Chap 66
Flavia looked at Abigail. She didn’t want her friend to be angry. Gladwin already had enough resentment towards his biological mother; she didn’t want her friend to also hate her grandmother because of herself.
Growing impatient at not receiving an answer, Abigail shifted her gaze to Gladwin. Gladwin shrugged casually, his left hand gently stroking Flavia’s head.
“Your grandmother asked Flavia to give me a child within a year. And if Via isn’t pregnant, she has to be willing to divorce me or let me marry Phoebe,” he said, still maintaining his relaxed demeanor.
The crease in Abigail’s forehead deepened. She tried to digest the information before finally cursing in frustration. “Has Grandma lost her mind? It seems old age has made her think irrationally,” she huffed angrily. “Does she think you’re some kind of livestock? Does Grandma really think you’re a god who can easily fill your womb with the presence of a baby?” Abigail now paced back and forth in front of Flavia and Gladwin. Her left hand was folded while her right hand supported it.
Abigail bit her thumbnail roughly, trying to quell the anger that seemed to have reached its boiling point. “That witch must have influenced Grandma’s mind,” she said again, her gaze distant. “That’s the only reason why Grandma would act like this. The options she gave are even absurd.” She murmured softly, more like speaking to herself.
Gladwin turned to his wife, studying her face closely. “What else did Phoebe say?” he asked curiously.
Flavia shook her head, returning her husband’s gaze. Gladwin’s left hand now gently stroked Flavia’s cheek. “She said the choice was between me leaving you or me having to share you. She believes sharing you is the only best solution. We could have a child with her, while she could get all the facilities you can provide,” Flavia replied matter-of-factly.
Abigail sneered. The girl had now slumped her body onto the single sofa and folded her arms in front of her chest.
“Like Mother, Like Daughter. See, Uncle?” Flavia looked at Abigail with confusion now. “We discussed this once, and we concluded that it’s all about money.
“It seems that woman knows about the inheritance you received and also the property business you’re currently involved in. And according to them, you’re just like a money tree,” Abigail said again, her tone sharp.
Flavia fell silent, as did Gladwin. “Don’t tell me you’ve already made a choice among the options my mother gave you? For God’s sake, I won’t stand for it if you do. There’s no good choice among the two options my mother gave.” She said threateningly, but Flavia remained silent, offering no response. “I’ll slowly die if you’re cruel enough to leave me, especially if you lead me to that vixen,” she continued as Flavia still remained silent.
Abigail could only watch Flavia. With Flavia’s character, Abigail was sure her friend had already made a choice as suspected by her husband.
“The IV’s finished,” Flavia redirected her husband’s attention to the empty IV bag.
Gladwin stood up, went into their room, and fetched a medicine box. Carefully, he removed the IV and disposed of the unused equipment in the trash. Afterward, Flavia got up, looked at Abigail, and uttered, “I want to rest.” Abigail knew her friend was trying to avoid, but she only nodded. Flavia went into her room, which she had occupied for the past nine months, and Gladwin followed her from behind.
“You haven’t had lunch,” her husband remarked behind Flavia, who was now about to change clothes.
“I’m not hungry. Maybe later. Do you want to shower? Shall I prepare warm water?” Gladwin shook his head, declining his wife’s offer. “You’re still unwell, right?” Flavia shook her head in response. “I’m not sick. I’m just in shock. Shall I prepare the bathtub?” Without waiting for Gladwin’s answer, Flavia entered the bathroom. She filled it with warm water and scented therapeutic soap.
Gladwin entered the bathroom with a towel around his waist. Flavia smiled at him. Slowly, she removed her clothes from her head, causing Gladwin to be surprised by his wife’s actions. Initially, he suspected that Flavia’s regained memory would revert her back to her shy mode, but he was mistaken. Flavia now became more aggressive than she was before she lost her memory.
Her personality during her memory loss, Gladwin believed, was her true character. It was the one Flavia had hidden from him all this time. Not hidden, more accurately, the one she tried to change since the major accident that happened to her. So, Gladwin was quite surprised because his wife now no longer wanted to hide behind her mask of shyness. And Gladwin liked his wife’s current nature.
Flavia removed all her clothes, leaving only black lace bra and panties. She approached her husband and removed the towel around Gladwin’s waist, then pulled him to enter the bathtub.
Gladwin followed suit, leaning his body against the edge of the bathtub. Afterwards, Flavia removed her underwear and joined him, asking Gladwin to spread his legs so she could sit in front of him. She positioned herself in front of Gladwin with her back against his chest, leaning comfortably against his chest.
“I thought you were going to give me a ‘plus-plus’ shower experience,” Gladwin whispered in Flavia’s ear. His wife smiled, turning her head to glance at Gladwin over her shoulder. She reached for Gladwin’s head to bring him down closer. She kissed him warmly before Gladwin changed it into a passionate kiss that left them breathless.
“I want it,” Gladwin requested softly. His nose nuzzled Flavia’s shoulder, moving up and down.
“I’m still unwell,” Flavia replied, giggling.
“You should take responsibility because you teased me first,” Gladwin pouted.
Flavia smiled, then she turned around. She sat on Gladwin’s lap with her legs open. Her hands were on Gladwin’s shoulders, teasingly caressing his neck.
Gladwin pulled his wife’s waist, pushing her petite body forward until the sensitive area could feel his. Flavia smiled, her head tilting closer. Then, without a word, she gently kissed Gladwin’s lips. Tasting and teasing.
Gladwin groaned, his hands softly rubbing Flavia’s back. He responded to Flavia’s kiss hungrily. They made love in the bathtub as if there were no tomorrow. Continuing it under the shower and ending up exhausted on the bed.
???
Flavia gazed at Gladwin. Currently, she was in her husband’s warm embrace, facing each other naked. Watching her husband’s face as he slept wasn’t something she did for the first time. She often did it. However, somehow it felt different this time.
Gladwin’s thick, black hair, usually neatly combed for work, now fell over his forehead. His thick eyebrows, sharp nose, slightly darkened lips from occasional smoking, and pointed chin. Flavia observed them all carefully. Even his straight, black, short eyelashes. Flavia liked everything. Everything about her husband. Not just his handsome face and muscular body, but also his personality. His skin was white, clean. And his large hands had long fingers, which Flavia found beautiful.
“Whatever I do in the future, I hope you won’t be angry with me,” she whispered softly. She hugged Gladwin tightly, hiding her face in his broad chest. “You have to know that I always love you. Whatever I do later on, I do it not only for my own good, but for us.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
“I’m tired of holding everything alone. I want to share everything with you. I’m tired of surrendering to circumstances. I want to fight for my own happiness, and my happiness is being with you.
“I know you’ll be angry, but for God’s sake, I won’t give up on our relationship, because I do all of this for us. Unless you want to back down, then I can only surrender.”
Gladwin heard everything, and he believed every word his wife said. Just as Flavia decided not to give up, he would do the same.
Gladwin tightened his embrace, giving his wife reassurance through his body language. Whatever happens in the future, whatever problems they face, and whatever path his wife chooses, he believes in her.
“Even if someday I leave, you have to believe that I will come back. Please, wait for me until I return,” she whispered softly again before silence enveloped them.