Chapter 12

DIAMOND POV

I look back at my son who was so engrossed in his cotton candy while watching a cartoon series in George's SUV. A sweet smile appeared on my lips.

Today was truly fun for him. No one in the family, not even me had taken him out like this before.

Even during his birthdays, we only bake a little cake and kill a chicken for him but we don't usually take him out to catch fun.

I saw how excited he was, trying almost everything in the children's park. I've never seen him this happy since he was born.

To him, it's like heaven is on earth.

He kept insisting that George and I should always bring him to the park every time.

I couldn't promise something I know I can't fulfill because I don't have the money. But George promised to always take him out every weekend.

After that, we went to the movies for the latest premiere in cinema. George booked for the three of us a VIP section.

Nothing like a real entertainment with popcorn and diet coke.

After we finished from there, we went to an ice cream shop. We visited a candy store for Corey since he said he didn't want any ice creams.

And now, we're returning home.

But there's something I observed about George since morning. His mood was dull but he kept hiding it behind a smile.

I've known this man for years ago. I know if he's truly happy and not.

My conscience tells me that there is something he doesn't want me to know.

I kept looking at him with the corner of my eye. His attention was carried away by the road.

His flawless face, emotionless. One can barely read his expression.

I wanted to ask him if everything was alright but…..I felt like it'll be a disturbance to him.

I don't want to bother him while he's driving.

He did too much for Corey today. Maybe what he needed was a rest.

I hope he's not fighting hard times right now. Somehow, I still have a feeling that Melissa busted at him that night.

I believe there was war in the house when he got home.

Oh dear. Poor him. To go through all these because of me.

All of a sudden, the car was going sideways like an accident is about to occur. I faced George, his eyelids were shutting down like a computer system.

"George? George?"

Before I knew it, he slump his head on the steering wheel and the car started malfunctioning.

Oh my God.

"George?" I tap his shoulder but he didn't wake up. My heart was beating very fast. My eyes drifted on the road. Am afraid an accident is about to happen.

Corey lost his balance on the seat when the car bumped into something like a stone.

"George…" I kept tapping him but still no use. "George, please wake up. We're going to die." Tears fell on my cheeks.

Oh God, what am I going to do?

Please save us. He is not waking up.

I look back at my Corey, he was frightened already.

Suddenly, I got an idea.

I don't know how but I managed to move George to my sit during the situation and took over the control.

It was luck on my side that drove us to my place successfully. Just imagine I didn't know how to drive. What would have happened?

It would have been another story by now.

I called Trey, Uncle Chris and Carter's Dad to come assist me take George to my room.

He was weak and helpless at the moment. I should have driven him to the hospital but when I remember the secret herbal medicines grandma taught me, I brought him over to my place.

What happened to him was a SLUMB.

"Where are you taking him? Here?" Dad refuses when he saw the three men bringing the sleeping guy into the house. "No. He is not allowed here, take him back."

"Dad, for the love of God, please let him stay here for a while. His condition is too critical to be abandoned." I pleaded.

Nadia came out of the kitchen, holding a spatula. It's our turn to cook today. Her eyes grew big when she saw the most unexpected person in the house.

"I don't care if he is going to die." Dad is harsh. "This man can't live here."

"He won't." I sighed. When I saw Mom, I begged her to come help me talk to dad. "Mom, please help me talk to him. George slumbered on our way home. I can't leave him in this condition, he is human not an animal."

"You see? Ah!" Dad laughed nastily. "I said it. He even plot to kill you and my grandson in a motor accident."

I groaned and turn to my Mom for help.

Finally, she approached him, "Jasper, if we could take care of the farm animals then what is our fellow humans to us?"

Dad kept quiet for a long time. Mom took advantage of his silence and glared at me. She gave me a 'Go ahead' Signal and instantly, Trey, Uncle Chris and Carter's Dad helped him to my room.

….

"Damn, is that his car outside the house? Meh, that cost a lot. I think it could pay for my bills and expenses throughout college." Trey gasped.

"Hush…." I shush him away. The rest of my Uncles already helped me and left but this idiot still stood here, praising material things. "Don't be too loud. Go now."

He grumbled and left.

I straightened George's long legs on the bed and carefully took out his t-shirt.

Corey was with us in the room. His brows curled down when he saw his father's condition.

I pity him.

"Corey, don't leave here, you hear me?" I whispered and left to get some meds.

….

The moment I got downstairs, Dad's straight eyes met mine like a hawk but I just ignored it and went to the farm to pluck some herbs.

I got a combination of different leaves. I went into the kitchen to make soup with some of them while I squeeze out the nutrients of the rest in a bowl.

I notice Nadia giving me corner eye since but I just pretended like am a novice.

She got tired of staring at me for a long time. So she leaned closer, "Really?"

Is that the only thing she has to say?

"Really what?" I asked her but my eyes never left what I was doing.

"George in our house?" She gasp. "How the fuck did you bypass Uncle Jasper?"

I turn my head to her and frowned. "Are you with me or you're against me?" I hissed and took the soup and herb's juice when they were ready and left.

…..

When I got to my room, Corey was already fast asleep beside his father but he was sleeping slantly so I adjusted him properly on the bed.

I poured the herb's juice into an empty bowl. Then I dip a dry clean napkin into the bowl and squeeze out the water before massaging his face and upper body with it.

While I did that, I kept praying in my heart that he wakes quickly. I can't bear to see him in this condition for so long.

Not up to twenty minutes, he sneezed and his eyelashes fluttered.

My eyes lit up. I blink twice thinking I was dreaming. "George!"

"Diamond…." His eyes left mine and roamed around the room. "Where am I? Where is Corey? Did we got home safe or this is just heaven?"

I chuckled softly. "No, baby. We're in my house." Before he says anything, I added. "I'll explain everything to you but first of all take your meds."

I made him sit and rest his back on the headboard. Then, I fed him the hot herbal soup.

….

I was helping him bath in the hot water tub. He didn't say anything to me after taking the herbs. I couldn't decipher his expression. Whether eerily or not, he was just pale and staring at me blankly.

When I finished helping him in the bathroom, he wore my giant bathrobe and stayed in bed for minutes that felt like hours.

I've never in my life witness this part of him before. It was like, I wasn't existing in his presence or his mind was flooded with so many things I don't know.

His phone rang before now. He didn't even bother to look at the caller before switching it off by the power button at the side.

Afterwards, it was getting late and now time for dinner. My family willingly invited him to the dinning room to join us – putting away their hatred for him. But he declined the hospitality and just remained in the room.

I pry to ask him questions if everything was fine. He suddenly changed after the incident, am scared.

But he didn't say anything, just a nod of his head that he's not in the mood to talk now.

I understand and never bothered him.

Corey made things awkward the more when he walked in. His hand his not that tall enough to reach for the door. I wonder how he got in, but then I stopped wondering when I knew the condition of my door.

One must lock it with the bolts or keys before it's perfectly shut.

My little handsome stood by his father's long legs, waiting for him to look down at him but his Dad didn't spare a glance at him for a second.

I thought maybe he didn't smell his son's present.

Corey tapped the side of his leg to gain his attention. Am sure he is getting used to him being his father. I can see the connection.

I never expected he'd respond to his son. For the first time in hours, he smiled and carried him to his side. But I perceive that smile to not be genuine.

He was probably smiling to keep away his sadness so his son doesn't feel bad.

As he carried him, they both stare out the window and welcomed the cool air that blew in the night.

I was already tired of being ignored. I know I haven't made any offense and I understand if he still needs time to recover from the incident.

After dinner, the rest of my family gathered in the living room for the latest comedy movie threading in Netflix. I remembered the movie to be the exact one I watched in the cinema some hours ago but I didn't hesitate joining them.

The room was quiet except for the noise coming from the movie. The movie lasted for about an hour and thirty minutes. When it ended, Trey signaled the elder men in the house about the live wrestling in SS select.

As they turned the channel, the ladies got bored and got up to sleep in their rooms but just when I was about leaving also, Nadia came to me.

She had this apologetic expression written all over her face. For the moment, I didn't know whether to be angry or calm in front of her.

She did so many things against her normal personality. First, I never permitted her to blab things about George to my father and then she went to tell him which made Dad furious till date.

And then, she want to pry into our business. I remember saying I never wanted George in my life and I'd never want him near Corey but as time went on, I realize that I went back on my own words.

Everything changed.

I came to realize that none of what he did to me was his fault. I knew the man I married before. That is George. He would never do anything to hurt me.

He has always loved me and care for me.

When I thought he was the one that posted that divorce paper, I was wrong. Him too, he is very shock and unaware about it. He got mad at me because I signed some papers he wasn't present and aware about.

I mean, who does that?

I claimed that am well educated but is that how a divorce should be done? If it's not being brought up to court to resolve or the other person must be standing there then that is not a legal way of making a divorce.

I wanted to avoid Nadia at the moment but I still don't know what kept my feet in place. The ladies have left and we're just the only ones present.

Am sure she read the expression on my face, so she went first. "Am sorry…." She started. From her words, I know she's sincerely honest. "I shouldn't have hit him, pick into your lives, and told Uncle Jasper."

Immediately, my anger dissipated. I've always loved Nadia as my pal and better half. Just this minor thing she did shouldn't break our long time bond. Should it?

"I hold no grudges for you, Nadia." I sighed with a smile and she hugged me tightly, feeling relieved.

"Thank you, Diamond."

I pulled out of her brace, the smile still on my lips. "It's alright, you can go to sleep now and please don't panic. I've really forgiven you, okay?"

She shook her head vigorously, her fingers clasped together.

Just when I turn and about to leave, she seek my attention again. "Diamond?" I turn to her, waiting for her to speak. "How is he now? Is he getting better?"

That is one strong question I should crack my head to answer.

What do I say to her now? He is getting better or just trying to recover from what happened hours ago?

"He is." I say. A weak smile on my face.

She nodded. "Actually, his brother was here a while ago. He said he was calling his phone and it's switched off but when he tracked his vehicle number, he found it here and came instead." She heaved a sigh. "He said he is worried and his parents too. They haven't heard from him in hours and it's late, he's still not home yet."

I kept quiet for a while before nodding my head. "I'll let him know." Was the only thing I could say.

Nadia smiled but still stood there waiting like she wanted me to tell her something more. Maybe about what really happened that stuck George in our house.

Am not too sure she overheard my conversation with Dad when I asked him for pity on George when he was still very much unconscious.

She poke one finger for me to wait a minute. I did and she came out of the foyer and hand me a little black bag. My brows furrowed when I saw her giving me a bag.

"He also said you should give this to him just Incase he wants to stay for the night and morrow. It's just his clothes, according to him."

Oh.

I took it with a small smile. Then I left for my room. When I got in, Corey and his father where already lying next to each other on the bed. Corey looks so small like a baby at the middle. George made sure to cover his body with the duvet.

I wonder why Corey didn't go to his room to sleep. Everyone in this estate has their own rooms. From baby to adult. Corey would have just left the queen size bed for I and his father.

Anyway, what can I do? He is fast asleep and if I take him to the room now, he'll feeling a change and quickly wake up. Then, that will be another war to battle this night.

I can't handle his little naughty issues. I've already had enough for the day.

I walked into my closet and kept the little black bag there. Then, I strode out wearing my pajamas. I clip the curtains together a bit because of the cold at midnight.

Corey's body is too soft to magnate a fever. And I don't want him to get sick, so as the saying goes. Prevention is better than cure.

I left a little space between the curtains so that the moonlight can still reflect itself in the room. Thereafter, I went to bed to join them.

While I cover myself with the sheets, my eyes landed on the two persons sleeping next to me. Corey was the only bridge separating George and I on the big bed.

Since tomorrow is Sunday and one of the days we work most in the farm, I thought of setting an early alarm. I reach for the alarm clock on top of the drawer next to my side of the bed and set the alarm to 4 am.

At least, before 6 am, I should be able to bath, pick a dress for the day and prepare breakfast. I don't want my family to see me as a late comer in weekends.

Just the moment my eyes were shutting down for sleep, I heard a deep voice that made my eyes open in a second.

"If anything had happened to the both of you, I wouldn't have forgive myself."

I turn my head to him. He wasn't looking at me for the time he said that. But after two seconds, he tilts his head to my direction and all I saw was the pain and regret in his eyes.

I suddenly felt bad for him. Even me, I don't know how the incident suddenly occurred out of the blue and I was eager to ask but I don't want to force the things out of him.

So instead, I went slow on him. "Nothing would have happened, George. It was a busy day and we stressed you so much."

"No." He nodded. His hand came over Corey and landed on my face. He gently push the strands of hair aside. "It was my fault."

I'm curious to know something here. I laid properly facing him with more attention. "Is there something you want to talk about? Please tell me, my love."

He shut his eyes and heaved a long breath then he opened it again. "It's complicated, honey. What happened in the afternoon...was as a result of family issues."

I knew it! I knew this was the main cause. Do they really want him dead?

"Melissa picked a fight with you, right?" I asked.

A slight smile showed on his lips but it died down in one second. "She wouldn't try such a thing with me. Though she reported me to my parents and they came blabbing things in my ears. God! I freaked out and walked away. That afternoon, I wasn't myself. I tried washing their thoughts out of my head and have fun instead. It was hard to overcome and my head was hurting from thinking too much then…. Suddenly I didn't know what happened next."

Very sad. He must have been facing these torments for long now. Of course for three good years with that witch.

She's the cause of the incident. She just wants to frustrate his life and send him to an early grave but little does she know that he has a shield always protecting him from her arrows. And that is me. I'll continue to do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to the father of my son.

"It's all over now. The important thing is that you're alive and we are too." I smiled and intertwine his fingers with mine. "Together, we can conquer this battle. Together, we can boot Melissa and end her dramas."

His lips pressed into thin line and he reach my hand to his mouth and kissed it. "Thank you, sweetie. I love you."

My cheeks flushed hard and my chins cupped. "I love you more, George." I say, then suddenly, I remembered something. "George? Your brother was here. You should give him a call. He's worried and your parents too. He brought a bag containing few clothes for you."

He rolled his eyes instantly, as if not liking everything I just said.

I waited for him to say something. If he didn't, I'll feel restless. Am a mother too. Just imagine I didn't get to hear from my son since morning. How would I feel?

Terrible. Worried. Curious. Restless. Uneasy.

"I'll call Greg tomorrow morning but for my parents...am not sure." The happy smiles on his face died down once as he faced the ceiling.

I know I don't like his parents because of how they treated me. They're the reason why George and I separated in the first place but am human. I have a heart of gold not a heart of stone.

I pleaded with him because I know he is a man of his words. "Honey, for my sake, please contact your parents in the morning. They'd be very worried about you."

He didn't say anything but shut his eyes tight.

I pleaded again. Round two. No harm in trying. "My love…." I caress his arm which was above his head. "Please….. just let them know you're fine. That's all I ask. Please."

It took about two minutes and ten seconds before he finally agreed to my request. "Okay. Just for you." He said and faced me.

I felt happy and relieved inside me. The smile on my face showed the appreciation. But then when I thought of something, it dissipated.

What if he goes back to meet his family tomorrow, who would share this big bed with me?

I really miss him and I've always wanted a moment like this to repeat itself. Was he going back at dawn or he would stay with I and his son for a little while?

Am afraid that business appointment he has tomorrow.

And just when I was still deep thinking about his flight to Australia tomorrow morning, he cut in, "I already contacted my personal assistant, Timothy, to scribble my meeting in Australia." He turn to me and my eyes popped in shock. He smiled. "I want to spend quality time with my family. Can I?"

Gosh. I…I…I don't know whether to stay excited on the bed or just jump until my head touches the ceiling.

Damn! This is great news! Am so happy to have him around.

I was thinking about it and he just gave a simple solution to my hard equation. "Honey, are you serious?" I need to reconfirm if I don't have hearing problems.

He chuckled and kissed the back of my hand. "Drop-dead serious, sweetie."

"But I thought you said that meeting was important."

"Not important than my family, did I mention that?"

Of course not. He didn't tell me that.

God. I know how much he needed to appear in that meeting and now, he already terminated it. Either because of us or because he still needed more time to recover from the pain of the incident.

He leaned closer when I remained silent in my daze and kissed my forehead and Corey's. "Good night, my love." He groaned as he went back to his initial position and closed his eyes with his face directly facing the ceiling.

"Good night, George." I replied sweetly and drifted off to sleep too.