Chapter 4 Four

" I'm sorry about that. You weren't supposed to see that. Just that they're my children, but this dynasty, this family is in ruins, and there's nothing I can do. There's this void, this emptiness in our family, and no matter how hard I try, it just keeps falling apart. And I'm sorry I brought you into this. You seem like a nice person, and you deserve so much more than a childlike husband and in-laws who can't get along. That's just awful and I know you must think we're horrible people but it's for his own good.

My husband and I felt if we made more money, they would feel more secure and happy. Then when I realized it was already too late,I acquired everything and I lost my children," Mrs. Carrington expressed, shedding tears.

Alexis walked up to her, gently cleaning her tears. Mrs. Carrington looked at her, partially smiling and shaking her head sideways. "You know, I'm happy you're telling me how you feel inside, other than acting like you're fine. You're actually talking to me and opening up about it but my mother didn't even do that; she was better off thinking she drank all her problems away. You know you did nothing to me. I don't mind being married to your son. I believe he will get better most likely and you didn't tie me to your family. I'll say it's the universe punishing me for when I made a terrible decision though,Victoria doesn't seem like she lives here; so why is she here?"

"I called her over. With Cody unavailable, she can legally handle the business till he's okay and keep the shareholders and investors at bay" Mrs. Carrington explained.

"So, if you believe he's going to get better, why all the tears then? Everything's going to be okay. I should check up on him," Alexis said and left her navigating through the complex emotions.

***

"Hi.....awww!!" Alexis shouted. Cody was on a towel, his eyes meeting hers, a sudden shyness causing a slip of his towel making him tumble with tears. Rushing out, Alexis collided with Katherine in the hallway.

"What's your problem?" Katherine inquired, adjusting her outfit.

"Um.. I'm sorry, but your brother, he, well... well, he fell, his towel slipped, he's naked on the floor and crying," she said, scratching her hair, glancing down. Katherine's laughter filled the air.

"So you're afraid of looking at your husband's..." She chuckled once more.

"Yeah, sure, I'll attend to him," Katherine assured, disappearing into the room briefly, reemerging moments later.

"Here, you can go inside now; he's fully clothed,painting on his canvas," she informed.

The conversation shifted as she reentered the room.

"You seem to like painting a lot."

"Yes."

"Um... Are there any other hobbies you enjoy for fun?"

"Painting, dancing too."

"I see you're painting the sky; that's a beautiful sun," she remarked, turning to him.

"It's a cloud."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Well, I like eating. Judging by the fact that I now live here, I can try to find a hobby of my choosing. I had to work tirelessly to provide for my family, ensuring their comfort and happiness, even though I knew they weren't truly happy. But I did my very best, that much I know," she reflected, gazing out the window. When she turned back, his gaze met hers, An understanding passing between them, like he understood her

"If you knew you weren't making them happy, why did you continue?" he asked, setting down his paintbrush on the palette.

"Why?, they're my family, and I love them," she replied, her eyes following his movements.

"Trust me, I know my family. I've spent my life searching for some form of redemption for my family because a friend once told me, 'family is power,' but my family is broken," he expressed, gesturing with his hands.

She gazed at him, at a loss for words, until he flashed a smile at her.

"Oh my, you just talked to me! We just had a real conversation, an adult conversation. You didn't respond with 'no' or 'yes,' but you actually talked," she remarked excitedly

"Are you saying I shouldn't talk or what?" he questioned, hands on his waist, tilting to one side, leaving her surprised once again.

"You know what, it's okay, just forget we had this conversation."

"Okay," he replied, returning to his painting. She left the room, bewildered by their interaction, she left seeking answers from Diego.

"Hi."

"Whatever you want, the answer is no."

"I never said I wanted anything from you. I just wanted to ask you something. I was talking to your brother, and he responded like he was completely fine, not like a child trapped in a man's body. When I tried to ask, it was as if his brain took a break, and he reverted to being a child again. It felt strange, and I wanted to know if it ever happened to you, maybe..."

"First off No, secondly the last conversation I had with my brother was two months ago, the day of his accident after he beat me at horseback riding," he retorted.

"So you're proudly telling me you haven't looked him in the eye or even said a word to him, and yet he's your brother?" She challenged.

"Hey, don't raise your voice at me. You don't have that right, and you're nobody in this family.Now you can see yourself out, the same way you saw yourself in. You know the way to the door," he declared, putting on his headphones. She clenched her hands together, walking towards the door. However, before leaving, she turned back to him.

"You know, I don't understand you. As long as I've been in this house, I understand your mother is hopefully waiting for the day her children will unite. Your sister Katherine loves all of you, except Victoria.Victoria is just a plain control freak who, by the way, hates Cody. Then there's you. You can't bear someone insulting him, yet you barely talk to him. You nearly killed me for calling him mad, and yet... you are just messed up," she expressed disappointedly, heading to the kitchen.

A helper approached her, asking, "Is there something you need? We can make it."

"Actually, it's almost time for Cody's snack. I just wanted to know what was going to be giving to him..." She was interrupted by a cat's sound.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. He's mine. He's been trying so hard to get to Sir's snack."

"Really, what did you make for him?" Alexis inquired with curiosity.

"Pudding,milk pudding" came the reply.

"Amazing, if there's any left you might as well serve him some of it," Alexis said, petting the cat.

"I'll go fetch his bowl," the cook left. Alexis stayed with the cat for a while until her phone rang. She placed the cat down to attend the call. Upon her return, a coughing fit ensued due to Mrs. Carrington's overpowering perfume.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. It's this new perfume the company was working on. I had to use it, but it's too strong. Even the cat hates me right now," Mrs. Carrington explained before walking away.

Alexis , finding the cat agitated, gently picked him up. "She's sorry for the heavy perfume. Did it trouble you?" she asked, soothing the cat. The maid came back in with the bowl and noticing the cat's mood already knew what the problem was

"I'm guessing he saw the chairwoman"

She said already sure ,Alexis gave her a positive nod and she continued

" He's never liked her she didn't want him staying here in the manor ,she practically threw him out but sir and Ma'am Kathrine let him stay so he always panicks and get uncomfortable when he sees her" she explained to Alexis ,Alexis smiled a bit more and kept petting him till he calmed down but leaving the kitchen

After the kitchen incident, Alexis headed to the ranch where she encountered Diego mounting a horse. "Come on, don't be harsh. I know you want to. We can just go two rounds," Diego proposed with a devilish yet inviting smile.

"Very funny. Who knows, you might try to kill me," Alexis teased, taking his hand and mounting the horse.

After the ride,Alexis admitted, "This changes some of opinions I have about you, okay."

"So you no longer dislike me?" Diego inquired, sensing a shift in their dynamic.

She wanted to speak but there were no words, her eyes avoiding contact, a hint of shyness as she tucked her hair behind her ear. The alarm on her phone broke the moment, reminding her of Cody's snack and the potential consequences of delay.

"Yeah, you better go, take the back, it's quicker," the advice came swiftly, recognizing the urgency in attending to Cody's needs.

Expressing gratitude with a simple "Thank you," she hurried towards the back door, only to stumble upon a distressing sight - the maid in tears beside the lifeless cat. "What's up?" she inquired, her voice a mix of confusion and concern.

The revelation about the cat's demise after consuming the same pudding meant for Cody sent a wave of panic through her. Racing to intercept Cody, who was on the brink of tasting the fatal treat, she urgently intervened, "Stop right there, give me the bowl, please!" hoping to prevent a potential disaster.

She scared him, and he dropped the bowl, causing it to break. She leaned against the wall, sliding down, panting from the running she had to do. The rush of adrenaline and fear in the air, creating a tense atmosphere as she processed the unfolding events..She kept staring at him, recalling the night they met and the mysterious van. The driver's deliberate actions hinted at something deeper as she pieced it together, the chilling realization hit her -

"Someone's trying to kill you," she whispered, the weight of those words hanging heavily in the air.