Chapter 71


    71 ns For Breakfast


    Luke.


    Morning came, and I was reluctant to get off the bed. Spending the night in the mansion seemed like a


    good idea, but waking up in it did not seem so anymore. I hated breakfast, and this one would definitely


    be eventful. I could imagine the list of things we would have to discuss. Caleb‘s daughter was one. Caleb


    moving out of the mansion was another. Caleb‘s marrying the reluctant and not–interested Kimberly was


    there. Me housing them was an offence that might be discussed. Paul‘s health and prospects and my


    future n for him were prospective topics my father would want to discuss either on his own or


    prompted by Stacy. Tia‘s take on everything and her ns for our baby will be addressed. Above all,


    Elisabeth‘s exit will be brought up. There was no way breakfast was going to be peaceful. I wished the


    mansion’s exit wasn‘t at the right wing. If not, I would have opted to slip away with Tia and call to


    apologiseter. One thing I was sure my father would be prepared, and Norman would be waiting at the


    exit to invite us to breakfast before we leave.


    Tia and I were both naked, and I moved close to her and held her. She grumbled in her sleep, and it


    made me smile. I kissed her neck and wrapped my arms around her. We were finally at peace. I was


    d Paul was in great hands, and Elisabeth was out of my life permanently. I wished her the best, but I


    prayed our paths never crossed. It was seven in the morning, and we won‘t be having breakfast until


    nine. My father deliberately kept it thatte so that none of us would have an excuse. I am sure he was


    geared up for this morning, and I knew he would anticipate our move to dodge it.


    I gently moved away from Tia, so she won‘t wake up. I picked up my phone and called Caleb. He


    answered almost immediately, which made me believe he was awake.


    “Couldn‘t sleep?” I asked him.


    “Yeah. The couch sucks,” heined, and I realised Kimberly hadn‘t softened up. For his good, I


    hope she does. He really hurt her beyond repair. “You should have slept in another room,” I told him.


    “No. I can‘t. It is best this way. I want to be in the same space she is. Do you think things would have


    gotten good between you and Tia if you slept in separate rooms? Hanging around her increases my


    chances. She might forgive me sooner this way. Otherwise, the months will roll by quickly, and she will


    leave. Every second counts for me.” He said, and I figured he was serious about winning her heart again.


    “Well, I wish you all the best,” I said, and he thanked me. “I didn‘t know how fucked up the idea of


    spending the night here was until now, Luke,” Caleb said, and Iughed a bit.


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    “Me too,” I said and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I am prepared for my mother,” Caleb said, which


    reminded me why I called in the first ce.


    “Please do not bring up Regan Adhit at the table. I want to get to the bottom of the matter,


    71 ns for Breakfast


    and with all due respect, you know how your mother is,” I said, and Calebughed. “I wasn‘t going to


    bring it up. I still think she isn‘t being honest about certain things. We should discuss it extensively when


    we get home,” Caleb agreed, and I sighed. “Has Tia finished going through the business proposal I sent


    you?” He asked, and I looked at my wife in bed; she was still asleep. “I doubt she could read anything


    with all that had happened. They are auditing thepany, and we are investigating Timothy Miles.


    Because of the unfinished contracts and missing funds,” I said, and he paused. “I know it would implicate


    my mother, Luke,” He said sadly, and I sighed.


    “I do not think she was lying about her deal with Timothy,” I told him, sharing my opinion, and he sighed.


    “She has disappointed me too many times for me to trust her, Luke. Do not get your hopes up. She


    definitely has a hand in it. That is the only way she could afford to pay Regan Adhit Millions of Kins every


    year for twenty–three years. Do the math, Luke. There was no way she was cashing that money from the


    ounts. They were definitely padding the contracts together, and mother was making father look away.


    I do not trust her.” He said, making a lot of sense.


    “How about we bring up the investigations at breakfast to give her a chance toe clean?” I asked,


    and he was silent for a bit before speaking. He was thinking about his response. She was his mother,


    after all.


    “Have you thought of what you will do if she is guilty?” He asked. I hadn‘t really thought about it. I did not


    know what I would do. I could not arrest her, nor could she pay back.


    “Not really,” I said.


    “Size everything she has that is of value and auction it. Stop changing her wardrobe. Back her to a


    corner. Let her live without money.” Caleb said, and I knew his anger with his mother was beyond what


    we were discussing. Somehow I knew my wife was in the mix, but I admired his effort to move on, so I


    decided not to bring it up or point it out.


    “I see where you are driving,” I said to avoidplicating the conversation. “The woman left her


    boyfriend because of money. Father was rich and powerful, and she chose to leave the man for it. We


    should ask for the child‘s grave if we want to catch her. Don‘t bring up the investigation Luke; she will just


    complicate things for you. I won‘t be mad if you deal with her. Somebody has to; father has let her run


    wild all these years leading to this nonsense.” Caleb said, and Iughed.


    “Tia and I have a better idea,” I said, and he was silent, which indicated he was attentive. “We will go and


    get your grandparents from Dome without her knowledge. We can then ask them questions about what


    your mother told us. If truly there is a dead child, there should be a grave. If this man loved her as much


    as it seems, the baby should have a tombstone,” I said.


    “Why do you say that?” Caleb asked.


    “Because only love can cause the man to feel betrayed to the point of ckmailing her for


    71 ns For Breakfast


    revenge. If what she says is true, this man is ckmailing her only to make her life miserable. Tektite is a


    bigpany; he does not need her money. The man obviously feels insulted and wants to get back at


    her by taking away her peace and causing problems between her and our father by forcing her to act


    suspiciously.” I stated. “You are on to something Luke,” he agreed. “If there was a child between them, it


    would have a grave and a tombstone,” I said. “I like your idea Luke, and we will stick to it. I will bring up


    stuff to stop her and father from stirring up shit during breakfast. I really do not feel like discussing my


    personal life with them, and I know the feeling is mutual,” Caleb suggested, and I agreed. “Breakfast will


    be eventful as always,” I said, and heughed. “It seems like we would be the ones turning the heat up


    this time around,” He pointed out, and Iughed.


    I heard Emma crying in the background, and Caleb hung up so he could attend to his daughter. It was


    terrific that Caleb, whom I was six years his senior, beat me to fatherhood. Emma’s voice made me


    remember Paul. I only heard him cry once. When he came out of his mother. I hoped the hole closes on


    its own like the doctor had predicted so they wouldn‘t have to carry out open–heart surgery on him. I


    nned on visiting Neev to check on my son in three months. Finger‘s crossed, Paul won‘t have other


    complications that would be life–threatening or make living challenging for him. I doubted I would be able


    to forgive Elisabeth for what she did. It will take a while to get over it. Even though I knew Paul would be


    fine. There were still uncertainties about other symptoms that may arise from the drugs.


    I went to brush my teeth and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My beards were overgrown and busy. I


    was definitely visiting the salon soon. My beards were not long, but I needed to cut and carve them. The


    whole stress about Kimberly and then Paul kept me so upied that I forgot to keep my appointment


    with my barber. After brushing my teeth, I linked one of the staff closest to my room to bring Tia a tuna


    sandwich and returned to bed. A few minutester, the staff told me they were out of tuna but had


    smoked salmon. I doubted what that would taste like between toasts, but I had no choice but to allow


    them to use it.


    The sandwich arrived forty-five minutester, the same time Tia woke up. Her hair looked dishevelled,


    and she looked beautiful. She was alsopletely naked, so she wrapped the sheet around her body


    when she figured the staff had entered the room. They left when they delivered the snacks, and Tia went


    to brush her teeth. She was serious about her morning‘s breath, and I had to respect her consistency.


    She returned to bed a few minutester and straddled me. I grabbed her and kissed her deeply, and she


    responded. I travelled with my kisses down her neck. Her moans were pleasant to my ears and an


    excellent way to start the day.


    “How are you feeling now?” She asked me, and I smiled. “Elisabeth is gone, and Paul will be fine. I am


    delighted. I think we should have dinner with your folks to thank your father for his quick thinking.” I said,


    and she raised her eyebrows, surprised.


    “And we should make sure Dr Green‘s licence is suspended.” She said, and I shook my head.


    71 ns For Breakfast


    “Not really. He did say the hole will close up, and he did talk to your father about it. I think there has been


    too much sadness already. Let‘s move on.” I said, and she smiled at me. “Are we dodging breakfast?”


    She asked me, and I shook my head. Her smile faded away. “I know, Tia. But I doubt my father will let us


    skip breakfast.” I said, and she got up. “You know it won‘t be pleasant, right?” She asked, and I nodded.


    “As long as no one is attacking you, I can handle it,” I said, and she smiled.


    Tia reached for the tray of sandwiches and bit into it. I kept quiet about what was in it, but the look on her


    face said it all.


    She put down the sandwich and took a gulp of the grape juice they served. “The Salmon is salty,” she


    comined, and I cringed a bit. “Sorry, darling. They had no tuna, and I figured you might get hungry


    before nine. “I apologised to her, and she smiled at me.


    “The juice will do just fine. I think we can survive till then,” she said, and I pulled her closed to me. She


    stood before me while I was sitting on the bed. I bent my head and kissed her t


    belly.


    “I can‘t wait to meet our child,” I said, and she giggled. She bent down to kiss me, and I pulled her back


    to bed. I knew I would never get enough of my wife.