Sunlight streamed into Victoria's bedroom. She let out a soft sigh before waking up. Her eyes were greeted by the naked torso of her sleeping husband. He looked peaceful as a soft snore resounded from him. She took in his features. He still had a great body except a little pot belly had developed. She glared at his white goatee. She hated that on him.
"Just say the word if you want to go another around", he said with a groggy voice in his sleepy state.
"Taking me against my will again?" She grumbled as she pulled the sheets tight against her naked body.
He chuckled as he pulled her in his arms. "Is it still against your will when you keep asking for more?"
Victoria felt her face grow hot but she pushed him away and got out of bed, pulling the sheets with her. Henry chuckled when he heard the sound of the bathroom door locking after her. He relaxed back in bed, staring at the ceiling as he reminisced the previous night's hot memories. He really missed this wife of his.
About half an hour later, Henry and Victoria were in the kitchen with Henry making breakfast while Victoria watched him. They had both freshened up, separately, Victoria had made sure of it.
Bam! They whipped their heads towards the sound of a door being slammed closed. Soon, approaching footsteps echoed and they were graced by their youngest son's presence. Xavier scoffed when he saw this scene as she stood by the entrance with his hands stuffed into his trouser pockets.
"Why aren't you at work?" Victoria frowned.
"Would I be after the stunt you pulled?" He questioned, silencing her. He looked between the two, "So that's it? You're just going to pretend like those years of torment never happened and suddenly resume being married?"
"Xavier", Henry warnes from where he stood.
"Your father and I will work out our issues-"
"Really? Really?" He let our a humorless chuckle and shook his head.
What was happening to the females in his life? One dumped him because of his past and the other completely disregarded all his care and effort to make her happy despite the mess that was her marriage. It's like all those times he had made himself his mother's supporting pillar were in vain after seeing this. Victoria could see this and she walked towards as guilt overwhelmed her.
"Xavier", she touch his arm.
"Don't touch me", he growled as he shrugged her off.
"Don't talk to your mother like that", Henry snapped in displeasure when he saw how hurt Victoria was.
"You don't get to-"
"Stop it! Both of you!" She snapped and looked between the father and son. "It's because you two are like this that I did what I did. For once, I wanted you to feel how frustrating it is to be caught in between your drama", she said in a tired voice. For something that has been going on for years, this hatred Xavier had against his father exhausted her. And she was tired of Henry doing nothing about it.
"He's your father, listen to him!"
"He's not ready", Henry protested.
"He is. I'm his mother, this much I know. Talk to him! If not, I'll have one less son and no husband."
With that said, she left the house and slammed the door on her way out. Silence enveleoped the atmosphere. Xavier refused to look at Henry. He was curious about what they had just said now but he didn't want to talk to Henry.
The latter stood there awkwardly. He was okay with Xavier hating him, as long as it kept his mind off that thing. But maybe he had dragged the matter for far too long.
"Xavier..."
"I'm not going to listen to your excuses for cheating on mom", he cut him in.
"You'll only hear facts", Henry promised. "And I never cheated on your mom."
His response was a scoff. Seeing that Xavier had no plans to leave because of his curiosity, he used that chance to turn his scowl into a look of disbelief when he recounted the truth of the matter.
"You're lying", Xavier denied after hearing the story.
"Give me a minute", Henry excused himself.
Xavier shook his head. He refused to believe that was the truth. His dad, an FBI agent? And that woman, was his partner before she was sent away? Does that mean he had been hating an innocent man all this while? That he had ruined his chance of having a good relationship with his Dad? That Henry tolerated it all despite knowing he was Innocent? It can't be true. He's making things up.
Henry returned with a tablet in his hand. He tapped on it a few times before showing it to Xavier. He had opened a document for him to see.
"This is a copy of my FD-291. Besides that, you're probably aware of Amy's hidden identity. I know who she really is and we're working together", he explained.
"That project", he said in realization as he looked at the document he was not even supposed to see.
"Yes. The people after Amy are the same ones I've been after. It's why I went to Italy five years ago after they made a second appearance."
"There was a first?" Xavier looked up in shock. "Does Amy know this?"
"Of course she knows. That happened years ago. I know it's not the same leader but we'll soon find out their connection with the first. Anyway, that's the truth. I never cheated on your mother and this is my real identity."
Xavier fell quiet, digesting everything he had just heard. If the FD-291 document wasn't proof enough, then mentioning Amy's case was it. Victoria didn't knowz so there was no reason for Henry to know unless he was involved. Xavier couldn't refute this.
It was now he realized that he had grown more calm than how he was earlier. Somewhere along the lines, his anger had dissipated. But one thing bothered him.
"Why didn't you tell me? I understand about the confidentiality of your work but why would you willingly take my hatred? You could have still tried to sit me down and make me realize the truth", he said, bothered by this fact.
"I wanted to tell you, Zach was going to help. But Irene happened", Henry reminded with evident bitterness and sadness.
Xavier felt his heart tighten at the mention of that name. All those terrible memories quickly flooded in with just that one word. He clenched the fist of hand that was not holding the tablet as his expression grew hard and dark. That name, he never wanted to hear it again. Henry sighed when he saw this and it broke his heart.
"I didn't want you to die, son."
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fre𝒆webnove(l).𝐜𝐨𝗺