Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 19

I was in the room, clutching the sheets, looking down. He cared for my Father when I.. didn’t. It pinched me. Failing to look up, I was growling internally.

“Saafia…?”

Calling me hesitantly, the door opened and he entered and for the first time after our marriage, he sat on the bed with me.

Tensing, I looked up at him timidly. He unexpectedly flashed a tender look and leaned forward, staring intensely which made my heart skip a beat.

“What happened?” He whispered.

Lowering my gaze in dejection, I curled my lips upwards hollowly.

“He won’t return, he won’t come back to us, to me.” I whispered back, lifting my knees and hugging them.

“Why are you saying this without trying? Don’t you want your father to recover?” He questioned, tilting his head, plopping on his elbow.

“I do.. But..” I paused worriedly.

“But?”

“Nothing.”

Closing my eyes briefly, I shook my head, turning my head to him. His eyes were fixed on me, failing to grasp that the one he considered kind-hearted was not hoping for her own father’s wellbeing.

But, I had my reasons. Our eyes collided for the next few seconds and returning a feeble smile, I brought my hand out, wondering if he would hold it or not.

He didn’t.

“All it took was a moment for him to leave us on our own. With no one by our side. It was hard to manage.” I whispered.

“I.. can understand.”

Exhaling, he sat up slowly, becoming compassionately which I never predicted from him.

“How can you understand?”

“...I lost my parents too. It was just me and my sister-”

“You have a sister?”

My jaw dropped, shifting close after knowing that I had a sister-in-law who didn't even come to the wedding. She must be like him to not attend his wedding.

“Yeah. Jacey. Younger sister. Same as your age, twenty four.” He shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, regaining his cold composure again.

“From age. What is your age?” I asked quickly.

“Twenty eight, didn’t you know?”

“I saw on the internet, it said thirty four. I was going to ask you but I forgot.” I mumbled, realizing that all this time, I had no idea about his real age.

“Thirty-four!? There are still two years before I cross thirty. Where did you see it? I will put down that website with misinformation.” He gasped, ending in a growl to fathom who was ruining his ‘clear’ image.

“Of course, who knows it would say I am eighteen only to defile your name.” I cracked a joke and he decided to piss me off.

“No way. You don’t look eighteen from any angle.” He smirked.

“But you look thirty four, no doubt. And besides, when did you see me properly in the first place?” I retorted, not realizing my words because…

He had stared directly into my soul.

He smirked, asking huskily, almost seductively, “Would you like to rephrase your question?”

I blushed with a hitched breath, realizing what I ended up speaking. My heart pounded, causing my hands to hold the sheets tightly and averting my gaze from his keen ones.

“Uh.. I mean, from that perspective.”

“And what is ‘that’ perspective?” He teased me, deepening my blush. Looking away, I whispered.

“You should sleep.”

He chuckled at my reaction and rose from the bed, pinching my cheeks. He had done it a few times, probably out of habit and it always made me blush, not used to touching.

“You too. Don’t worry too much. Your father will be fine, okay?”

“Okay…”

Murmuring with a faint smile, I looked away shyly as we both went to sleep with him on the couch and me on the bed.

Later, Humming to myself, I was setting the duvets, knowing he would be home anytime. I didn’t mind setting our room, he did it too in the first week and it was ‘our’ room so I had responsibilities too after all.

As I was lost, the door flung open, surprising me as he was early.

Before I could get lost in my wonders, his calm reply came which brought a faint scarlet shade on my cheeks.

“I did this for you.”

My mouth gaped, not believing he could be slightly any better with anyone he had no concerns towards.

It was clear, he had nothing. He didn’t have to do this.

“Why for me?”

“Obligations.” He shrugged his shoulders.

Oh that explains his small gesture of goodness or why would he bother?

“You didn’t have to. Besides, you said it yourself, you have no attraction towards me.” I smirked dryly, folding my arms as I turned to him just to piss him off.

“What does it have to do with it? But, since we came to this topic so- Of course I don’t. Look at ‘me’, what do I lack? I should have an idealistic partner after all, which is NOT you obviously.”

And he never failed to defeat me in retorts in these months. Wiping my amusement instantly. I should have seen this reply coming.

“And what an idealistic partner in your point of view? Hateful? Perfectionist? Huh?” I snickered, rolling my eyes off at him.

A man of no emotions and arrogance like him would definitely look for someone like him. I couldn’t fathom who could be a perfect partner for him.

But then unexpectedly, he gave me a response I never imagined I would hear from him.

“The ruler of my heart. ‘That’ is my idealistic partner.”

I was staggered at his words, blinking to perceive and the next question escaped my lips on their own.

“Wasn’t Veronica that?”

And it killed the smallest smile which came to his lips, scoffing.

“I consider myself at fault for ignoring what was before me.”

“What do you mean?”

Before I could extend this topic further and ask him what he meant, he stopped the car, got out.