BRYSON KNIGHT POV~
"Yeah, I will tell her," I said to Natalie on the phone as I entered my penthouse.
It's 3 PM and I learn that Pearl left at the shop without telling anyone, when we reach her shop to have lunch with her.
I ask Zach and Xavier to eat lunch without me because it's strange she never goes anywhere without telling me and she was behaving weird when I left her at her shop in the morning. I ask her and she tells me she is fine. Now I don't know what happened. She is not picking up anyone's calls so I come back to check on her.
I listen to a soft cry as I reach near her bedroom. I rush inside and see her sitting near the balcony window
I hug her as she tries to stop crying
"what happened Pear? why are you crying?" I ask as I turn her around and look at her sore eyes "since when you are crying? see your eyes turn red because of crying?" I ask wiping her tears as she hugs me. I keep rubbing her back
"Today is my mom's de...ath anniv..ersar..y," she said sobbingly. I froze
"I'm sorry I don't know that," I mutter truly. I don't like her mother not even a bit, and even after her death, I don't have any kind of feelings for her.
"It was my birthday when she got ad...mitted in hosp...ital after we cut the cake she starts coughi...ng then she f..aint Stella call Mr. Thom...as as he came hurriedly we ta...take her to hospital aft....er 5 days the doctor said she di...don't have ti..me and.. t.h..e....n sh.e.." She starts crying again. I keep rubbing her back as she falls asleep in my arms. I put her on the bed and lay beside her as she hugs me in sleep.
My phone buzzes and I see 'FOODIE PLAYBOY BILLIONAIRE' I roll my eyes as Zach always changes his name from Zach to FOODIE PLAYBOY BILLIONAIRE by hacking my phone
"what?" I ask in a low irritating voice
"How is she?" I listen to Xavier's voice
"Today is her mother's death anniversary, she cried and just fell asleep. I will stay here and inform Liam about this too,"
"Oh, okay but if you tell her about Natalie's birthday plan she will be happy to join us," Zach said.
"Sure I will, her happiness is all that matters," I said before hanging up
I was putting my mobile on her charger when I saw something more like a medicine bottle. 'her medicines dose was all over 2 weeks ago,' I think when I pick up the medicine bottle and read
'Melatonin sleep'
She is taking sleeping pills? What happened? Why is she taking sleeping pills? I have to ask her
'not today she already has a breakdown what if asking her about the pills causes another breakdown I will ask her later,'
---
~2 days later~
"come on Bry, we will get late!" I listen to Natalie's impatient voice from outside
"just a minute you guys go I will meet you all in the parking lot," I said as I checked my reflection in the mirror. Thank God the dark circles are not visible. I can't able to sleep at night thinking of those sleeping pills Pearl is taking
No! I haven't asked her, she looks quite pale and I know she is not sleeping too. She spends her night on the rooftop looking at fish or counting stars.
I know that she knows that I hide her sleeping pills. I make sure she doesn't eat any medicines because she is not sick, but today after coming back I make sure we both sleep as tomorrow is Sunday we both have a day off.
"really? you are such a turtle," Xavier said from the passenger seat
"I'm not and why are you not driving I don't want to die because someone don-"
"feel free to go out," Zach said cutting me
"it's fine Brysy," Pearl said from beside
"I will kill him if he drives fast," I said pointing at Zach
"Zach bro drive fast I enjoy your fast driving," Natalie said winking at me
"Whatever you say, birthday princess," Zach said smirking at us.
Then you all know what happens, they always listen and complete their princess wishes.
-
"Welcome to the carnival Pea!" Zach shouted as we entered the carnival fair
"We all have ears, Zach," Xavier said, wrapping his arms around Natalie's shoulders as I take Pearl's hand in mine 'I don't want her to get lost.'
"We all wear gray and black color outfits," Natalie said looking at all of us
"so miss gray color princess, where you want to go first?" I ask her. She rolls her eyes
"first carousel ride," Natalie said pointing towards the carousel ride
"We always go there first," Zach said while pouting
"come on it's my birthday so-"
"Okay let's go," Zach said dragging her towards the carousel ride. Xavier follow them
"Come let's go," I said to Pearl but she stopped me
"I never ride an-"
"I know and I will be there for you don't worry," I said kissing her nose. she smiled and nodded
-
"It was fun," Pearl said as we walked outside the carousel
"I told you," Natalie said grinning at Pearl
"now where?" Xavier asked her
"let's go and eat," Zach said as we all glared at him
"We just came and you want food, grow up Zach," Xavier said, "how about we go there?" He pointed toward Bumper Cars
"Cars! come let's go," Zach said dragging Natalie and Pearl where Xavier looked at me as we shook our heads and followed them.
-
"Oh my God!" I listen to Pearl laugh as Zach bumps her car
"come on Pea drive," Natalie said
"She sucks in driving," I said grinning at Pearl but the next thing I know she bumps into my car.
"Wha-"
"She is not that bad," Xavier said winking at me.
-
"Bry, I don't like these kinds of rides. I feel dizzy," Pearl said as we got out of the scrambler ride.
"Are you okay Pea?" Zach asks as I grab her hand and make her sit on the bench.
"she is feeling dizzy," I said pulling out water for her
"it happens some time, soon you will get habitual of these rides," Xavier said as Natalie followed him.
"I'm fine guys you all can go. I think these kinds of rides are not for me," Pearl said taking a deep breath.
"you guys wait here I will get some ice creams for you all," saying that Zach left and brought ice creams for us.
We eat ice cream with small talk then we decide to go on the trapeze. I don't want to leave Pearl alone so I ask King's siblings to meet me near the roller coaster.
"Pea, what do you want?" I asked as I saw the claw machine
"hmm... that pink bunny," she pointed and I pulled out the pink bunny for her
"Wow! you are so good at this!"
"Well, all thanks to Zach. He loves playing these types of games so he teaches me some tricks," I said winking at her.
-
"Come on Pea you can do this!" I cheer her as she tries to score more in whack-a-mole.
"it so hard Bry," she said still trying to hit the mole
"it's easy Pear you can do this-owi," she hit my head
"If it is easy then do it yourself," she said leaving the game.
"Sorry, it was fun watching you try to hi-"
"shut up or I will not talk to you," she said glaring at me
"fine I give up, let's try the bean can game?" I suggest
"you play I will watch," she said as I know she sucks at playing games
"Okay, then I will buy you a panda bear what say?" I said as She laughed.
"Yeah, come on win a panda bear for me,"
-
"Wop! panda bear and pink bunny!" Zach said as we met near the roller coaster, but I saw his eyes which reflect his sadness when he say 'bunny'
"Yeah Brysy won for me in the claw machine and Bean Can game," Pearl said excitedly
"let's go I have bought the tickets for you both too," Xavier said giving us tickets.
"I don't know-"
"just try please," Natalie said making puppy dog eyes as Pearl refuses to join
"Okay let's go," Pearl said as I gave the gifts to my bodyguard and asked him to put them in the car.
-
"I feel like throwing up," Zach said as we walked out of the roller coaster
"you okay Pea?" Natalie asked her
"yeah, it was amazing," Pearl said with a laugh
"let's go to the haunted mansion," Natalie said as Xavier nodded
"I will not go there," Pearl said as we reached the haunted mansion
"you can wait outside with Zach?" Xavier ask she nodded
-
PEARL WINSTON POV~
"you can wait outside with Zach?" Xavier ask. I nodded as Natalie, Xavier, and Bryson went inside the haunted mansion. I sit beside Zach
"you don't like going inside Haunted houses?" I ask him
"hmm.. yeah... I have few childhood problems and I have been embarrassed before so yeah," he said awkwardly looking away
"Zach, can I ask you a favor?" I ask after some time
"anything Pea," he said turning toward me
"Bryson once said you are good at computer stuff?" I ask. He nodded "well I have a memory card which has some important files I need but it got wet. Can you restore those files?" I ask hopefully.
"of course Pea I can do that just give me the memory card and I will see what I can do to restore them," he said. I pulled out my bag and opened the secret pocket
"hmm.. secret pocket what are the files about?" he asks as I give him the memory card
"you will soon know," I said
"I try to do it as soon as possible," Zach said putting the card in his wallet.
"what will you try?" Bryson asks sitting beside me
"try to check the size of your pin- ouch!" Xavier hit the back of Zach's head
"We are in public," he said to Zach. He mutters a small sorry and suggests eating some junk food
We all were hungry so we nodded and followed Zach because according to him he knows the best food shops.
-
"what between you and Zach you both were acting suspiciously since we came back from the haunted house?" Bryson asks as now we are on the Ferris wheel.
"nothing I just ask him a favor," I said looking out
"What favor?" he asks as I turn towards him
"Bryson can we not talk about it? I want to tell you something but I need proof to prove myself," I said awkwardly looking down at my fingers.
"I don't need proof to trust you because I trust you," he said taking my hands in his hands as I slowly lookup
"I know but it's just a big thing I...I...can't s-"
"tell me Pear I know it is related to those sleeping pills," he said as my eyes widened.
"Come here," he said pulling me towards himself and making me sit on his lap. "tell me what is it?" he asks. My eyes water.
"it hard Brys-"
"trust me, tell me,"
I took a deep breath before telling him
"After my mother died I was abused for 5 years," I said. He freezes for a whole one minute.
"what?" he asks his voice was almost whisper
"I can't slee..p wi..thout sle...eping pil..ls becaus..e I g..ot nightm..ares of thos-"
"shhh calm down," he said as I started crying "we will talk after we get home,"
I nodded in his chest trying to control my tears. As the ride stopped, we both pulled apart
"Pearl, are you okay?" Xavier asks as we walkout
"Yeah I'm fine just tired," I said giving him a small smile. He looks Bryson and then nodded toward me
"let's go and cut the cake," Zach said
"Yeah, David and Erica just texted me to come so we can celebrate my birthday," Natalie said. We nodded and went to the restaurant where her friends David and Erica were waiting for us with a cake.
We eat dinner and talk but I see Bryson zoning out a lot. If someone asks about what happened he says 'I'm tired,'
-
"good night tired birds," Zach said as he hugs me "I will try to do your work as soon as I come back from Chicago,"
"no-worry," I said hugging him back
"Okay you can leave her before I kill you," Bryson said glaring at him then I hugged Xavier wishing him a safe journey then I hugged Natalie.
"Happy birthday once again send me the picture of yours when you wear that dress," I said referring to the dress I gifted her.
"of course, I will... I'm gonna miss you and your strawberry pastries," she said hugging me back.
Yeah, the Kings are going to Chicago for a week. I'm gonna miss them a lot, especially Natalie. After Valentine's day, we started spending lots of time together. I taught her how to make her favorite strawberry pastry but she always forces me to make it for her saying 'it didn't taste good,'
-
"tell me," Bryson asks softly as we sit in the living room
I tell him everything after my mother died, want to move out, angry Mr. Thomas, starving days, hitting me with the belt, soldering iron marks, hiding and locking room, wooden rod, calling the police, electric shocks, unconscious in the basement for days everything except the "master" part
"-.sometimes I think of seeking online help but get scared of his next punishm-"
"stop p-plea..se sto..p," Bryson said and started crying. I hug him
"Why are you crying, Bryson?" I ask "don't tell me you are crying because of me," I said trying to lighten up his mood but he cries harder
We keep hugging and crying
"I'm sorry I b-broke my promise of f-finding you and c-coming back t-to you," he said sobbingly.
"don't be a crybaby Bryson everything is fine now I'm back to you, you didn't break any promise," I said as I didn't want him to feel guilty.
"you have a big heart Pearl you forgive people easily, that's why you forgive me for breaking the promise," he said sobering up "but don't tell me you will forgive your so-called step-father," he said angrily.
"no, I will not forgive him! I have proof of his illegal business and some clips of him abusing me on that memory card that I give to Zach, but I will not expose him now, he always throws his birthday party on 3 April. I'm waiting for that day, that day his partners in illegal business will also come there and I can expose them all together," I said but I know who I want to expose. If I do not tell him about my master, he will get angry and cry more and then blame himself for everything.
"it's a good idea, I'm with you my love," Bryson said kissing my hands "but only at one cost,"
"cost?" I ask in confusion
"Yeah, from now we will sleep together in my room," he said
"but we ar-"
"no buts!! we will just cuddle nothing more," he said "please become my cuddle bear," he makes puppy eyes
"fine you win," I said grinning at him. He always lightens up my mood
"come on let's sleep together," he said standing up
--
"Bryson," I said as he was sleeping on me
Yeah on top of me which I don't mind
"Hmm...." he said in a sleepy voice
"Thank you," I said running my hands through his hair.
He opens his eyes and looks at me "for what?"
"for listening to me, trusting me, and," I said kissing his forehead "especially for becoming my happiness,"
"I love you my Pear bear," he said with a tired smile closing his eyes and putting his head back on my chest.
"I love you too Brysy boo,"