Chapter 382 - Three Hundred And Eighty-two: Karma Is Unfair
Reina's point of view:
"What are you doing?" Niklaus snuggled up to me on the bed while I busied myself with a video playing on my tablet.
After dealing with the Claire issue yesterday, we had a few more fun- if you understand what I mean- and I decided to get some rest today - I couldn't keep up with this crazy man's stamina. I mean, Niklaus could go on and on all night if I let him. For once I was grateful for the fact that I wasn't a superhuman with great regenerative skills else - I don't even want to imagine it.
"Watching a video as you can see?" I said, barely acknowledging his presence.
"What video?" He asked, burying his face in the crook of my neck when he could find out by watching it. I shivered from the tingles his warm breath was sending but didn't show it - I didn't want to give him the initiative to continue.
"The video Isabella sent to me," I said to him.
This time, Niklaus lifted his head at the mention of his daughter. He glanced at the video then arched his brows at me questioningly.
"Well, I decided to play a little matchmaker between Father and Nadia. Those old people are so in love with each other but they keep letting pride get in their way so I decided to give them a little push,"
"By using our children," He figured out.
I paused the video and propped my head, "I gave them a little work to keep them busy, you know, put their skills into a positive result,"
"And they agreed readily?" he highly doubted that.
"Well…" I pursed my lips, "I might have tricked them a little but not particularly on the matchmaking subject - I promised them a reward for that one"
Niklaus gave me the "Really?" look
"I had to keep them busy and make sure they don't burn the house down. I mean, come on, as if you don't know your children?" I reminded him.
Niklaus gave me a shrug of indifference, "Well, I hope you know what you're doing else you might have them to face when they're back,"
"Fine," I said and returned to my video but Niklaus was quick to bring my face back around to him, "What?" I asked, wondering if he needed something.
But then I should have known what Niklaus needed when he was looking at me like I was something to eat. My husband - I'm getting used to calling him down - leaned down to kiss me but I turned my face away at the last minute and it resulted in a peck on my cheek. I smirked at him victoriously.
But then I shouldn't have done that because Niklaus always had a plan B and he showed forth that flexibility by kissing from my cheeks to my neck, my breath hung in my throat.
"Niklaus," I breathed, trying to move away but all I did was give him more access to my neck and he did good work there.
"Stop," I said, firmer this time. A minute delay was a huge period for Niklaus to finish off his prey. So I sternly placed my hand on his chest saying, "I need to rest,"
He grinned at me, "I can lure you to sleep faster,"
"I need rest not sleep. In case you don't understand me clearly, I should make it clearer: Sleep is to rest in a state of reduced consciousness while rest is any relief from exertion; a state of quiet and relaxation. How does that sound? "
"Gibberish," He zeroed my enthusiasm.
"Seriously?"
"Fine, I get you," He finally conceded, "I'll just hold you closer like a teddy bear," Niklaus cuddled me tighter that I couldn't even turn around - was he even jealous of space itself or what.
"Whatever," I sighed and resumed my video watching. And at first, Niklaus had his eyes closed with a contented smile, but when he heard me giggle, his interest was piqued and in no time, joined me in watching.
Unable to keep down the curiosity anymore, Niklaus asked, "What happened?" seemingly lost on what was going on since he arrived late into the video,
"Nadia called my father a thief," I explained.
"Why?"
"Stil yet to explain the reason, just watch the video Niklaus," I told him and this time, he complied.
"Grandpa, are you a thief?" We watched Neon ask. That boy was so cute.
And yes, he was slower than the others in comprehending the situation - well, everyone had their learning space. The only reason the twins were this smart was because they inherited their father's intelligence and my quick wit - yeah baby, I need some acknowledgment too - plus the environment they grew up in - I made sure to give them the best of education.
"Of course not," my father denied, as usual, I don't even believe him.
"Really?" Nadia gave my father her signature arched brow that spoke of disbelief. Their quibbling was so cute, this should be interesting.
"Nadia, we shouldn't discuss this in front of the kids nor would our argument make a good essay for the competition,"
Oh now, he knew. But of course, Nadia was a tough, rigid woman and she refused right away.
"I would have agreed with that on other days, but today, the kids should know everything about us so they don't end up making the same mistake as I did,"
"The mistake you did?" Father scoffed, "You make it sound like it's my whole fault 'we' failed."
"And you said they're divorced?" Niklaus asked me. He too could sense the attraction between them. But then we continued with the video.
"No, I more than regret the first time that we met. If you haven't stolen from me, I wouldn't have gone over to your territory to collect and get entangled with you for the half of my life in the name of marriage!" Nadia gushed.
I scratched my scalp awkwardly, already having an idea where this story was heading to and the cause of it all.
"Fine, I might have cheated that day - I was in some kind of situation - but not stealing. Moreover, I gave you an assurance that the money would be made available to you but you never trusted my words. Perhaps, if you had sat your pretty ass down in your turf, you wouldn't have met me and got ensnared in a marriage you oh so detest! " there was mockery in father's voice.
The camera shook as Isabella adjusted it, probably to give us a better view. Of course, why wouldn't she want to capture this juicy moment? I better prepare a good reward for them when I return.
"I oh so detest?" Nadia picked on that. Great! My father has done it.
"I gave you my heart, body, and resources, and yet what did you do with it? Stepped on it like it was a piece of filth by cheating on me, huh? No, come on, deny it?"
At that moment, Niklaus's eyes and mine met as if we had something to say but knowing it would result in a debate that might escalate to an argument, we kept mum.
It was father's turn to explain himself.
"I'm not going to deny it. I admit that I have not been a good husband but you're not entirely faultless either. Did you ever work hard to fight for my heart? No! You were so filled with pride that you left me to my antics!"
And damn! He was right with that one. Nadia was one prideful woman, she would rather die with her ego intact than die with it scattered.
As expected, Nadia was speechless but father was not through, "And you know what's funny? Even though our marriage was nothing but an arrangement, I tried my best to be the husband you needed since I wasn't crazily in love with you, but what did you do? You pushed me away with work like you're doing right now?!"
"Fine let's leave the past. However, you haven't changed at all and you expect me to give you a second chance?" She glared at him with those fiery eyes, "In your dream, Valentino. I refuse to be used again!"
Father's brows furrowed together, confusion apparent in his gaze, "What are you talking about?! "
"Angela!" the woman shouted.
And here it goes.
Isabella must have sensed the thickened tension in the air also
because we heard her mutter,
"Oh boy. Things are about to get ugly,"
I gave Niklaus a long look as if to say, "Like father, like daughter"
And the man in question must have sensed it too because he told me, "Do you want to watch the video in peace or we should do something more useful?"
Uh no, I rest my case. So I quickly snatched my gaze back to the video just in time to hear,
"I saw her on your daughter's wedding day, remember?"
Oh yes, of course. How could I forget that day? Father was lucky enough I didn't chase him away from my wedding - the nerve.
"So tell me, Valentino," Nadia didn't let him speak, "Are you planning on getting back together with her especially now she's separated from her husband, huh? Is that it? After all, you're single now and so is she, there's nobody to stand in your path anymore,"
"Nadia -" Father tried to speak but she wouldn't let him.
"No, don't worry," She interrupted him, "I'm not a clingy ex and I wish you well in your pursuit of happiness -"
"She has cancer!" Father screamed it out this time.
I didn't know who shouted "What?!" Me or Nadia because it both came at the sound time.
"You heard me right, Angela has cancer. I only brought her to the wedding to see her daughter one last time since it was apparent Reina wouldn't bother to let her in - their feud runs that deep,"
"Oh my God," I gasped, sitting up at once while the rest of the video played on - not like I cared. At the moment, I didn't know how?I was feeling. Something was not right, what was going on? Did a bomb just land on my head?
"Reina," I could hear Niklaus' voice but it sounded so distant and there was a tightening feeling in my chest...
"Reina!" Nik came on a little too strong, cupping my face as he said, "You have to calm down, you're hyperventilating right now,"
Everything Niklaus said was gibberish to me. All I knew was that I felt stuffy inside and it was as if the air in the room had thinned so much I had to gasp to inhale one.
"Yes, that's it….." Niklaus guided me, "Long, deep, breath," I followed his instruction and in no time got back to normal.
"I heard something Niklaus," I glanced up at him questioningly as if searching for confirmation. It was almost like a dream to me.
"You heard it right, Reina. It seems your mother has cancer," Niklaus confirmed.
I jumped down from the bed at once, feeling molten anger in my veins, "No, no, no," I shook my head stubbornly, "She can't go like this! It's too easy! Karma is so unfair!"
"Reina," Niklaus embraced me as I broke down in anguished tears.
Why was I even crying?
This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢