“How dare you keep me waiting, you fool!” Ariel screeched as a hooded figure approached her under a tree in the park.
“My apologies, madam. An urgent matter arose,” the young man defended, his face concealed by his hood as if ashamed of his appearance.
The darkness of evening descended upon the park, with the occasional passersby adding to the atmosphere.
“Just be quiet and hand over the damn camera!” Ariel hissed, reaching out for the device.
The young man surrendered the camera, and Ariel quickly examined its contents. As she viewed the pictures and videos, her anger flared and her jaw clenched and unclenched in frustration.
“That wench,” she seethed, “I will get rid of her,” she vowed, attempting to calm herself down.
Her eyes landed on a photo of Trevor kissing Leilani’s cheek, and her fury surged once more, causing her to fling the camera across the ground.
“I’ll kill you, you bitch!” she raged, her hands clenching in frustration.
“Now listen carefully, Wang,” she strode towards the young man, her voice hoarse with anger.
“I need you to get rid of her as soon as possible. I don’t want you to update me on anything. Just find the perfect opportunity to eliminate her, is that clear?”
“Yes, madam,” Wang replied.
“If you need more money, just let me know. I just want that girl out of my life, understand?”
Wang nodded in understanding.
Ariel let out a sigh and calmed herself down, then dismissed Wang.
In Trevor’s bedroom at Nelson’s mansion, Leilani had just helped Trevor bathe and put on his pajamas.
Despite Trevor’s attempts to play with her, Leilani seemed distant and preoccupied. It was clear that something was bothering her.
“Mom?” Trevor called softly after Leilani had helped him into bed.
“Yes, honey?” Leilani smiled and sat down beside him.
“Is your mood affected by what happened between Aunt Hannah and Daddy?” Trevor inquired.
Leilani chuckled and shook her head, “No, my dear. I am not affected by anything at all,”
“Then can you tell me why you’re not playing with me tonight? I’ve told you several jokes, but you haven’t laughed heartily, which bothers me,” Trevor expressed his thoughts, looking downcast.
“No, darling. Please don’t worry about me,” Leilani smiled as she leaned in and ran her fingers through Trevor’s soft black hair. “I’m fine.”
Trevor gazed at Leilani for a moment before speaking up, “Aunt Hannah doesn’t seem like a bad person. I think she was really upset with what Daddy said. You should talk to him, Mommy.”
Leilani nodded, holding back the tears that threatened to fall. She couldn’t get enough of Trevor. The boy was just too… was just too much.
“I will talk to Daddy, my dear,” she replied with a trembling voice, kissing Trevor’s forehead tenderly.
“Now give me a smile, Mommy,” Trevor demanded, grinning widely. Leilani couldn’t help but mirror his grin.
“That’s my mommy,” Trevor declared with a mischievous wink, making Leilani laugh even more.
“Now go to sleep. Goodnight, sweetie,” Leilani kissed him once more before tucking him in and turning off the bedside lamp.
“I thought you were going to sleep in Trevor’s room,” Nelson grumbled the moment Leilani entered their bedroom.
Leilani chuckled softly and made her way to the bed, sitting next to Nelson who was already dressed in his pajamas.
“Can we talk about it now?” she asked tentatively, meeting Nelson’s gaze.
Nelson let out a deep breath, not realizing he had been holding it, and closed his eyes briefly.
“From the way my friend reacted, it’s obvious she has feelings for Herbert,” Leilani paused, “I know you to be an ice man, Nelson, but you’re a kind man. You can’t separate them simply because Herbert is your assistant,”
Nelson sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows, “So you’re telling me to accept the fact that my assistant and my wife’s best friend are courting?”
Leilani blushed and tucked some lose strand of her hair behind an ear, “The weight you give to my wife will make people believe that we are truly married,”
Nelson stood up from the bed and slowly came to crouch in front of Leilani.
He kept watching her with something intense swirling in his gaze.
“I want to marry you, Leilani. Will you be my wife?”
Leilani was flustered. She was so surprised and it showed on her face. She tried to talk but couldn’t provide any words as she kept scratching her left ear.
Nelson lowered his head and smiled, “You saw this coming, Lani. Why are you so surprised?” he asked her.
“That’s because…” Leilani swallowed and continued,
“That was because…”
Nelson chuckled and went to sit close to her. Staring at her and slowly wrapping his hand around her waist. Their eyes met and electricity sparked them.
“I’ve fallen in love with you, Lani,” he said slowly as he brought his forehead to hers and brushed his nose against hers.
“I want to love you like a crazy man from now on,” he breathed into her face.
Leilani wheezed a breath, while her entire being went down in flames.
“I want to be your man for the rest of your life,” He rasped into her ear, kissing the junction of her neck and shoulder.
A shiver ran down Leilani’s body along the warmth that spread across her chest at his words.
“I want to be your-”
The words didn’t leave her mouth completely before he was covering her lips with his. The kiss started slowly, then it built from there, increasing in tempo with every thrust of his tongue into her mouth.
Leilani opened her mouth and he delved into her, deepening the kiss. His tongue played with her, dueled with hers. She let out a low throaty moan that went into her head like liquor.
Time stopped existing and every other thing went away with it. It was just them kissing each other so long and deep, into a mindless state of passion.