CHAPTER 184: CHAPTER 184

ASHAL

I grit my teeth to stifle the annoyance simmering within. When I try to correct Liv, Maddie stops me with a wary look. At mother’s cue, she goes over and sits with her instead. My appetite instantly disappears.

Although I’d very much like to retire to my room now to rest, I can’t leave Maddi to eat alone with my family. Her sister’s already making her feel like the stranger in our midst so I have to be here to support her. Plus, Maddi will feel sad if I don’t eat the food she made.

Reluctantly, I sit back on my chair. An awkward hush has fallen over the dining table that was just bubbling with laughter moments ago. Now, only father has a smirk on his face.

The food is served and we all begin to eat in silence.

"Wow, Madeline, you’ve got some serious skills." Ashton compliments her while enjoying the fried rice with shrimps.

"Thank you." Maddi replies shyly, before sliding a glance at me. I wink at her but she drops her eyes to her plate instead. When I look beside me, the reason is obvious. Olivia’s innocuous presence still makes Maddi uncomfortable with my gestures.

"Ashley, are you also enjoying the food? You’re barely eating it." I ask him when he continues to pick at it with his fork. He looks distracted and uneasy. "Ash?"

He finally looks up at me. "Sorry, got a lot on my mind. The food’s great by the way, Maddi." But every bite he takes afterwards is forced. I resolve to ask him about it later since it’s clearly not the food that’s bothering him.

"Asher."

"Yes, father?"

"How long do you plan on watching the media make speculations about your relationship status with that girl?" Father doesn’t look up from his plate as he continues to eat. Asher drops his cutlery quietly.

"That girl has a name and you know it."

"That’s not what I asked."

"Brett, can you not ruin dinner for us all. We have guests for goodness’ sake."

"It’s okay, mother. This shouldn’t take long." Asher returns his eyes to father who still hasn’t looked up from his meal. "Her name’s Anna Preston and she and I have been seeing each other for a while as most of you know. I like her a lot and I think I might just put a label on our relationship as soon as I finish with this delicious meal Madeline made for us. Thank you again, Madeline. My taste buds are grateful."

Maddi smiles. "You’re welcome."

While father grunts in response, everyone else at the table smiles cheerfully over Asher’s response. Ashton even gives Asher a light shove.

"I’m glad all my boys are finding love and coupling up. Soon, this table will be filled with my daughters-in-law and my grand babies."

"Slow your roll, mother. Baby steps." Asher replies. Again, Ashley’s smile is forced. I watch him steal surreptitious glances at Ashton and wonder what the problem could be this time. Did they have another fall out?

I watch Maddi eat slowly, and wish the table was small so I could nudge her leg under the table. She actively refuses to meet my eyes and when she accidentally does, she quickly looks away.

Half distracted watching her and making light conversation at the table, food travels down the wrong track and I burst out in a wild cough. Maddi leaps up and grabs the pitcher of water to refill my empty glass but before she can take three steps, Olivia is already shoving her glass of water in my face. I am left with no choice but to sip on hers to save my life.

"Are you okay?" She rubs my back in circles while dabbing my wet lips with a napkin. "The food is too spicy for you and you know it. Why did you force yourself to eat it?" She turns to her sister instead of the domestic staff standing within earshot. "Madeline, can you get him some milk?"

"No." I counter her request. "I’m fine."

"You’re not fine. Your eyes are red. Madeline, don’t just stand there. Get the milk!"

"She’s not a servant here." I bellow in a warning tone. "And I said I am fine, didn’t I? Can you let it go?"

My family watches the embarrassing scene quietly. Flinging my napkin on the table, I bid everyone goodnight and sprint up the stairs. Why did Olivia do that? Is she trying to frustrate my relationship with her sister? I certainly won’t have it.

While showering, I hear Maddi come inside my room. She must feel bad over how dinner went. I know I do. After drying myself and slipping on a robe, I join her in the bedroom. She doesn’t react when I kiss her hair.

"I’m sorry about tonight. You didn’t deserve to be treated like that."

"You shouldn’t have yelled at her or walked out like that. "She spins to face me. "She was embarrassed."

"Embarrassed? And what did she do to you? She literally tried to demean you. She said your food was spicy and talked to you like you were one of the domestic staff. Was I supposed to let that slide?"

"But she didn’t lie. Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t like spicy food? You had no right to put your health at risk just to please me by eating my food."

"The food wasn’t too spicy, Maddi. I promise." I grab her waist and pull her closer. "You kept avoiding my eyes all night and I couldn’t focus. Anyway, all is forgiven now that you are here." I capture her lips and kiss her deeply but just when we’re starting to lose ourselves, she wriggles out of my grasp

"Hey, what’s wrong. Where are you going?"

"We can’t, not right now."

"Why? You’ve been saying this ever since you moved in. Is it because of Liv? Maddi, your sister and I are divorced. You don’t have to feel like you’re cheating with your sister’s husband."

"It’s not that."

"Then what is it?" I stroke her hair. "Talk to me so I stop feeling unwanted."

Her hands caress my face. "I love you, Ashal and I want nothing more than to be with you and show you just how much you mean to me. I just have a very sensitive side that won’t let me indulge in my fantasies yet. Your entire family resides here and Liv is just a few doors away. Besides, tonight was a bit intense. I keep worrying about her especially after the bleeding. I’ll feel better if you go talk to her once, feel your baby kicking. Do something to show her that you consider her a human first before a baby making machine."

"Maddi..."

"That’s how she feels and because of that, she’s constantly depressed, Ashal. Just show some level of care to soothe her mind."

"You think I haven’t tried? At first, she loathed me. Now, I fear she might read the wrong meanings into my actions."

"She won’t. She knows her place and mine. She won’t cross the line. I trust her but I trust you more. Please? Just do it for me." She wraps her arms around my neck and brushes my lips with hers. "If you do a good job, I just might loosen up a bit tonight."

"In that case, I intend to do a great job." She indulges me in a long kiss that stirs everything inside me. I wish things weren’t so complicated in our relationship. "I love you." I whisper in her right ear just before kissing behind it.

My heart tightens as I watch her slip out. Sighing, I retreat to my closet to put on some clothes.

***

Olivia is already in bed when she lets me into her room. From her countenance, she’s still upset over dinner. I silently wonder if she’s been waiting for me this whole time to come apologize to her.

"Hey."

"Hi." Then seeing me reluctance, she sighs. "Don’t be a stranger. Come in. I don’t bite."

I sit on the sofa, rubbing my hands together. "Olivia, I’m sorry for being rude to you at dinner. I didn’t mean to raise my voice at you."

She shuts the book she’s reading and tosses aside her duvet. "Did Maddi force you to come apologize to me? I’ve told you guys that I don’t need your pity." With a little struggle, she climbs down the bed.

"Liv, I really need to know." Standing, I edge close to her while she’s pouring herself a glass of water on the bedside table. "Are you really okay with my relationship with your sister? Do you respect it?"

Olivia takes her time to empty her glass, smacks her lips and sets the cup down before turning to me. Her boobs are mostly hanging out and the rest of her night dress is sheer. Her protruded tummy curtained by the lacey fabric gapes at me.

"What are you asking me, Ash? Which answer do you want?"

I rub my temple. Her nonchalance tells me she plans on being unnecessarily difficult.

"We’re divorced, Olivia. I hate to state the obvious but the only relationship we share now is that of co-parents." As expected, a huge frown creases her face. "That’s what you wanted, remember? You pushed me away and encouraged me to go find love elsewhere. I did and I love the woman I am with right now, a whole lot. I need you to not undermine my relationship simply because she’s your little sister."

The frown ebbs and pain filters into Olivia’s face. "Wow, Ashal. Just wow. Did you really just call me your baby mama and profess undying love for my sister in my face?" She clucks her tongue with tears glistening in her eyes. "You’re heartless, you know that?" She brushes past me, wiping her eyes.

"Olivia..."

"YOU SAID THOSE SAME WORDS TO ME." She snaps, whirling to face me again. Her voice is broken and raw as she sobs. "You said you loved me and you couldn’t see yourself happy with anyone else. You begged me endlessly to start a family with me and yes, I was hesitant. Who could blame me after everything I went through in your hands? Every decision I made was spurred by self-preservation."

"I understand that, Liv. I respect your decision."

"You fooled me severally, constantly pretending to be Asher. You hurt my body and my soul. You promised to change but never really did. Then after our divorce is finalized, you take your recovery seriously and return to flaunt my sister in my face as your one true love? How do you expect me to feel, huh?" She wipes her teary eyes.

"Look at me, Ashal. I’ve got nothing and no one. Asher rejected me because he claimed he couldn’t be with any woman who wasn’t a billionaire heiress handpicked by your father. Now, he’s dating one against your father’s will. YOU refused to change and be the man I deserved while we were married, yet when Maddi came on the scene, you left no stone unturned to make yourself deserving of her. Why didn’t you brothers do the same for me? Why was I never good enough to be loved properly and fully? Why did no one go over and beyond for me?"

She trembles while crying hysterically.

"Please Olivia, don’t cry. It’s not good for your condition." I reach for her but she pushes my hands off her.

"That’s all anyone cares about; the baby! That’s all I’m good for, isn’t it?" Sadness radiates from her face as she grabs me by the lapels of my shirt. "What’s going to become of me after our baby is born, Ashal? How will I cope without you?"

"Olivia, please...you need to calm down."

"I still love you. I thought I didn’t but my feelings have never been stronger. This baby..." She guides my hands to her tummy and smiles through her tears when the baby kicks. "See? Even our baby wants this. You have a family right here, the three of us. Please Ashal, don’t fight this. It’s not too late for us to unite our family again."

Gently, I withdraw my hands from her grasp. "We’ll always be a family, Liv, just not a couple. I love Maddie."

"But you still love me! I know you still do. The only reason you fell for Maddi in the first place was because she reminds you of me. She was the next best thing after I rejected you. I know we can still work out. Maddi is still young. She’ll easily find a man to love and cherish her. You already took my youth. You knocked me up too. Look, we’re having a baby together. Who’s going to want me after all this? My life’s ruined. Please Ashal, I don’t think I can survive without you by my side." She places her head on my chest and grips my shirt for dear life as the sobs wrack her body. "Don’t leave me. I thought I could bear it but I don’t think I can anymore. I NEED OUR FAMILY BACK. YOU OWE ME THAT MUCH AFTER EVERYTHING YOU’VE PUT ME THROUGH."

My entire body freezes up as she clings to me, crying profusely. What the hell am I going to do?