out of it.

*********

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