How Much Of A Fool
Nelson kept oscillating between the different spaces of the vast bed, his thoughts in disarray. Fuming over her insistence of not being included in the top ten list was not enough, now he had overreacted upon catching her beaming over the phone.
Damn! He hated himself for behaving like that and the look on her face while claiming her to be his showed how much of a fool he looked at that moment.
Rolling to the other side, he cautiously glanced in her direction and observed her sleeping form.
She looked so serene and gentle in her slumber. Her chestnut locks cascaded on the pillow, resembling floating water plants. Her thick, curly lashes resembled butterflies resting on her delicate eyelids.
Grumbling, Nelson pinched his nose with force, diverting his attention away from her. He muttered a string of curses as he felt himself growing aroused.
“Not a chance, Mate. Just relax,” he muttered through gritted teeth, covering himself with the comforter.
The next morning, Nelson awoke at the same time Leilani finished dressing for the day, making her way out of the room.
Their eyes met and locked momentarily, but Leilani averted her gaze first and pursed her lips as she walked away.
Engaged in cheerful conversation, Leilani and Susan arranged the breakfast dishes on the table, emanating the joy of a contented family in a normal household.
Even Nelson felt envious as he approached them and saw them chatting like a mother and daughter. None of them noticed his presence until he cleared his throat.
“Good morning, son,” Susan greeted him with her customary smile.
“Morning, Mom,” Nelson replied, kissing her forehead before taking a seat.
“We were so engrossed in our chat that we didn’t even notice you come in,” Susan chuckled, settling into her chair.
“I can see that,” Nelson replied softly, sitting down as well.
As they all settled into their seats, Leilani took charge and began serving the food. As she did, she shot a glance at Nelson before asking, “Now, dear husband. Will you continue telling me about the dream?”
Nelson knew she was at her antics again. “What dream?” he scoffed.
“Don’t play dumb,” Leilani said, nudging his arm as she sat back down. “The one you were telling me about this morning. You know, the one where I gave birth to twins. Surely you haven’t forgotten already?” She pouted her lips.
“Really, son? You had such a dream?” Susan interjected, sending her usual sunny smile from across the table.
Nelson remained silent, his lips set in a grim line as he continued to stare at Leilani with a menacing expression.
“Oh, I see. You didn’t want to mention it in front of Mom, right? You’ll continue tonight, then?” Leilani teased, seeing him rendered speechless.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.
A small smirk formed at the corner of her mouth as she offered him a forkful of food.
“Here, baby. Open wide,” she insisted, holding the fork up to his lips.
A slight crease appeared on his forehead, the storm brewing in his blue eyes becoming more intense.
“Come on, say ‘ah’,” Leilani teased, batting her puppy dog eyes at him.
Without saying a word, Nelson abruptly stood up, grabbed his briefcase, and left.
“Nelson!” Susan called after him, but he didn’t stop.
“Did I do something wrong, Mom?” Leilani asked tearfully.
“No, no, my dear,” Susan reassured her kindly, rising from her seat to sit beside her. “You did the right thing, Lani. Don’t worry about him.”
At work, in Carter’s corporation. It was clear that anyone with a shred of conscience would not want to cross paths with an enraged Nelson.
The way the storm was forming in his eyes since he arrived at work was a clear indication of that. He was known for being strict and rigid, but this morning, it seemed like something in particular had set him off. As a result, everyone was avoiding him.
His personal secretary, a woman significantly older than him, had urgent news to share with him. However, with his current mood, she was unable to approach him. She turned to Herbert for assistance.
“Please, Herbert. I can’t afford to lose my job just yet,” she pleaded, holding out a file for him to take.
Herbert let out a small sigh before accepting the file from her. “Don’t worry, Mrs. Raphael. I’ll make sure he receives this,” he reassured her.
“Thank you so much, Herbert. Thank you,” the secretary expressed her gratitude before rushing back to her office.
Herbert then made his way to his boss’s office, trying to remain composed even as his heart pounded rapidly. He usually just entered Nelson’s office without knocking, but today he waited for a response. To his surprise, there was none.
He knocked again and again, but instead of his usual cold and commanding voice, he heard what sounded like an animalistic groan.
Without hesitation, he turned the doorknob and entered, only to be taken aback by the disorderly state of the office. Files were scattered all over the floor.
Nelson was seated at his desk, with his eyes bloodshot and enraged. The redness seemed to gather in the center of his pupils, giving off a bloodthirsty aura. His jawline and temples were clenched, and the veins on his forehead were throbbing.
“Get out of my office, Herbert,” he barked through gritted teeth.
Herbert did not need to be told twice. He quickly lowered his head and exited the office.
“LEILANI HERNANDEZ!” Nelson roared menacingly, banging his hand on the desk.
Meanwhile, at Hannah’s residence, she had just finished making breakfast and had called her boyfriend to join them. She then went to fetch Ethan.
“Good morning, Hannah,” Ethan greeted softly as soon as he let her into his room.
“Good morning, Ethan. Did you sleep well?” Hannah asked with a smile, assisting him into his wheelchair, which was placed beside the bed.
Ethan merely nodded, settling into his chair as Hannah wheeled him out of the room. It was a small space, with the entire house consisting of only a large and small bedroom, a cozy living room, a kitchen, and two bathrooms.
Upon reaching the dining area, which was separated from the living room, Ethan met David’s gaze before quickly looking away and greeting him. “Good morning, David,” he said.
David beamed in response, “Morning, buddy. Come on, let’s have breakfast,” he gestured towards Ethan.
As Hannah served the meal, placing it in front of each of them on the small oak table, she reminded Ethan to eat a lot, joking that his sister would never forgive her if he happened to grow thin before her return. Ethan thanked Hannah with a smile before they all began to devour their food.
As they ate, Hannah couldn’t help but notice that David would steal glances at Ethan when he thought he wasn’t looking, and Ethan did the same in return.
Lost in her thoughts, Hannah’s face contorted in confusion as she tried to make sense of the situation. David’s voice snapped her out of her reverie.
“Babe,” he said, getting her attention, “I know you’ve been doing a lot for me since I lost my job.”
Looking remorseful, David continued, “You feed me, let me stay with you, and even buy clothes for me with your hard-earned money.”
Hannah quickly interjected, looking displeased. “Stop it, David. What are you saying?” she scolded, “I’m sure you would do the same if I were in your shoes, so don’t make a big deal out of it. We’re supposed to help each other.”
Quietly, Ethan continued to eat his food, his eyes shifting between Hannah and David and the way they were holding hands on the table.
For a moment, David lowered his head and when he raised it again, there were tears glistening in his eyes.
With a gentle grasp, he held onto Hannah’s hands. “I vow to never take your love for granted, Hannah. I vow to love only you for all of eternity. I vow that no other woman could ever take your place in my heart,” he expressed with sincerity.
Unable to bear the tension any longer, Ethan slammed his spoon down onto the table, capturing their attention. “Thank you for the meal, Hannah,” he said softly, giving David a piercing look before wheeling himself out.
Once Ethan had exited, Hannah turned her gaze back to David’s face. “David, is there something amiss between you and Ethan?” she inquired with genuine concern.
David chuckled, “Why would you think that, babe? What could possibly go wrong between us?” he asked, picking up his spoon and continuing to eat.
“Then why is Ethan acting so strangely?” Hannah pondered aloud, her worries showing on her face.
“Maybe he’s just tired of being here,” David shrugged casually, trying to ease her concerns.
As Hannah gazed off into the distance, his explanation seemed to make sense. However, there was something still unsettling about Ethan’s behavior.