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Hours After Dinner...
Xavier's POV
When my mom mentioned she didn't want me anywhere near Arii, she meant exactly that.
It's like wherever you saw her you'd either see Maddox or my mother as if they'd be there waiting for me to make a move, daring me to come closer.
Maddox pissed me off the most with the smug grin that was plastered on his face. He knew how much I wanted to be near her, talk to her at least so he'd stay with her just to torture me.
This doesn't even concern him yet he chooses to annoy me by acting like some guardian angel around her. I tried getting her alone so that I could talk to her before we settled down for dinner but that was pointless. The same thing happened after dinner.
I told my father to at least try and talk some sense into my mother but he didn't want to bother her since she already resulted in giving him the silent treatment.
He was still more than relieved when Axarii told him she was no longer upset with him. I am now sitting in the living room watching the Lion King with Cole and Reyna.
This movie was nothing new but the two had focused all of their attention on it while I sulked in a corner. At times like this, the three of us being together in one room just brings me back to reality.
Reminds me about everything that happened in the past. The fact that I am now a father. I just can't believe how stupid I was back then... to actually believe others over my own damn wife! I missed out on both of my kids being born, their first words, first steps, first birthday... everything.
And there was nothing I could do to get it back.
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Axarii's POV
I'm not gonna lie... the little fuse between Xavier and his family made my day but it was also becoming exhausting and causing me to be uncomfortable during certain conversations. Both Maddox and Christina have been by my side ever since dinner. I've tried every excuse in the book for them to give me some alone time but nothing seems to push them away.
Especially Christina.
I can see that Maddox is in on this just so he can piss off his younger brother but Christina is determined to keep us apart. A part of me is pleased with this while the other part is slightly upset, urging me to go and look for him, but me, being the stubborn woman I've always been, refused to chase after a man.
Here I was now sitting outside on the back porch, staring up at the sky that has now lost its beam of light while all my thoughts kept me distracted from reality.
Coming back home wasn't as stressful as I thought it would be. Besides both my sister and dad being overprotective while my brother was just an complete ass.
Not to mention Christina and the others.
"Mind if I sit?" Turning towards the voice already knowing who it was, shrugging my shoulders in response. After a few moments of silence Xavier took his place next to me. "Are you sure it's a good idea for you to be with me... alone?" Raising a eyebrow up at him in questioning, him laughing softly.
"We have some really smart children. They both decided to keep their grandmother occupied while Maddox is tending to Delilah, that way I can spend some time with you." Allowing my brain to process and understand what he was saying I couldn't help but laugh softly as well.
Those two would be the death of me. "Let me guess, it was Cole's idea?" I asked.
"Actually it was Reyna that came up to me. Both her and Cole couldn't stand their parents being separated from one another." Rolling my eyes as I saw him smirking down at me. Silence took over as I continued to admire the stars, ignoring his gaze.
"You know you and the kids can stay with me." I couldn't help but sigh out loud before turning towards him.
"Xavier I've already talked to you about this. We are not together, I am your ex wife. Remember that. The kids and I are staying with Winston and his parents, not you.
We'll visit you from time to time and you're welcome to contact me when you or anyone here wants to spend some time with them." I began to prop myself up before getting up to leave but I was stopped by a rough hand grabbing onto my arm.
"Axarii can you please just listen to me, or at least just see the situation from my perspective for a minute? I know what I did in the past and how I handled it shouldn't be excused and I am deeply sorry about it, but all I want is to show you how I've truly changed." I couldn't say nor do anything but just stare at him while he waited for a response.
What was I supposed to say in these situations? 'Oh I believe you and I think we should give it a try?' All of this drama is just adding more and more stress into my life!
I watched as Xavier's body began to inch closer towards me, his face lowering down to my own. What are you doing?!
Get away from him he's about to kiss you you idiot!
I wanted to listen to my mind and back away as far as possible from him but my body just wouldn't corporate with me. Instead I found myself slightly leaning into his touch.
I felt the warmth of his lips near my own causing both of our hearts to race faster if that's even possible. I began to calm down as I felt him distant himself from me a little. "Tell me to stop. Just tell me and I'll respect your wishes. Because if you don't, I will never let you go Arii. You say that you've forgiven me but we both know that that's a lie.
If that were to be true then you wouldn't be using my past mistakes as an excuse just so you can dodge my questions relating to us and the future. You're only pushing me away. So tell me... do you want me to continue fighting for you, or do you want me to piss off?" Slightly shuddering at his words as he used one of his hands to tilt my face up towards him, looking at me with such curiosity.
If I don't say anything then that'll cause him to go fight for us, meaning I'll never be able to get rid of him again. If I do say something then he claims that he'll let me be... but should I even believe him?
We are still talking about the guy who doesn't care what comes out of my mouth and stated that he'll continue to fight for me no matter what, but that's none of my business.
"I..." Looking away from him as my thoughts pondered in my mind. How can I tell him to leave me alone if half of me wants him to stay? This is just too much.
"I need you to just-" The sound of the back door being thrown open with such force caused me to stop and look at the intruder. I wasn't that shocked when I looked to see the one and only Christina. What shocked me was how pissed off she looked.
"I find myself having some quality time with my oldest grandkids only to see that both Axarii and my son were missing. Now what do you think happened when I intended to go and look for the two of you hmm?
I'll tell you what those two started going crazy, throwing attitudes as well as questions my way and that's when I knew that I had been set up. You've got some nerve figlio. Using family against me, going behind my back after I specifically said to stay away from Axarii."
I've never seen Christina act this way before. She was always so cheery in every situation but this was different. After a few moments Xavier had walked in front of his mother staring at her with the same amount of madness.
"Mother, this will be the last time that I say this so I suggest you listen carefully. This is my problem. I'm the one who didn't listen to my wife and now I am here to pick up the pieces of my bullshit. You need to worry about your life and your husband so stay out of mine, that includes Axarii as well since she is now a part of my life once again. You have no damn control over either one of us, so stop trying to make her what she'll never be and that is one of your little bitches... capisce?"
Both Christina and I were surprised to hear him talk like that, to his own mother. I knew he was upset when his thick accent was heard more but damn his words made my insides begin to twist up. This family is just as I left it, crazy as hell.
Christina's shocked expression soon changed back to her warm smile before a laugh escaped from her. "My dear son... I understand." Her features held a genuine expression but the tone in her voice sounds as if she's mocking him. Xavier's jaw ticked in annoyance before he created distance between them.
"Axarii dear, what Xavier said was not true. I love you like a mother would love her own daughter. When I first met you I had my doubts but almost in an instant I could see how you brought the light back into my stubborn son's life.
It was wrong for me to act out on you for my son's poor decisions and I hope that you can forgive me." This time both her expression and tone was genuine unlike the time when she'd responded to Xavier. Instead of responding verbally I gave her a small smile in return before I walked towards the door.
"Where are you going?" Both of them asked. "I think it's time that my kids and I leave." Not waiting for their response, I walked past them before shutting the door behind me.
I've had enough drama for today.
Few hours later...
"I thought we were going to stay with your parents. Why did we just pass the turn?" I asked Winston who had been ignoring me ever since I told him that we were leaving.
"I'm taking you guys to my late grandmother's house that I inherited through her will, that way you'll have more privacy and room to yourself. I'll be staying in a condo I bought, it's not too far from here." 'Okay big money', I thought to myself.
****
Winston left about an hour ago after he made sure that we were settled in our 'new home' and that we became familiar with the house. I can tell that the kids have already fallen in love with this place. It's very similar to the one that we lived in, just slightly bigger.
Cole and Reyna like the house because it has two rooms that are connected by one door, meaning they could sneak into each other's rooms whenever they felt like it. I like the house because it just so happens to have both an indoor and outdoor pool. "Mommy when can we go see daddy again?" Cole asked causing me to sigh before picking him up.
"Daddy is actually coming over in a few minutes to bring the rest of our bags that were left on the plane." I said while he snuggled into my arms. For the next twenty minutes I held Cole in my arms while he told me about his day but then stopped as the door bell had rung.
"I'll get it!" Reyna yelled from the hallway causing me to laugh as you could hear her small feet running towards the direction of the door. Even though I was sure that it was Xavier that's at the door I still got up just in case Cole followed behind. By the time we reached the door Reyna had already unlocked it and began pulling it open.
Once the door was open three people were revealed, Benson who walked in with our belongings, Martha following behind him with Chick-fil-A bags and the bottom feeder also known as the one and only Xavier Knight who just so happens to be an idiotic billionaire.
"Daddy!" You know at times like these I feel like I've been replaced as a mother. I know I shouldn't be jealous of their relationship since he's now coming into their lives and the fact that they grew up without knowing who their father was but I'm just used to all of the attention I guess... but now it's like Xavier's their father and mother while I'm just, here.
After his little reunion with the kids he closed the door behind him but not after placing a quick kiss on the side of my mouth which I quickly wiped off and flicked him off, him playfully flicking my forehead. "Now now Arii. That's not how you're supposed to behave. You don't want me to take off my belt do you?"
I felt my face as it heated up in embarrassment from him scolding me as if I'm some little child. Instead of walking by him I stood in front of him and leaned forward. "You keep this little charade up and you'll see who's gonna be the one to get their ass beat with a belt, alright?" I'm pretty sure you all know this man very well by now so you must know that he was clearly amused by what I just said.
"Yes ma'am." He purred out lowly while leaning forward. I then sidestepped him and made my way towards the kitchen where I saw Martha as she placed the food on the table, mentally smiling as I heard him groan out in frustration. You know what they say...
Life can be a pain in the ass at times.
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Please don't hate me🥺...
I know that I said I'd update which was about a month or two ago and I'm very sorry about that. I'm trying to do better with publishing for you guys and I hope that you can just bear with me. I'm also trying to figure out where to go next dealing with this story since I already know how I'm gonna end it. I'm not sure how long this story is going to be but I can tell you that it's not about to end as of right now. But I really hope that you guys loved this chapter and don't forget to follow me in order to get notified whenever I publish new chapters.. and it would be nice to just have a few more follows😌 I LOVE YOU ALL AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR OVER 11k VIEWS ON MY FIRST STORY!!❤️
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