Comments, critiques and tips are welcome.
Welcome to this lovely chapter of one of your favorite stories. I would like to thank you guys for making this story a big success, even better than I imagined. Both of my ongoing stories, "Wild Flower" and "Destined Hearts" are going successfully and it is because of you guys and your love.
I am back to school now but I promise this time I won't stop writing. I won't be posting consistently but I will always update you whenever I can. I love you guys a lot and I hope you understand.
Please understand that I didn't have much time to edit this chapter so there might be some tiny errors but I promise it won't ruin the story for you.
Feel the passion...
***
Praveen came out of the bathroom, drying his face clean. He couldn't still believe that had just happened to him down stairs, in front of his entire family. He couldn't believe Andrea had played a stunt like that.
"How could you do this, Praveen?"
Those words had been really painful to hear. Maybe it was partly his fault because he had thought she was genuine when she had asked him to collect the bill. She had planned everything but granny, bless her heart, he thought as he smiled as he remembered how she had been defending him since he had been to the house.
He threw the towel on the chair and froze when he looked in front of him to find Emilia looking at him without any expression on her face.
"Mother," He sighed, going for her feet.
She touched his head and then kissed his forehead. "My son, I am not happy at all." She said with a tone that he didn't like.
His heart started pounding deep in his chest when he realized that she might have been referring to what had happened down the stairs. Could she have been mad at him, he thought as he took her hands in his.
"Mother, I am sorry if I disappointed you and..."
"No!" She sounded scared. She cupped his cheeks and looked into his eyes, seeing his vulnerability. "Don't say that, my son. I am sad because my own daughter just uttered such nonsense against you when she clearly knows that..."
"Mother, please, don't!" He pleaded, shaking his head. "You shouldn't blame yourself for what had happened down the stairs. Andrea just thought wrong and besides, she knows the truth now. You shouldn't worry because I am not offended. I am sure she has learnt her lesson now. She just said that because she..." He paused and simply froze, realizing that he couldn't tell her the truth. "...because she really cares for this family and its well being."
"But she pointed at you and..."
"I want us to forget that happened, mother." He pleaded, shaking his head as a smile brightened up his beautiful face. He took his specs and put them on.
Emilia smiled brightly and kissed both his cheeks. "I never made a mistake when I chose you for my son, Praveen. I know he's gonna be happy here with you. You're such a blessing to me and the entire family. I love you so much."
She gripped his arms and pulled him a powerful hug that felt really warm and welcoming to Praveen. He laid his head on her shoulder and lost the smile on his face.
"Please, forgive me, mother..." He thought, closing his eyes to enjoy her warmth. "I can't tell you that Andrea wants me out of this house and that her friend, Bruce is the one that Antonio loves with his entire life. I just hope you'll understand why I am doing this one day."
She broke the hug and smiled brighter.
"I must say that I haven't been this happy since the death of my husband." She sighed, rubbing his cheeks. "He would have been happy to know that you're already in this house and making all of us happy."
"I am sure, father is happy if this family is happy." He smiled even brighter. "I just want to see all of you happy, mother."
She smiled and then rubbed her tears of joy that had gotten down her cheek. "Alright..." She laughed, holding his hands tightly. "Why don't you show me exactly what you had bought? I want to see all of them."
"Okay, mother."
They both laughed and Praveen brought the bags to show his mother in law what he had bought.
***
"I can't believe you just did that back there, Andrea." Emma said with her arms crossed. "You just made a fool out of yourself out there. You made yourself look like a bad guy in front of all of them. What were you thinking?"
"Aunt, I... I was just..."
"You were just what?" She raised her eyebrow, shaking her head. "Making yourself look like a fool? I very well know that boy didn't do anything."
"What was I supposed to do, aunt?" She said depressingly, passing her hands through her beautiful hair. "I couldn't just sit and watch anymore. I had to do something, aunt. Is it wrong to help your family from harm?" She held both her aunt's hands, looking in her eyes. She was really mad.
"I didn't say that and I didn't say your actions were bad either." Emma explained, giving her niece a smile. "But look at the outcome of everything. He just gained more likes from this family and some people are already mad at you."
Andrea took a deep breath, sitting back on the bed. She buried her face between her palms and breathed audibly, feeling anger taking the best of her. "This is granny's fault. I told you that boy is a witch. He's using magic and very soon, he will take our entire wealth." She quickly sat up and looked Emma into her deep piercing brown eyes.
"Are you gonna sit and let that happen, aunt?"
"No!" Emma shook her head. "But I have decided to observe him and see what is so special about him."
"What?" Andrea yelled, shocked because of what her aunt had just said. "What did you say? Can you hear yourself? This boy is..."
"I know that, Andrea." Emma said, sitting with her niece. "But to play the game, you've got to understand your opponent. This boy..." She said, opening her palm widely. "Everyone is taking his side and I wanna see why? First I threw him out because Antonio's life is getting ruined because of him. But then..." She paused and chuckled bitterly. "...Antonio himself brought him back to this house?"
"That's because Antonio is being deceived by this boy." Andrea said harshly, almost bursting out at her aunt. She couldn't believe she was hearing that from her. "He probably waited until..."
"No!" Emma shook her head in disagreement. "Antonio could have chosen to ignore him but..."
"Aunt, not you too." Andrea said with tears in her eyes. "When are you gonna realize that this boy is playing tricks."
"Then I shall find out the truth." She said with a pat on Andrea's shoulder. "Like I said, I will be observing him and I won't make it easy for him. But if Antonio approves of him after, then who am I to deny that?" She shrugged, chuckling softly. "I don't wanna be the bad guy here."
"I can't believe this."
Andrea rose furiously from the bed and stormed out of the room. She had come to her aunt's room to plan on what to do next only to be told such nonsense. She was really mad... She was fuming and she was gonna make sure she got Praveen out of the house with the help of Bruce. She was gonna do everything and that was promise.
She was walking so fast that she didn't even see clearly where she was going. The next thing she felt was someone pulling her arm and grabbing her. She came to her senses and realized that she had almost missed a step on the staircase.
She quickly moved her eyes and a smile popped up her face, a really sexy smile... her anger simply went away and her heart started beating rhythmically. She felt a little hot and almost blushed.
"Ethan!" She chuckled happily, not losing that gorgeous smile.
But all Ethan saw was evil and nothing else. He wasn't even smiling. "I should have let you fall down those stairs but I am not as heartless as you, Andrea. A woman like you, beautiful and really sexy..." He said with a serious look on his face, making Andrea smile even more. "...your heart should be pure and really filled with love but I don't get why such a young woman would be bitter."
"Ethan, I..."
"I can't believe you'd do that to your brother's husband." He almost yelled at her and her smile started getting lost. "Have you no shame? But you know what..." He paused and chuckled. "...I am happy because instead of embarrassing him, you yourself got embarrassed. But guess what they say is true. The almighty will always protect those who are devoted to him. You might be working hard to get that boy out but I will make sure that I bring the two of them together." He warned, pointing his finger angrily at her.
"And warn your friend to know his boundaries."
With those words, Ethan started heading upstairs.
"Ethan, wait..."
But Ethan was too busy to even realize that she was calling him. Andrea remained standing there wondering what everything was all about. Ethan had never spoken to her in such a tone before. What was his problem, she thought as she slowly came down the stairs.
"I will make you all understand very soon." She vowed, clenching her fists. "I will incriminate him until neither of you can stand up for him. You'll come crawling back to me."
***
Miguel was sitting on a pool chair, his eyes in the water. He was lost deep in thought, blaming himself for what had happened. He couldn't believe that he had lost Adrian's number, the person he had become friends with, someone that had probably brought back his confidence.
He felt really terrible and worst of all, he didn't even know the company he ran for him to find information on him. Guess that was goodbye although Praveen really wished he could see him even if it was just once. He was praying for it and maybe, one day they'd get to meet or find a way to communicate.
"Ahem!"
He heard someone clear his throat and he quickly jumped up from the chair and got surprised when he heard someone laughing. It was Ethan and he couldn't believe he had just done that to him. But he wasn't alone. He was with Antonio who was busy looking at him without any expression. Their eyes met and both of them looked away.
"I am sorry for that." Ethan was still laughing and Miguel felt a little embarrassed. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Miguel gave a sheepish smile and nodded.
"Anyway," He cleared his throat. "We came here to tell you something important."
Ethan quickly punched Antonio slowly, bringing him to the real world. He gestured him to tell Praveen and Antonio just sighed.
"Err..." He stuttered, his mouth shivering. "Well, you..."
