When Love & Hate Collide [Completed]

Chapter 70 - Can You Allow Me To Be Your Friend?

Raul came over and showed me his new painting, he had just made. It was of a house set at the top of the hill amidst beautiful scenery. If you look closely, you could see few resemblances between the house in the painting and Gregorian Castle. Raul was super excited with his work and wanted me to comment on it quickly.

I knew he had the talent. Though he didn't know any intricate technique, he had painted it beautifully. I wanted to praise him, but I couldn't bring myself to praise the painting he had made. The house was casting all sorts of terrible emotions in my heart. Raul was already getting too interested in this house and now that I knew the owner, I couldn't allow him to dwell further on this subject. Once we were out of the door of this house today, I never intended to return here ever again.

The question was would Norberto allow it to happen.

"Come on, Mom. Tell me. Do you like it?" Raul asked me again getting impatient.

"Yes, it's good," I finally answered, trying to act neutral.

Raul was obviously not satisfied with my response but before he could nag me further, Josh returned to the studio.

"Mr Fritz has asked you to join for tea," he said looking at me.

"Will there be cake?" Raul asked suddenly.

"Raul!" I admonished him for being impolite. But Josh was humored with the question. "Yes, there will be cake. You are to join too." He replied, smiling lovingly at Raul.

I didn't want to go back to Norberto. I didn't want to face him again. But what choice I had. I held Raul's hand in my hand and followed Josh. Another couple of turns before we were in the room with a large dining table. Norberto was already seated at the head of table.

His face was blank, but I could sense the machinery working behind those eyes. My legs were making it impossible to walk towards him instead of running in opposite direction, still I forced myself to go up to the table. Raul was having no such struggle and was quick in showing his newly created painting to Norberto.

"Look, what I have made!" he showed his creation to Norberto cheerfully. "What do you think?" he continued inquisitively.

"It's very beautiful," Norberto replied, eyeing the painting thoughtfully. "I can see you are quite talented," he continued.

Raul gave him a broad smile.

"I can also see you really like this house. Isn't this Gregorian Castle here?" Norberto asked pointing at the house in the painting.

"Well, it can be. I am not so sure. But to answer your question, yes, I really like this house. I came here with Nate, my friend, few weeks back and have not been able to stop thinking about it since then. Mom was not so keen, but it was me who insisted to come here, today," Raul explained in excitement not knowing the impact his words were having on me.

"I think that's enough, Raul," I tried to stop him, pulling him back towards me, but Norberto had already picked up the boy's excitement.

"Is it? It's nice to hear that you like my house. Would you like to live in this house?" Norberto asked taking the young boy's small hand in his hands.

"Here? But this is your house," Raul answered in bewilderment. He looked at me in confusion, but I was too dazed to make things any clearer for my son.

"I would like the company. As you can see, I live here all alone, except, of course for Josh to help me around. So, what do you say?" Norberto pushed again. If only I could shut him up.

But I couldn't. Not in front of Raul.

I could see Raul was conflicted. He liked the house, but he also knew it didn't belong to him. So, like it as much as he possibly could, he couldn't answer that question. But that didn't mean, the idea didn't excite him. The studio alone was enough to make him want to move in here, let alone the garden and large play area both inside and outside the house. He again looked at me, hoping I would say something to solve his confusion. My heart constricted at the thought of breaking his heart, but it had to be done before it was too late.