Chapter 81

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“Where are we exactly?” Marissa asked Rafael rolling down the window. She hadn’t seen this part of Kanderton city.

She was still not understanding. After leaving behind so many high–end restaurants, Rafael brought her here to this alien place. where most of the people looked like the working class.

“You tell me,” He kept his eyes ahead on the road, “You have been living in Kanderton for quite some time and I’m the one who is a newcomer,” throwing a smile on her way, he slowed the car.

It looked like a small town and the lane they were in, was getting narrower.

Suddenly a long row of cottages came into view that seemed small

but neat.

Rafael stopped the car in front of the first cottage and killed the

engine.

Without offering any explanation, he got out of the car and came to her side to open the door.

“Rafael?”

“Come out, strawberry. Trust me!” he offered her, his hand and she held it with a little hesitancy and got out.

“Does anyone live here?” she asked him when he went inside, holding her hand, “whose place is this?”

Inside the cottage, she seemed a little taken aback.

It was not only furnished but had modern furniture. The décor was

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minimal and cozy.

A woman wearing a grey uniform welcomed them, “Good morning, sir? Y–your luggage?”

“Luggage?” Marissa shot her a panicked look, “We are not here on vacation. We just want to have breakfast. Right, Rafael?”

She asked him and then turned around to confirm it.

His face was telling another story. He seemed uneasy.

“Rafael. I’m asking something,” she walked over to him and touched his arm lightly. The woman who was apparently uncomfortable due to the presence of the couple, tried to maintain a welcoming smile. on her face. The poor thing was feeling odd in their presence.

“Please call me if you need anything,” with that she left them in the room that looked like a living room.

“W–what’s going on…. I think there was some misunderstanding….. I thought you were going to buy me breakfast.”

Rafael ran a hand through his hair, and then gently held her hand, “That too… but I just wanted to spend time with you… some alone time…” he squeezed her hand.

“Alone time? Rafael, do I need to remind you that we are parents of small kids?” If last night was good, then the morning felt better due to his presence.

But maybe she gave him the wrong signals. She liked his touch, but

she knew that someone else deserved those touches.

“Can you please sit down?” he reached for her shoulders, but she

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shrugged off his hands.

“No. Talk to me. Tell me, Rafael,” She said through gritted teeth, “What’s going on?”

“Ok. Fine! Here is the deal,” He snapped, “I booked this place for us. I wanted to spend some time with you. But Marissa didn’t seem to be in her senses anymore, it looked like she had turned deaf.

“Spend time with me? Without kids?”

“Listen, honey. Having kids doesn’t mean, we can’t have our alone. time. The kids are back home, all safe and in good hands. I already talked to Sophia last night. Thankfully she was awake and agreed to help me in taking care of the children.”

“Without asking me? Their mom?” there was hurt in her eyes, “what do you think of me? A kid. An elder sibling of those kids? Their nanny?”

She was trying her best not to cry.

“Marissa! Listen, honey. I thought you were liking it… with me… like… God! This is harder than I anticipated,” he threw a punch on the nearby wall.

“This… it was supposed to be a surprise, Marissa… Last night, when I touched you, I thought…”

“When you touched me then what, Rafael? Let me make one thing clear, Rafael Sinclair. Those kisses. The last night’s sleepover. It was all due to the kids‘ sake,” she gulped down her saliva and almost. choked, “There… is nothing between us, Rafael. Nothing!”

In her emotional state, she didn’t even notice his stoic face.

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His expression had hardened. His eyes were flashing with a mix of rage and annoyance.

“Is…

is that the only reason? Really?” his voice turned low, “Are you

sure?”

She was taken aback by the intensity in his voice. Just a few moments back he was all cheerful, trying to tease her. And this

Rafael?

This one was the same one who trusted Valerie and asked her to

leave..

“Y…yes. Kids… are the only reason,” she stuttered badly. No matter how much she worked on her personality, but this man was

capable enough to make her stutter.

Rafael stepped closer, his green eyes piercing her soul, “I doubt that!” he muttered icily but then went still when saw tears. streaming down her face.

“You… after all these years… you think that… you can just walk back into my life and pretend that nothing happened?”

She wiped her face a little brutally with the back of her hand, “I … I gave you the chance because of kids. Because Alexander needs a father. Ariel was desperate for a dad because all her friends had dads… Abi… Abigail, she needs you… she is not well she needs you…” She hid her face and sobbed brokenly, “My kids need you. Abigail needs a good doctor…” he heard her muffled cries and it did something with his heartstrings.

Rafael wanted to touch her. To hold her.

He wanted to tell her that he didn’t come back just for the kids. He

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was there for her too.

But how to tell this when he was the one who pushed her through all this pain?

The moment he would tell her about his feelings, she would shove him away from her and their kids‘ lives.

She suffered a lot and now he didn’t want her to get hurt because

of him.

“Marissa! Strawberry!”

“Don’t call me that!” she hissed moving away her hands for a moment, “don’t ever call me Strawberry. I’m NOT your straw… Oh, God!” she again started crying, and standing there Rafael realized one thing.

He could see her in rage and could endure her slaps or kicks or hits or even her punches. And insults too!

But not her tears!

Oh, Lord! She is becoming my weakness.