The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 42: What She Truly Wants

“How’s living together so far?” Mom asked while we were running laps around the subdivision.

Alvarez is right behind us, listening in on the conversation my mother and I are having. He would sometimes answer when the conversation involved him, but he would often remain quiet.

Mom asked us several questions about living together, which he answered perfectly as if he’d rehearsed it several times already. I didn’t want to leave those questions for him to answer, but I couldn’t back him up because Mom would know if I was lying or not.

“Unfortunately, your daughter has been giving me bad headaches from time to time,” Alvarez replied, chuckling.

I shot him a glare. “If that’s how you put it, then you’re just giving me the same amount of headaches!”

“You’re worse, though.”

“You literally make me go through hell when your past women are involved.”

“When did that kind of thing happen?”

I pursed my lips and pretended I couldn’t hear his question anymore. To be honest, it was more like I gave myself things to worry about. I didn’t want him to divorce me or anything, so I ended up overthinking things. Luckily, Alvarez doesn’t seem to have any desire to divorce me!

Mom laughed at the two of us while we argued about who was luckier to be the other’s partner. Of course, I argued that he hit the jackpot by marrying me. Too bad for him, he’s going to lose that jackpot once everything has been settled.

“You two have a good relationship,” Mom interfered while we bickered about petty things.

“No, we don’t,” we answered in unison.

Mom just laughed and started running ahead of us. It was a rare occasion to see her outside, healthy. Of course, I loved seeing her like that. It’s as if I have nothing to worry about anymore because she’s having the time of her life.

She greeted the people we met on the way to the park. How I wish Dad and Papa could see how much she has improved. Those two had been worrying too much about Mom since she needed maintenance medicine. It’s nice to see her back on track.

“Your mom’s nice,” Alvarez commented as he jokingly draped his sweaty arm over my shoulder. “Your dad’s nice, too. I wonder who you took after.”

I glared at him. “As if you’re one to talk.”

“Well, at least I have proof that I’m their legitimate child. I’m horrible, and so are they.” He flicked my forehead, smirking. “And you, on the other hand, have nothing in common with those two.”

I tried to kick his leg backwards, but I almost fell! Luckily, he was quick to hold my waist to make sure I wouldn’t trip. I shot him death glares, trying to stop myself from lashing out because we are currently passing by the part of the village where the elderly maids who take strolls around the mansion and the village are resting.

They were eyeing Alvarez and me, probably to see whether we really are married or not. Ha, a few of them were probably a nanny I had when I was a kid. I understand that they’re intrigued, but they genuinely scare me.

I pursed my lips and tried to stay still while Alvarez was spouting crap in my ear. My face is probably flushed due to anger, but I had to try hard not to show it! I wanted to push him away, but he had me in a chokehold!

“I swear I’ll kick your family jewels off your body when we get back inside.”

“Hmm? You can’t wait to have me inside you?”

I let out an exasperated sigh, one that almost extinguished my last string of patience. Really, if we were alone, he would be crying and mourning the fall of the next generation of Alvarezes.

Mom probably noticed that we were about to kick a fuss with the way I was scowling at Alvarez, so she started jogging faster. The two of us tried to match her pace, still trying not to get physical.

“Shame on you,” I whispered to Alvarez as I pushed his arm off and walked beside my mom instead.

“Wait!”

“Walk on your own!”

Mom was smiling at me when I looked at her, one that reached her eyes. She looked like she was content with what she was seeing, which I didn’t understand. Even then, I remained quiet and waited for her to say something.

However, Mom never spoke up after that. Instead, she just quietly led us back to the house. We immediately went our separate ways after a little chatter in the kitchen when we came back, but unfortunately, Mom had somewhere urgent to attend to.

“Why am I left here with you again?” I complained as I lay on the couch, annoyed that Alvarez was with me again.

I find it irritating and unfair that I have to spend today with him again, instead of being with either of my parents. Dad didn’t even wait for me to wake up before leaving earlier this morning, so I never got to talk to him.

To be honest, I’m disappointed that he didn’t even take the time to speak to me. But given the situation of the company, I understand that he still has lots of things to deal with.

But what I don’t like about the whole thing is that…

“I’m always stuck with you! It’s annoying!” I grumbled, gently kicking Alvarez’s thigh while he was trying to find shows to watch.

He’s sitting at the edge of the sofa, unbothered by the tantrum I was throwing. He would sometimes look at me with a condescending expression as if he was looking down on me. But the way he was watching me kick a fuss was especially annoying.

I pursed my lips as I looked away from him, my gaze shifting to the movie that was playing in front of us. Oh, he’s already chosen something to watch! The i***t didn’t even ask for my help!

Honestly, I have no idea how I was supposed to deal with having to go back to Alvarez’s penthouse once this week comes to an end. I’m trying not to think about it, but coming back here just brought forth emotions I thought I forfeited after leaving.

I lightly kicked Alvarez’s thigh again. “You’re such an asshole.”

“What did I do?”

“I had to run laps when my legs were still so damned sore earlier.”

He chuckled as he drew small circles on my ankle. “It’s not my fault you tried to pretend you were okay! You could have just told her you can’t go.”

“As if! She was so excited to bring me along a while ago! And you made it worse by bickering with me.”

“You started it.”

“I didn’t!”

Alvarez chuckled and relaxed his body on the couch. He always manspreads! Sometimes, I get annoyed because he takes up all the space, but I just place my legs on top of his. He doesn’t complain, anyway.

Sometimes, I feel like we’re similar to a teen couple that’s only been finding comfort in each other. It’s strange to be able to seek such a thing from a person you hate, but that’s how I looked at it.

However, things will change from now on. I vowed to myself that the moment we leave the manor, I’d be treating him the way I did before.

“You’re going to regret teasing me so hard,” I warned him before focusing on the corny show.

“Oh, I’m scared,” he replied sarcastically.

I ignored him and just pretended that I could understand what the whole thing was about. I didn’t even know the title, but I figured it didn’t matter.

I wanted to think hard and clear…

How am I going to make things go back to how they were before? Alvarez has been treating me the same, just like how he did back when we first worked together. No, he did not treat me like s**t. He’s always been secretly caring for anyone who worked for him, and that included me. Yes, despite always picking a fight with me.

But now that he’s been openly showing his care for me, I felt like I needed to go ahead and draw the line that we needed. I did it when we had that big fight! It bothered me, but I feel like it’s what we need to do.

After this, I’ll do what he did back then. I can’t stop doing it with him, so I’ll probably exclude that from the rules. We just have to strengthen our rules from before to make sure we won't mess up.

“Hey,” I called as I lightly kicked his thigh repeatedly.

“Stop doing that. What if you hit something you shouldn’t—” He was cut off when I rubbed the sole of my foot on his groin. “Why, you…”

I stared at him with a blank expression, challenging him. Hmm, it can be quite easy to initiate when it’s just the two of us. I’d have no problems with that aspect if I were to establish the kind of relationship I want to have with him.

We can’t be wife and husband to each other when it’s just us. I don’t want that. I’m afraid it’d feel real if we did. That’s the last thing I want to happen when my plan is already set in motion.

Even if it kills me, I’ll have to make sure I don’t fall for his antics. That’s the last thing I want to happen right now.

“Didn’t you say you were tired?” Alvarez asked as he threw his head back, gritting his teeth as he tried to stop my feet.

“When did I say that?”

“Earlier—Ah…!”

He let out low groans while I continued to press my foot against his clothed c**k. Damn, it’s really easy to get him wrapped around the tips of my fingers. I just have to make him promise me while I work him up.

Oh, there are CCTVs here, though…

I pursed my lips and moved my feet away. That made him heave a sigh of relief as he grabbed a pillow to cover his bulge. I smiled at the sight. He really didn’t expect me to do such a thing in the living room.

Heh, it’s nice to catch him by surprise…

“What now?” he asked when I poked his cheek, my left hand trying to pull him up.

“My room.”

“You’re tired. I’m also tired. You might not be able to handle—”

“When was I unable to handle something?” I asked as I crossed my arms over my chest.

Alvarez sighed and looked up at me as if he was trying to read my mind. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be able to do it even if he spends decades with me. He wouldn’t know why I’m doing this. At the very least, he can make a hypothesis from it.

I smiled when he couldn’t answer my question. That just goes to show that he’ll easily yield when it comes to these things. He’s not very good at masking his desires when it comes to me, his greatest property so far.

“What are you plotting?” he asked while I was pulling him towards my room.

You can’t know.

“Nothing. I just feel like doing it before my parents come back.”

He’s not supposed to understand why I’m doing this at all.

“I don’t get you…” he muttered as he closed the door to my bedroom.

“What don’t you understand? I can just explain.”

“No…” he trailed off as he sat on my bed, looking at me with a puzzled expression. “You’re acting strange all of a sudden.”

I tilted my head to the side. “What do you mean by that?”

Alvarez shook his head as if he was trying to shrug the thought off. “I don’t know what I’m saying. Just…just get through with it. Your mom will be here shortly.”

Honestly, I don’t know where I’m getting at either.

Perhaps this is my defense or coping mechanism. I have no clue at all.

I’m trying to understand, but I can’t.

I…just want to divert my attention.