Ruby
Vexon pushed me inside the bedroom. He didn't even give me a moment to recuperate before he grabbed me by my waist.
"Vexon, what��"
Without wasting a second, Vexon pressed his lips firmly against mine and I was surprised, but I didn't stop him.
Instead, I roughly ran a hand through his hair. He pushed me against the wall, leaving no room for me to escape. He started kissing me possessively. He bit my lower lip, to which I let out a moan.
My tongue tried to fight for dominance, but he won. He didn't leave any part of me unexplored. I was enjoying this.
Soon, we pulled apart, gasping for breath. I didn't say a word.
"Why did you have to go with Max?" Vexon questioned, running his hand through his hair, "How dare you even take that cigarette?"
I bit my lip, suppressing my smile.
He further spoke, his voice getting louder, "Why did you dress up like that? And that too, on a nightclub? How can you��" he stopped midway when he saw me grinning? "Why are you smiling? I just��Ah, now I get it. You...ugh," he groaned.
"I finally broke your emotionless look," I said in between my laughs.
"This was not fair, Ruby. You went out dressing like that. Do you understand how many men were staring at you?"
"No," I replied, feigning innocence.
When I noticed the cuts on his hand from breaking those glasses, a gasp escaped my lips. I rushed to retrieve the first aid kit, which Vexon didn't even notice. I started applying ointment on his wounds and he just kept rambling as he took a sit on the bed.
"That was a fake date, wasn't it? Of course, it was," he mumbled under his breath. "But, he kissed your cheek. He held your waist, your hand. I felt like shooting him. I even brought my gun."
My eyes grew wide in terror. I stopped applying the ointment and asked him, "You really brought your gun?"
He arched an eyebrow. "You thought I wouldn't?"
I looked at Vexon in disbelief, unable to utter a word. Max was right. Vexon really went to bring his gun.
"I should have known it was just Max. I can't believe I fell for your trap. Next time, though, Ruby, I will kill Max and burn all those damn skimpy clothes," he threatened me.
"Okay, boss," I said and cupped his cheeks. "You are absolutely crazy. How could you think that I pity you when I do everything just for you?"
Vexon tried to push my hand away but I remained persistent.
"Vexon, I care for you. You are my life. I am doing these things to get your attention. I am an attention seeker of yours only. Can't you give me another chance?" I asked him.
This time, he roughly pushed my hands away. "Another chance? For God's sake, you killed my mother, Ruby. How could you even think for a second that I would give you another chance?"
I breathed out, "Don't you want to forgive me?"
"It doesn't matter what I want," he said, walking towards the balcony. "Nobody will accept it."
I followed him and questioned, "What do you want, Vexon?" When he stayed silent, I grabbed his arm and said sternly, "Answer me."
"I lost everything, Ruby. Everything. Do you know how much it hurts? I lost my father, Orson, Mom, and now Kace. Cason and Kendrik are far away. Newana is also going away. And you..." Taking a pause, Vexon glanced at me and I saw his eyes getting watery.
He further spoke, "They had no choice but to leave me, but you had the option. If you hadn't killed Mom that day, I would have both my mother and you. You had a choice, Ruby, a choice."
A tear escaped his eyes and I couldn't control mine any longer. "Vexon, I'm sorry," I said, my voice cracking.
"I wish your apology could bring my mom back. I know she drugged me, but she just wanted me to be an objective king, who didn't let my emotions control the way I lead. Even after I married you, she never treated you badly. Why did you do this then? Why did you kill her?"
I led him over to the porch swing and I sat next to him. I wiped his tears; I hated seeing him cry, especially while I knew that I was the reason.
"I can't go back and take back my mistakes. I know I could've prevented it. If I didn't kill her," I paused, "I would be dead. I am sorry, Vexon. I was selfish. I only cared about myself."
I hated lying to him, but I had to. It hurt to confess it. However, I couldn't do more damage to him. I already broke him.
"From here on, I will sacrifice myself for anyone in danger. I don't care. Stranger or not. I will save that person even if it means hurting myself," I said in a promising tone.
Vexon's eyes held a familiar emotion.
There it is, I thought. The love I have longed to see.
"I don't have the strength to lose you, Ruby, but I can't forgive you."
I nodded my head, wiping my tears with my palm. "You don't have to forgive me, then. Just don't be cold to the people you adore."
Vexon just stayed quiet, admiring the stars.
"By the way, I won the challenge. Are you still going to smoke?" I added after a long silence.
He glared at me and spoke up, "After the stunt, you pulled today, not even in my dreams."
A smile took over my lips, knowing he had opened up to me. Vexon finally poured out his emotions.
I was finally satisfied.
That night, we finally slept in the same bed. There was still a huge gap between us, though.
___
I awoke to our bedroom door clicking.
"Maya, leave the trolley here," I mumbled groggily, my eyes slightly opened.
I saw Everley entering the room with Maya pulling the trolley filled with breakfast behind her.
"Good morning! I brought breakfast," Everley exclaimed with excitement as she ran into my arms.
I hugged her and wished her back with a smile.
"Breakfast? I wonder if you brought my favorite strawberry pancakes," Vexon said as he reached for the plate of pancakes. He woke up earlier than me, as usual.
"No, don't touch that. Those are my favorites, and you hate strawberries," Everley pushed his hand away and giggled. Vexon picked her up, kissing her cheeks.
"I am glad you are not angry all the time now. My momma and my dad are in Italy. Momma said that they would never come back, but I have Mom here. So I have no problem." Everley pointed her index finger at me, which made me awestruck. She had no problem with her parents going away because we were there for her and she knew it.
Poor girl didn't know her father was not in Italy, rather Kace was dead.
She glanced at Vexon, before speaking hesitantly, "Can I call you 'Dad' from now on, Uncle Vexon?"
I stared at Vexon in amusement, only to find him giving me the same look.
"Can I?" Everley asked again.
She was afraid of the answer. Even as a child, she was smart enough to understand that she had to stay with us forever.
Everley, and I, waited for his answer. I wanted him to say yes. Otherwise, Everley would call me mom and him, Uncle Vexon. It would be very awkward.
"Of course," Vexon finally answered.
Everley squealed in excitement, jumping on the ground now. "Thank you! Now I can say that I have the best parents in the world."
I and Vexon chuckled, seeing Everley happy.
Can we just stay like this forever?
