Chapter 41: Chapter 41

I was pulled out of my trance when Garren held my wrist and pulled me. I wasn't able to bid a proper farewell to Enzo, so I just smiled apologetically.

Garren slammed the door leading to the porch with a loud slam, scaring the shit out of me.

He dragged me out of the mansion and couldn't care less that some maids were already looking at us.

I tried to stop him, but he didn't listen and continued pulling me. My wrist is already hurting for god's sake!

We didn't walk through the same path that we entered when we arrived here. I don't know if there are still guests left because I can still hear classical music playing, but that's the least of my concerns.

"Sir. Can you please let go of my hand now?" I almost begged him, but for the second time, he turned a deaf ear.

What the fuck is wrong with him?!

The two security guards standing on the gate greeted him, but he didn't respond. They looked at us with bewilderment, and I wouldn't be surprised if I became the subject of their gossip the moment we left.

When we reached the spot where his car was parked, that's the only time he let go of my hand.

I caressed my reddened wrist. I whined when it hurt a bit after

Garren's eyes went on my hand, and the deep creases on his forehead vanished. He held me once again, but this time in a much gentler way.

He heaved out a deep sigh. "I’m sorry, Cleo. I was just carried away by my emotions after I saw you talking to that bastard."

My heart skipped a beat. "W-What?"

It didn't escape my eyes how his Adams apple moved, evincing that he's nervous.

"Forget what I said." He heaved out a deep sigh and asked, "What were you doing in that place with Enzo anyway?"

I frowned. "Didn't he already answer that?"

"And I don't believe him."

"But you have to because he's telling nothing but the truth, sir. We just met each other by mere coincidence."

This is starting to feel familiar. Once again, I'm seeing the same expression on his eyes when he learned that I and his brother went to the mall with his son.

The only difference is he's asking instead of straight up calling me a sycophant. But I don't know if that's supposed to make me feel better.

"This should be the last time that you would be talking with that man."

My forehead furrowed. "What? Why?"

"Stop asking questions and just do as I say. You won't like the things I can do if I see you again with him."

My jaw dropped to the floor. Why is he being like this? If they have a problem with each other, they should keep it within themselves and stop dragging me along.

"Why do you look so sad?" Garren blurted out all of a sudden.

My face contorted even more. "What?"

He scoffed. "You looked crestfallen after I told you that you should stop seeing my cousin. Why? Do you like him?"

I looked at him in disbelief. Where is he getting those notions from?

I heaved out a deep sigh. "Enzo is a kind person, sir-"

He uttered something that I wasn't able to hear.

"He's easy to get along with. So I honestly don't know why you want me to stay away from him. But you actually don't really need to tell me that because this is the first and last time that we'll meet each other."

I calmly explained, even though I'm on the verge of flipping my lid with how unreasonable he's acting.

Garren hissed. "You don't know what you're saying."

He walked on the opposite side of the car and opened the door on the shotgun seat. "Get in."

Already exhausted from dealing with his petty tantrum, I just quietly obliged.

When I entered his car, I saw Greyson asleep in the back seat.

Garren started the engine of the car, and soon after, we began taking the way out of that place.

The entire drive is filled with heavy silence that I can almost hear our breaths synchorinizing with each other. If Greyson were only awake, we wouldn't have to deal with this kind of suffocating atmosphere.

I leaned against the window and stared at the dark, mysterious sky.

The drive felt like it lasted forever. When we arrived at the mansion, Uncle opened the gate.

I unclasped my seat belt and walked towards the back seat and carefully carried Greyson.

"Let me help you," Garren offered.

"I can handle it, sir. Your son's not heavy." I declined.

"Don't test my patience, Cleo." He warned.

I blew a fuse and just let him. He got Greyson from me. I trailed behind him as we walked upstairs. I opened the door to Greyson's room for him.

I took off his shoes and tuxedo so he could at least have a peaceful time sleeping. I don't want to wake him up, so I don't bother taking his polo off.

Garren planted a kiss on his son's forehead before he left the room without saying anything.

I also followed him for a while. When I reached the first floor, I was surprised to see Garren in the living room, sitting on the couch with both of his hands behind his head. His eyes are also closed.

I walked quietly to not disturb his silence, but he suddenly called me.

"Cleo."

I stopped in my tracks.

"Yes, sir?"

He was silent for a couple of seconds.

"I'm sorry."

My eyes widened a fraction. I had a hard time processing what he said.

"I'm sorry for lashing out at you a while ago. I shouldn't have done that."

I turned around and looked at him. Although I'm facing his back, I can feel the sincerity in his voice.

I heaved out a deep sigh. "You're forgiven, sir."

"Thank you."

It seems like the words "sorry" and "thank you" don't taste like poison in his mouth anymore because he's been saying those more often.

"I'll get up and sleep now, sir. Goodnight."

I turned around and was about to walk towards my room, but he once again called me.

"What is it, sir?"

He stood up and hung the tuxedo over his shoulder.

Without looking at me, he said, "You look gorgeous tonight."

•••••

"Cleo! Hurry up!"

"I'm coming! Just a second!"

I zipped Greyson's lunch bag before following them. His lips are stretched into a wide smile while he waits for me.

"Let's go. I know you can't wait to see Sophie," I teased him.

He pouted. "I'm excited to see all my friends, not just her."

I pinched his cheeks. "I was just kidding."

"Greyson! Cleo! Come on!"

Our conversation was interrupted when his father called us. His son sprinted towards him.

The warmth of Monday morning kissed my skin as I walked outside the mansion where Garren's car was waiting for us.

Shortly after, Garren began driving. He's already wearing his pilot uniform because he's going back to work as well, but he insisted on passing by his son's school first to drop us off.

I can't help but stare at him while sitting quietly in the shotgun seat. His uniform really suits him.

His aviator glasses make him more handsome, if that's even possible. My gaze then moved to his arms, which flex every time he maneuvers the steering wheel.

The sleeve of his polo seems like it'll rip apart at any moment because of how huge those guns are.

"Staring is rude."

I was red-faced when he spoke out of the blue. I quickly tore my gaze from him.

I want to defend myself, but I can't! Because, hell... I was indeed staring at him. I just checked this guy out.

I was reticent the entire drive. I did my best not to even peer at Garren or glance in his direction. I feel like a criminal next to the police.

"We're here."

I hastily unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the car. I want to get away from him as soon as possible.

However, much to my surprise, he also got out. Before I could open the door of the backseat, he stopped me.

"Why are you in such a hurry?" The creases in his forehead are as deep as Mariana's trench.

I forced a smile and answered, "I'm not, sir."

He wasn't able to respond as Greyson got out of the car.

"I thought you would drive straight to work as soon as we arrived, dad?" the former asked.

"It's still early. I'll walk you to your room first."

Greyson beamed cordially. "Alright!"

Then he held my left hand and his father's right hand as we entered the gate. Garren and I are walking side by side with Greyson in between us.

I want to fend his hands off because I noticed some giving us curious looks, but I'm pretty sure it will hurt him. So I just ignored them.

When we reached his room, that's the only time Greyson let go of our hands. Garren ruffled his hair before he ran into their room. His friends gathered around him. The smile plastered on his face while he was talking to them was priceless.

"Oliver will pick you up later," Garren blurted out all of a sudden.

"We'll wait for him, sir."

"I'll leave now."

He began walking away, but he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Cleo..."

I turned to him. "Yes, sir?"

"Have a great day ahead of you"

Despite our distance, I clearly heard what he muttered, and it put a smile on my face.

"You too, sir. Have a safe drive."

With that, he continued walking.

There has been a noticeable change in him. Even Aunt Esther and Cynthia noticed it. Although he's still stern most of the time, his irascibility has lessened. He doesn't always look like he wants to kill someone.

What surprises them the most is that he smiles more often now, something that they have never seen from him for a very long time.

That vacation is like hitting two birds with one stone. He rekindled his relationship with his son, and he somehow unpacked whatever made him an apathetic robot.

When lunch came, just like usual, we ate in the garden. Sophie also ate with us along with her nanny, whom I had talked to a couple of times before.

Greyson kept on blabbering about the vacation, and we were just listening intently to him.

When the bell rang, I waited for him in front of their classroom. He ran at me with a huge beam on his face.

When I asked him why he's chirpy, he enthusiastically said, "I got a perfect score on our math test! I can't wait to show dad."

I patted his head. "He will certainly be happy and proud to hear that."

I hung his bag over my shoulder. We walked through the gate, where Uncle Hector was waiting for us.

"Your dad said that he'd come home late tonight because he had a lot to finish at work. He might not be able to eat dinner with us," Aunt Esther told Greyson when he asked if his father had already arrived. That was the first thing he asked when we got home.

Garren must have been overwhelmed with workloads to accomplish because he went on leave just to have a vacation with his son.

I accompanied Greyson to his room and helped him with his assignment.

When the night fell, like Aunt Esther said, Garren really didn't arrive. We ate dinner without him.

"Goodnight, Greyson."

"Goodnight, Cleo."

I switched off the lights in his room after tucking him to sleep before heading out.

I don't know if I already mentioned this, but I have to walk for a couple of minutes from Greyson's room just to reach the staircase.

This mansion has a lot of hallways, aisles, and roundabouts when less than ten people live here.

I headed straight to my room and brushed my teeth before going to bed. However, when I was about to cover myself with a blanket, my phone rang.

Who's calling me in the middle of the night?