THE BILLIONAIRE'S HIDDEN SIN

CHAPTER 4

Chapter 4 — Mum's sake

Regina's POV

“Why are you here?" My voice came out sharp like the edge of a blade. "Is trouble really in your blood?"

"You didn't finish that," he chuckled, and steadied himself before me with one hand in his pocket, “I guess you wanted to mention my bloodline.”

I shook my head in disgust. He is too silly to joke around every abuse thrown at him. He just doesn't really care, which causes me more pain.

"I'm not kidding with you." My eyes burned into him. "Didn't I tell you yesterday? Didn't I make myself clear? We are done and so be it."

He didn't answer that, he just tilted his head toward the man next to him, whom I hadn't noticed since. "Meet my partner. Andy."

"I don't care who he is!" My voice had mixed with rage, but I could feel my hands shaking non-stop, my eyes held his unbothered face. “Drew, I told you to stay away from me. Are you deaf? Did you even realize what you did yesterday? You wouldn't, no man as silly as you are would.”

Mum's grip found my arm. "Regina—"

"Not now, Mum."

I pushed past all three of them and got the front door open, my whole body still buzzing with anger, or maybe fear of something I can't really explain.

"I already explained everything to your mum." Drew's voice came right behind me, calm and composed. "She seems a lot more attentive than you were yesterday. I will wait outside for you."

Disgusting. That's what it is. I didn't reply, I had a thousand words, but I couldn't put myself to say any of it.

Mum followed me inside, and shut the door. She was quiet for a minute while watching me pace around the living room like my whole body had been set on fire.

"What did he tell you?" My voice cracked on the question.

"He wants to help us," she said softly, her eyes searching mine like she needed a spot where her word could easily drop in my ears.

"He truly cares, Regina."

"He doesn't care about anything, Mum. He cares about getting what he wants." My voice was tensed.

"You really think so?" Mum smiled faintly. "He had been here for about half an hour. He made me laugh, Regina. He asked about my knees before he asked about anything else."

"And none of that is enough, Mum. This man is up to something." My voice lowered a bit.

Mum smiled at that. "Everyone's up to something. At least he's up to something that will help us for once."

"Mum—"

"You don't know him—."

"Neither do you!" I snapped. "You only met him for thirty minutes."

I paused and stared at her. Guilt settled in my chest as I couldn't believe I was arguing with my mum this much.

"Mum, just look around you.” My voice cooled completely but my anger hadn't left. “Look at this house, look at what we've had to live with since Dad died and his brother took everything. I don't want another—"

"Noo—" her voice cracked. "Don't bring your father into this." A sob broke through, and she pressed her hand tightly to her mouth like she could hold it back.

I dashed forward and grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry, Mum." The heat in my voice had vanished. The last time I saw her sob was the day my Dad's brother sent us out of the house to a rotten building we now live in. I made a promise not to make her sob or shed a tiny drop of tears again.

But it happened, I just broke my promise and got myself to blame for it or maybe the stubborn suitor outside, who could have just stopped pushing at my first no.

"I'm not asking you to marry him." Her hot tears dropped right on my shoulder. "One dinner, that's all he's asking. One dinner, and maybe we stop drowning."

I shook my head firmly. "That's not all it is and you also know it."

"I don't want to know, Regina. The only thing I care to know is that I'm tired." Tears were finding their way now, and she didn't bother wiping them.

"I'm not happy watching you break your back just to make ends meet for both of us. I'm not happy seeing myself unable to afford my medications. I'm always afraid every single month, and I'm just tired of living such life."

Something in me cracked, painful and quiet, like an old wall that had resisted so much rain and heat but couldn't handle it anymore. Tears gathered from nowhere in my eyes.

"I know," I whispered. "I know, Mum. But I'm not for sale, not even for us."

"No one said you are," she whispered back.

"That's was it is, Mum. Maybe I'm the only one that understand."

Then she went silent, and that felt worse than all her sobbing. She raised her head up, and something in her face closed off completely.

"Fine, Regina." Her voice had gone flat, all the argument had drained out of it. "Fine, I won't ask again."

"Mum—"

"No, I heard you. You're not for sale." She dried her face with her napkin, and headed for her room without looking back at me. "I will figure out the rent and medications myself. I will do my best or die trying."

"Mum! That's not fair."

"Really?" Her face squeezed, just slightly, but it was worse than if she had just continued the argument.

"Goodnight daughter." I watched her disappear from my face into her room and I could hear the bang of her door closing somehow louder than it used to be. I stood there wanting to call out after her, but I couldn't, my throat had dried completely.

I went into my room and sat alone. Just me and my heavy heart full of everything unsaid. I stood and peeped through the window if perhaps the chaos had dissolved on its own, but he was still standing by his car waiting like the whole street belonged to him.

Andy said something and Drew actually laughed at it. Meanwhile, I was here crying like an i***t over a man who had come to claim me, and will to do anything thing to get it.

I tried sleeping, but gave up on that fast. I ended up curled on my bed, knees to my chest, crying into my own arm so Mum wouldn't hear it through the wall.

I glanced at the clock, it was exactly 7 PM. The exact time he had been waiting for.

Maybe I should just go for mum’s sake.

That thought scared me worse than anything that had happened before — worse than the locked door, worse than the kiss he stole in that car.

And I couldn't stop thinking about Kelvin, his words at the hospital. Marry Drew, and wait till I resurface. That's pathetic. Why would he accept that?

I thought about mum, how she had closed off completely because I wouldn't go on a dinner with a stranger.

What's going on? I couldn't answer any of that.

I wiped my face and reached a conclusion. Just tonight and nothing more. Just this dinner and I will chase him away from my back completely.

I stood and reached for a simple outfit, then my phone buzzed on my bed.

A call from Kelvin. My eyes brightened at once, and I picked without thinking twice.

“Kelvin, is that you calling?” My voice cracked.

“Yeah, I'm just checking in.” His voice was calm, but not friendly in any way.

I paused at that, and honestly I felt a relief ran through me. “I'm sorry for—”

“You don't need to,” he cut in, like he had rehearsed for that. “Let's hang out for the night, I had just tonight to spare, and explain all you needed to know, will you?”

“Kelvin…” a sob broke through, and I couldn't control it.

“I…I..” Mum's face flashed through my eyes, how she had cried trying to convince me to follow Drew.

And I never wanted to lose Kelvin either, he just promise to sacrifice a night, and I was scared I won't see him again.

I stared at my phone with no response.

“I love you…” that's all I could say.

“I'm outside your house. Come out and prove your love.”

“What….”