Exchange Lovers

Past Regrets and New Hope

For a month, Jessica and Antionette dealt with all the things inside the house. They clean and throw away things. They decided to give the place new paint, decorations, and style. It is almost different from the old house interior design.

The security guards hired by Captain Ford also helped with lifting and carrying the stuff around. Once in a while, the squad from Captain Ford's group dropped by. With the help of all the people around her, Antoinette slowly regained her confidence and her cheerful positive attitude. There is also good news on Monic's side. She is recovering faster and a group of non-government organizations for children with special needs help them cover all hospital expenses. Of course, this is made possible by Captain Ford's connections.

Every night, Captain Ford dropped by and checked on her. After making sure that everything was in order, he would go away. Pretending to go home, he stayed and slept in his car parked near Antoinette's house. She feels awkward making him continue doing that. So, she asked Jessica to invite him and arrange that he could sleep in the guest room. Another two rooms were also arranged for the four security details and other squads that went with their leader.

In the morning, Antoinette would go to the hospital accompanied by Captain Ford and the squads with him. The other two security details stay at home to guard and rest at home to exchange duty with the other two guarding the room where Monic recovers. Jessica also went back to work and goes to live with them in the house permanently.

For the time being, everything went smoothly until Monic woke up. Dr. Andrews personally helps them in transition. The doctor's wife Tanya is also a certified psychologist and psychiatrist. She helps Antoinette to accept the situation she's in. Her confidence and self-worth are back again.

Monic was so happy when she saw her mother again. She's so cheerful and lively, almost like she was not subjected to abuse and almost dies. But when night falls, her nightmare began. She screams and cried in her sleep. This break Antoinette's heart.

Tanya advises Antoinette to play, do activities, and bond with Monic. Spending time with the child would help her slowly relieve the trauma she experienced. In her counseling session with Monic, it was revealed that Monic is afraid that Antoinette would leave her again and that James would come back with Honey to hurt her again. It also seems that Monic likes Captain Ford but is still afraid of him because of the gun on his waist. She said that James carries one too and would point the gun at her. One time, her father and Honey went hunting with her. She does not like the gun's loud noise and she saw how it killed cute rabbits.

Antionette's hatred for James and Honey grows bigger than ever.

Her child needs to be under extensive emotional therapy for her traumatic experiences. Physical therapy is also advised for Monic to help her walk straight again. She is also planning to enroll Monic in a school for special needs. Captain Ford wanted to help her financially but she refused.

The doctors' couple also gave a letter of recommendation to one of the most well-known schools for a special child. Joyous Special is an international school for kids like Monic. They are thought one on one and regroup with other students for group activities. Usually, parents are encouraged to participate in field trips. One teacher focuses on one student to teach, assist the child, play, and teach the daily necessities. Daily necessities are like brushing teeth, helping in the house, socializing with other people, buying in grocery stores, and familiarizing the town where they live in.

All these are costly. So, one night she secretly called Captain Ford to come with her. This past few months, Ian made a group chat for the squads, security details, the doctors' couple, and Jessica. At first, the aim of the group is solely for safety and to help recover the mother-daughter duo. But as of late, it becomes the venue where Ian tells and seeks advice on winning the two. It is now known how Ian loves and cares for them.

" Guys help, Antionette asked me to come to her tonight. What does that mean? Is she now into me too?" - Ian

" You are reading too much. She might just want to ask you something personally." - Jessica

" Are you sure? She said to go to her room." - Ian

Then Ian followed it with this message. " At midnight and wear light clothing because the place will be hot."

Everyone's reaction was shocking.

" My best friend seems to forward now. Well it is a good thing to help her forget that jerk." - Jessica

" Congrats cousin!" - the couple

" Congrats, Captain!" - the squads

" We will guard the parameter more seriously boss!" - the guardians

Then he logout. Ian showered seriously. He even chose a revealing top and casual shorts that are easy to remove.

Before going out he does a simple set of push up and sprays his mouth with fresh mint.

He then went out of his guest room. When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he saw Antionette waiting for her. She signed to him to keep quiet and follow her. His heart went wild in his chest. Wild imagination and anticipation excite him more. What suprise him more is when they descended down to the basement. His inner demons are partying more. (Yup, his inner angels are defeated. XP)

" Why are we going here?" - Ian

" Maybe to re-live the first encounter." - the inner demons

" Oh, it is making me more excited." - Ian

" Master are you prepared?" - the inner demons

" Yes, Master, like protection. You are a man it's your responsibility." - the inner demons

Realizing he did not prepare any, he stopped on his track and becomes frozen. He was so excited that made him forget the most essential thing. If it is only him, he can take responsibility if she becomes pregnant. It would be nice too. He, himself acknowledges that he really did fall in love with Antionette. It will be lovely to see his beloved woman becomes a mother of his own seeds. He also becomes close with Monic. She is too angelic and his fatherly instinct comes alive. He wanted to give love, care, and protection to them.

But the most pressing issue is that Antionette did not accept him yet. Maybe, just maybe she might become disappointed in him more for not being prepared. Oh, he f****d up.

Sensing that he stopped walking behind him, Antionette turn around. They are already at the basement's door.

" Are you okay?" She asked him while eying him up and down checking if something is wrong with him.

" Condom?" He was so shocked when she turn around. Resulting in saying what is in his mind.

" What?" Antionette's eye almost bulged out when she heard what he said.

But before she can toast Ian more about the "condom" thing. Something caught their attention from upstairs. It was noises of steps running away from their position. And it seems like it's not only one or two people but more than that.

She looks at Ian. "Who?"

" Don't worry. It is just them, securing the parameter. Maybe they just change position and pass by." But he, himself is not convinced of his answer. He knows them. They might be eavesdropping. He got a reason to roast them tomorrow.

" Okay, I think, I need to cook a healthier and more sumptuous breakfast. They are working very hard." She opened the lock of the door. Aside from a padlock, there is a fingerprint and password.

"The security of this door is amazingly tight. " He then looks at her. " What are you hiding here?" He asked.

" You'll know when you see them. I hope you can keep a secret." Antionette then continued walking inside.

They passed by four rows of wine cabinets that almost holds fifty wines in each cabinet. Everything is arranged by year. Even Ian is amazed by the extensive collection. He had his own collection too at the old house but not as diverse as the wine collection here.

" These are all collections of my grandfather. He loves collecting wines. Some are bought while they do their buy and sell business abroad and locally. Some are gifted by his friends and my grandmother." Antionette said as a matter of fact.

" And this is the cheapest wine in the collection. I bought these. They are not pricey like the rest but grandfather put them here in a crystal cabinet. They treated my gifts like the most precious thing but I on the other hand just bought those in passing. All my attention and love are blindly focused on a man that never loves me." The way her eyes shine now has sadness and regrets. Ian regretted that he didn't see her first. Maybe if he saw her first, know her first, and love her first, those tears would never fall.

She pushed the wine cabinet aside. Then a little door appears and pushed something on the wall. The door opened.

" Welcome to the secrets of our family." Antionette invites him into the dark narrow hallway.

The moment they stepped into a room the little door closed. As if no one has ever been in the basement cellar.

A bright light illuminated the whole room. Ian is amazed to see rows of antique things and glass cases lined up in order.

" These are the heirloom passed down from generation to generation in the family. Although my grandmother was disowned, some antiques and pieces of jewelry from my great-grandmother were sent as gifts when she gave birth to mother and the same when mother gave birth to me." She seat on one of the chairs in the room. " Ask any questions. I know you have a lot." Antionette eyed him.

"Are these all authentic? If yes, then why did James didn't get the things here?" - Ian.

" All things here are authentic. I have the certificates and papers authenticating all items here. And your question regarding James, he did not know about this place. He only knows the wines in the cellar but is too idiotic to understand them." - Antionette. She's thankful for his simpleton attitude.

" Then why did you show these to me? Are you offering a dowry? Mmm? You know, you need to just say the word and I'll make it possible for you." Ian then went to the back of the chair, hug her, and kissed the top of her head.

" Captain Ford, I already told you my stand." She stand-up and went to the painting on the wall.

" I know but it doesn't matter. I'll still help you not because I like you but because Monic is also adorable. I am willing to be her father if you may." Ian followed her.

" I know, you like her. I can see that she can't stop smiling when she is with you. I thank you for that. What we need now is not a man to act as a father or a husband but a friend that can help us." Antionette rejected his confession again.

" Antionette, reject me all you want but I won't back down. Not when I already have you. I will wait until everything is settled down. I will wait until you say you are ready for me. But I hope for now you won't say no to my protection and help." He looks into her eyes.

" Captain Ford, I...". Ian put a finger on her lips. Stopping her to say something.

" How often do I need to tell you to just call me Ian? Mmm?" He whispered.

" But..." She felt the tension in the air.

" I promise you Antionette, I won't do anything out of the limit. For now, let's be friends. Start calling me Ian. Get to know me more. I'll wait for the day when you have not bound to any other man anymore." He held her hands and squeeze them.

" But I felt that I am using your feelings for my own gain. Which is not good. I might hurt you in the end." She said.

" I am more than willing to serve you, my queen. And whether you reciprocate my feelings or not is my problem, not yours. I am also doing this not only for you but also for Monic. She is an angel. She deserves more. So, I am willing to help. Just say it." He sincerely said.

Antionette looks into his eyes. She can see his clean intentions.

" Well, as you can see we are here in the antique collection room. We have a rule that we can not sell any of the antique until an emergency happened. And as you know, my husband took all our money. I can not support Monic's needs. I need to sell some of them to tide us until I can stand again." She went to some jewelry cases.

" I honestly don't know why but we have a rule that only the first born woman in the family can inherit all of this. Although my grandmother was disowned when she eloped with my grandfather, my great-grandmother sent some when my mother was born. The same thing happened when I was born and when I gave birth to Monic. And some comes from when my grand-parents and my parents did their buy and sell bussiness before they died." Antionette opened a secret compartment in the wall.

" Here are some of there certificates of ownership and receipts. But most of them are with the lawyer of my grandfather. The keys are with him too. Actually, all of them were with me but my grandparents took eighty percent of them from me when I married James. They don't like him and felt that something was wrong with him. So, in order to marry him I returned them." She showed the papers with him.

" So, James does not know this?" He asked.

" No he does not know. I lost my right when I married him. The eighty percent are now named to Monic. And only with Monic can the case of legal papers of this antiques be opened. " She wore black gloves and touch the jewelries in the glass case near her.

" Your grandparents are smart." Ian stated.

" Actually, its an S.O.P in the family. The security of the future heirness inheritance is solid." She closed the glass case.

" Ian help me find the lawyer and sell some of them. Help me to stand up again and help us to be free from that man. You're my only hope." She went beside Ian and look into his eyes.

" You're wish is my command." He held her hands tightly.