Chapter 22: Chapter 22

It was raining outside. Eleonora was sitting quietly on the arm chair in her balcony, watching the rain pouring. The sound of heavy rain droplets reached her ears making her heart swell in delight. She had always loved rain. She didn't know why but she would always sit in her balcony and watch the rain pour whenever it's raining. It gave her a soothing feeling in her heart. But one thing for sure, she liked rain but it didn't mean she also liked storms. She never liked storms. The sound of lightning gave her goosebumps. She would always wonder why the storm also came with rain? But she couldn't find an answer which could satisfy her heart so she just accepted it as nature's way.

As the rain poured Nora thought about how blissful her life had been in those past years. Had she ever thought of being so happy in this life? No! Never! But God had gifted her those happiness. She couldn't thank God enough for sending Zanvil and her children in her life. She found true happiness after they entered her life. She smiled thinking of them. She wondered what they were doing now.

She wondered why she fell for Zanvil in the first place. They didn't interact that much after their marriage. That time Zanvil had misunderstood her and always had her his cold shoulder. Also in her teenage days even though they met frequently for a few years but they talked only a few times. So what was it that made her fall for him?

She knew what it was. Even though Zanvil used to ignore her he never misbehaved nor abused her. He never called her names. He just simply chose to ignore her and even though it hurted her a lot but she understood his reasons. Lara had created those misunderstandings between them and then suddenly she married him to save her brother. It was because of money. If it was anyone else instead of Zanvil then also she had no reason to refuse. So how could she expect him to like her at that time? Even though she had her reasons but truly had married him for money. Both of them were right in their respective places that time.

Also she has liked him since her teenage days. That handful of times they talked he was so gentle with her. He never made fun of her when his friend who also visited Italy with him made fun of her as she was a servant's daughter. He simply warned his friends not to bother her. It was the first time her heart had decided to give him a special place in it. Then when she saved his mother from an accident he had come to her and thanked her personally with a chocolate. She had accepted it with a smile and then he left. But alas! That time she couldn't eat the chocolate as her cousin Lara came and ate it without asking her. She could still remember her exact words.

"I didn't think you would mind. I thought whatever yours is also mine." That time Nora was naive and loved her dearly so she couldn't see the evil intention and hatred Lara had in her sleeve for her. After that happened the Valentine's day incident which made Zanvil hate and ignore her. She wouldn't have fallen for Zanvil if he had misbehaved or abused her for a time but he didn't do any of those. Even though they didn't interact that much whenever she saw him, whenever he dined with her at the same table she fell, she fell deeper. Her heart didn't help her at all.

Sometimes she wondered if that Valentine's day Lara didn't do those evil deeds behind her back and made Zanvil hate her. What would have happened to them? Would they have been married earlier?

She sighed thinking of those. She hadn't met Lara for the past 6 years. Sometimes she wondered what she had been doing nowadays. She had heard from her mother that Lara had married a American man a few years ago and also got an invitation card but she didn't dare to go. She didn't know if she could ever forgive her .

"Mama! We're done. Let's go downstairs." Suddenly the bedroom door burst open and her two little angels came running towards her while shouting. Nora got up from her seat and moved towards them with a bright smile. That smile came automatically whenever she was with her beloveds. She was a woman who knew how to love.

"Really? What did you guys cook?" Nora asked, looking at them with a smile. Her little angels looked at her with silly grins on their face. Both of them came forward and held her both hands while pulling her out of the room.

"You will know when we go there. Daddy is waiting. Let's go!" Emerald who was holding her left arm said while leading the path.

"Okay. Okay. Let's go." Nora said chuckling while letting them take her towards the kitchen where Zanvil was waiting. They all reached the dining room. Nora smiled when she found her handsome husband wearing a Hello Kitty apron placing dishes on the dining table. He looked so handsome that he could eat him there without any shame.

Ahhh! Again her pregnancy hormones on full swing!

She was 3 months pregnant now and her belly was yet to show up. But she didn't know why whenever she looked at her husband she felt those weird emotions. Even after all these years. She still couldn't believe this amazing man was completely hers.

"Daddy! Mama is here." Emerald said in her cute excited voice making Zanvil look up at them with a smile which made him 10 times more handsome.

"Okay. Let you Mama take a seat first then we will serve the food." Zanvil said while moving towards Nora who laughed lightly at their antics. They were doing their best to please her. She wasn't even 4 months pregnant and they were already treating her like a delicate queen. Her heart felt immense joy feeling their love for her. Nora looked up at Zanvil and their eyes met for a brief moment before Zanvil dipped his head and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. He pulled away before she could even savour the feeling of his lips on her. It felt more like a nibble than kiss. Nora pouted unsatisfied but Zanvil just chuckled before pulling the chair for her to sit. Nora obediently sat on her chair and waited for her three beloveds to serve her. Zayn came holding a plate filled with cream pasta for her and placed it in front of his mother with a grin. Nora blew a kiss to him which he captured with his hands and placed on his heart. Aww! It melted Nora's heart.

"Mama! Mama! I made this. Daddy helped me but I made it." Emmy came running while holding another plate. Zanvil was following behind her making sure she didn't trip or fall.

"Careful, Emmy." Zayn said while coming towards her with a frown. He helped his sister to place the dish on the plate. It was a bit hard for them though but Nora lended a helping hand.

"Thank you baby. I'm sure it will taste even better since my baby made it for Mama." Nora said, keeping the dish and kissing Emmy's cheek.

"You are welcome Mama. Tell Beanie that I made this for her. Emmy loves Beanie." Emmy said in her adorable excited voice referring to her unborn sibling.

"Yes. I will tell Beanie. Beanie too loves Emmy. Now come sit with Mama." Nora said with a bright smile. Her face radiated happiness. Zanvil came near Emmy and placed her on the high chair beside Nora.

"Thank you, Daddy. Muah!" Emma thanked her father and blew him a kiss at which Zanvil just smiled.

"Mama, doesn't beanie love me?" Zayn asked quietly. One could see clearly on that boy's face that he was upset. Nora looked at Zanvil who shook his head while holding his laugh. She glared at him before turning towards her son.

"What are you saying baby. Of course beanie loves you. Beanie loves both of you." Nora said while kissing Zayn's forehead lightly. That boy was sensitive when it came to his loved one's just like her. But her daughter was a stubborn one just like her father.

"Really?" Instantly Zayn's face bloomed into happiness. Nora laughed softly before replying.

"Yes baby. Now come seat. Zan please help him to sit." Nora said, turning towards her husband who was looking at them with a soft smile on his face. Zanvil nodded and helped Zayn to sit on his high chair and sat opposite Nora with Zayn.

"Is it editable, Zan?" Nora teased her husband while picking some pastas to eat. Zanvil smirked hearing her words.

"I don't recall it being your first time eating my handmade food." Zanvil teased back. Nora laughed but didn't say anything further insead put some pastas in her mouth.

"Uhmm it's so yummy!" Nora moaned in delight.

"Mama, try that." Emmy said pointing towards a dish. Nora nodded and moved her hand towards the dish to pick it up when Zanvil reached it and put it on her plate. She smiled at him before picking it up to eat it.

"Uhmm it also tastes so yummy. My babies are the best. I will get fat if I keep eating all these everyday." Nora said the last part with a pout. Both of the children laughed in delight that their mother liked their handmade food.

" What about me? Am I not the best?" Zanvil asked with a perfectly raised brow which made Nora look at him with a grin.

"Of course you are. Why would I marry you if you weren't?" Nora teased her husband with a happy grin. The children also laughed with their Mother.

"Really? Then What about my performance last night?" Suddenly Zanvil asked Nora with a devilish smirk making her go all red in embarrassment. Last night they had been intimate for the first time in three months. They couldn't be intimate in those past months because of her pregnancy. But two days before her pregnancy turned into three months and finally yesterday Zanvil had his way with her the whole night. She glared at him and stole a glance at the kids. To her utter embarrassment they were looking at them with curious gaze. She quickly averted her eyes.

"What performance? Did you guys play some game?" Zayn asked innocently.

"Why didn't you call us also? We could have played together." Emmy said with a pout. She felt upset that her parents didn't invite her to play with them. Looking at her children's adorably upset face Nora prayed the ground to open and swallow her whole to save her from this embarrassment. She glared at the culprit who was looking at her innocently. If she wasn't a victim here she would have also believed him.

"You two can't play it . It's elder's game. We will play another game together. Now eat." Zanvil explained patiently to his children who nodded with huge smiles on their faces. Nora was glad his normally curious children didn't question it any further. She could still feel Zanvil's teasing smirk. But she pretended to be angry and didn't look at him. Zanvil was about to say something when suddenly the doorbell rang making them all raise their heads and look at the direction of the entrance

Who could be at this moment? Nora wondered when suddenly she heard a very familiar voice. She could never forget her voice. Her eyes went wide when she realised who it was.

"Lara!" A startled whisper left her mouth making Zanvil look up at her with a shocked gaze.

Why was she here?

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