It Should Have Been Like This (The Revised Version)

Chapter 25: Consequences of Chaos (2)

"I was going to tell him but there were snakes!" I exclaimed.

Rominic stared at me seriously. "What happened to my children?"

"Some bitch teacher—"

"Manners, young lady," I scolded, glaring at Savia.

She huffed. "Can't I just swear out loud this once?"

"No,"

"Permitted,"

"Rominic! You can't go encouraging your kids to swear! She's just eight!"

"I'm like a few months away from my ninth birthday,"

My lips twitched into a sneer. "That doesn't warrant it, sweetheart. You're not allowed to swear even in your head,"

"That's taking away their freedom of speech," Rominic said in a somewhat complaining manner.

I glared at him. "They are kids, Nic,"

He rolled his eyes with a scornful glare. "You cursed at me the whole day,"

"I'm an adult in my early thirties,"

"Then you should show a good example too,"

"They can swear as much as they want when they are grownups," I argued, folding my arms once again.

"No one is allowed to tell my children what to do. They can do and say whatever they want,"

I angrily slammed my palms on the table again. "Just because their last name is Verlice doesn't mean they have to grow up to be arrogant tyrants!"

He smiled calmly. "That's exactly why they can do whatever they want, because their last name is Verlice. I grew up doing anything I wanted yet look at me, I'm a gentleman,"

I snorted. "You? Gentleman? Don't get me started on your flaws, Rominic. I don't want to start remembering the past. Your gentleness is why you didn't know you had five children until they were this age,"

Pain flickered in his eyes before he covered it up with an expression of brazenness. "Guilty as charged. Still doesn't change the fact that they can just say whatever they want because eventually, they will say it,"

"Wow," Perry said with an amused voice, forcing me to turn my gaze towards him. "This is entertaining,"

"I think I'll start researching bird soup recipes," I smiled forcefully. Perry squawked and ran under the table. I huffed and looked back at Rominic. I didn't know when I stood up but my hands were hurting from putting my weight on them. "Look here, Rominic. They were my kids first so know your place,"

He shrugged. "Fine. But can she swear this once? It'll make the story interesting," I facepalmed. I couldn't win with this man. "Thank you. Savia, you were saying?"

"Thank you, Daddy," she said sweetly, her ‘he just paid me’ sweet voice. "So my teacher, an ugly ass bitch," I groaned and sat down, lowering my face on the table. The children giggled. Savia started narrating everything while I wallowed in anger and sadness. How was I still losing to him? Why was I letting it happen? I could just yell at them and get it over with but I couldn't scold them harshly.

In that moment, I found myself unexpectedly missing his sisters. While I was still harboring some anger towards them, I couldn't help but acknowledge that they were far preferable to him. With Rylee by my side, my life would have been so much easier to bear. I even found myself wishing she could somehow teleport to me, to provide the support and comfort I so desperately craved.

My reverie was shattered when I heard Rominic's alarming words. "I suddenly feel like demolishing a school building." That was so uncharacteristic of him – Rominic was many things, but prone to such violent outbursts was not one of them.

I laughed nervously, trying to defuse the situation. "Rominic, just threaten them, nothing serious," I urged, hoping to steer him away from this destructive path.

But his response was immediate and fiery. "My daughter almost got hurt!" he flared. "Zayne and Zach are not the problem. Bullying is part of school life, but the ability to deal with that is what matters, and they dealt with it. What isn't normal is an adult trying to strike down a child for no tangible reason!"

I couldn't help but feel perplexed. "So what does demolishing the school have to do with this?"

"It's their incompetence to allow a person like that inside an educational facility. What if she is already hitting other children?" he argued, his anger palpable.

Trying to remain calm and rational, I responded, "We'll have the school carry out legal disciplinary actions, but not us, because if we do, then we're announcing to the world that you have children." This time, I could see that Rominic's fury was not a facade – it was genuine, and I knew I needed to tread carefully.

Rominic fixed me with a murderous glare, his eyes narrowed in pure, unadulterated anger. "I know you are angry. I was angry too, but we have to calm down," he said, his voice laced with a barely-controlled fury.

Unfazed, he stood up aggressively, grabbing his phone and storming out of the dining room. "Just announce to the world that I have children. Problem solved," he spat, the words dripping with sarcasm.

I cursed under my breath and stood up as well, my heart racing. I glanced worriedly at the children, wanting to apologize for them having to witness one of Rominic's unreasonable and irrational outbursts. These episodes usually left people feeling utterly terrified.

However, the expressions on the children's faces were far from fearful. Savia and Serenity had a glint of admiration in their eyes, clearly viewing their father as a knight in shining armor. The boys, too, wore agreeable looks, signaling their support for Rominic's decision.

I swear, this bloodline isn't normal, I thought to myself, shaking my head in disbelief.

Hurrying after Rominic, I knew I didn't disagree with the need to deal with the situation. But I also knew that Rominic's idea of "dealing" with it was likely to be vastly different from my own. The school and the principal didn't deserve to have their lives ruined because of one ignorant witch. I had to find a way to temper Rominic's rage before it spiraled out of control.

I pushed Rominic's bedroom door open, but I was already too late. He was already yelling into his phone, his words laced with profanities. I couldn't quite make out who he was berating, but the venom in his voice was palpable.

Rominic's anger was a testament to just how deeply he had come to care for his children. As much as that realization pleased me, I didn't want him to teach our children to ruin people's lives simply because they could. That wasn't the kind of people I wanted them to become.

There was only one way I could think to stop him in that moment. It wasn't a total loss, because I knew deep down that he would eventually have found a way for it to happen himself. So, I figured it would be better if I brought it up first, so I wouldn't feel as bitter about it later.

"Rominic," I said, interrupting his tirade. "If you handle this case my way, I'll agree to share a bedroom with you."

The words hung in the air, and I watched as Rominic's expression shifted from one of burning rage to something more shock. I knew I had his attention now, and that this might be my only chance to steer him away from a course of action that could have far-reaching and devastating consequences.