Kraius was eyeing the whole Bailey family inside his car. He was so tired from work and it was already late but he still found time to drop by. He watched the huge mansion from outside and familiarized the place. He didn’t even know that the family wasn’t inside, not until a Mercedez Benz A-class parked in front of it.
He was like a stalker in his situation, watching them from afar while he was inside of his car and looking at them intently as if he didn’t want to skip any details. He may look desperate but he didn’t care. He wanted to watch them alone rather than asking for his people’s help.
In a few minutes, Kraius saw Rhezi come out of the car. His forehead creased seeing her carrying one of her kids who was hugging his mother’s back. His heart throbbed from the sight. He even moved to open the car’s door but he ended up shaking his head. He looked at them again after… and saw no one.
Pissed, Kraius hammered his steering wheel. It produced a sound, yet the place remained silent as the night grew deeper. His face buried his face on the steering wheel while his hands turned into fists. He felt odd within, like something was stirring inside of him. He was hurting but he needed to keep himself sane. Moreover, he wanted to claim what was supposed to be his from the beginning.
“Fuck!” he cursed.
Kraius quickly started the engine and drove away from that place as soon as he was finally able to calm himself. He wanted to be alone in his haven but his mother called him for dinner, and the man knew that he definitely had to go to his parents’ mansion in White Plains.
When Kraius arrived, he abruptly went out of the car. He walked a few strides before the wide garden greeted his sight. His mother’s collection were full of ornamental plants and succulents. There were also some outdoor plants given light by the lamppost which the man specifically designed.
A few more steps closer to the Montreal mansion, Kraius immediately beheld his father’s aristocraticand noble silhouette. The older man was standing proudly while looking at him, clad in his usual polo and slacks. He looked formal in his stance, a perfect quintessence of an authoritative man who screams power. He was holding a glass of brandy in his right hand while sipping it occasionally.
“Geç kaldın K,” (You’re late) his father immediately greeted. “Nasilsin?” (How are you?) He said, tapping Kraius’ back after the latter came closer to him.
“Ben Iyiyim, Baba,” (I am fine, Father) Kraius replied.
His father smiled timidly. “Good!”
Kraius and his father went inside of the mansion together, being greeted by the moderate-sized indoor waterfalls positioned at the center of the wide living room. Adjacent to it was the grandeur golden staircase leading to the second floor, and next to it was the T. V. room specifically made for visitors and guests.
The mansion’s design was great in terms of modern and contemporary designs. The color palettes and combinations were eye-pleasing in every part of the mansion he’d pass by. There were expensive things that were bought from different parts of the world like the figurines and portraits that were from a big auction in America, and even the elegant chandelier that was giving light across such a huge place.
Surely, the Montreal family was one of the richest. Not only in the Philippines, but also in Turkey. They undeniably lived their lives comfortably; everything that they want to have could be theirs in just a flick of their fingers. Nevertheless, Kraius managed to live as low profile as possible even if his father wasn’t just a billionaire, but someone who came from an aristocrat family.
As they reached the luxurious dining area, Kraius instantly broke into a smile at the sight of his mother. Ferlyn was all smiles while putting the utensils in its exact place. She looked so engrossed that she couldn’t even notice them, let alone their presence.
“Hi, Ma!” Kraius greeted. He smiled and walked towards his mother then hugged her tight.
“How’s my handsome son?” Ferlyn mumbled after the hug and looked at her son. “You’re so handsome!” she exclaimed, emphasizing the word even more.
Kraius chuckled at the exaggerated statement of his mother. He shook his His mother, on the other hand, tapped his back which made the man smile wider than it was. This way, Kraius felt the heavy weight of mixed emotions and problems lighten.
“Let’s eat. I know you’re hungry,” his mother softly muttered.
Everything was already set on the table, and it was obvious that a lot of effort was put into the arrangement of the table just for this dinner. The foods were already served beautifully on its respective places. The menu was Ottoman cuisine, as what it’s called. From the lentil soup, salad that was a mix of vegetables with black olives, kebab and kofta. Ferlyn didn’t fail to bake a custard cake for the dessert and champagne in a wine glass to sip occasionally.
Kraius sat on the vacant golden metal chair in front of the glass medium-sized table. He was seated in front his father and beside his mother. They ate in total silence, even the clanking of the cutleries and silverware were hardly heard. They didn’t talk, either, as it was a rule to the family. A rule that only his father eagerly wants to follow.
“How are you doing, K? Have you already decided?” Hasmet Montreal asked. He just finished eating, wiping his lips with a napkin and reaching for the wine glass-only to smell it a little.
“Decided of what, Baba?” Kraius asked with a creased forehead as his eyes fall into his father. Like the older man, he was also done eating his food.
“Marriage for convenience,” Hasmet directly asnwered, staring at his son while holding his wine glass in the air.
“Spare me from that, Baba. It will always be a no,” Kraius disagreed with conviction as he fought back a stare to his father.
“And why is that?” the older man questioned, squinting his eyes further as he waited for an answer.
“Please, Hasmet. Don’t start it here,” Ferlyn tried to stop the heating argument between her husband and her son.
“Çünkü istemiyorum,” (Because I don’t want to) Kraius simply uttered.
“Sen inatçısın, Kraius!” (6ou’re stubborn, Kraius) Hasmet hollered, letting go of his wine as he stood up. He abruptly placed both his hands onto the glass table and sternly pierced his eyes onto the young man. “Bu kız layık değil.” (That girl is not worthy) he added.
Kraius only heaved a sigh. He put the wine glass that he was holding and smiled at his father. It was obviously not his best smile-it was a bitter smile that reminded him of how he was hurt by everything that happened. It was a reminder to himself, a reminder that he was once imprisoned because of the woman he loved fervently.
“Worthy or not, it doesn’t matter. Onu başından beri seviyorum.” (I love her from the beginning)
Hasmet laughed sarcastically, as if he was amused by what he was hearing. He then came back to being serious, glancing at his wife before glaring back at his son. “Çılgınsın,” (You’re crazy) he snarled before storming out of the dining room.
In an instant, Kraius felt his mother’s hand caressing his back. It was gentle, as if comforting him and saying that everything will be alright. With slumped shoulders and a hand still gripping onto the wine glass tightly, he released a heavy sigh.
If he could turn back time, he would definitely reset it back when everything was still alright. Back when he was contented and happy being enslaved by Rhezi, back when he liked to annoy her because she wanted to be slimmer, and back when he thought he got enchanted and bewitched by her.