PART 41.
Xyrel's POV
"Wife, what are you thinking?" my husband asked me as we lay in our bed. I couldn't deny the fact that I missed our house, its ambiance, and its welcoming aroma. Hades hugged my tummy and pulled me closer to him.
"I'm just happy to finally be living together with you again," I replied, feeling both happy and anxious about what lay ahead of us.
"Have you observed the house? I haven't made any major changes except for the guest room, which I turned into Nate's room," he said while brushing my hair with his fingers. Walter was currently staying at my parents' house, as they had insisted on spending time with my son and giving my husband and me some privacy to catch up after all the years we had been separated.
"Our house feels like home. Thank you for taking care of it while I was away," I replied, brushing his face with my palm. As I looked into my husband's eyes, I saw love and tenderness reflected in his gaze. He returned my gaze with the same affection, his eyes filled with warmth and understanding. In that moment, I felt a sense of comfort and safety in his embrace, knowing that we were finally together again.
"Should we give Nate a younger brother or sister?" Hades smirked, and I laughed at his playful suggestion.
"Nah, we need to secure his future first before we even think about adding more children," I replied with a smile on my face, emphasizing the word "add."
"Wife," he looked at me with worry, longing, and a multitude of questions. I returned his gaze with love and affection. "Why did you leave me?"
I bit my lower lip, hesitant to tell him the real reason behind my departure. I avoided his gaze and stared at the ceiling. He leaned closer and rested his face on my neck. "Please, Wife. Tell me everything that's been bothering you. I will do my best to help you resolve any problems you've been struggling with."
"Hades," I called out to him as I let out a deep and heavy sigh. "I was ordered to stay away from you."
He took a step back and furrowed her brow slightly. "Ordered? By whom?"
"I don't know who that person is, but I'm sure they are living in the mansion. I overheard one of the men saying that this person has their own room there. Most probably," I paused briefly before continuing, knowing that what I was about to say would come as a shock to him. "One of your family members,"
As soon as I said the words 'family members,' I could feel the weight of the revelation settling on Hades. The pause that followed was heavy with tension and uncertainty, as if the very air had become charged with emotion. I braced myself for his reaction, unsure of how he would respond to the idea that one of his own relatives might have played a role in our separation. For a few moments, we simply looked at each other, the silence between us speaking volumes. Then, with a deep breath, Hades spoke.
"I will tell Dad about it tomorrow. Can you give me more details?" Hades asked, his voice tense with a mixture of worry and anger. I could see the emotions playing across his face as he spoke, his brow furrowed and his jaw set in determination. Despite the gravity of the situation, I was relieved to see that he was taking it seriously and seemed committed to getting to the bottom of the issue.
"Right, I almost forgot the important part," I said, snapping my fingers as I remembered something. "It was one of the men who referred to that person as 'Garaba.' I'm not sure who he is, but the man seemed to know him well."
As soon as I said the word 'Garaba,' I noticed a look of surprise flash across Hades' face. It was a split-second expression, but one that I couldn't miss. I couldn't be sure, but it seemed like he recognized the name or had some prior knowledge of it. His reaction was subtle, but it was enough to pique my curiosity and make me wonder what he knew about this mysterious figure.
"Alright. Thank you, Wife," he replied after a few moments of silence, before kissing me quickly on the forehead and embracing me tightly. We then went to sleep. However, it took me a long time to finally fall asleep because my thoughts were consumed by deep contemplation.
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The next day, Hades woke up early because he said he needed to attend to something at the office. When I woke up, he was no longer beside me and was already getting dressed. I immediately sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes and let out a yawn.
"Would you like to have breakfast first?" I asked him as I got up from the bed and straightened out the sheets and pillow.
"No, Wife," he said with a tinge of regret in his voice. "I have a lot of work to do at the office today, and I might be late coming home. Are you going to be okay here alone?" I could see the concern etched on his face, and I knew that he was worried about leaving me by myself. "I'm anxious about leaving you here. Do you want to come with me to the office instead?" he asked, his eyes searching mine for an answer.
I smiled and walked over to him, taking his hand in mine. "No, Hades. I'll be fine," I said reassuringly as I stepped in closer to him and straightened his tie. "I'm just going to do a little cleaning here and then visit Walter in Mom and Dad's house. You shouldn't worry about me." I could see the concern in his eyes and feel the hesitation in his movements, but I knew that he needed to focus on his work. "And please, do not ever skip your meals," I added firmly. "I'm particularly worried about your health. You've gotten so thin," I said, glancing at his slender figure. His job had been taking a toll on him lately, and I wanted to make sure he took care of himself as best he could.
"Yes, Wife. I will," he said, nodding in agreement. "Please keep yourself safe while I'm away." I could see the concern in his eyes as he spoke, and I knew that he was worried about leaving me alone. He stepped in closer to me and gently took my face in his hands, kissing me softly on the lips. I responded with a passion that surprised even myself, feeling the familiar warmth and electricity that always seemed to flow between us. As our lips parted, I could feel his breath on my skin, his eyes locked onto mine. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he said, his voice low and husky. "I promise."
As he turned to leave, I followed him out of the bedroom and down the hallway to the garage. Standing there, I watched as he climbed into his car and started the engine, the sound resonating through the space. I waved goodbye as he drove away, a small pang of sadness and longing tugging at my heartstrings. I knew that I would miss him terribly while he was gone, but I also knew that he had work to do and that I needed to be strong and independent in his absence.
With Hades now gone, I took a deep breath and went into action, determined to make the most of my time alone. I quickly tied my hair into a bun and put on my cleaning clothes, ready to tackle the task at hand. I started by cleaning the kitchen, wiping down the counters and washing the dishes in the sink. Then, I moved on to the living room, dusting the furniture and vacuuming the carpets. The sound of the vacuum cleaner was soothing in a way, and I found myself lost in thought as I worked, my mind wandering to the events of the past few days. Despite the task at hand, my thoughts kept returning to the mystery of "Garaba" and what it might mean for Hades and me. But I pushed those thoughts aside for the moment, focusing instead on the cleaning and the sense of satisfaction that came with a job well done.
After several hours of cleaning, I was exhausted but also invigorated by the sense of accomplishment that came with a clean home. I decided to treat myself to a relaxing bath, and quickly ran the water in the tub, adding a few drops of lavender oil for a calming effect. As I sank into the warm water, I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh, feeling the tension in my muscles start to melt away. The scent of lavender filled the air, and I felt a sense of peace and tranquility wash over me. For a few blissful moments, I simply soaked in the tub, letting the cares of the world slip away. It was a small indulgence, but one that I knew I deserved after a long day of cleaning and worrying about Hades.
After finishing my bath, I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel and got dressed, eager to see my son Walter and visit my parents. Although I had only been away from Walter for a day, it felt like an eternity. I was excited to see his smile and feel his warm embrace once again.
As I drove towards my parents' house, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and anxiety. It had been years since I had driven a car, after an accident that left me temporarily crippled. But I was determined to overcome my fears, and the thought of seeing my family again gave me the courage to get behind the wheel.
When I arrived at my parents' house, I saw Walter peeking out the window. His face lit up with joy when he saw me inside the car, and I could feel my heart swell with happiness.
He quickly ran out of the house and shouted, "Mommy!" as he waited for me to get out of the car.
As I stepped out of the car and ran towards him, I felt a surge of joy and love, holding him tightly in my arms.
"Mommy's here!" I exclaimed, feeling so grateful to be reunited with my family once again.
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Hades' POV
As I sat at my desk in the office, I struggled to focus on my work. The mystery of "Garaba" and its connection to my grandfather's health and Xyrel's past departure consumed my thoughts. Frustration and anxiety washed over me as I sifted through piles of paperwork and scanned endless lines of data on my computer screen. Time was running out, and I knew I needed to find a solution quickly. The fate of my family rested on my ability to uncover the truth. Despite the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, I refused to give up. I took a deep breath and focused on the facts and evidence before me, searching for a pattern or clue that could lead me to the truth.
As I was busy with all the work I had been assigned, my door opened. "Hades," it was Ayesha, Xyrel's friend, and I furrowed my brow as I glanced at the papers she was holding. Right after she entered, Tyler followed.
"Ayesha?" He asked with a mocking tone, "Why are you here again? Do you have any business with Hades?"
"Shut up, Tyler," Ayesha replied with annoyance and walked over to my table.
"Hades, I have gathered some important documents from the Lavisca Empire, and I initially thought of giving them to Xyrel first, but these data are particularly related to your Tita Yvanne, so I decided to let you see them first," she said as she put the papers on my table. I furrowed my brow before I held the sheets and scanned their pages.
"These are all Yvanne's documentation of corruption throughout the years in the Empire," Ayesha replied, crossing her arms. "These are important documents that could put her in prison."
"Wait, what?" Tyler exclaimed, his voice rising in shock. "You mean to say, you were digging in the Empire? Can't you see what could happen if you're caught? You might be put in danger!"
I could sense Tyler's worry and concern for Ayesha's safety, and I couldn't blame him. The risks were high, and the consequences could be severe if she were caught. But I also knew that Ayesha had taken great care to ensure her safety and had trusted me to handle the information responsibly. Ayesha, however, seemed unfazed by Tyler's reaction and rolled her eyes.
"Hello, Tyler, calm down," Ayesha interjected, her voice firm. "As you can see, I have gathered important documents here."
"I understand your concern, Tyler," I said calmly. "But Ayesha has been careful. And this information could be crucial to our investigation. We need to be smart and strategic about how we use it."
Tyler nodded, his expression still tense. "I hear you, Hades. But we need to be careful. We can't afford to take unnecessary risks," he said, looking at Ayesha with a mix of concern and apprehension. Ayesha returned his gaze with an equally intense look, and I couldn't help but wonder what was going on between them. I had a feeling that there was more to their dynamic than met the eye. Perhaps Tyler had feelings for Ayesha, but hadn't yet acknowledged them. Whatever the case, it was clear that there was some underlying tension between the two of them.
Despite Ayesha's nonchalant attitude, I could tell that Tyler's concern was shared by all of us. The stakes were high, and the risks were great, but we couldn't afford to let fear or hesitation hold us back. We needed to take action, to push forward, no matter the cost. The fate of my family and the truth about Garaba hung in the balance, and I was determined to uncover it, no matter what.
As I lay back, massaging my temple, I spoke up. "Good thing the two of you are here. I might need your help with something not entirely related to these problems."
They turned to look at me, their interest piqued.
"I need your help planning a unique wedding proposal for my wife," I announced. Ayesha smirked, but her happiness didn't escape my notice.
"But you're already married," Ayesha retorted.
"True, but I never actually proposed to her properly. We got married because of the circumstances, and I want to make it up to her. I want her to feel how much I love her and how special she is to me."
Ayesha raised an eyebrow. "I see. So, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, I was thinking of something different, something that would surprise her," I replied, sitting up and leaning forward. "Maybe a flash mob or a scavenger hunt that leads her to the proposal location. Or maybe something simpler, like a romantic dinner with a surprise proposal at the end."
Tyler grinned. "I like the scavenger hunt idea. It's unique and fun."
Ayesha nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and it would keep her guessing until the very end. But how are you going to plan it all?"
"That's where I need your help," I said, smiling. "I know you both are creative and resourceful, and I could use your expertise in making this proposal special and unforgettable."
"Absolutely!" Tyler said, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "We'd be happy to help you plan this proposal. It sounds like a lot of fun!"
Ayesha grinned. "Count me in too! This is going to be so much fun. We'll make sure it's a proposal she'll never forget."
I smiled, feeling grateful for their enthusiasm and support. "Thank you both. I appreciate your help. Let's work together to make this proposal something truly special."