Chapter 28

After dinner, everyone settled in their rooms to get ready in the next day activity except for Richard. Grandpa found him drinking at the mini bar.

"You did not tell me you wanted to drink. I could have joined you." he said and gave Richard a tap on his shoulder.

"I don't have plan to get drunk Dad. I just need this to get a good sleep." Richard replied.

Grandpa grabs a goblet and poured some wine for himself. "I don't take hard drinks anymore, wine is enough for me."

"Why are you still awake Dad?" Richard asked.

"This is my house, even if I am in my room, I still know if all the people inside are already sound asleep." Grandpa said before he took a sip of his wine. "By the way, you were rude to Rizza earlier. Have you apologized?" He asked.

"Tomorrow Dad, I promise to do that." Richard replied.

"What is happening son? Just recently, you asked my opinion about postponing the wedding. You were worried about the wedding preparation will add to Dei's stress in her new assignment at work. Why all of a sudden you change your mind?" Grandpa asked.

Richard smirks and replied,"You asked as if you do not know the answer Dad. I'm sure Dei already told you what's happening."

"And I don't buy that, I know there is more into it." Grandpa straightly said.

"I'm scared Dad, not only for Dei but more for Charmaine." Richard confesses, "I'm afraid Charmaine will get mad at me once she learns the truth. I don't want to upset her and eventually, leaves us for his biological father. I don't think I can take that Dad. Charmaine has been away from me because of the separation and I don't want it to happen again." He said while tears stream down his cheeks.

"You are over thinking son. Why are you seeing things that way? Charmaine loves you so much to leave you." Grandpa explained. "Also, I'm sure you taught her not to talk or go with strangers' right? Why would you think she will decide to leave for her biological father? He is someone she doesn't know."

"Dad, Charmaine is a smart girl." Richard said.

"Exactly, which is the reason you should not worry." Grandpa said smiling "Go and have some sleep, and stop thinking nonsense things. I never taught you to be threatened with someone who is not as a better man as you are."

Richard smile as he knows what his Dad means "Thank you, Dad."

"You're welcome, son" Grandpa said beaming "I have to hit the bed now, don't forget to apologize to Rizza tomorrow."

"Yes Dad, I will. Thanks again." Richard replied with a lighter feeling this time.

///

When they got back in Manila and resumes regular weekday stuff, it was a relief for Dei that the courtesy meeting was the last encounter she had with Dwayne.

She just notices Richard became too clingy since then. He never failed to send flowers and sweet messages to her every day. Date night increases as well. He was even hands-on on the wedding preparations. Though Dei enjoyed this extra attention from Richard, she can't help but worry about him. She knows how Dwayne's mere presence has haunted Richard these days. She was in deep thought when she received a viber message which added to her worries.

///

In the evening, Dei was so uneasy. She goes back and forth inside their room. There is something she wants to discuss with Richard but she doesn't know how to start.

From the bathroom, Richard sees Dei's uneasiness. He senses something is bothering her. Dei was so restless a while ago, and this does not skip Richard's, she was reading a book for a moment then after a while she turned on the TV then after a few minutes she turned it off and goes back to reading her book and now she is walking back and forth biting her nails since he entered the bathroom.

"You may not sleep properly if you won't let it out. Something is bothering you, would you like to talk about it?" Richard said as soon as he steps out of the bathroom.

"Huh? No, I'm alright. Would you like some massage?" Dei replied.

Richard sat on his side of the bed and taps the other side, signaling Dei to sit beside him. "I do not want a massage." He said and hugged Dei as soon as she sat beside him "I want to talk about what's bothering you my queen."

Dei released a huge sigh and grabs her phone. She shows him a viber message from Dwayne.

"You said you didn't talk about personal stuff at work. Can we have coffee to talk about things not related to work? Give me this chance to talk to you Nicomaine for old-time sake please." say the viber message.

Richard gave Dei' phone back to her. "Have you accepted the invitation?" He seriously asked.

"I haven't replied yet. I would like to talk about it with you first." Dei replied.

"Tell me, would you like talking about it or you just want to ask permission?" Richard looked at her straight in the eyes.

"I want to talk about it." she honestly replied.

"What is there is talk about?" He asked.

"Do you think it will help if we talk? I mean, do you think it is still necessary?" She asked in reply.

"My queen, this is not about should you or should you not talk. The only question here is would you like meeting him again after everything that has happened?" He said.

"You are making this difficult for me, your highness. You are not helping, I tell you." Dei frustratedly said.

"Why am I making it difficult for you? Look your highness. Let us put it this way. Do what ever you think is the right thing to do. Don't mind me, because I understand." Richard said and lay on their bed "Let's sleep."

Dei also lies on bed but she could not close her eyes. A part of her says to decline Dwayne's invitation while another say a closure will give a good start for her and Richard on their second marriage.

"If you think, talking to him will help, I don't have a problem with it your highness. Just promise me that you will tell me everything you talked about." She heard Richard said after a few minutes. She quickly hugs him and says, "Every single detail my king. I promise."

Richard hugged her back "You have no idea how hard it is to make you happy your highness. I could hardly breathe."

Dei smile as she clearly understand what he meant "I love you my king, I love you so much." She said as she hugs tighter.

"I know." He replied.

"This is the first time you reply to me that way. I thought you would say 'I love you too'. What's with the grumpiness?" Dei teases.

"I'm upset, so deal with it. Do not be abusive." Richard replied.

"You know, I like it when you're upset." Dei teases again.

Richard frowned, "You are such a bully."

"Of course not, I'm just being honest. I like it when you're upset, I find it so cute and ... it actually turns me on." Dei said and now she is flirting with her fiancée.

Richard quickly opened his eyes. He flipped and now he is on top of her, "If that is the case then go ahead and make me more upset." He said in between kisses to Dei.

"What do you think your highness, why did he ask to talk to me? Perhaps he will apologize." She asked to tease Richard more "Or maybe he will asked me back."

"Your highness, that's enough." Richard authoritatively said.

"Oh, I thought you wanted me to make you upset even more." Dei said chuckling.

"Ok then, if you won't stop, I'll make sure you're pregnant by tomorrow. I'm sure you don't want any baby bump on our wedding day." He said which made her laugh out loud that the four corners of their room could hear.