Chapter 61: Who’s at the door
Maria didn’t hesitate for even a second.
The plate she had been arranging was immediately forgotten as she hurried across the room and threw her arms around Denzel in a warm embrace.
She held him tightly, pressing herself against him as though she hadn’t seen him in weeks rather than a single day.
Denzel smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close.
Over her shoulder, however, his eyes drifted toward Sophia.
The moment she noticed his gaze, Sophia quickly looked away, pretending to focus on something else entirely.
Denzel couldn’t help but find it amusing.
Maria finally pulled back just enough to look up at him.
A bright smile spread across her face.
"I missed you."
Denzel returned the smile.
"I missed you too."
Then his grin widened.
"And guess what? I went to work today and made quite some bank."
Maria’s eyes immediately lit up.
"You made bank? You mean you brought back more money?"
"Oh my God, Denzel!"
She practically bounced with excitement.
"Our guardian angel."
Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed his hand.
"Come on. Tell us everything."
Holding onto him, she eagerly led him toward the dining table.
Denzel allowed himself to be dragged along, shaking his head with amusement.
’She’s always this excited.’
The three of them soon settled around the table.
As always, dinner had been prepared by Maria.
It was one of the many things Denzel appreciated about her.
Not just the food itself, but the effort she put into making the house feel like a home.
The meal passed pleasantly.
They ate together, shared stories, and laughed at one another’s jokes.
The warm atmosphere filled every corner of the house.
For a while, everything felt normal.
Everything except Sophia.
Even amidst the laughter and conversation, she remained careful.
She answered questions when spoken to and participated in discussions, but she continued avoiding any prolonged interaction with Denzel.
Every time his attention drifted her way, she found something else to focus on.
As though she were deliberately keeping her distance.
Still, Denzel said nothing.
The evening continued.
Eventually, dinner came to an end, and the three of them began cleaning up.
Plates were gathered and carried into the kitchen while conversations carried on as usual.
"That’s so crazy, Mom."
Sophia laughed as she rinsed one of the dishes.
"I honestly don’t know how being a retail merchant always lets you run into so many weird people."
Maria laughed along with her.
"I ask myself the same thing sometimes."
Sophia shook her head with a smile.
"Maybe I’ll give it a try someday when I’m ready to get a job."
The two continued chatting as they worked.
Throughout the entire conversation, however, Sophia carefully avoided looking in Denzel’s direction.
Meanwhile, Denzel leaned against the counter and watched her from the corner of his eye.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
’Yeah, yeah.’
’Keep pretending.’
’Keep lying right to my face.’
His gaze lingered on her for a moment longer.
’Let’s see how long you can keep this up.’
But right then, Sophia spoke again.
"Ah, by the way, mum, I’m really exhausted today, and I forgot to tell you I had another rat problem in my room... So I got some rat fleet, or whatever they call it, to keep them out. I’m not supposed to be in my room for a few hours since it’s already late...Do you mind if I sleep in your room tonight?" she said.
Denzel heard this and his eyes widened immediately. In an instance, anger tore into him, rising by the passing moment as he tightened his grip.
’Sophia, what the fuck are you trying to do?’ His eyes flickered to Maria.
She had stopped, slightly surprised by Sophia’s request, then smacked her lips as she muttered.
"Umm...Of course dear, yeah, you can sleep with me tonight."
Denzel roared inwardly, completely infuriated by Sophia’s complaint.
’Hey! What? No, no, no, no, no. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go. I was supposed to have some alone time with Mum tonight. Sophia...The day I finally catch you in a bed, out outside, wherever it is, I promise I’m going to fuck the living senses out of you.’
Meanwhile, Maria noticed the slight look of annoyance on Denzel’s face as he set his plate down in the kitchen.
However, she didn’t think much of it.
Denzel simply waved toward the two women.
"Good night, then."
Inside, though, he was far less composed.
’Yeah... no need to stick around any longer.’
’No need to stay here when tonight is already ruined.’
He suppressed a sigh.
’Sophia really knows how to get in the way.’
The frustration lingered in his chest.
’I was already looking forward to fucking mum’s pussy this night’
He shook his head.
’Oh well.’
’I guess I’ll just have to make do until tomorrow.’
With that, Denzel turned away from the kitchen, leaving the two women behind.
Without another word, he headed back to his room.
***
A few hours had passed, and Denzel was still lying on his bed, completely unable to sleep.
The house had long fallen silent, but rest never came.
He stared at the ceiling, his thoughts restless and scattered.
’I guess I’m still a little annoyed about tonight.’
A slow breath escaped him.
’I just want this feeling to go away already.’
With a tired sigh, he shifted slightly on the bed, trying to find a more comfortable position.
Outside, moonlight filtered through the window, casting a faint silver glow across his room.
His eyes drifted toward it.
’Hmm maybe I should go for a walk. Or a light jog outside.’
’That might help clear my head and make me tired enough to sleep.’
He gave a small nod to himself.
’Because staying here like this clearly isn’t working.’
With that decision made, Ezra pushed himself up from the bed.
Just as he did
Knock! Knock! Knock!
A sound echoed from his door
He froze for a moment, head tilting slightly as he listened
Then it came again
Knock! Knock!
Slowly, Denzel turned his gaze toward the door.
’Someone’s knocking... at this hour?’
His eyes narrowed as he considered the situation.
’There are only three people in this house.’
’And it’s late. Very late.’
His expression sharpened.
’This could only mean one thing.’
A faint, calculated focus entered his gaze.
’Whoever is out there is probably seeking for my aid...and to be honest my cock needs a little aid too if I do say so myself...hehe.’
He rose slowly from the bed and stepped toward the door.
’Let’s see who it is.’
A small, cautious smile formed as his hand reached for the handle.
