Apology

“Marley?” Nora asked and furrowed her brows.
“No, I have never heard of that name before.” She replied and Lily bit her lip.
“Why are you asking?” She asked and Lily thought of telling her or not.
“Well, while I was in another room in the hot tub, a middle aged man came into the room, and when he was on the phone, he mentioned Blackwell, and the person he was speaking to on the phone was named Marley.” Lily explained.
“Marley? I really haven’t heard that name before. I don’t think Axel has also mentioned the name before.” Nora replied.
“Yes, I think so too because the man seems to be hearing the name Blackwell for the first time.” Lily said and Nora shrugged.
“Well, I believe it’s a mafia thing and it is not a problem. Axel knows how to deal with his business well.” Nora said and Lily nodded. She felt bothered though, she felt the need to tell Axel about them.
“Shouldn’t we inform him?” She asked Nora.
“No. If we do, he will stop us from stepping out of the hotel till we leave.”
“When are we leaving though?” Lily asked.
“I don’t know, it depends on your husband.”
“More like ex-husband.” Lily mumbled and sighed.
Nora didn’t hear what she said, her attention was back on her phone.
Lily didn’t have her phone with her, it was probably back at their suite or in Axel’s car.
“Come, let’s take a picture.” Nora said noticing her mood had changed, she wanted to cheer her up.
“No, you reek of sex.” Lily replied and Nora laughed.
“I enjoyed it though. So sad you can’t relate.”
“Yeah.” Lily replied and rolled her eyes.
“I am curious. How is your sex life with my brother?” Nora asked and Lily’s cheeks heated up. She felt embarrassed.
“That is so weird. Don’t ask that.” She said and Nora laughed at how red she was already.
They both continued talking and laughed happily.
Hours passed and they left the Spa, just as Nora had planned, they were in the restaurant to have dinner since it was getting late already.
They sat at the corner of the restaurant as they had their meal. Nora’s phone suddenly rang and she looked at it, it was Axel.
She thought of telling Nora it was him calling but she decided not to again. She would get all moody and start thinking about him again.
She picked up the call and placed the phone on her ear.
“Yes?” She asked and Lily looked up at her as she gulped her juice.
“Isn’t it late already? Why are you guys not back yet?” He asked.
“And why do you care?” Nora asked back.
“My wife is… ”
“She is not wearing a ring.” Nora cut him off and Lily raised her brows. She figured out it was Axel on the call.
“Bring her back.” He ordered and Nora didn’t give him a response.
“Nora… ” Axel trailed off as she ended the call.
“That was Axel right?” Lily asked, Nora could see the worry in her eyes.
“Yeah.” Nora replied.
“What did he say about me?” She asked and Nora smiled.
“He cares, that is all you need to know. Axel cares so much for you.”
“He doesn’t… ”
“I have seen the way he looks at you, Lily.” She cut Lily off and she exhaled.
“He has been in a relationship with Lydia before. A relationship that almost led to a marriage. Two years of them being together and he never showed affection towards her. You have known Alex for months, barely three months and he can’t stop staring at you and obsessing over you.”
“He shot a guy because he held your hand, he wants you around him every minute, you were kidnapped in Paris and he found you in forty-eight hours. Ever since you showed up, Axel has been different, he talks often. He does things he never imagined he would ever do because of you.”
“I am not taking his side because he is my brother, I know he can be an asshole sometimes but he really cares about you. Don’t let a silly fight ruin everything between you two, he would never admit it but he wants you in his life.”
Nora said and Lily breathed out heavily, she had no idea what to say, all she did was nod her head.
“I am not telling you to apologise to him, don’t do that. Still, stand your ground. He owes you an apology.” Nora said and Lily chuckled.
After having dinner, they left the restaurant and headed back to the hotel. In minutes, they arrived.
They made their way in and took the elevator.
The doors of the elevator opened and they walked out. Axel was standing in the hallway, he was leaning on the wall.
He watched them as they walked towards him, Lily walked behind Nora, she wanted to avoid him.
“We are back.” Nora said with a smile and stood in front of Axel.
“Can I have her back?” He asked and Nora glanced at Lily.
“Yeah, sure.” She replied and smiled at Lily before walking into her suite.
Lily looked down at her feet and wrapped her arms around herself while Axel stared at her.
“There is a place on the fifth floor. It’s an aquarium.” He said and Lily looked up at him. She didn’t know what that was.
“What’s an aquarium?” She asked, her innocent eyes piercing into his.
“You’ll see.” He replied and walked ahead of her, Lily trailed behind him.
They both entered the elevator and Axel pressed the button to the fifth floor.
He turned to Lily and she hurriedly looked away from him, she looked down at her fingers while she played with them. Axel didn’t say a word, so it was silent till the elevator doors opened.
They stepped out of it and Lily looked around. She still didn’t get what an aquarium was, she wasn’t seeing anything different. It was just two ladies dressed in a uniform that were there.
One of them walked to Axel and bowed.
“Mr. Blackwell. We are happy you are here, we can give you and your wife a tour… ”
“We would like to be alone.” Axel cut the lady off and she smiled with a nod.
“Just go through that door.” The lady said and Axel turned to Lily.
“Come on.” He said and stretched his hand towards her, Lily glanced at the ladies who had a wide smile on their faces. It would be embarrassing not to take his hand.
She took his hand and they both walked towards the door. Axel opened it and they both walked in.
Lily’s lips parted in shock as they got in.
“An aquarium is a transparent tank that contains aquatic animals, like this.” Axel said and she let go of his hand and rushed to it.
She smiled seeing different fishes. It was her first time seeing something like that and it impressed her a lot.
“Wow, they are so cute.” She said with a smile and turned to Axel, he walked towards her and stood next to her. They both watched the fishes swim in the water.
Axel let her have her time and enjoy it. After all, they were the only ones there. Minutes passed and Axel finally spoke up.
“Don’t get too distracted. I brought you here to talk.” He said and she turned to him, her smile slowly faded.
“Oh, okay.” She muttered.
She waited for him to speak but he didn’t, instead he stared at her. He breathed out heavily and ran his hand through his hair.
“I… ” He stuttered and Lily raised her brows anticipating what he was about to say, at the same time, her heart raced.
“I… I am sorry.” He muttered. Lily couldn’t believe her ears, she thought she heard wrong.
“I am sorry.” He said again, a little bit louder this time.
“Huh?” Lily asked. She was still confused.
“I am sorry Lily. For everything.” He said and exhaled. Lily could see it was hard for him, he couldn’t look at her, he kept looking around.
The fact that he was willing to apologise, it was hard for him but he did. He did what she wanted.
He let down his ego and apologised, it might be a normal thing to everyone else but it was a lot for him.
“I… I… ”
He was stuttering, Axel was stuttering.
He exhaled again and glanced at her.
“I am sorry for sleeping with your sister and getting her pregnant, I am sorry I made you go through an abortion. For not treating you right, for being mean to you, and for cheating on you twice. I am sorry.” He apologised and looked at Lily.
For the first time, he couldn’t read her. She was just staring at him with no expression on.
“Did… did I do it wrong? Did I not apologise well? I don’t know if I said the right words.” He said nervously.
“Please say something.” He muttered and Lily chuckled and jumped on him. She hugged him tightly and he froze.
He wasn’t expecting that. He heard her giggle into his ears and he slowly sighed in relief, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.
She pulled away from the hug and smiled widely at him.
“I want my ring back.” She said and stretched her hand to him.
“Oh.” He muttered and brought it out from his pocket, he slid it into her finger and she hugged him again.
“Are we cool now?” He asked as he held her waist.
“Yes, super cool.” Lily laughed happily and he chuckled as he spun her around.