CHAAPTER NINETEEN
Mia’s excited mood had been successfully ruined by Alexander, and that is always confirmed. He will be the only one who can turn her mood from sweet to sour in less than a minute.
Currently, the four of them were travelling to where Mia was earlier heading to, but with her grumpy mood.
Rachel and Mia sat at the back seat. Whereas, Mark sat beside Alex who drove the car.
“Are you going to tell me where you want to go or I have to keep driving aimlessly?” Alex’s voice broke the silence in the car, but all of them thought that the silence was better.
Mia gave him a sharp look before she snapped at him, “Before this, you never asked where I wanted to go.” Alex’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, as he gave her a cold stare through the mirror and Mia saw it but ignoring it, she looked out of the window.
“Mia, where to?” It was Mark this time who had turned around in his seat and asked her softly.
Mia looked at him and sighed.
“You know where Mark,” She simply said, and Mark frowned thinking what she meant.
But then it clicked him.
“The orphanage.” He said, and grinned to himself which made Mia smile as well.
Alex still sat stiff in his seat, but said nothing seeing the exchange between the two.
Soon they were in front of her orphanage, and Mia felt the excitement building up inside her again, as she pushed open the door and Mark was there to help her.
She looked at him and he gave her a small smile which she returned.
He didn’t extend his hand to her for support. Alex stood a little bit away from them, watching Mark and Mia, while Rachel observed him.
After Mia stood in front of her home, she smiled and looked at Rachel who was smiling as well.
“It’s Chloe’s birthday.” She revealed, and Mark’s eyes widening at the information.
Mia bit her lip to control her laugh seeing his expressions.
Mark cursed his fate for not knowing about her birthday, and most importantly coming here empty handed. He even glared at Mia who was enjoying his current state.
Mia looked at the time, and it was still eleven forty.
Twenty minutes to go, but the cake was still missing.
She had asked for it to be delivered by eleven forty five at her orphanage, and thankfully she was there on time.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Mark whispered yelled at Mia who only giggled in response.
Alex was getting annoyed by just standing there.
“You never asked.” Mia shrugged, and just then the delivery boy reached there with the cake.
She thanked him and after paying him, she handed the cake to Mark who looked surprised.
Five minutes were left until 12 am, and all the lights were switched on inside the orphanage which caused a ruckus because Chloe had started shouting.
“What is going on over here? Why is everyone still awake?” She asked loudly, while the kids only giggled and snickered among themselves making her more angry.
Mark looked at Mia who raised her eyebrows at him.
He gestured her to open the door with her key, and at exactly twelve they entered inside and the kids yelled,
“Happy Birthday Chloe !” She froze for a minute before she saw Mia and Mark standing with the cake in his hands.
Mia smiled and walked up to her dazed state. “Happy birthday best friend.” She wished her softly, and hugged her which brought her back to her senses.
Chloe chuckled amidst the tears that gathered in her eyes, as she hugged Mia back.
“When did you do this?” Chloe asked, breaking the hug and Mia grinned mischievously.
“That is for me to know, and you to never find out.” Mia responded, Chloe rolled her eyes. After that, Rachel came forward and wished her to which she smiled and thanked her.
Her eyes landed on Mark who was already staring at her with a smile on his lips.
He stepped ahead and placed the cake on the table as he arranged the candles himself.
After everything was done, he dramatically bowed down in front of Chloe. “My lady, please do the honours of blowing the candles and cutting the cake.” Despite her attempts to maintain a stern face, a smile formed on her face.
Mia giggled at Mark’s goofiness, and her eyes met with Alex’s for a brief second.
While everybody around her sang ‘happy birthday’ he chose to stare at Mia’s beaming face.
One gesture that he won’t ever forget was her caressing her belly every two minutes and smiling at it.
She looked happy in her own world.
“Mark, who is he?” A kid questioned Mark, and Alex’s attention was drawn towards them.
He looked at Mark amused because it seemed that he didn’t come here for the first time.
“He’s my friend.” Mark replied smiling, and a tiny girl slapped her forehead grabbing everyone’s attention and said, “Uff, why can’t you big people bring all your friends all at once? First, Mia brings Chloe then she brings Mark and now this very tall person. Do you think we won’t be able to remember you all if you come together?” She pouted angrily keeping her tiny hands on her hips.
Mia chuckled, but immediately shut up because she was glaring at her as well.
Mark, Chloe, Rachel and everyone were smiling, but no one said anything.
Mia glanced at Alex, and an inaudible gasp escaped her lips because there was a tiny but visible smile playing on his lips.
Alexander Ian was smiling? Is she dreaming? She pinched herself, and she hissed slightly rubbing that area.
She realised she wasn’t daydreaming and he had actually smiled because as she watched him now, the smile was gone just like a figment of her imagination.
“Why is everyone smiling?” The girl asked frowning, looking around, and just when Mia was going to step ahead to explain to her she found someone else taking the initiative.
Alex crouched down on his knee, and flicked her nose which made her giggle because it tickled.
Others gaped at the scene including Mark because this sight is new for him as well.
“I think you’re a very intelligent little kid” He trailed off, and the girl stretched her hand towards him.
“Lena,” she said, as he looked at her tiny hand and gently shook it, making her grin.
“Lena, I like your name.” He complimented her, making Mia’s eyes go wide.
What is happening over here?
“I like you.” Lena told him, giving him her toothy smile which made him chuckle, and Mia surely felt like she would faint any moment now.
What did this tiny girl see in him that she couldn’t?
After everyone retired to their home, Alex, Mia and Rachel returned to the mansion at around one.
Mia was already tired and had slept off in the car itself.
Rachel looked at Mia and proceeded to wake her up, but Alex stopped her.
“It’s okay Mrs. August, you go and sleep. I’ll carry her inside.” Alex said, and Rachel smiled at him before leaving for her room.
Alex looked at Mia’s sleeping figure, and then at her hand which was resting on her belly. He bent forward and picked her up in his arms.
What surprised him was she didn’t wake up instead, she just whined in her sleep and snuggled close to him.
He carefully placed her on the bed, and he covered her with the quilt properly before standing up.
He remembered how he had mentioned that after she get pregnant, she’ll be staying with him in his room, but then he arranged a caretaker for her.
Shaking his head pushing away those thoughts as he turned to leave, a tug on his hand made him freeze on his spot.
He turned around slowly. and found Mia looking at him in her drowsy state. She was half awake. as she held his hand and stopped him.
“Thank you.” She whispered, and he nodded thinking she thanked him for carrying her to her room.
“Thank you for being nice to my kids Mr. Ian. You are going to be an amazing father.” Her hand dropped, and she couldn’t fight the sleep anymore while she slept peacefully, but he stood there frozen.
Her words rang in his ears as he stared at her.
Would she have said the same thing if she was fully conscious? Of course not. Why would she?
Taking a deep breath he took hurried steps to get out of her room, but stopped when he noticed something.
He walked back in and tucked her hand inside the blanket before adjusting the blanket, and switching off the lights.
Alex sat up on his bed, after several failed attempts to sleep.
Sleep was far away from him, and he didn’t understand why that one statement affected him so much.
“You are going to be an amazing father.” These words tormented him to an extent.
He turned slightly and went to the kitchen to pick up a bottle of water, when he noticed the jug at the side of his bed was empty.
Sighing he moved out of his room to get some water.
He found the lights of the kitchen on and Rachel was inside already.
She looked at him surprised, as she moved away from the refrigerator immediately as he walked towards it.Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.
“Do you want some water as well?” Alex questioned, without looking at her and she nodded even though he couldn’t see her.
Taking out a bottle he handed it to her and got one for himself. He was about to leave when her words stopped him.
“Mr. Ian, I know I’m no one to say this. but what you’re feeling is what you will have to understand and accept or it’ll keep tormenting you your whole life.” With that, she walked past him leaving him annoyed.
Why is everyone keen on testing his patience today? He took out his phone and dialled a number.
“We don’t talk anymore, we don’t really anymore….. oh we don’t talk anymore like we used to…” Mark’s sleepy voice faded, as he slept again after singing the song.
“Shut the fuck up and come to my house right now.” Alex ordered, and Mark hummed in his sleep.
“Mark!” He called.
Mark whined loudly because he had woken up the instant he saw his call, but he is a human and he is bound to sleep.
He sang that line of the song, hoping he would get irritated and hang up, but he did much to his dismay.
“Who the fuck calls someone at 3 am? Alex, let me sleep please.” Mark pleaded, but he wasn’t having it.
“Mark now!” He demanded, and this time Mark glared at the phone.
“Fuck you, Ian !” He yelled, getting up and cut the call ruthlessly.
Alex sighed, pocketing back his phone and moving towards his room. This is going to be a long night.