~Maya’s POV~
Grandma and I walked into her room, and I noticed she wasn’t alone. But one thing I know is that we are family and I hope and pray that they will understand my concern. I sat on the couch and stared at Grandma and the two women with her. Then I started talking.
“I went to the park yesterday after the incident at the restaurant. I met Kelly there with her friend, and they started passing remarks. Of course, I wouldn’t be worried about the daughter of the Martins family. But then I lost my appetite and something happened that got me all worked up. So I decided to go to a park to get some fresh air and for a walk and met with Sophia, the little girl I came with just now. She looked hungry, and I didn’t want to say the obvious to her, so I gave her money. When Sophia left after some time, a woman came at my weakest moment. She took care of me, and I don’t know how I ended up sleeping on her lap. But when I woke up 3 hours later, she was there and didn’t leave my side. To my surprise, I didn’t get irritated or feel the need to throw up because she wasn’t clean. I felt a mother’s love. But then when Sophia came back, I found out she was the woman’s daughter. When I first saw Sophia, I felt the urge to protect her. So when I found out that the woman who cared for me was her mother, I wanted to protect them. So I went back to the hotel with them. I am so connected to them that I can’t even explain why and how. The woman treated me like her daughter. So I made sure they were clean and bought some clothing for them. If Grandma wouldn’t oppose what I would like to propose, I would be more than happy. Father has been alone for years. He might act strong, but he is still a big baby. How about Emma and Sophia stay here and see if Father likes Emma?”
I saw Grandma Felicia smiling, but Grandma’s face had no emotions. Then she stood up from the couch.
“When Zion told me he liked a 16-year-old back then, I didn’t understand. When he refused to marry anyone and told us, he already had a wife and that he would never marry anyone but you, I still didn’t understand. But now I do. You are wise and very thoughtful. Your father has refused to marry ever since your mother’s death. She has been drinking all these years and refused to marry again. But since you arrived, I haven’t seen him drinking. He stopped. I believe Emma’s being here in this mansion was fate.”
Grandma hugged me and kissed my brows.
“You know, we were here hiding in this room discussing the same issue, and you just brought a solution to our worries. I now see why Zee didn’t sleep all night looking for you. You are the silver lining in this family. The light of this household.” All of a sudden, we were now in a group hug, all four of us.”
After my visit to Grandma’s room, I headed to mine and my husband’s wing. The door to our room wasn’t locked. I walked into my husband drinking. When his eyes landed on me, he left everything and came to give me a hug. I could tell he wasn’t himself because he smelled so much of alcohol and the smell was so strong for me. I broke the hug. He then realized that he was drinking.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go wash my mouth.” I was so tired, so while he went to wash his mouth, I went and changed into something else and I climbed into bed and covered myself. I knew I needed to go see Emma and Sophia, but I was a bit tired from the shopping we had been doing throughout the day. I also need to go see my father. I haven’t talked to him since I got here. He was the only man who treated me like a daughter. When I got a chance to visit my mom, he was always there and treated me like a princess. Back then, Zee and I only met at our parents’ funeral. But I have met his father and his mother every time I come to visit my mother. The thought of Uncle Brian made me smile. He has never said no to me.
‘Anything for my princess?’ I chuckled out loud at that thought. I heard my devilish husband’s footsteps. He climbed onto the bed and put encircled his hands around my waist. He turned me as though I was a piece of paper with no weight. He looked straight into my eyes and kissed my brows. He then placed his hand on my stomach and leaned in to kiss my stomach. Then he caressed my hair.
“You scared the shit out of me, Maya.” I looked at him. Is he really blaming me for what happened? Was I the one who was kissed or him? I really wanted to give him my peace of mind right now. But before I opened my mouth, I heard him muttering,
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry you had to see that, but I promise I will never cheat on you, Maya. I love you and only you. She was one of..” I cut him off.
“I don’t want to know Zion.”
“I want you to know everything about me, Maya. I don’t want to have any secrets between us. What happened yesterday was unacceptable, and I blame myself for everything. Her name is Claire. She was one of my call girls. We never dated, but she was just a call girl whom I used to piss off Kelly. And yes, I slept with her, but it was only just sex. Nothing more.” I should be angry that he’s here telling me he has been having sex with another woman, but to my surprise, I wasn’t bothered.
“Zion, you sort out your issues with your call girls because next time I will never forgive that. I felt useless and more like a third wheel when she kissed you.”
“I’m so sorry you felt that way, my love, and I promise I will never make you feel that way ever again. Am I forgiven, my little mama?”
I smiled when he called me that. Why is it so easy to talk to Zion? I don’t know why, but I love this man way too much that it scares me.
“Babe, I came home with two people I would like you to meet. And the woman, well, she’s like a mother to me. She was homeless with her daughter, so yesterday she helped me a lot. I fell asleep on one of the benches at the park, and she was watching over me. We had fun, and I went to our hotel with them so they could clean up. She is so super nice and her daughter, oh Ghosh, you should see her. She’s cute. I felt bad because the girl hadn’t been going to school and also I…”
I cleared my throat and looked at Zee, but then my cheek reddened because of what I wanted to tell him.
“You what, Maya?”
“I want her to be our mother.” Surprisingly, my husband just smiled.
“Well, good luck, my love. That man is a stone. He doesn’t want a woman. Maybe you will be able to convince him. After all these things, you are more like their blood than me.”
“Are you jealous, Lord Archer?” He smiled and kissed my brows.
“No baby, I just know I’m in trouble if I ever hurt you. I got smacked 3 times yesterday because they heard someone kiss me in front of you.” I gasped. “Those three old people slapped the living daylights out of me because of you. Should I consider myself their child? Nope, Lady Archer is their child, not me.”
Hearing that, they slapped him. I almost laughed. I mean, haha haha, I couldn’t hold back, “What’s not funny because now I know where I stand in this family if I ever hurt you.”
“Come on, let’s go meet them. Wait, I want them to stay here. Do I get your permission, Lord Archer?”
“You are the madam of the house, and whatever you say is final.”
I kissed him and held his hand. I texted Lucas to ask him which of the guest rooms he put them in. To my surprise, as though Lucas had read my mind, he put them in the guest room close to his father’s room. Zion and I headed there. We knocked and walked in. Sophia jumped up and hugged me. She was so excited to be here and also to see me. We sat down, and Emma and Sophia followed.
“Hope you guys are comfortable here?” Zion asked, and Emma nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were Lady Archer yesterday?” Emma asked, and I smiled.
“If I told you I was Lady Archer, would you have been free with me?” She looked at me and smiled. Then I continued, placing my hand on Zion’s hand, “My husband and I would like you guys to be part of our family.” I looked at my husband, and he smiled and kissed my brows.
“Yea, do I get to go to school, Maya?”
“Yes, of course. Little Sophia will get to go to school.”
I witnessed as she jumped up and down and hugged Zion. “Thank you so much, Lord Archer!” She kissed his cheeks and jumped up and down again. Surprisingly, Zion didn’t get irritated. He was just amused and smiled.
“Okay, Sophia, just call me Zion or Brother Zion. That sounds better, right?”
“Oh my God, Lord Archer is my brother!” She leaped up and down. We left because I had another assignment. Suggesting that father must give love a chance.