Next Level
In a low, husky voice, Nelson whispered, “I missed you,” causing Leilani to feel flustered as a rush of heat flooded her body.
“I missed you so much, Lani,” he added, his words slurred and his movements betraying his drunkenness. Despite this, a shiver ran down Leilani’s spine, accompanied by a warmth that spread through her chest.
His hot breath tickled her skin as he let out a rueful sigh, and without warning, he collapsed onto her body.
“Ah!” Leilani exclaimed, the impact of Nelson’s weight pushing her against the car behind them.
“Oh my goodness, how am I supposed to carry you inside? You’re so heavy,” she lamented, struggling to get Nelson to stand on his own two feet. But he kept slumping onto her, murmuring incomprehensibly to himself.
After many attempts, Leilani finally managed to get him standing and, with great effort, brought him to their room.
Exhausted, she let Nelson flop onto the bed and took several deep breaths to calm herself.
“What’s wrong with you, Mr. Carter? Why would you drink yourself into a stupor like this?” she asked, unable to hide the disappointment in her voice and expression.
Instead of answering, Nelson turned on the bed and let out a loud, pained groan.
Leilani gazed at his flushed face, a clear sign of how much he had indulged in alcohol. She let out a heavy sigh, but before she could turn away, Nelson’s hand suddenly gripped her wrist, sparking fear in her mind.Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.
Looking back at him and seeing the pathetic look in his eyes, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to him. It was clear that he was going through something.
“My ex-girlfriend showed up at my office today… with our child,” Nelson confessed, his voice quavering. For a moment, Leilani thought she had misheard him or that he had misspoken.
“What did you say?” she asked, sitting down beside him on the bed.
Nelson lowered his head, then lifted it again, and Leilani was struck by the raw sadness etched on his face. It threatened to consume her as well.
“She is not just my ex-girlfriend, Lani. She is the only girl that I, Nelson Carter, have ever loved with my whole heart,” Nelson began, pressing his lower lip to prevent it from trembling excessively. He appeared on the verge of breaking down into tears.
“I loved this girl with all that I had, Lani. Yet, do you know how she repaid me?” Nelson asked Leilani, who immediately shook her head in denial.
She did not want him to know that Susan had already shared this story with her, fearing he might feel betrayed by others knowing about it.
“She deceived me, tricked me, and left me in utter devastation,” Nelson could not suppress the two large tears that silently rolled down his cheek and onto his neck.
He let all the pent-up emotions come crashing out, drowning in grief right before Leilani’s eyes, shattering her heart with every word.
“I was not myself for years. I felt like a walking dead man. I thought my life was entirely destroyed, but I will always be grateful to my mother,” Nelson confessed, his voice choking up.
“Did you know she is not my biological mother?” he asked Leilani, who shook her head once more, looking astonished as if she had never heard the full truth from Susan before.
Nelson smiled slightly, “You would have never guessed unless one of us told you,” he paused. “She is actually my aunt, who went through a rough marriage and took me in as her own after I lost my parents.”
Leilani nodded quietly to herself. It was exactly the same story that Susan had shared with her.
“You see, her husband divorced her when she was unable to conceive a child after seven years of marriage, and as a divorce settlement, he gave her a large piece of land,” Nelson continued, his voice quivering. “And would you believe it, my aunt had to sell that land to help me get back on my feet?”
Nelson could not stop his eyes from welling up with tears no matter how hard he tried to blink them away. However, Leilani was taken aback, and she could not help but open her mouth in shock.
Susan had never revealed this side of the story to her, so it was a complete surprise.
Susan was no ordinary woman, her greatness radiating with undeniable prowess. This was evident in the unyielding seriousness with which Nelson held her in esteem.
As Leilani reminisced about the injustice of Susan’s impending demise, her tears betrayed her, betraying the turmoil within her heart.
Nelson, moved by her tears, comforted her with a gentle pat on the shoulder, unaware that her tears were not just born of pity.
Leilani, on the other hand, struggled to hide the true reason behind her tears, not wanting to hurt Nelson with the knowledge of Susan’s sickness.
Foolishly, Nelson assumed Leilani’s tears to be borne out of pity for his past. Little did he know that she was crying for a completely different reason, making Leilani’s anguish all the more unbearable.
“Please, Lani, don’t cry. I’m fine now. But I need your help,” Nelson implored, his tone grave and resolute.
Leilani, in an instant, wiped her tears away, her face stoic and composed. Slipping effortlessly into her role, she asked, “What do you need?”
Nelson heaved a sigh, preparing to reveal the truth. “As I mentioned earlier, my ex returned with our child,” he began, his voice trembling with emotion.
The mere mention of “our child” made Leilani bristle with anger, but she kept her composure as she questioned Nelson’s certainty. “Are you sure the child is yours? After all these years, she just shows up with a child and you believe her?” she probed, her disapproval evident in her tone.
“Yes, Lani,” Nelson affirmed, his confidence unwavering. As Leilani’s brow furrowed, he continued, “I know because he looks just like me, a younger version.”
Leilani’s breath caught in her throat, her chest aching at the revelation. Choking back her emotions, she struggled to find her voice, only to find herself at a loss for words.
“Disappointed, aren’t you?” Nelson’s words cut through the silence, causing Leilani to snap back to reality.
“Not at all, sir. I mean why should l? I mean the deal between us is fake after all and is coming to an end soon,” She quickly shook her head, attempting to mask her true feelings with a fake smile.
But Nelson was not fooled by her facade. “No, Lani. This is not the end,” he stated firmly, leaving Leilani bewildered.
“I’m sorry, sir? What do you mean?” she asked, confusion laced in her voice.
“Yes, Lani. I’ll do whatever you want me to do but I need you to stay by my side as my legal wife until I get rid of her,”
“She has arrived with our son, and simply by gazing upon her, I can discern her intentions to stay. However, I have made it clear to her that my heart belongs to another,”
Leilani was stunned. “If I understand correctly, Mr. Carter, you wish for us to feign a real marriage?” she inquired.
“Yes, Lani. Although this time, a touch of fervor must be present in our union. Whenever she is in our midst, we must display the passion of a couple deeply in love. Do not fret, I am willing to compensate you generously for your role,” Nelson explained.
“No, Mr. Carter.” Leilani interjected, “You have already done more than enough for me, and I have vowed to repay your immense support in any way I can,” she stated, a sweet smile gracing her lips.
“So, you will assist me?” Nelson asked hesitantly.
Leilani eagerly nodded, her grin widening, “You can depend on me, sir. I will surely put her in her place, trust me.”
Her words seemed to reassure Nelson, who returned her smile just as warmly, their eyes meeting and the world fading away.
“I also believe it is time you cease with the formalities, and refer to me as Nelson,” Nelson said, still locked in their gaze.
“Understood,” Leilani murmured, slowly getting to her feet. “You must be hungry. Allow me to fetch your dinner.”
“No, I am not. It is late–” Before Nelson could finish, Leilani had darted out of the room.
As soon as she raced out and closed the door behind her, she released a shaky breath as an intense emotion flooded her heart, leaving her breathless.
She attempted to catch her breath, but it eluded her, causing her to clutch at her chest and gently slap her face.
“What was that?” she whispered, her chest heaving.