There’s got to be another way, right?
“I’ll do it. If you’ll let me, I’ll like to move to manage the orphanage full time,” I blurted out before I could stop myself.
I’m sorry, Reiner, but I just can’t think of another solution that it better than this. If no one else is going to take it on, will you please let me do this?
King’s emotionless face transformed into a look of frank surprise while I felt Reiner stiffen next to me as he turned to glare at my face. After saying that so boldly, I had no other options left but to hold my ground. I am not going to back out of my words. Although my idea was crazy at best, I didn’t regret my proposal at all.
“Will you…allow it, please?” I asked King when he failed to give me a response.
“Interesting. Very interesting…” King commented as he rubbed his chin in thought.
“I cannot allow it. We’ll find another way,” Reiner spoke up before King could come to a conclusion.
My head whipped around to face Reiner as my mouth hung open. What did he just say?
“What…?” I whispered in shock.
“I won’t allow it,” Reiner stated resolutely without breaking eye contact from me.
He’s so serious about this. How am I supposed to convince King when I don’t even have Reiner on my side?
“I’ll allow it. You can go if you can convince Knight because I won’t be responsible for any internal disputes,” King said passively as his eyes shifted from my face to Reiner’s.
I could sense Reiner’s dissatisfaction and I was sure that it would soon turn into anger. It was my fault for proposing something so crazy without consulting him first, but I didn’t foresee that what King had in mind either.
As far as King was concerned, the conversation was as good as over. Reiner stood up abruptly from his seat and without saying another word, he headed for the door. I watched his back as he left as a huge lump formed in my throat. I’ve really gone and done it this time…
“Thank you…” I whispered to King before I also got up from my seat.
“Good luck convincing that stubborn son of mine,” King said with a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Right…” I whispered in response before taking my leave.
Father and son had a habit of saying things as if it was easy to achieve. How am I supposed to convince Reiner?
…
“R…wait!” I called after him, but he didn’t turn around.
I knew that I was loud enough, and that he definitely heard me. The fact that he didn’t even bother to turn around to face me only meant one thing: he’s boiling with anger.
I hung my head low before I sucked in a deep breath. What am I doing?
“R! Wait!” I cried out before panting.
I need to exercise more. Just running the short distance to catch up to him left me breathless. How pathetic…
I grabbed onto his arm before planting myself in front of him to stop him from taking another step forward. Reiner glared down at me with an unimpressed look on his face.
“Can we…talk?” I asked softly as I stared up into his face with pleading eyes.
“What is there to talk about?” Reiner shot back sharply before he semi lifted me out of his way.
“R…wait…” I continued pleading with him as I tried to keep up with his long strides.
Why is he so mad?
Reiner did not pay me any attention even until we reached our rooms. Even though, I knew that I was in the wrong, I didn’t quite understand why Reiner could get this angry about it. Can’t he understand that there’s no other way and if I didn’t do this then the kids will suffer needlessly?
He opened the door to our room with a loud bang before marching in. I sighed before following him into the room and closing the door behind me softly. He’s furious…
Reiner sat himself down on the sofa and began shrugging off his suit while I stood by the door as I hesitated about how to approach him. He’s just going to either ignore me or shout at me and I wasn’t sure which alternative I preferred.
Maybe things will work out if I try to talk this out with him calmly. If he would just tell me why he’s so mad, then maybe I can do something to fix it. Slowly and cautiously, I approached the sofa where Reiner was sitting. He ignored me completely as he unbuttoned and then strip off his shirt. He didn’t even look my way when I sat down next to him on the sofa.
I guess I’m getting the silent treatment option. That was the hardest to deal with out of the two.
“R…why are you so mad?” I asked sweetly as I focused on his stern face.
Reiner gave me a cold stare before turning away from me without giving me an answer. I stared at his broad back as I felt frustration rise inside of me. There were so many issues that I had to deal with and adding an upset husband on top of everything else was just getting to be too much for me to handle.
Slowly, I reached my hand and out and ran my fingertips softly on his naked shoulder before scooting even closer to him.
“R…” I whispered his name sweetly as I gently draped my arm across his shoulder.
Although he didn’t reply to me, he didn’t push me away. I moved even closer to him until my chest was pressed up against his back.
“Talk to me properly please…” I begged in a small voice.
I could feel the heat of the naked skin of his back against my cheek as I laid my face against his broad and muscular back. Reiner’s body stiffened slightly when I wrapped my other arm around his waist.
–To be continued…