“Lily.” Axel called as he rushed after her. They got into the house and met everyone. Of course, the McCalls couldn’t be there, they were now poor and avoiding the society.
“You are here.” Mr. Blackwell said as he saw Nadia.
“Of course, I hope you don’t mind. My daughter invited me.” She replied with a smile and Kendra turned to her grandfather.
“Yes, Grandpa. I invited her, is that okay?” She asked.
“Anything for my baby.” He replied and Kendra smiled. Nadia looked at Axel’s stepmother and smiled warmly at her, she looked away from her immediately and let out a nervous laugh.
“Shall we?” She asked and rushed towards the dining room. Everyone followed her, as Nadia was about to walk towards them, Axel grabbed her hand and stopped her.
“Ugh, what?” She groaned.
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing.” She replied and jerked her hand away from him, she walked towards the dining room and he exhaled heavily before trailing behind her.
Everyone was seated and ready, the twins were seated next to their grandfather as usual, Nadia and Axel sat next to each other which made them opposite the twins. Max and Nora sat at the edge and Susan was next to her husband.
The maids dished their meals and everyone ate, no one said anything to each other.
It was going well until Mr. Blackwell decided to interrupt.
“Nora, your parents asked me to talk to you about getting married. How are things going between you and Max?” Mr. Blackwell asked and they both coughed. Nora gulped a glass of water and looked up at him.
They weren’t together anymore but Mr. Blackwell wasn’t aware.
“We… we are fine, we… ”
“We are not together anymore.” Max cut Nora off and she glared at him.
“She doesn’t know what she wants so I let her be.” Max added and Nora scoffed.
“Nora?” Mr. Blackwell called.
“Can we please not talk about this now?” She asked and Mr. Blackwell nodded. He let her be.
He really didn’t have a problem with Nora, she has always been a good niece and helpful to him.
Nadia kept staring at Axel’s stepmother but she kept looking away. She was scared, she knew Nadia knew something and would do something crazy.
“Kender.” Mr. Blackwell suddenly called and he looked up at him.
“You have been quiet and that is not normal. What is going on?” He asked but Kender didn’t give him a response.
“Kender? Is something wrong? Did your father do… ”
“He hasn’t talked since the incident.” Axel cut him off and Mr. Blackwell furrowed his brow.
“What do you mean?”
“We think he is traumatized about what happened and I will get him a therapist tomorrow.” Axel said and Mr. Blackwell became annoyed.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me this? And why haven’t you tried talking to… ”
“He had a fucking bomb on him. I don’t think yelling at him will make him less scared.” Nadia cut Mr. Blackwell off.
He was about to speak again when Kender stood up and walked out of the dining room.
“Kender.” Kendra called and rushed after him.
Axel’s stepmother saw that as an opportunity to leave, she was about to stand up but Nadia stopped her.
“Wait. I have something for everyone.” She said with a smile and sent a message to everyone.
Their phones beeped and they all picked it up.
“No freaking way.” Nora gasped as she saw the video Nadia sent to them. Axel chuckled and shook his head.
Susan trembled in fear as Mr. Blackwell slowly turned to her.
“You are cheating on me.” He said, she shook her head in fear as tears welled up in her eyes.
“To know who the man was, he was the one I woke up next to years ago in a hotel. She and Tania set me up. I hope you guys enjoy the video, I have to go check up on my kids.” Nadia said and walked out of the dining room.
“I’m sorry.” Susan whispered as tears rolled out of her eyes. It was a video of her having sex with the man Nadia woke up next to, years ago at the last ball of the season.
Mr. Blackwell resisted the urge to do something crazy. Susan knew it was over for her, Mr. Blackwell never let things go.
Nadia walked around the house as she searched for her kids. She walked down the hallway and met them in the middle of it. They sat on the floor and Kender placed his head on Kendra’s shoulder.
Nadia slowly walked towards them and they noticed her presence. Kender raised his head and they both stood up.
“Can I talk to Kender alone?” Nadia asked Kendra and she nodded in response. She was about to walk away but paused.
“Mummy.” She called and moved closer to Nadia.
“Yes?”
“I know he said I shouldn’t tell anyone but I feel so bad.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I was the one that was supposed to wear the vest but I was crying and he asked them to put it on him because I was scared. I feel so bad I made him this way.” She said with tears clouding her eyes and Nadia smiled.
“You did nothing wrong baby and he will be fine. You have nothing to worry about.” Nadia told her and she nodded in response. She glanced at Kender before walking away.
Nadia looked at him as he stared down at his feet.
“I see you know how to play the role of a brother perfectly.” Nadia started and moved closer to him.
“Look at me.” She ordered and he slowly looked up at her.
“So, let’s talk about it. Tell me what’s wrong.”
He shook his head in response and she bit her lip.
“You prefer going to a therapist?” She asked and she shook his head again.
“Then tell me what’s wrong.” She urged. Tears slowly welled up in his eyes and he looked away from her.
“I… I feel so guilty. You… you could have died because of me. When you were out, you weren’t breathing and Dad kept trying to make you breathe but you didn’t. You just laid there like you were dead and I was so scared. I thought you died because of me.” He rushed his words as tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Oh, so this is about me.” Nadia said and he nodded.
“But I am fine.”
“I know but I keep having nightmares. You kept dying over and over again because of me.”
“Awwwn, Kender.” She called softly and pulled him into a hug.
“It’s okay. I am okay and everyone else is okay. I can’t die, I will always be here for you.” She said as she pulled away from the hug.
“A gangster can’t die.” She added and he chuckled.
“It’s okay. You don’t have to be worried about me, I have been through worse, but that was nothing.”
“I know but it was scary.” He muttered.
“I was so worried. I thought you were still scared about the bomb… ”
“I was scared but not really. I was more scared of losing you.”
“You can’t lose me.” She replied and hugged him again. She pulled away from the hug and ruffled his hair.
“Do you feel better now?” Nadia asked as he wiped his tears. He nodded in response and smiled.
“Always talk about things to make yourself feel better.”
“Okay.” He muttered. He noticed Axel leaning on the wall, he had been watching them.
“Dad is here.” He said and Nadia turned to see him.
“Ugh.” Nadia rolled her eyes and Kender chuckled, he pulled away from her and walked away. Axel slowly walked towards Nadia and smiled as he got to her.
“Mother of the year.”