(Alexander’s POV)
The dinner was much better and more relaxing than last night.
I realized that this was how they spent their meals on ordinary days, a conference-like dinner, giving updates on how their day went in a fun way, and when Carlito opened up about what happened on the 47th floor, they couldn’t help themselves from laughing. I was entertained when they told stories about how Leigh tried to overcome her fear of height but failed to conquer her acrophobia many times.
My eyes lovingly pinned on Leigh, and looking at her laughing at every shared story made me understand that she may have lots of issues, but she did her best to resolve them. Although she failed many times, I still think she was still trying.
Being part of this family made me realize that dinner could be fun. I hardly remember enjoying dinner without talki
(Leigh’s POV)As soon as he closed the door, he put me down, turned his back on me, and went to the bathroom. My gaze follows him until he closes the bathroom door. I heave a sigh, concluding our act of overflowing sweetness is over.Another day as Mrs. Hearst is over.I walk to my dresser, take my yoga mat, and place the jar in the middle. I hug my knees and look at the mixed pebbles inside the jar. This will be a long night, indeed. But I can’t just be mad at Katherine for taking the jar and playing with the colorful pebbles. I sighed again, unsure if it was because of the pebbles or about Alex, who just left me here.My head raised when the bathroom door opened, and my lips parted, seeing Alex wearing nothing except the towel wrapped around his waist.“What are you doing there, Mrs. Hearst?” he asks, hi
(Leigh’s POV)I was annoyed when Alex switched the sprinkle of water from warm to cold, and as he promised, we finished taking a shower without any kisses, and the only touch I got was when he lathered the soap on my body. I didn’t even understand why he had to give me a bath when I was capable of doing it myself.I felt disappointed and angry, and I went out of the bathroom brooding, stomping my feet as I walked out that I had missed the jar. The open glass container fell, and the colorful pebbles were scattered on the yoga mat.“Argh!” I screamed briefly as I knelt on the mat and picked up the pebbles to return them to the jar. I grabbed a handful of colorful pebbles, and when I stared at them in my palm, my attention shifted to them. I sat down on the mat, forgetting I was still wrapped in my towel, and then put all the pebbles on the floor and
(Leigh’s POV)The continuous ‘bzzt’ sound of my cellphone buzzing, which I put on silent and vibrate mode, woke me up. Before I could open my eyes, I knew it was a challenge to move because I was comfortably snuggled to Alex’s side, my hand was on his chest, and my leg was on top of his legs. His arms were wrapped around my body that I would wake him up if I moved, yet I had to choose. Either I escape from our sweet cuddling, or whoever is calling will enter my bedroom.Slowly, I lift his arms, praying he won’t wake up yet, and reach for Eeyore to replace me, and then I climb down from the bed to get my phone from the bedside table.“Kayla, do you know what time it is yet?” I asked in a hushed tone, taking my nightdress robe and glancing at my sleeping husband. Suddenly, I felt jealous of Eeyore, which was in his arms rather than
(Leigh’s POV)Georgia giggled. “I know you’re on speaker mode right now, boss. Please don’t give the beautiful girl beside you any negative thoughts about you and me.”I wriggled, but Alex did not only wrap his arms around my body, but his legs also seized my lower body like a snake ready to squeeze me. I gave all my strength, but I could not escape from him, and Alex seemed to be enjoying and loving our position because he could freely plant kisses on top of my head.“Ha! Ha!” he said as if mocking her. “Thank you, and yes, right now, she’s beside me, and I’m ready to devour her in this early morning.”She guffawed, and then we heard the honking of a car. Is she driving?“Trying to make me jealous, boss?” she asked, and the way she said it, she seemed
(Leigh’s POV)“This coffee is superb, Alex,” I heard my father complimenting Alex after breakfast.I watched him make coffee for everyone and listened to him as he shared about their coffee farm. I feel like there is much more to learn about Alexander Hearst. Was I too busy with my life that I neglected to learn from Mei?Alex glanced at me when my phone rang, but he returned his attention to my father, ignoring me as I took the call. Though I knew he was curious about who was my caller, he delightedly continued his conversation with Papa. With Chase-The-Family-Lawyer name appearing on the screen, I walked back to my bedroom to answer his call.“Chase,” I said, pacing in my bedroom, fidgeting my hands, and thinking the call was a matter of life and death. My eyes darted to my reflection in the mirror. I move my head closer to the mirr
(Leigh’s POV) “Are you crazy? You want me to get you pregnant, and then I lose all my rights as the father?” Alex said angrily. I burst out laughing. I tried to speak, but I choked as tears rolled down my cheeks, unsure if it was because I wanted to cry or laugh at my joke. “You find humor in that, Kayleigh?” He snarled at me. I could see he was clenching his fists as he tried to control his anger, but before he could stand up, I held his two hands to stop him from getting out of the tub. “My god, Alex, we’re getting serious,” I chuckled softly. “And I was curious how you would react because I’ve seen this in the movie many times, but wow!” I shook my head, wiping my tears. “Woah! I didn’t know men would really react like that.” “You think it’s funny that you joke about keeping the child yourself?” He growled. &
(Alexander’s POV)Touch me again, Alex!Did Leigh just permit me to touch her? Yet the moment I reached out for her, just to hold her hand and nothing else, I felt Leigh stiffen. It was like all her blood went to her face, her almond eyes went round, her heart seemed to stop beating, and when it started pumping again, she startled me by jumping out of the bathtub.“W-w-what did I just say? Oh my, God!” She stuttered that when her phone rang again, her feet seemed to get stuck on the floor that she couldn’t walk toward the bathtub, and after a few seconds, she turned her back on me and started screaming as she walked out the door.My forehead creases as I realize that she has just placed herself inside the boiling water, and she was too embarrassed at what she had said. I get out of the bathtub to follow Leigh, pick up the phon
(Alexander’s POV)The grandfather clock played the melody at twelve noon, and it had been hours, but still, Leigh was not talking to me or any of her family members except for Royce and Kayla’s children. I watched her tirelessly clean her bedroom, re-arranged her already neatly folded clothes in the closets, books on the shelf, her things in the dresser, on the drawer, and by looking at her, I could easily remember where she placed things just in case she forgot where she put them.She placed her yoga mat in the living room, brought her jar, and her nephew and nieces helped her separate the colors of the pebbles.This won’t work. I have to talk to her, or she has to speak to me, or else I will go crazy. This might be normal for her family, but they have been with her for twenty-four years, but in my case, we were just married for four days.