Chapter 14: Chapter 14

“Bro! Where are you?! I thought we were going to the bar? You suddenly left and didn't come back."

"I won't go tonight, my wife is mad at me and I'll stay by her side. I'll pass for now," he informed his friend.

"Damn it! We were expecting you and you're not coming! You made us wait for two hours! Fuck you! We'll wait for you," his friend replied harshly.

"I'll join you guys some other day. I can't leave Azaria right now because she's mad at me. I guess she's on her period."

"Damn it! Noah and I will do a live selling instead. See you later, my brother," Keran replied before ending the call.

"Kuya Lanvin, are you going to sleep here too? Can we sleep beside each other?" Lucy asked him.

"I can't, Lucy. Your sister is mad at me because she's on her period. I need to make it up to her," the young man replied to her.

"Big sister is always like that, she's always mad at me every day even if I didn't do anything. She always shouts at me," the child sadly confided in him.

"Let's just play with dolls then."

Nick played dolls with Lucy.

He spent a few hours playing with the child until his in-laws arrived.

"Lan, my child, you're here!" his mother-in-law exclaimed happily when she saw him. The household staff and driver were carrying groceries. It seemed they went shopping.

His mothe in-law kiss him on his cheeks at nag ngitian lang sila ng kanyang father in-law.

"Good thing you're here. We went grocery shopping for dinner, join us for the meal," his mother-in-law invited him.

"Daddy! Did you buy what I asked you to get?!" Lucy asked excitedly.

"Of course! You're my favorite. Go to your nanny and tell her to look for what you asked me to buy," he replied with a smile.

Lucy ran into the kitchen.

"How's the company, young man?" his father-in-law asked him.

"Everything is fine, and I'm in the process of merging the two companies to handle it more efficiently," Nikolai explained.

"How are your parents? Tell your dad to come and have a drink with me sometime."

They went to the backyard to continue their conversation in private.

Their conversation lasted for hours until they were called for dinner. They discussed many things about the company and the future of their business, including the new projects.

"sister Azaria is being sulky again. She doesn't want to get out of her room, mommy," Lucy complained.

"Azaria is here? Where is she? No wonder Lanvin is here, I thought he was visiting us," her mother replied.

"Where is your sister? Let's call her so we can all have dinner together," she said to her daughter while setting the table.

"I'll just call Azaria," Nick said in a low voice after overhearing the conversation between mother and daughter.

"Go ahead and call her, she's probably throwing a tantrum again. Her room is on the left side upstairs," she instructed him.

Nick knocked on Azaria's door several times, but there was no response, so he decided to open it. Luckily, it wasn't locked. He found his wife lying down, asleep with tear stains on her cheeks. Gently, he wiped away the tears.

"Wife," he softly called, trying to wake her up. She stirred but didn't fully wake up.

"Let's eat dinner."

He tapped her cheek gently to wake her up.

"Baby. Wife. Wake up," he coaxed softly.

"Azaria, it's time for dinner."

After a few more attempts, Azaria finally woke up. She followed him in silence to join the family at the dining table, seemingly not in the mood to argue, perhaps due to just waking up.

"brother Lanvin, can I sleep beside you and Ate? I miss having someone to sleep with," Lucy requested during their meal.

Azaria frowned.

"Not allowed. Lanvin will go home because he has something to do," Azaria responded with a snarky tone to her sister. Her parents exchanged looks but remained silent, well aware of the ongoing tension between them.

"I'll just sleep beside him then! We can sleep together," Lucy innocently suggested, giggling. "Brother Lanvin, why don't you sleep with us, and we'll all be beside each other," she added playfully.

Azaria glared at her sister upon hearing her words. The two continued to argue as they finished their meal, unable to see eye to eye.

Lanvin was lying on the bed already, and they had just finished dinner. He had just taken a shower, and he brought some clothes with him from his car. He was ready to leave.

"Wife, can we talk?" he insisted, sitting beside her on the bed. She could smell his after-shower scent.

She turned her back on him.

"Please, let's talk. I don't want you to sleep angry at me."

She remained stubborn and didn't face him.

Nick sighed.

"I ordered you fries, pizza, and a frappe," he said, taking out the food from the paper bag.

Azaria smelled the food, and she stood up.

"Give them to me!"

She didn't understand why the mere smell of the food made her weak. They had just finished dinner, but she suddenly felt hungry. Was he using some sort of magic on her? She knew herself to be strong-willed.

Nick smiled as he handed over the frappe and the food he had ordered for his wife. It was his peace offering.

"Why did you talk about Grandpa?" he started.

"Don't be nosy! I didn't give you the right to ask!" She glared at him.

He sighed, "Come on, don't give me that look. I want to know so I can help. And you're my wife, so I have the right to know everything."

Nick knew everything; he had talked to his Grandpa earlier at the mansion before inviting his wife to come home. His wife had borrowed money.

"Don't use that against me. It won't work on me!" she said with a hint of stubbornness while thoroughly enjoying her pizza.

He sighed again. Why was she so resistant to him?

"Why did Grandpa get mad, huh?" he asked.

"Ask him yourself!" she retorted, defensively.

"Do you want to have a business? I'll invest," Nick offered.

She stopped eating.

"So, you'll help me, and then you'll throw it back in my face? I know you too well!" she replied, her pride showing.

Nick paused for a moment, contemplating his next words. He knew he had to be patient and persistent if he wanted to break through her walls.

"Listen, Azaria, I'm not trying to throw anything back at you. I genuinely want to help and support you. We're in this together, remember? If you're going through something, I want to be there for you. Please, let me be a part of your life, your struggles, and your dreams. We're husband and wife, and that means we share everything," he said softly, looking into her eyes with sincerity.

Nick's head was throbbing from his wife's behavior.

"No, I'm not like that. Let me know what business you want, and I'll invest in it. I'll be your investor, so you wouldn't think that I'm just helping you," he reasoned.

"Okay, I'll think about that," she answered and drank her frappe.

"Are you no longer mad at me?"

She stopped drinking and licked her lips, "Hmm, I'll have to think about it first."

Nick smiled.

"So, can I hug you?"

"Hmph! Not allowed!" she retorted, refusing to give in.

"When will you give me my shares?" she asked.

"Soon, baby."

After they finished eating, Nick convinced her to brush her teeth. They both laid down, and he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

This man was so bossy; he always wanted things his way. Yet, here he was, holding her close and not letting go.

Once again, she didn't win against him. But for some reason, she didn't mind losing to him at all.

**

"Nick, this is the business I want. I wanna have my tea shop," Azaria said to his wife while they were eating.

They are eating breakfast.

“Are you sure about it? Why milk tea shop?” He ask.

“This is what I want, why do you care!”

He smiles.

“Okay, do you have a location? And supplier?”

"No problem. For the milk tea shop business, I know someone who can help you. As for the money you need, I'll lend it to you without interest. You can pay me back whenever you want. You can even choose not to pay me back, but there will be a condition," he grinned.

She raised an eyebrow, curious about what condition he had in mind.

"You fool! Maybe my body is the payment in return," she exclaimed.

Nick laugh.

“How did you know, wife?” Nick ask playfully.

“Asshole! You’re pervert. Everytime I woke your palm is at my breast!”

“Oh, I didn’t know that my hand is in your boobs. Now, I know why I sleep good. And besides you’re my wife. What’s yours is mine. Don’t you want it? You’re the only that I want,” He ask and wink on her.

“You fool!”

He laughs.

“Here is my credit and debit card. I want you to hold my card,” Azaria hesitated for a moment but then took the cards in her hand.

"You really trust me with your money?" she asked, a hint of surprise in her voice.

He nodded with a warm smile. "Of course, why wouldn't I? You're my wife, and I trust you completely."

She felt a mix of emotions, touched by his trust and also feeling a sense of responsibility. She knew she had to be careful with his money, but she also appreciated the freedom he was giving her.

"Thank you," she said sincerely, looking into his eyes.

"You're welcome," he replied, reaching out to caress her cheek gently. "Just promise me that you'll use the money wisely."

"I promise," she assured him, leaning into his touch.

“Can I buy a new set of make-up?”