Endless Nights
Chapter 10
He fell in love the moment he looked into her adorable eyes
David
I was sitting next to Alessia while she dozed off, totally captivated by her cute little self as she slept so soundly. All I could do was sit there, mesmerized, watching her breathe and snooze. I just couldn't pull my eyes away from her. Lost in the moment, I suddenly heard my mom's loud footsteps—those 8-inch heels making a racket, and I swear even the person downstairs could hear them. Reality hit me when she began knocking hard, calling out my name,
"David, open this door! Son, can you hear me?" she yelled. Quick as a flash, I covered Alessia with a blanket and headed to the door. When I opened it, I nearly laughed at the sight of my mom looking furious, like a little frog.
"Who's in your room with you?" she asked. I slowly shut the door so as not to wake Alessia and took her hand, saying,
"Let's head to the living room, have some wine, and chat about this... Seriously, I insist."
"Fine... But I hope you're not hiding anything from me," she replied. I didn't say a word as I led her to the living room. We walked in, and I plopped her down on the couch before heading to the fridge to grab some wine. On my way back, I ran into Pinky, who was wrapped in a damp towel. She smiled and asked if she could join.
"Ohhh, can I join you, please?"
"Actually, this wine is for my mom, not me. Even if it were mine, I wouldn't want to share it with someone like you."
"Oh, I hope one day you'll accept me for who I am. The real issue is, you always focus on people who don't even know you exist instead of the ones who care about you. But hey, take your time, handsome," she said.
I went back to the living room and poured some wine for my mom and myself, and we started sipping. I looked at her and asked, "Mom, when you married Dad, did you feel forced into it, or was it your choice?"
"Honestly, your grandparents were behind everything. I didn't marry your dad by choice," she admitted.
"Got it. So don't you think it's outdated to force someone to marry someone they don't love? You should let me be with the person I love," I said.
"Son, if that's the case, then no way. I want Pinky to be part of this family! If not, then I'm out!" she shot back.
"Then I'd rather be an orphan!" I shouted as I stormed out of the living room. I strolled over to my daughter's room but didn't go inside. I just stood at the door, watching my little princess laugh and chat with Mandy. They seemed to be best friends already, really bonding. I let them be and headed to the kitchen to whip something up for Alessia. I kept it simple, and when I was done, I put the food on a tray and went back to my room. I expected her to be awake, but she was still sound asleep. I set the tray on the bed, kissed her forehead, and whispered something sweet, just like her name.
"When you wake up, grab a bite to eat. If love is all about looking out for each other, then I've got your back, and I'll take on your battles to shield you from the world's craziness. You're safe with me," I murmured, brushing aside her hair that had fallen into her face. I have to admit, she really was stunning. After that, I left the room and went to check on my daughter.
"Hey girls, are you hungry? Mandy, did you eat?" I asked, but Ariel jumped in first.
"Yes, Dad, she did! I whipped something up for her. If she gets hungry again, we can go to the kitchen and make more food."
"Just promise you won't hurt yourselves in there. Why not let the maids handle it?"
"Remember what mom said before she passed, Dad? I need to learn to be independent and do things myself. Just because I'm a billionaire's daughter doesn't mean I shouldn't work. Oh, and there's something else. No maids are cleaning our room; we'll take care of it ourselves."
"Our???" I was taken aback.
"Yep! Me and Mandy. I'd love to share a room with her, right? Right, Mandy?" she said. I felt a wave of emotions, wishing that Mandy could stay with us forever so my daughter would always be this cheerful.
"Alright, girls, do what you want. I'm off to the gym. Call me if you need anything," I said, making my exit. Honestly, my child's mother taught her the value of hard work and kindness, and I wish she was here. But there's no point in dwelling on the past. I figured Lisa's spirit lived on in Alessia. Kids don't forget easily; Lisa had passed when Ariel was just four, and here she was, still holding on to her words. I entered the gym, put on my headphones, and got ready to work out.
**Alessia**
I slowly woke up, feeling the cool breeze and smelling food. No wonder the air felt fresh in my small room; Mandy must have cooked. As I opened my eyes, I was both surprised and confused to find myself in a strange white room. The bed was clearly not mine, and it looked luxurious. I got out of bed and spotted a food tray sitting there, but I ignored it and headed to the window. I nearly screamed when I looked down and saw cars and buildings below, realizing I was on a high floor, maybe the 40th. I quickly closed the curtains and returned to the bed. I grabbed my phone to call Mandy, but the battery was dead.
"Ugh!!! Alright, I'll just eat first, even though I have no idea where I am or what's happening," I thought, starting to munch on the food. It was surprisingly tasty too! When I finished and sipped the juice on the tray, I began to wonder,
"What on earth happened to me?" As memories started flooding back, I realized someone had drugged me with an injection. Thank goodness the doctor had hurried to adjust his pants without touching me when his phone rang...
"And then what? I can't remember anything!" Wait, what about the pregnancy? No way," I said, putting my hand on my stomach. Just then, the door swung open, and walked a gorgeous girl who looked super rich—just like those kids you see in movies. I stood up and asked her,
"Who are you?"
"I'm so sorry to intrude, but my dad wanted me to check if you're awake," the young girl chirped, her voice barely above a whisper as she peered into the room.
"Your dad? You mean David Maynard, right?" I blinked, surprised by the unexpected visitor.
Her bright eyes sparkled with recognition as she nodded emphatically. "Yes, that's him!"
"Ah, I see. And you must be Ariel? This is indeed David's room?"
With a bright smile, she confirmed, "Yes! Oh, and by the way, I think you're really pretty. I love your blonde hair and your beautiful eyes! Are you dating my dad?"
"Uh, w-well, I…" My thoughts stumbled over each other in a flurry of confusion as I tried to compose a coherent response. "We are friends! Yes, definitely just friends!" The words tumbled out of my mouth, rather clumsily, as I felt my cheeks flush.
Her small brow furrowed with curiosity. "Oh, you're wearing his t-shirt! That's why I asked. It's actually his favorite one," she declared matter-of-factly.
"T-shirt?" I glanced down, realizing for the first time that I was clad in David's oversized shirt. Panic fluttered within me like a trapped bird; when had I even changed into this?
"And you're also wearing his morning shoes…" Her eyes widened with the kind of revelation only a child could muster.
"Oh gosh, I'm in trouble," I muttered, horrified as I caught sight of his large, comfortable shoes on my feet. How on earth did this happen?
With a playful spark of mischief in her gaze, she remarked cheerfully, "Ohhhh, you got me! Well, I just… didn't think about it."
"No worries at all," I said, attempting to brush off my embarrassment. "If you love my dad, that's totally okay with me. I think you're a sweet girl, by the way. I really hope you're a great person."
"Thanks!" she beamed brightly, her innocence radiating in the room. "By the way, your cousin Mandy is in our room right now. We've become best friends and are sharing a room!"
"Wow, that's so sweet!" I replied, my heart warming at her enthusiasm. She offered a beaming smile before swiftly darting out of the room. The door gently clicked shut behind her, and I took a deep breath, collapsing onto the edge of the bed.
"Shit, my phone's battery is dead! I should have asked that little girl for a charger," I groaned to myself, anxiety creeping back as I scrambled up and began searching for my clothes, desperate to cover up my current state. In my frantic hunt, I even found myself peering beneath the bed, trying to track down any semblance of dignity while my mind raced with questions.
Just as I was wrestling with the thought of how to explain this whole sartorial disaster, David entered the room, a mischievous grin plastered across his handsome face. "Hello, beautiful. You're awake!" he announced, his tone teasing.
"David, how did you manage to undress me and put me in your t-shirt? You didn't touch me, right?" I shot back, my voice a mix of indignation and disbelief.
"Honestly, I didn't do any of that," he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Why would I?"
I scoffed lightly. "Well, you know… man will always be man."
"Alessia, I'm David," he said, as though his name could dispel all the confusion swirling in the room.
"Okay, David, I really think that Mandy and I should head back home now. Thank you so much for saving me from that doctor; I truly appreciate it, but I can't stay here any longer. Plus, I really need to charge my phone."
"Could you please stay for dinner?" he implored, his expression suddenly serious. "If it's not for my sake, do it for my daughter. She's really happy you're around, and I wouldn't want to disappoint her."
**Mrs Hannah**
📱"Seems like you forgot about our deal? Make your son marry my daughter, or I'll tell everyone your secret," the disembodied voice blared, sending a chill down my spine as all the pieces of an intricate puzzle began to click into place.
To be continued…