Chapter Nineteen: Awkwardness
1023 Words
“Tristan, I’m so happy that you’re finally here! Now, I can finally say that I’ll be at peace if ever your grandmother decides to take me already.” Don Manuel followed it with a soft laugh.
They were all in the dining room now, having breakfast together.
The old Don was already feeling much better, so he requested that everyone have breakfast together that day.
Marcus and Vanessa were seated beside each other together with their child, Gabby. Gabby’s nanny was also at the table, taking care of feeding the child.
On the other side, Tristan sat beside Lyndsay along with Loisa.
“Grandpa, please don’t say that. You’re still going to live a long life,” Marcus said.
Don Manuel sighed deeply.
“Hijo, anytime the Lord decides to take me, I am ready. I feel complete now, knowing that your brother Tristan is finally here with us.”
The happiness in Don Manuel’s eyes could not be hidden.
Lyndsay could not help but feel awkward about the situation.
They were all seated at the same dining table.
Meanwhile, Tristan was being very attentive toward Lyndsay. Even when cutting the food, he kept assisting her.
She noticed that Marcus had been staring at her for quite some time already, so to avoid feeling self-conscious, she avoided looking back at him.
She did not want Vanessa or Tristan to notice whatever had happened between the two of them.
From what she could see, it was better to bury everything in the past since it was all over anyway and no longer held any meaning now.
“Grandpa, please don’t say things like that… we will do everything to help you live longer… and of course, I’m sure you’d love to see your great-grandchild someday, right?” Tristan said.
Tristan’s face was full of happiness as he looked at Don Manuel.
The joy on Don Manuel and Loisa’s faces was indescribable.
“Wow… really?”
“Yes, Grandpa. Lyndsay is carrying my child!” Tristan proudly announced.
“Yes, Grandpa. I’m already three months pregnant,” Lyndsay added.
The immense happiness on Don Manuel and Loisa’s faces was obvious.
“Oh my God, hija, I’m so excited! I’m going to be a grandmother again. Why don’t we have a party? What do you think, Papa?” Loisa said.
Marcus remained silent. Lyndsay noticed the darkening expression on his face.
Meanwhile, Vanessa merely raised an eyebrow while quietly eating.
She wasn’t even taking care of her own child and simply left the feeding to the nanny.
“Marcus, what do you think?” Don Manuel asked, turning to him.
“Y-yeah, Grandpa. That sounds great. It will be a double celebration… Tristan’s return and the baby,” Marcus answered.
It was obvious from his expression that he was only forcing himself to look happy.
Vanessa’s face, on the other hand, remained blank. Lyndsay felt like many thoughts were running through her mind.
Vanessa also kept glancing at Marcus.
“What do you think, Lyndsay… Tristan?” Don Manuel asked.
“Love… is that okay with you?” Tristan turned to her and held the top of her left hand.
She could not read the expression on her husband’s face either.
She first grabbed a glass of fresh orange juice and took a sip while looking at Tristan.
She felt like she was sitting in the hot seat.
If it were only up to her, she would rather avoid extravagant gatherings like this because she was not used to them.
But because she also did not want to ruin the happiness of her husband finally returning to the Leviste mansion, she felt like she had no choice.
“Okay… s-sure,” she finally agreed.
“Great… great. Alright, we won’t rush the preparations for all of this. Of course, you two just arrived here in our home, so please enjoy the moment for now. And hijo, please take good care of your wife.”
“Of course, Grandpa. I love my wife very much, and from the day I married her, I promised myself that I would make her happy every day!” Tristan said proudly before immediately taking Lyndsay’s hand and kissing it.
A strange nervousness once again filled Lyndsay’s heart.
She wanted to control her feelings because her heart was no longer used to the presence of her own husband.
She could never fully understand herself.
She felt like a teenager seeing her crush.
At the same time, she could not allow herself to become completely happy because she was still unsure of Tristan’s true feelings for her.
They had been staying at the mansion for almost a week now, and Tristan had been kind and caring toward her, but she still could not read what truly lay inside his heart.
She did not fully know her own husband.
He still felt like a stranger to her.
Whenever he acted sweet toward her, she could not tell whether it truly came from Tristan’s heart or if he was only doing it because of the promise he made to her.
As the days passed, she found herself slowly growing closer to Tristan, yet there were still moments when he felt like a stranger.
All the philosophies she once told herself about never falling in love again had already been shattered.
She was beginning to develop feelings for her own husband.
She still could not determine whether it could already be called love.
But one thing was certain—
She liked Tristan’s presence, and she would never allow the father of her child to disappear from her life!
She returned a sweet smile to Tristan. When she noticed a little ketchup on the corner of his lips, she grabbed the table cloth and gently wiped it away.
Tristan stared directly into her eyes.
A gaze…
That pierced through her heart…
From the corner of her eyes, she saw Marcus clenching his jaw tightly.
She suddenly felt uncomfortable again.
It was truly awkward being in the same place together.
Even though it shouldn’t matter anymore, she still felt uneasy because of the reaction he was showing.
- Writer
