Chapter 56: Chapter 56

MELODY

Something was wrong, I could tell. His jaw was tight, and his hands were clenched into fists. It had been two hours since he hadn’t stopped glaring at me and then at Matt.

I’d known he would be pissed, seeing I’d snuck out, but I’d had to, knowing I would give in to whatever he would have asked me at that moment, because my decision still depended on Mila.

I looked away, feeling bad. I had avoided him since morning because my emotions had been all over the place since I’d woken up next to him.

~I woke up and saw him beside me, his hand tightly wrapped around me.~

~

~Unable to hold back my desire, I placed a small kiss on his lips and watched him sleeping for the longest time, his thick chest rising and falling. Sleeping, at peace, he looked younger.~

~

~What I wouldn’t give to lie here with him every night, waking up beside him all my life.~

~

~Shaking the thought away, I climbed out of bed. I put on my dress from last night and snuck out silently.~

~

It was all I’d wanted all those years ago. I’d wanted to wake up like this every day for the rest of my life.

Waking up beside him had made me realize what a fool I’d been, thinking I would ever be over him.

I loved him more than my life and had never stopped loving him, but had just masked it with resentment.

I had been lying to everyone, including myself, when I’d thought I could move on, but the truth was I never had.

I was still the same old Melody who’d met Xavier for the first time and had fallen in love with a stranger.

The other reason I’d left before he’d woken up was to hide my feelings before he could see the state of my vulnerability.

Sleeping with him last night had been a mistake, because letting him inside me had opened the door to my dream of being with Xavier and the children.

The same door I had closed and locked after leaving New York.

How would I live without him after last night? Could I go back to normal if the thing didn’t work out? What if Mila didn’t want me in their life?

I knew the answer to that too. I would lose him once again. Just like I had before.

I shook my head mentally and stared at Dan pulling Asher into his arms for their first dance. They both looked happy and so much in love.

I was so happy for them. For Dan. As the song ended, Dan walked in my direction with a mischievous smile and stopped in front of me.

I raised my brows without a word, and he took my hand and led me to the dance floor. He took my hand in his and put his other hand on my waist.

“You’re looking beautiful,” he whispered as we started swaying to the beat of the music.

“I’m so happy for you,” I whispered and leaned my cheek against his chest.

“You know I love you,” he whispered. “I only want you happy.” I nodded, knowing where he was going.

“I love you too,” I whispered.

“So? Everything going fine with him?” he asked, and I’d known this was coming.

I pulled back and nodded, then glanced at Xavier. His green eyes locked with mine, and I felt shivers all over my body. Dan smirked, noticing the way my body reacted to him.

The smile slipped, and his eyes turned serious, his hands tightening on my waist. “Doesn’t look like,” he said, following my gaze.

“You can’t expect everything to go normal so soon, Dan. It’s real life, not stories from some books. On one page, you’re fighting, and on the next, you’re living happily ever after.”

I sighed. “Seven years of pain and guilt can’t be healed in seven days,” I mumbled, mostly to myself.

I looked up to meet his eyes. “I haven’t told him about moving to L.A.”

“Why?”

“I don’t want to make the same mistake I did in the past. I don’t want to rush. I don’t want to trust him blindly again.”

“Good decision,” he said. When the song ended, I felt a tap on my shoulder.

As soon as I swirled, a hand snaked around my waist, pulling me closer to his chest. I didn’t need to look up. I knew it was him. His touch seared in my soul.

Even with closed eyes, I could recognize his touch out of hundreds.

The music played softly as our feet followed the rhythm. “You’re looking gorgeous,” Xavier whispered as his gaze ran over me hungrily once again.

My dress was a floor-length wrap that, when moved the right way, exposed a slit that reached my upper thigh as he twirled me and pulled me back to his chest.

Heat bloomed on my cheeks at his compliment. “Thank you.” We swayed from side to side as I laid my head on his chest.

We settled into a comfortable silence and moved around the other couples on the dance floor.

“I saw you talking with Matt in the garden,” Xavier said, and his hands tightened around my waist, slowly creeping closer to my ass.

Chuckles escaped past my lips. I pulled back and stared at his handsome face. “Is that why you’ve been scowling?”

“No,” he growled.

“You left too. I woke up wanting to feel you again. I wanted to wake you up with my mouth on your sweet cunt. Then I would have fucked you over and over until you couldn’t take it anymore.”

He did nothing to hide his desire. He jerked his hips forward, letting me know how hard he was for me.

My heart thundered so hard that the rush of blood made me lightheaded. I tried to swallow the desire burning through my veins at his words, but it was too hard.

He smirked, promising every dirty thing. Heat seeped through my chest, down my belly, and sank into my center, where it throbbed.

I looked away. “I had to,” I whispered. When I looked up, he was still staring at me. “There were a few things I wanted to get off my chest. So I can move on.” I paused.

“Do you trust me, Xavier?” I asked, the same question I’d asked back then.

“I do,” he replied immediately.

“Then trust me and don’t ask what we talked about.”

His jaw ticked, but he nodded. There wasn’t any secret.

I’d just tried to convince Matt that he should move on, because he still believed Xavier would leave me again and he could have another chance too.

It didn’t matter if things worked out between us or not, but Matt always would be in my past. He deserved someone who loved him like I loved Xavier.

He deserved to be someone’s world like Xavier was mine. No matter how long we’d stayed apart, our feelings had never changed for each other.

Apart from that, he’d told me his reason for why he’d broken up with me.

Xavier twirled me around in a full circle before he pulled me close enough to feel his hot breath fan on my sensitive ear, which sent shivers between my legs.

I unconsciously squeezed my thighs as I felt butterflies in my lower abdomen.

He kissed my neck and groaned, then he looked up. Our eyes locked. Hunger flared in his, dilating his pupils. They turned darker shades of green.

“You ready to meet Mila?” Xavier said, getting serious.

Suddenly, my throat felt dry, and my heart beat fast enough to jump out of my chest anytime. “Do you think she’ll like me?”

“She’ll love you,” he said and kissed the top of my head.

“Does she know anything? I mean, anything about me? Who I am and how I’m related to her?”

He blew out a long stream of air. I took a breath to center myself, then looked in his eyes.

“I never told her, and Mila never mentioned if your family talks about you with her when she goes and visits them.” His jaw clenched when he brought up my family.

He noticed my reaction at the mention of them. “Do you miss them?” he asked as he twirled me around and guided me back into his arms.

I shrugged and leaned my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. “I think I need a little liquid courage. I’m nervous.”

A deep, guttural chuckle rumbled from his throat as his thumb gently traced circles on my bare back. He tilted my chin up and kissed me fully on the mouth.

It was a passionate, crushing kiss that made me dizzy. His hand dug into my hair, and he tipped my head, pushing his tongue against my lips. I opened them and groaned.

The taste of him mixed with the sweet and spicy tang of alcohol filled my mouth.

When he pulled back, his eyes shone with satisfaction. I could feel numerous eyes on us, and they didn’t matter to me.

I didn’t care what other people thought, because I didn’t know them, and they didn’t know us.

“I love you, and I trust you,” he said. Warm goo filled my chest as he leaned and kissed my temple.

The song ended, and I made a beeline to the bar but stopped short when I heard my name being called.

“Aunt Melody!”

“Aunt Melody!”

I turned and saw a small figure running toward me.

My eyes widened as Mila stopped in front of me and smiled. “You’re Aunt Melody! I told Nana I saw you!”

She wrapped her tiny arms around my waist. She wore a baby-pink floor-length dress, and her hair was down.

I stayed frozen, not knowing what to do. I looked around and found Xavier, equally shocked.

“Mila?” Xavier called her.

Mila twisted her head in Xavier’s direction. Her arms were still around my waist, clutching me tightly. “Daddy! I told Nana I saw Aunt Melody! See, I found her!”

She looked up and smiled at me innocently. My heart squeezed painfully in my chest as Owen’s eyes flashed in front of me.

I closed my eyes to regain my composure and glanced at Mila. She was still looking at me with a smile on her face.

How could I not return that innocent smile? I smiled back.

“Uncle Jake showed me pictures of you,” she announced.

Once, I’d thought I would hate her, knowing she was Lisa’s daughter, but how could I hate her? She was also the daughter of the man I loved. I might hate Lisa now, but Mila was innocent.

She was a product of two people, one I used to love, and one I still loved. At this moment, I could only see myself showering her with motherly love as I had for Owen.

Maybe I could give her some of the love she deserved. I was lucky enough that Mom and Dad had adopted me after my real parents died. I didn’t know what I would have done without them.

Owen wasn’t with me, and Mila needed a mother. I gazed at her once again, and she smiled. Everything in me softened, and getting on my knees, I pulled her into my chest.

I had to take a deep breath and beg myself not to shed a tear. I didn’t miss the look of awe coming from Xavier.

“Nana!” Mila shrieked in my ear. I pulled back and stood.

Xavier’s mom stopped and looked between us. “Mama, this is Melody,” Xavier introduced.

I smiled and stretched out my arm. “Hello, Mrs. Clark,” I greeted politely. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

She smiled. “Call me Grace.” She studied me, her eyes pausing on the ink on my thighs that were peeking from the slit of my dress.

She looked at Xavier. “My son never told me how you two met.” Then her eyes turned to Mila, who was still standing close to me. “I didn’t know Mila was already close to you.”

I didn’t know what to say. Xavier waited for me in case I wanted to answer his mother, but before I could speak, Mila beat me to it and spoke first.

“Uncle Jake showed me photos and videos of Aunt Melody.” She grinned from ear to ear.

Grace’s eyes widened. “You’re Lisa’s sister,” she practically snapped.

I flinched.

“Mama, let’s talk somewhere private,” Xavier insisted.

“There is nothing to talk about, Xavier! I don’t want someone like Lisa near my granddaughter, and I forbid you to have any kind of relationship with her,” Xavier’s mother hissed, looking at me with hatred.

The word hit me like a blow to the chest. She grabbed Mila’s hand and pulled her away from me.

Tears pricked the back of my eyes, and my jaw ached from gritting my teeth together. I wanted to scream and tell her I was nothing like Lisa. We were entirely opposites.

I couldn’t speak, but Xavier did.

“Mama, she is nothing like her,” he whispered, trying not to attract extra attention.

That lump in my throat resurfaced, and tears threatened my eyes. I blinked, holding them in. “Excuse me,” I said, looking one last time at Mila, whose eyes were on only me.

Before I could turn, Xavier grabbed my hand and interlocked his fingers with mine. “You are not going anywhere,” he said, glaring at me and turning to his mother.

“I love her, and I’m going to marry her,” he announced.

Grace’s eyes widened. “You can’t marry her!” she whisper-hissed.

“Xavier, let’s not make a scene today, please,” I whispered. “It’s their wedding reception. I don’t want to ruin it,” I pleaded.

“I’m sorry,” he said, kissing my temple and glaring at his mother. “Let’s talk about it in private.”

“Wait for me.” He squeezed my hand, and his eyes hardened, warning me, ~Don’t you dare leave me~.

I nodded and stepped back silently to leave before the situation got out of control. Sometimes it was hard for Xavier to control his temper. I knew that now.

The more his mother spoke, the more his temper would rise.

I turned and collided with hard muscles.

I wiped my eyes. Dan was looking at me and then behind me. “Everything okay here?” he asked, loud enough for them to hear.

I nodded, forcing the smile back on my face. “Yes, everything is fine.” He stared at me for a beat, then shook his head. Before he could ask anything, I grabbed his hands and led him to the bar.

I could see him staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I should have known this was going to happen. My heart squeezed for the first time for a tiny creature. Mila.

So much love in her eyes, not even a hint of Lisa in her except the shape of her nose and her skin tone.

We sat and drank for a while, and soon everyone joined us, Mia, Jacob, Rick, Sandy, Matt, and his date. Charlotte and Mia were having some kind of silent fight, glaring at each other.

I glanced at Mia and raised my brows. She shook her head and smiled.

“When are you moving? I can send some help for packing,” Dan said. “Or you can wait until I return.”

“Moving?” Matt looked at me questioningly.

“I’m moving to L.A.” I shrugged and slowly sipped my beer.

“When?” His face fell.

“Next month.”

“Oh my God, we’ll celebrate Christmas together.” Mia grinned.

“Umm, Melody?” Dan said. I looked up and raised my brows.

“I think Mila is crying or about to cry,” Dan said, and everyone’s head turned in her direction.

She was still standing in the same place, staring at me. I glanced at Dan and back at Mila. Dan nodded.

I stood and headed to Mila. As soon as I reached her, she started crying, clinging to my legs.” Daddy is angry. He’ll yell again,” she whimpered.

“No, Mila. They’re talking,” I said kneeling in front of her, and adjusting my dress.

Mila shook her head. “Daddy shouts when he’s angry. Mommy and Daddy fight every day,” she whispered, looking at me.

“Oh, baby,” I wrapped my arms around her. How could they fight in front of the kid? Their own kid.

I pulled back and stood. “Let’s find your daddy, okay?”

Mila nodded and clasped my hand in hers. Weird feelings settled in the pit of my stomach as I glanced at our joined hands, and Owen’s face appeared in the back of my mind.

A few tears managed to break free, but I quickly swept them away.

I shook my head and gave her a forced smile. I had no idea where they’d gone. What if they really were arguing? I didn’t want her to see that; she was already scared.

I glanced at the bar, and all eyes were trained on me.

I motioned to Mia and Sandy, and they approached. Mia bent a little. “Who is this beautiful princess?” Mia said softly.

Mila beamed. “Mila.”

“Oh wow, what a beautiful name,” Sandy said.

“Mila, they’re my friends,” I motioned to Mia and Sandy and introduced her. “Will you stay with them? I’ll go and look for your daddy,” I said.

She shook her head, wrapping her arms around my waist.

“Oh! See what I have?” Sandy pulled out candies from her handbag.

I looked at her, and she shrugged. “Cravings.”

Mila agreed to stay with them, and I entered the lobby and headed to Xavier’s room.

I lifted my hand up to knock but paused, hearing a loud voice coming from his room. I didn’t want to snoop, but they were talking too loudly. Xavier and his mother were arguing.

“You don’t fucking know her!” Xavier growled. “And Mila is my daughter. I know what’s best for her!”

“You are only thinking about yourself and about your dick! She’s young, immature—”

“She’s more mature than you and me,” Xavier growled.

“If I believe you, then what about when she has her own child? Will she love Mila as she would love her own blood, her own flesh?”

“She will.” I could hear the confidence in his voice.

“No. She will not, because Mila will always be her stepdaughter. She will always care about her own kid, and I don’t want Mila to go through that.”

“I’m her father, and I know she needs a mother like Melody. Mila will be lucky to have her.” I could hear tiredness in his voice.

“If you want to be with her, I won’t stop you, but give me custody of Mila and have as many kids as you want with her.”

“Love, let’s talk like an adult,” another male said. Maybe it was Xavier’s dad.

“And this is not the way to be with your mother. She wants what’s good for your daughter,” Xavier’s dad said.

“I know what it’s like to live with a stepmother. I don’t want the same for Mila,” Grace said.

“Just because your stepmother wasn’t good, that doesn’t mean Melody will be like her.”

“She wasn’t always bad, but once she had her own child, she started neglecting me. I know that pain. I’m just trying to save Mila from all this,” Grace snapped at Xavier.

“How many times do you want me to repeat it? She won’t do anything like that with Mila. I know her, and I also know she will love Mila as her own, even after we have kids of our own!”

Swallowing, I knocked on the door. Xavier answered and looked shocked at seeing me. “How much did you hear?” he asked. Grace glared at me and came forward.

“Let her come in, Xavier,” Grace said.

I stepped inside and glanced nervously around the room. Carter and Asher were already in the room. A heavy silence filled the room as I stood there. The tension expanded like a bubble around the room.

“Sit,” Grace said, motioning for me to sit on the couch. I had to take a deep breath and put the reins on my nerves as I lowered myself and crossed my legs.

“You love my son?” Grace asked, narrowing her eyes. Xavier’s eyes were on me.

I took a deep breath and nodded. “I do,” I said with confidence.

“You are in love with a man who has a daughter with your sister,” she accused. Her eyes were sharp as a knife.

“Mama!” Xavier warned.

I shook my head at Xavier and straightened up. “I fell in love with him when he wasn’t anyone’s father.”

“But now he is.”

“And we still love each other,” I replied without missing a beat. I fought my smile when I saw Xavier grinning like a fool.

“And what about Mila? It’s not easy to be parents.”

“I know it’s not easy, but I’m good with kids. I used to do babysitting in high school. I can assure you I’ll take good care of Mila,” I said, and I knew I could.

Xavier had fought for me with his parents, and it was my turn.

“There is a difference between babysitting and raising your own baby!” Grace snapped and stood, hovering above me.

“You don’t know what it’s like to nourish and take care of a baby when he or she is growing inside your body.

“You don’t know the pain a mother goes through to bring the baby into this world. You don’t know how many sleepless nights—”

Tears burned the backs of my eyes again. “Actually, I know,” I interrupted, and a silent tear slipped from my eye.

She staggered back, looking at me with wide eyes. I stood, and Xavier was instantly by my side.

He wrapped his arm around me. “You don’t have to say anything. She’s my daughter, and I know what’s good for her, and I know you will be a good mom to her.”

“Thank you for trusting me,” I whispered and glanced at Grace, who was still staring between us.

“I know what it’s like to feel the new life growing inside, from morning sickness to craving. From swollen feet to tender breasts. From mood swings to backache. Wanting to pee every half an hour.”

My voice broke. I inhaled slowly through my nose and out through my trembling lips.

“I know the feeling of joy when you feel the baby kicking for the first time.

“I know when your heartbeat starts matching with the baby after hearing the baby’s heartbeat for the first time, and most of all, I know the pain a mother goes through to bring her baby into the world.”

The lump in my throat got stronger every second. “And yes, you’re right about one thing. I don’t know how to raise a baby, because I never got a chance, and that baby was your grandson.”

My voice was as cracked as my heart on the last word.

Unable anymore to hold back the sob that lodged in my throat, I burst into tears, burying my face in Xavier’s chest. My whole body shook with each cry that racked through me. He kept rubbing my back.

I pulled away and looked at Xavier. I saw the pain there in his eyes, the anguish and the love.

My heart broke right there. His eyes were so open and raw. “I’m sorry,” Xavier choked out, his eyes glassy.

I took a deep, cleansing breath, trying to expand the tightness restricting my lungs.

“I want to be alone. Please,” I requested and left, walking straight back to my room, but not before telling him Mila was with Sandy and Mia.

I locked my door and fell on the bed, burying my face in the pillow. I cried for a long time.

“Mel?” Dan roared. “Mel, open the fucking door, or do I need to beat the ass of that fucker?” he growled, pounding harder.

I wiped my eyes and reached for the door. One look at him, and I felt like I would break down any second. His eyes softened, and he stepped inside and opened his arms for me.

“Oh, baby.”

That was all it took. With those two words, I came undone. I threw myself at him and buried my face in his chest. “I’m sorry. I always ruin your special day,” I sobbed.

“No. You didn’t ruin anything. It’s him, and this time, I’m going to snap his neck,” he growled.

“No!” I pulled back. “He didn’t do anything.” I said and told him what had happened in Xavier’s room.

There was another knock on the open door. We both looked at the same time. Xavier’s mom was standing at the door.

“I’m sorry for everything,” she said, coming farther into the room, and Xavier’s dad came into view. A lump formed in my throat, and I forced it back down.

Dan wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to him, and glared at his mother-in-law. “I’m ashamed of my behavior,” she sighed. “Can we sit and talk?”

I nodded. They sat on the long couch, and Dan and I took a seat on a chair. “I didn’t know anything about our grandson. We’re sorry.” Grace looked down.

“I didn’t have a good experience with my stepmother, and I don’t want the same for Mila.” That lump rose again at the sadness in her voice.

She told us about her childhood and her stepmother.

She stood and stepped toward me. I also stood, and she took me by surprise, wrapping her arms around me and pulling me into a hug.

“I hope you will prove me wrong. Love Mila like she’s your own daughter,” she whispered and stepped back, still holding my eyes.

“Xavier filled us in on what happened. Don’t punish Mila for what Lisa did. She is an innocent and pure soul in all this.”

Xavier’s father stepped forward. “Take care of our son and our granddaughter.” He placed a kiss on my temple and wrapped his arms around me.

“You have our blessings.” The lump in my throat prevented me from responding, so I nodded instead.

A pinch in my chest still lingered as they left. Did that mean we could finally have our happily ever after? Or was something else waiting to tear us apart again?