CHAPTER 8 – Zara’s POV
2385 Words
Zara’s POV
Later…
I had fallen asleep lost in my thoughts and would have continued to sleep if it weren't for the knocking on my door. Quickly, I got up and went to the door.
“Ken, it's you!”
“Are you sick?” he asked.
“No, I'm not. Why do you ask?” I responded, fixing my hair.
“Daddy told me to ask if you're okay.”
I had to suppress a laugh at Enrique's statement. So, Lucas finally came home.
I smile at my son. “I see, so where is he now?”
“Cooking breakfast.”
“Oh, really?” I asked because it wasn’t something that Lucas would normally do when he was home.
“But I think he needs your help!” Enrique said, sounding worried.
“Did he make a mess in the kitchen?” I inquired, trying to make myself look presentable.
“Yes, Mom.”
“Alright, let's go and see your Dad,” I said.
I took Enrique’s hands on our way to the kitchen but the sight that greeted me was like a nightmare to every housewife!
What the hell?
I couldn't help but curse silently when I saw the mess in my kitchen. “Enrique, I'll help your Dad with cooking. Just go to your room or play with your toys” I ordered.
“Okay, Mom.”
As soon as Enrique left, I confronted Lucas. “You knew you can't cook a proper meal, so why did you touch my kitchen?”
When he glared at me, I realized that I may have used an improper word regarding the propriety of the kitchen. He looked offended but I didn’t dare to look away.
I just asked why he dared to intervene in my kitchen when he couldn’t make a meal except for toasted bread!
He could be a frustrated cook or something but he shouldn’t be practicing in my kitchen! It’s just unacceptable!
“I'm hungry, and Ken was hungry too! Did you plan to starve us?”
“Excuse me? Am I the one to be blamed for this? You should have done what you were good at, Lucas like calling your secretary to order something to eat,” I reminded him.
“Are you trying to humiliate me, Zara? You wanted me to call my secretary at this hour just because I’m hungry?” he snapped.
I raised my eyebrow, deciding that it was a waste of time to argue with someone like Lucas Blackwood.
“You should have woke me up!” I snapped back.
My anger subsided a bit but then I wondered what time he got home. Anyway, it didn’t matter anymore. For years, I have learned to ignore him as much as I could.
“But you said I wasn't allowed to go to your room,” he smirked.
I took offense when he smirked. “Is there something funny?”
Lucas shook his head. “No, none at all. I just remembered how you usually look in the morning,” he stated.
And I was even more offended by his statement. So, without warning, I lightly punched his arm. “Is being kind to your wife so hard for you, Mr. Blackwood?”
“Mr. Blackwood? Have you forgotten who I am, Zara? I am still your husband!” he snapped.
“Oh, Lucas, just stop it, okay? I have never forgotten about who you are. How could I when you always blame me for becoming your wife?”
He just groaned but then, I realized that a woman like me could easily fall in love. It only took a little bit of sweet-talking, and my heart would give in.
Maybe if I had been involved with other men before, I wouldn't be so susceptible to my husband’s charms. I knew I needed to find a way to distance myself from him!
“Why are you here, Lucas? You are supposed to be with Giselle now,” I told him.
“Later, Zara,” he replied before walking out of the kitchen without looking back.
Did I offend him or something? I shrugged before cleaning up the counter. I couldn’t just start cooking when everything was messy. I couldn’t explain it but I cooked better when my kitchen was clean. For me, a cluttered kitchen would always ruin my mood, especially when it was Lucas who made the mess.
After cooking, I set the table immediately. Then, I called them to eat. Enrique seemed to enjoy the food I prepared. Well, he always loved my food.
When I glanced at Lucas, it seemed he had no appetite. He said he was hungry but he didn’t touch the food on his plate. Suddenly, he was busy with his phone until the food got cold.
Then he left.
I didn’t give a f**k where he went to. I was used to it. But leaving Enrique without saying anything? That’s something I wouldn’t forgive.
“There must be something wrong with the company,” I ended up telling a lie to my son because he looked so disappointed.
He didn’t respond and just kept on eating.
Whereas for Lucas, he probably went to call Giselle. Fortunately, we were used to his absence at home.
“Since there’s no classes today, how about we go shopping?” I asked him.
“Wow!” he exclaimed.
It was around ten in the morning when I took him to a shopping mall. I also let him choose where he wanted to have our lunch, and after a few minutes of discussion, we decided to eat in a chicken restaurant.
I kept arguing that we always had chicken at home, so maybe he should choose something else in the mall, but Enrique was adamant about the chicken place.
Anyway, I conceded to him.
We bought our tickets first before having lunch. Just like how I let him choose the place where we would eat, he also chose the movie title. As expected, he chose a cartoon movie but I couldn’t complain though. It was a good movie.
After the movie, we went to the department store, and looked around. I bought some lingerie even though I wouldn’t be able to use them.
Whereas Enrique asked me to buy a huge stuffed toy. It was a human sized teddy bear, and he was so glad to carry it around the mall.
Before heading home, we had our dinner at a steakhouse. I ordered their steak while Enrique had their fish and fries. Then, I had watermelon salad afterward. Enrique chose to have an ice cream. I obliged to his request because it wasn’t everyday that he would ask for it.
When we got home, we were both tired after spending the entire day at the mall. I just helped Enrique in cleaning himself, then he went to sleep.
I was dragging my feet toward my room. The house was big but it’s just the two of us. I couldn’t even hire a maid to help me with the cleaning.
But before I was able to fall asleep, Lucas sent me a message that he would take me and Enrique to the mall in the morning.
I rolled my eyes because at the moment I couldn’t imagine myself walking around the mall again. But still, I set my alarm clock.
As soon as I woke up, I showed Enrique the message I got from his Dad and he was overjoyed. He was too excited as he went to the bathroom to take a shower, and after thirty minutes, he was ready to go.
I was too proud of him. At a young age, he already knew how to choose an outfit. Actually, it was so unusual for him to take us to the mall. I kept checking my wristwatch. Where’s Lucas? He promised to take us to the mall this morning but he was missing in action!
“Where’s Dad?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Go upstairs and tell your father to hurry up,” I ordered and he was immediately running upstairs.
After a few minutes, Enrique was back, but he was alone.
“How about your father?” I asked.
“I think he's sick, Mom,” Enrique answered.
“W-What?!”
Was he getting sick now when we're about to leave? No, I didn’t think it was the case. I believed Lucas had second thoughts about going to the mall with us, and he was just lying!
Before Enrique’s small smile could fall into disappointment, I squeezed his hand. “Wait here. I’ll check on him, okay?”
His fingers tightened around mine like he already knew the answer.
“Yes, Mom,” he replied but the way he said it made my chest ache.
Slowly, I walked upstairs. Of course, I knocked before entering his room, and as expected, he was just fine. He was seated behind his desk, sleeves rolled up, and eyes fixed on his laptop. From the doorway, he didn’t look sick to me. He just looked like a man who decided not to honor his words.
“You look perfectly fine,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.
He didn’t look up immediately. “I canceled my plans.”
“I noticed.”
He finally raised his eyes to mine. “Something came up.”
“Seriously, Lucas? Enrique was excited to go out with you!” I snapped at him.
“I’ll take him next time, okay?”
“There shouldn’t have to be a next time,” I warned him.
“Zara, please! Why are you being difficult today? Can’t you see I am so busy?” He looked pissed as he stood up.
I stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind me. “Why are you being cruel to your son, Lucas?”
He didn’t respond. After taking a deep breath, I decided to do it. I didn’t mean to beg but I had to.
“Please, Lucas,” I said, and I hated how small my voice sounded in his room. “Just this once. Don’t disappoint him again.”
His jaw tightened. “You’re exaggerating!”
My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt so he wouldn’t see them shaking. “Exaggerating?Maybe I am but please…he waits for you every time! Just this once, Lucas. Can you please not cancel the outing? Please!”
Lucas exhaled slowly, as if agreeing to spend time with his own son required negotiation. “Fine,” he said at last. “But not the famous malls in the city,” he added.
I frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Choose somewhere quieter. Less crowded places if you get my point,” he replied.
I knew it!
It wasn’t about work. It was about being seen. He was afraid that someone would see him with us. “Alright,” I said quickly, before he could change his mind. “There’s a smaller mall in the south district. Hardly anyone goes there.”
He gave a curt nod but I didn’t leave. I stayed by the door while he changed his jacket. Then, he checked his phone while he adjusted his watch. The other reason why I didn’t leave was because I knew him.
If I walked away, he would find another reason to cancel. An urgent call. A sudden headache. Or a meeting that couldn’t wait. It had always been like that in the past.
So I waited like a guard.
“Let’s go,” he said.
On the way to the mall, the car felt smaller than usual. Enrique sat between us in the backseat, happily pointing at random buildings outside the tinted window.
“Dad, can we get ice cream later?” Enrique asked but Lucas didn’t respond.
I kept both hands in my lap, gripping my mobile phone so tightly my palm began to sweat. I didn’t dare put it down. It gave me something to hold but every time the car slowed down at a stoplight, I became even more nervous.
“Dad?” Enrique tried to get his father’s attention again.
“Ken, behave please,” I talked to him.
I wanted him to behave because I was afraid that Lucas would snap at him. If ever, that would seriously hurt the child.
Suddenly, Lucas groaned. So, I glanced at him. He just kept staring. What’s his problem though? I furrowed my brows. I was about to ask him when he spoke first.
“Are you waiting for someone to call you?” he asked and there was a hint of anger in his voice.
I didn’t respond to his inquiry. Instead, I put my phone inside my sling bag and held Enrique’s hand. When we arrived at the mall, Lucas kept a safe distance from us.
Actually, I felt bad for my son when Lucas refused to hold his hand, and then he pretended to be busy calling someone. In my mind, I wondered if he was calling Giselle at the moment.
“Don’t let go of my hand, Ken,” I said to my son.
“But I am a big boy now, Mom. I am sure I can manage,” he replied while trying to get away from my hold.
“Don’t use that tone with me, little boy!” I scolded him in a way I knew wouldn’t hurt him too much.
“I'm sorry, Mom,” he quickly apologized.
“It's okay. I understand that you're a big boy now, but there could be bad guys in the mall. So, do you want to eat first before shopping for toys?”
“I will look for a good restaurant,” Lucas said from a distance.
We followed him as he looked for a nice place to eat, but then I saw someone who shouldn't be at the mall. I suddenly stopped walking and bumped into Lucas' back.
“What's wrong?” Lucas asked.
I was speechless, staring at Giselle. She was so beautiful even in a simple dress, and I felt a pang of insecurity. Before Lucas could say anything, I dragged Enrique in another direction. I wasn't far when Giselle squealed in delight upon seeing Lucas!
- Writer
