Chapter 9 $CHAPTER

CHAPTER 8 – Zara's POV

I had fallen asleep lost in my thoughts and would have continued to sleep if it weren't for the knocking on my door. Quickly, I got up and went to the door.

"Enrique, it's you."

"Are you sick?" he asked.

"No, I'm not. Why do you ask?" I responded, fixing my hair.

"Daddy told me to ask if you're okay." I had to suppress a laugh at Enrique's statement.

"I see, so where is he now?"

"Cooking breakfast."

"I see."

"But I think he needs your help!" Enrique said, sounding worried.

"Really?" I replied, trying to make myself look presentable.

"Yes, Mom."

"Alright, let's go and see your dad," I said, and we both headed downstairs to the kitchen.

What the hell? I couldn't help but curse silently when I saw the mess in my kitchen.

"Enrique, I'll help your dad with cooking. Just go to your room," I ordered.

As soon as Enrique left, I confronted Lucas. "You knew you can't cook a proper meal, so why?"

I mean, I'm asking why he dared to intervene in my kitchen when all he's capable of was making toasted bread. Yes, he's a frustrated chef, but he shouldn't be practicing in my kitchen. It's just unacceptable!

"I'm hungry, and Ken was hungry too! Did you plan to starve us?"

And now I'm the one to be blamed?!

"You should have woke me up!" My anger subsided a bit, but then I wondered what time he got home. Anyway, it didn't matter anymore.

"But you said I wasn't allowed to go to your room..." He peeked at me and seemed amused.

I took offense when he smirked. "Is there something funny?"

"No, none at all. I just remembered how you look when you just woke up." Without warning, I lightly punched his arm.

"Is being a gentleman just fake for you, Mr. Blackwood?"

"Mr. Blackwood? Have you forgotten who I am, Zara? I am still your husband!"

"Oh, Lucas, just stop it, okay? I have never forgotten about who you are. How could I when you always blame me for being one?"

But then, I realized that a woman like me could easily fall in love. It only took a little bit of sweet-talking, and my heart would give in. Maybe if I had been involved with other men before, I wouldn't be so susceptible to Lucas's charms. I knew I needed to find a way to distance myself from him!

"Why are you here, Lucas? You are supposed to be with Giselle," I reminded him of the things he told me after our intimate encounter.

"Later, Zara," he replied before walking out of the kitchen without looking back.

I shrugged my shoulders and started cleaning up. I cook better when my kitchen was clean. A cluttered kitchen always ruined my mood, especially when it's Lucas who made the mess.

Once I finished cooking and setting the table, I called them to eat, even though it was quite late. Enrique seemed to enjoy the food I prepared, but Lucas was the only one not enjoying the meal. He was busy with his phone until the food got cold.

After breakfast, Lucas was gone, and I didn't give a damn where he went. For sure, he went to meet with Giselle. He would only come home whenever he felt like doing it. Fortunately, Enrique and I were used to his absence.

So, since Lucas was away, I took my soon to a shopping mall. I let him choose where he wanted to eat inside the mall, and after a few minutes of discussion, we decided to eat in a chicken restaurant.

After eating lunch, we went to the theater to watch a movie. Just like earlier, I let him choose the movie title we had to watch. As expected, he chose a cartoon movie, but I couldn't complain though. It was a good movie.

After the movie, we went to the department store, and looked around. I bought some lingerie even if I wouldn't be able to use them. Whereas Enrique asked me to buy a huge stuff toy. It was a human size teddy bear, and he was so glad to carry it around the mall.

Before heading home, we had our dinner steakhouse. I ordered their steak while Enrique had their fish and fries. Then, we had watermelon salad afterward, but when he requested if he could have an ice cream, I obliged to his request because it wasn't every day that he would ask for it.

When we got home, we were both tired after spending the entire day at the mall. I just helped Enrique in cleaning himself, then he went to sleep. I was dragging my feet toward my room. The house was big but it's just the two of us. I couldn't even hire a maid to help me with the cleaning.

But before I was able to fall asleep, Lucas sent me a message that he would take ma and Enrique to the mall in the morning. I rolled my eyes because at the moment I couldn't imagine myself walking around the mall again. But still, I set my alarm clock.

As soon as I woke up, I showed Enrique the message I got from his Dad and he was overjoyed. He was too excited as he went to the bathroom to take a shower, and after thirty minutes, he was ready to go, and I was too proud of him. At a young age, he already know how to choose an outfit.

The next morning, around four o'clock, I woke up, and Enrique was already awake too. Only Lucas was missing, and we were about to leave. I wondered what was taking him so long! It was unusual for him to take us to the mall, but he promised Enrique he would do it with us this morning.

"Where's Dad?" he asked as soon as he found me waiting in the living room. Just like him, I was also ready to leave.

"Enrique, please tell your father to hurry up," I asked.

After a few minutes, Enrique was back, but Lucas was still nowhere to be found.

"How about your father?"

"I think he's sick, Mom," Enrique answered.

"W-what?!"

Was he getting sick now when we're about to leave? No, I didn't think it was the case. I believed Lucas had second thoughts about going to the mall with us. Before Enrique could be disappointed, I went to see Lucas.

As expected, he was fine but decided not to go. So, I ended up begging him not to disappoint our son once again. He only agreed when I chose a not so famous mall in the city. I waited for him while he was getting ready so that he wouldn't have another chance to make an excuse.

While we were heading to the mall, I only spoke when Enrique would ask me some questions. My hand was sweating from holding my mobile phone for so long but I was really uncomfortable around Lucas.

"Are you waiting for someone to call you?" he asked and there was a hint of anger in his voice.

I didn't respond to his inquiry; instead, I put my phone inside my sling bag and held Enrique's hand. When we arrived at the mall, he kept a safe distance from us. I felt bad for my son when Lucas refused to hold his hand, and then he pretended to be busy calling someone. In my mind, I wondered if he was calling Giselle at the moment.

"Don't let go of my hand, Ken," I said to my son. Sometimes I would call him by his nickname.

"But I am a big boy now, Mom. I am sure I can manage," he replied while trying to get away from my hold.

"Don't use that tone with me, little boy!" I scolded him in a way I knew wouldn't hurt him too much.

"I'm sorry, Mom," he quickly apologized.

"It's okay. I understand that you're a big boy now, but there could be bad guys in the mall. So, do you want to eat first before shopping for toys?"

"I will look for a good restaurant," Lucas said from a distance.

We followed him as he looked for a nice place to eat, but then I saw someone who shouldn't be at the mall. I suddenly stopped walking and bumped into Lucas' back.

"What's wrong?" Lucas asked.

I was speechless, staring at Giselle. She was so beautiful even in a simple dress, and I felt a pang of insecurity. Before Lucas could say anything, I dragged Enrique in another direction. I wasn't far when Giselle squealed in delight upon seeing Lucas!