CHAPTER 76
Celine’s POV
After Bryan’s mother left my room, I sat still thinking over what she told me. She was super excited to see Jason and she took pictures of his sleeping face so she could send them to her husband.
I still can’t believe her suggestions. How can I seduce her son as revenge for all he has done to me? Won’t he hate me more for that?
During the months of my marriage to Bryan, I never saw him with a woman, he never spent a day out without coming home and that shows that he wasn’t interested in any woman, including me. Keeping me at home was just for righteousness.
That only made me admire him and when he showed me more dislike after the sex, I came to a conclusion that Bryan must have come vowed to remain celibate.
That was why he hated me. That was the genuine reason for his actions.
If that was the case, then how can I take my revenge on him when he isn’t even attracted to me? This would have been sweet revenge if only he is attracted to me the way I am to him but I know Bryan. He doesn’t like me. Every goodness he does toward me is because I am his child’s mother.
I sigh loudly, propping my hand on my jaw. Suddenly, my stomach rumbles, and I realize I haven’t had dinner.
I was supposed to have dinner before Bryan came back from home but I was bent on feeding the sleeping Jason before finally laying him on the bed. I was about to start eating when Camilla came to inform me that Bryan needed my attention and that of Jason who was fast asleep already.
Bryan might think I wasn’t serious about Jason already asleep so I decided to take him with me. If only I hadn’t gone out with Jason, his mother wouldn’t have seen him.
I shoot to my feet and walk to the middle table to grab the tray. Immediately I dig into the food, my phone rings, and I stretch my hand to take a hold of it from the table again.
Paxton’s name flashes across the screen and I push the food away, picking up the call in a hurry.
“Paxton?”
“Celine”, he calls weakly.
“How are you? I have been calling you all morning, I was worried and someone picked the call and it wasn’t you. Are you fine?” Worry is evident on my face.
“I’m fine”, he replies after a moment of silence. Then I remember the questions I intended to ask him earlier and a cold shiver runs down my spine in fear of what his reply would be.
Should I ask him? Will he be honest with me?
I remember Paxton said he loved me and I haven’t given it any thought before probably because I am not sexually attracted to him. Now I am beginning to think of it and I think he is serious.
How can a man be so selfless if he doesn’t love me? If he loves me, he would tell me the truth, won’t he?
“You don’t need to worry about me, I am fine, ok?” He assures me and I imagine him smiling at me.Belonging to NôvelDrama.Org.
“Ok.”
“Where are you?” He asks me.
Reluctantly, I answer. “I’m still at Bryan’s place. I was home but he threatened to kill you if I didn’t come back. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry, Paxton”, I begin to sob. “Did he hurt you? Were you hurt badly? Where are you so I can come?..”
“I’m fine, Celine. You have nothing to worry about. How is Jason?”
“He is fine, too. He’s sleeping.”
“Don’t cry, I’m fine.”
“Ok”, I wipe my tears, waiting for him to say more as I continue debating within me on what to say next to him and whether to ask the question that has been bothering me since morning.
“Are you sure you are fine?” I ask when I am not hearing any word from him again.
“Yes, I am. I’m looking for another means to get you two out…”
“No, Paxton”, I say quickly. “Don’t worry about that. Jason and I will be fine. I don’t want to endanger you or anyone else. This was why I stopped you from coming here right from the start.”
“I know”, he says. “but…”
“No buts. I know you must be seriously injured. Don’t worry about us, we will be fine.”
“Alright”, he agrees sadly. “Alright then.”
Silence falls again and then I expel a sigh, and summon up enough courage before asking. “Paxton, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, sure. Do you need something?”
My heart begins to beat loudly in fear of the truth, fear of how he would take it, fear of what I would hear from him, fear of how bad I would feel if this is true.
I need to know. I need to know who I call my friend. I need to be sure having him as a friend isn’t one of the greatest mistakes I will make.
If this is true, then I will be extremely mad and disappointed. I will rather be with Bryan and expect him to protect me than to be with Paxton whom I know nothing about.
Bryan is a devil but I have known him for years. Paxton is like an angel but I barely know him. A devil I have known for years is better than an angel I just got to know.
“Celine, are you there?” He jerks me out of my reverie. I perk up, breathing heavily and thinking of changing the topic and not asking him again.
“Celine?”
“Yes, yes!” I chant. “I’m here.”
“You were silent. What do you want to ask me? I’m all ears.”
He must be thinking I need financial help. I have never asked him for such help before but from the urgency in his tone, he must be thinking that it is financial help I need from him and he is willing to render it.
“Paxton, I want you to be completely honest with me, will you?” I ask calmly and silence creeps in. I take the phone off my ears to see if the call is still ongoing since I am not hearing any sound. The call is ongoing, he is just silent.
Has he figured it out? Is he suspecting that I must have known the truth?
“Are you there?” I ask.
“Yes, go on”, he replies indifferently.
I nod my head as if he can see me, and then I swallow the lump stuck in my throat. “Are you Derick Dominguez?”
Silence falls heavily. He isn’t answering and my heart is beating faster than usual in anticipation of his reply.
I want nothing but honesty. No matter how bad or how piercing the truth will hurt.
I wish I could tell him that.
“Are you Derick, Paxton? If you are indeed Paxton as you claimed, then what is your last name? Are you related to Derick Dominguez? What do you do for a living? Where are you from? What…”
The clicking sound of the phone cut me short and I take the phone off my ears to see that Paxton or Derick or whoever he is has just hang up the call on me.