Chapter 44 - The family

Rose's POV

When we arrived at his parents', they greeted us warmly. Troy's grandparents and his other close relatives were here too.

I felt relieved now; I was afraid of their reactions, but fortunately, they accepted Alec and me into their family happily. And probably, Troy's parents had informed the others who didn't know about our situation before our arrival because their attention was instantly focused on Alec as soon as we walked in, and Aspen hugged him calling Alec his grandson. And of course, Alec greeted him back, excited and called him grandpa. My son really liked his grandfather; he had been talking about him since we left the penthouse.

After having dinner together, Serena told me she wanted to talk to me privately and led us towards the garden.

I pursed my lips nervously while waiting for her to start the conversation. There were a lot of thoughts running in my mind about what she could tell me: she didn't want her son to be with me or accuse me of seducing his son and separating him with his fiancée.

I breathed deeply, trying to calm down, and looked at my son through the sliding doors. Meanwhile, he was talking to his father and grandfather and laughed happily.

I ruffled my hair as I turned my gaze from Alec to Serena and gave her a nervous smile as I caught her watching me.

"I guess you know what I want to talk about." She said, giving me a warm smile. I nodded, biting my lower lip nervously. "I had some suspicions that something was going on between you two. How you looked at each other when one of you looked away. When you were around Troy, it felt like I got my old Troy back. He looked happy like in the past...before London." She gave me a knowing look. I nibbled my lower lip without saying anything. She smiled, looking at me and added. "Troy told me about what happened between you. I am glad you found each other again. My son loves you so much, and he suffered a lot without you." She rested her hand on my arm and stroked it slightly.

"I didn't want to hurt him. I love him too, but when I saw the messages..." I confessed sadly and shook my head, sighing. "I understand I had to talk to him about it, but that time I couldn't think properly; it felt like my world collapsed after seeing those messages." I added as sadness crossed my features.

She gave me a sympathetic look. "It is in the past, dear. Now just focus on the future. And trust Troy. He would never hurt you." She said honestly.

I nodded, giving her a warm smile. Now I was sure that Troy really loved me, and he wouldn't betray me or hurt my feelings intentionally.

"I didn't tell you about it because he is my son. It is his character. He is always thoughtful, caring and compassionate. Believe me, if you dated Liam, I surely couldn't say the same thing." She chuckled, shaking her head.

I grinned at her comment; yes, I knew Liam's reputation. As well as half of the world.

"Come on! Let's go inside! And welcome to the family again." She gave me a friendly smile.

"Thank you so much." I nodded, smiling.

After spending some time in the mansion, Romeo asked us to go to the nightclub to celebrate our reunion.

"What do you think?" Troy asked, his arm wrapped around my shoulder.

"It is fine for me, but Alec?"

"He has already had plans with the old man for tomorrow morning; so he could stay here with his grandparents and cousin." Romeo said, looking at us hopefully.

"I don't want to give them trouble. Taking care of two children... I don't know." I commented uneasily.

I couldn't ask them to take care of my son on the same day we officially introduced him as their grandson. It could be impolite.

"No, they will be happy. Dad suggested taking Alec to the ranch to show him ponies. So all of them will be happy." Troy stated and gave me a dazzling smile.

"What would make us happy?" Serena asked as she approached us with Aspen who was holding Alec in his arms.

"Don't worry, not another grandchild yet." Romeo winked at Serena playfully. She smiled while Aspen scowled, giving Romeo a dirty look. "We want to celebrate their reunion at the nightclub. Could you take care of Alec and Amber tonight?" Romeo asked his mother-in-law.

"Of course. It would be a pleasure for us." Serena accepted happily. "Right, honey?" She turned her gaze to Aspen.

"Of course. And I wanted to show Alec ponies tomorrow. So it would be the best idea." Aspen nodded, smiling, and placed a soft kiss on Alec's cheek.

"Look! Your son-in-law has perfect ideas." Romeo commented arrogantly, looking at him. Aspen rolled his eyes, saying something under his breath.

"Yay!" My son exclaimed in excitement. "Grandpa, will you read me a story?" Alec asked, wrapping his arms around his grandfather's neck.

"Of course, kiddo." Aspen nodded, tapping on Alec's nose playfully. I smiled, looking at them.

"Then I am calling Charlotte. She wants to meet Rose too." Romeo said as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. "Rose, she is my sister. Sienna told her a lot about you." Romeo added while tapping something on his phone.

"Then I am calling Nathan. He hasn't met Rose either." Troy said and told me that Nathan was one of their best friends.

"Hell no!" Romeo refused. "I don't want to see him near my sister." He added, determined.

"Romeo, don't start again! They are grown people; leave them alone." Sienna intervened.

"But..."

"No buts! Troy, call Nathan." Sienna said firmly. "And you, call Charlotte." She added, looking at her husband.

Romeo sighed in annoyance and mumbled something under his breath before calling his sister.

After Romeo had ended the call, Troy informed us that Nathan couldn't join us because he had a meeting early the next morning. As soon as Romeo heard it, a wide grin appeared on his face, making Sienna roll her eyes.

When we arrived at the nightclub, Charlotte was already here, waiting for us. She had blue eyes and brown hair; she was so beautiful and attractive. On the other hand, she looked so familiar.

After Sienna had introduced us to each other, Charlotte hugged me, greeting me warmly. I hugged her back, smiling.

She was so friendly and cheerful. Then when Sienna told me Charlotte was a model; then I remembered seeing her at the Fashion Week last year.

Troy and Romeo went to grab us our drinks, leaving Charlotte, Sienna and me alone while Liam was dancing with some girl.

Charlotte checked her phone, frowning, and finished her drink in one sip.

"What happened?" Sienna asked, worried.

"Nothing." She mumbled, waving her hand in the air dismissively.

"Did your weekend getaway with your friend go bad?" Sienna asked mischievously, emphasizing the word friend.

"Don't talk about that asshole!" Charlotte exclaimed angrily. Suddenly, her phone rang. She grabbed it and declined the call, cursing under her breath.

"Oh, it seems serious." Sienna commented, giving her a knowing look. "You even called your bestie asshole? Should I get offended? Are you calling me like this behind my back too?" She asked in amusement.

"No, dear. You are a good person as well as a little naive considering you got married to my jerk brother." Charlotte winked at her playfully.

"Hey!" Romeo pouted as he approached us with our drinks and gave Sienna her drink.

Troy extended my drink towards me, placing his glass on the table, and wrapped his arm around my waist, giving me a questioning look. I shrugged my shoulders; actually, I was curious about what was going on too, but it seemed the person who they had been talking about was more than a friend.

"What? Men are insensitive, careless and foolish creatures." Charlotte commented angrily as she grabbed Romeo's drink and sipped it angrily.

"Hey, it is my whiskey!" Romeo pouted in annoyance.

"Get yourself another one!" Charlotte shrugged her shoulders and took a sip from the whiskey again.

Romeo scowled and asked Sienna what happened. She smirked wickedly.

"Oh sorry, Troy. Excluding Troy. You are slightly better than others." Charlotte added nonchalantly.

"Slightly?" Troy mocked, raising his eyebrow. "Thanks. I am flattered." He teased her, smirking.

"What happened, Lottie? Did that idiot do something bad to you?" Romeo asked angrily, clenching his fist.

Charlotte sighed, annoyed and replied. "Will you husband and wife let me forget that dumbass? I don't want to talk about him."

"If he did something..."

"I know if he does something bad, you will break his bones." Charlotte cut Romeo off, rolling her eyes. "But there is nothing I cannot handle with him on my own. So calm down. I just need to drink and curse at him till my jaw gets tired. Ok?" She added confidently and breathed deeply.

"Fine." Romeo mumbled and frowned, annoyed. "Let's dance, baby." He grabbed Sienna's hand and led them towards the dance floor.

"Would you like to dance with me?" Troy asked after placing a soft kiss on my hair. I nodded happily.

He held my hand and headed us towards the dance floor. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I smiled as I rested my hands on his shoulders and leaned my head against his chest, feeling so happy in his arms.