CHAPTER 21

" You're really beautiful babe!" Damon complimented and Flora blushed.

" You think so?" She asked shyly.

" I know so, by the way, you'd look even more beautiful with your hair naturally black, I like it black, you know right, you no longer have to hide from me, I found you!" Damon said and Flora chuckled.

"I was thinking of the same, too bad you thought so too! I miss my black hair!" Flora said.

" I'm hungry!" Damon complained.

" Oh, I'll be right back!" Flora said getting out of the room in a hurry.

...

On the other hand, Claire is seated in the living room of Damon's villa making her nails as she video calls Damon's mother, Mrs Arena Rays.

" I can't believe it either, dear mom! Damon was never that smitten with any woman before but after meeting this Irene, I don't know Flora, it's like his mind was brainwashed, he doesn't even glance at me!" Claire complained.

" Don't worry darling, Damon will only marry you, furthermore, I can never let that woman into my family, she was an escort before, can you believe that!" Arena informed Claire.

" No way! Such an elegant woman for an escort, in unbelievable!" Claire exclaimed, surprised at the revelation.

" I can't even imagine! No wonder Damon is too smitten with her, she must be really good in bed, out of experience, for pleasuring other men before!" Claire spoke mockingly.

" That is it darling, so, that woman can never be a threat to you!" Arena said.

" Oh mom, I found out something else!" Claire spoke with pouting lips.

" What is it?" Arena asked curiously.

" I just found out that Damon and that woman had twins, the cute little girl's name is Ria, I doubted at first but considering the features, you can tell that it's true, she has the same eyes colour as Damon, her eyes colour is deep jungle green, very mesmerising eyes just like Damon's, her feature look quite alike as Liam's, it wasn't a lie. Damon was also very fond of that kid so, I don't think it could be a lie anyway." Claire said rolling her eyes due to the jealousy she felt.

" I told you not to worry, it's okay for my grandchildren to be here but that woman is not welcomed, furthermore she was just a surrogate who was paid handsomely!" Arena said.

" Yeah right! She doesn't deserve to be in the family! An escort, eew!" Claire said with disgust.

" Okay honey, I have to go, my husband is back!" Arena said.

" Okay, bye mom!" Claire said and disconnected the call.

...

Bertha held her son's hand as they placed the flowers on Nathan's grave.

" Mom, I promise you that they are going to pay for this!" Bertha's son swore. He felt bitter in his heart. Bertha didn't take his words too serious, he is just a kid after all.

" Let's go home, now!" Bertha said.

Her face looked pale due to crying a lot. Even though Nathan did wrong, he didn't deserve death, that's what she thought.

...

It was evening, Claire was at the living room enjoy her favourite show when the door went open.

Josh, Damon, Flora and the kids walked in with a very cozy mood. Josh and the maid held suitcases leading them to the guest room.

Claire was confused, what's going on, are they moving in too?

" Hello, what happened to your arm?" Claire asked moving closer to Damon. She was about to touch him but Flora stood by Damon's side and held his arm in a protective manner.

Damon chuckled, he was amused by Flora's gesture.

" Oh, he just had a little accident but he's fine now, right honey?" Flora said them turned slightly to ask Damon who nodded in agreement.

" Now, if you'll excuse us, as you can see, my love here is injured, he needs some rest!" Flora said and held Damon as they walked past Claire who was shocked by how bold Flora was.

She questioned her sanity,' is this the woman I'm competing with over Damon? I really got a very tough competition!'

Flora and Damon shared Damon's bedroom, Ria wanted to share Liam's room since she was too excited about her new found twin brother.

Josh found confused Claire pacing in the living room.

" Hello princess, I'm afraid you're going to finish the floor if you keep pacing like that." Josh teased her and Claire shouted in frustration.

" Why have they come here?" Claire asked and Josh chuckled.

" Who? You mean Mr and Mrs Rays?" Josh continued riling Claire even more.

" She can never be Mrs Rays, Josh are you intentionally messing with me? I know maybe they are just having fun! It's been five years and they were never in love isn't it?" Claire tried to convince herself.

Josh laughed at her claim.

"Really Ms Santos! Can't you see how smitten Damon is by her? And by the way, Ms Mars is equally smitten by him, you should give up! Damon has only loved this woman the moment he met her, you have no chance!" Josh said mockingly.

" You talk to me like that, don't you fear that I can get you fired!" Claire threatened.

" Oh really! I want to see you try! Hh!" Josh said with a cheeky expression.

" Don't say that I didn't warn you! You really don't know whom you're messing with!" Claire said, all this time glaring at Josh who looked really amused by Claire's reaction.

Claire stomped her feet as she walked away to her room.

Claire laid on her bed crying, she called her mom.

" Honey, what is wrong! Why are you crying?" Her mom, Mrs Fae Santos asked with a concerned tone.

" Mom, can you believe this, I came all the way here to find Damon and now he brought another woman in. You know I'm pregnant with his child what if he abandons me?" Claire said all this sounding like a helpless person.

" Don't worry honey, Damon won't marry any other woman, only you'll be married to him!" Fae said.

" Okay mom, we would talk tomorrow, I'm really sad right now!" Claire said.

" Okay baby, just relax! Don't worry, everything is sorted for you!" Fae said and disconnected the call.

Claire wiped her tears and smirked.

" Hhm, let's see how far you'll go Flora! Damon is only mine! Enjoy the moment while it last because he is going to be mine really soon!" Claire said and within a short moment think of ways to eliminate Flora, she fell asleep.

The next morning, Claire woke up and was confused by all the noises coming from the dining room.

" Hello princess, finally you've woken up." Josh said.

" Were you waiting for me?" Claire asked surprised.

" Not really, we were getting sick 9f waiting for you sleeping beauty!" Liam said and Ria giggled.

Claire glared at Liam who wasn't even bothered.

" Damon, see how he is behaving, you've become to soft on him!" Claire scolded bit Damon scratched his head with a bored expression.

" We do t have much time, Claire! Get yourself ready in thirty minutes. We are flying back. But if you don't want to travel with us, I'll ask Josh to cancel your air ticket!" Damon informed.

" No way! I'm not staying behind! What will I be doing here and you won't be around!" Claire said.

" If I remember very well, we came here with our own purposes and our own time, so you really do t have to worry about me not being around, I was never there for you anyway!" Damon spoke indifferently.

Josh suppressed his laughter as Flora was in cloud nine to hear Damon say that.

" Why are you being indifferent with me , Damon, you know how much I love you and I've always been there for you!" Claire said with her eyes watery.

" Claire, we are not going to have this conversation now! I wish you knew how sick and tired I am of you clinging around me like a parasite, can't you just live your own life?" Damon said irritated.

Josh cleared his throat signalling Damon that the kids are also there.

Seeing the tension taking place, Flora excused herself and took the kids along with her.

" Claire, let me make myself clear, we can never have a thing between us, I already told you this a long time ago, stop wasting your time, you're young beautiful and educated, stop acting like some illiterate woman."

" Why are you treating me this way, Damon. I'm carrying your baby!" Claire said and started crying.

" You now want to use some of your scheming tricks on me again, not this time Claire! Just move on with your life!" Damon said to Claire, he was already impatient by Claire's pestering and clinginess.

" You can't deny me like that just because of that escort!" Claire shouted.

" Say that again and you won't like it!" Damon warned.

" At least do it for our baby!" Claire pleaded.

" That child is not mine!"