Chapter 42: Meet
Nick
I entered the house quietly; I didn’t want to alert the girls who worked there. I wanted to be alone. I loosened my tie and sank heavily into the couch, resting my head on its back and closing my eyes. My mind conjures images of my children. Warmth filled my chest as a smile spread across my lips. I couldn’t imagine how Alana managed a year and six months looking at Noah, the little version of her father. My children are perfect, the most beautiful little beings I’ve ever seen.
I ruffled my hair. There’s a long road ahead for them and their mother. Alaia deserves to know the truth. After everything that happened, she had to go through her pregnancy alone without anyone by her side–I don’t mean her family; I mean me. I should have been by her side every second, taking care of them, watching my children grow in her womb, witnessing their birth, and sharing those moments with her. I scoffed, remembering that Cedric had taken my place and had managed to win her affection.
“Nick Garnett, damn it!” Barbara yelled. I opened my eyes to see her with a hand on her chest.
“What are you doing there in the dark? You look like a ghost.” She turned on the living room lights and sat on the couch opposite me.
“I just came from seeing your mother and Killian. For God’s sake, Nick, you could have killed the poor guy,” she said, and it amused me. It was just a couple of punches, nothing serious, but as always, Killian wanted to manipulate everyone around him. “It was very little compared to what he deserved. It was just a warning; it could have been worse,” I said, and her eyes widened in shock. “So, Alaia’s children, the ones Cedric claimed were his, turned out to be yours, she stated. I look at her. Words travel so fast, huh?
“They are, I nodded.
“Nico…
“I have no doubt, Barbara, I interrupted, and she nodded, grimacing.
“I’ll have to be a good wife and meet them,” she said without enthusiasm. I watched her with my head resting on the couch.
“You won’t see them. Alaia won’t allow it.”
“And you’re going to let that happen? Are you going to let me look like the worst wife? When
this becomes public, I’ll have to maintain my image, Nico. This could affect me too.”
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“This is over, Barbara. This farce is over,” I said and exhaled. She opened her mouth, surprised.
“I’ll buy a new house and move there.”
“It can’t end now, Nick. We can’t separate, and you know it,” she stood up and put her hands on
her hips.
“Not now, but the time will come when we have to make it official,” I said. “I’ll give you as much
time as you need.”
“Fine, if you’ve decided on that, you must ensure discretion. No one can know that you no longer live here or that you have children.” Her voice sounded reproachful.
My cold gaze went to her, I barely heard her.
“I won’t hide my children,” I responded quickly. “We knew our separation would happen at
some point.”
“Yes, but not because of her,” she said through gritted teeth. “Not because of the always
perfect Alaia.”
“She is perfect,” I affirmed. She looked at me angrily, grabbed her purse, and went to her room.
The next day…
I dialed Flynn’s number; I needed a house as soon as possible.
“Mr. Garnett,” he said as he answered the call.
“Flynn, I want a house in a specific location.” I gave him the details.
“I have two houses available in that location.”
“Prepare everything. I’ll take one of them today. No mistakes this time.”
“There won’t be any, sir. I’ll send you the exact location. I’ll see you there in an hour,” he said,
and I hung up.
“Sophie, I called, walking to the kitchen
“Sir,” she said as I found her coming out of it.
“I need you to accompany me.” She looked surprised; I’d never asked her for something like that. She started to take off her apron. “You’ll go in one of the SUVs.”
I gave the driver the instructions and headed to my car, seeing Sophie getting into the SUV.
I arrived at one of the houses, and Flynn was already waiting for me. Sophie didn’t take long to
arrive.
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Chapter 42: Meet
“Go ahead,” he said after shaking my hand.
We looked at both houses, and I finally consulted with Sophie about which one was more
suitable for my children.
She chose the safer one, and I bought it immediately. I said goodbye to them and sent Sophie
back home.
After that, I went to the office to wait for the time when I could see my children. I asked Kathe
to hire someone to furnish the house. I wanted this person to meet with me tomorrow and
start as soon as possible.
“How did everything go?” Will found me before I could enter my office.
“Well,” I said once inside the office. “Alaia, let me see them. It was… I don’t know how to
explain it,” I sighed and sat down.
“You look different.”
“I feel different,” I said, taking my phone to show Will the photo.
“They’re beautiful, brother.” He smiled, looking at the screen.
“I just bought a house 10 minutes from Alaia’s,” I informed him, and he looked puzzled.
“Sure, she’ll be very happy,” he said sarcastically.
“I won’t have to drive 45 minutes or an hour every day to see them,” I shrugged.
“I think you’re back; you look almost like the guy you were before all this happened,” Will said,
“and I’m glad, Nick. I’d like to stay, but recently, I have to stay in the technical building. By the
way, Asher hasn’t been attending the meetings lately; he sends someone else to his place,” he
said. I raised an eyebrow in his direction.
“It’s funny. He seems like a good guy, but I think he’s hiding something. He refuses to interact
with others,” he said. I think that attitude was due to my cousin, as I’ve noticed that Asher
interacts very well with everyone at Alaia’s house.
“See you later.” He left the office.
The gates of Alaia’s house opened as soon as the security guard allowed me to enter. I got out of the car and climbed the steps. The door opened, revealing the housekeeper.
“Good afternoon,” she greeted me and stepped aside to let me in.
“Good afternoon.” I nodded and looked around for my children.
“The lady and the children are in the yard. Go ahead,” she gestured with her hand.
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“Thank you,” I said and entered.
“Good afternoon,” I greeted Alaia and Loli. The children were running around and I could hear their laughter.
“Hello,” Alaia said seriously, while Loli greeted me kindly.
My children came towards us, and I quickly knelt to see their little faces.
“Hello,” I greeted them both.
“Hello,” Alana put her little hands behind her back.
“Hi, Ik,” I smiled, noting that Noah remembered my name. I couldn’t wait for the day that they
would call me Daddy.
“You can stay here and see what they do, get to know them,” Alaia said, entering the house,
and I had to breathe deeply, feeling her direct rejection. I sat on one of the couches and
watched my children.
“I want to know about them,” I said to Loli, who was sitting on another chair, watching them.
She inhaled and smiled.
“Noah is a curious, calm child. He loves video games, although he doesn’t know how to play
them yet.” She laughed softly, and I did the same. “He likes to spend time with his uncle
Aidan,” she pointed to the boy lying on a lounge chair with headphones and a video game in
his hands. He looked at me for a second and then returned his attention to the screen.
“He likes hamburgers. The chef prepares a healthy version of the meals and desserts for them; he loves to eat a lot. We don’t know how that little body holds so much food. He enjoys memory games. Both learn quickly; they’re very smart.”
I nodded, thinking about everything I’d missed.
“Alana is more restless and talks a bit more. She said what she wants. She loves Disney
movies and has made us watch them over and over. She’s very sweet, and we can already see
that her personality is a lot like Alaia’s.”
“She hates vegetables, likes chicken nuggets and strawberries, and will love any dessert that includes them. She likes to sing, dance, and expresses her excitement with little squeals.”
“Alexa, play,” Alana said, and the device started playing a song.
Alana sat in front of several figures and started building what looked like a house divided into
two parts, examining each shape one by one.
“Can I help?” I asked and her beautiful eyes looked at me, quickly shifting to Loli, who nodded.
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“Yes,” she replied. I haven’t heard a word that sounds more adorable. She moved aside. I observed the pieces that she was holding and saw that they were connected by color.
“Try this one,” I said, and she took it, frowning. She connected the pieces, and the house was complete. My daughter smiled, satisfied, and continued assembling the other pieces. I helped a little, though I saw that she didn’t need my help. She assembles most of the figures perfectly. I could only smile.
A week had passed since I started visiting my children. The house I bought was already furnished, though a few details were still missing. I took care of decorating the children’s room and other areas. I’ll move in next week.
We prepared to watch a movie. According to Alaia, Saturdays are movie days. The children have become more receptive to my presence. They call me lk, and it was a start.
“Mami.” Noah took Alaia’s hand as we walked to the home theater. “Come,” he said, and Alaia looked in my direction and then at our son. I thought she was going to refuse and leave as she does every time I come, but this time, she walked with him. We entered the room, and I sat in the chair next to the one Alana had chosen. Next to her was Noah, and Alaia was beside Noah. She looked uncomfortable, and it was obvious why.
Alana pointed to the movie she wanted to watch.
“This one,” she said and sat on the chair.
The movie started and soon I read the title, Cinderella.
Alana watched attentively, while Noah sat on Alaia’s lap, looking like he was about to fall asleep. Alaia looked at me for a second and quickly returned her gaze to the screen.
She was making things difficult for me.
I focused on the movie but got distracted by Alana’s expressions and excitement. I melted
completely for her.
The movie ended. Noah had woken up after sleeping through most of it, and it was time for
me to leave.
We walked to the living room, and I kneeled in front of my children to say goodbye, something
I didn’t want to do. Being with them has become my favorite moment.
“I’ll see you soon,” I told them.
“Okay,” said Noah, and Alana waved her little hand to say goodbye. But then their attention.
was caught by something else.
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“Cedi!” my children shouted in unison as they looked over my shoulder and ran towards Cedric.
