Chapter 77 – Dominic's Call

Mannie’s POV

I left the room and took the kids’ clothes, along with mine and my mom’s, to wash as usual. It was already night, and I needed to get things done before everyone went to bed.

My arms were full as I walked toward the laundry basket. The smell of detergent still lingered from yesterday. I sighed, dropping the pile on the table and sorting them into smaller heaps.

“Don’t worry, sit down.” My mother’s voice floated from behind me.

I turned and found her standing with her hands on her hips, her face glowing with a mix of mischief and pride.

“You need to keep your hands clean and fair enough so that David will love you more,” she said with a grin that reached her eyes.

My mouth hung open for a moment. “This…” I trailed off, at a loss for words.

What was I supposed to say to that?

She smiled wider. “Go and rest, I’ll do it.”

I stared at her, confused and slightly panicked. “Mom, no! You don’t have to—”

But she was already pulling the clothes out of my hands.

“Go!” she said playfully, her tone light and teasing. “You’ve worked enough today. Let me take care of this. You should be glowing, not washing.”

I blinked. Glowing?

Was this the same woman who used to tell me I worked too little?

I sighed and turned toward the living room, muttering to myself, “What kind of situation is this?”

As I stepped closer, I heard laughter. The kids were sitting in a circle on the floor, their toys spread everywhere. Their little faces were bright with joy, and the sound of their giggles filled the house.

But what they were saying made my head ache.

“When Daddy comes again, I’ll show him how I can draw!” Jay announced proudly.

“I’ll race him in the yard!” Zane said, lifting his toy car.

“I’ll make Daddy pancakes!” another chimed in.

The room was full of “Daddy this” and “Daddy that.” Their happiness was contagious, but I couldn’t feel it. Each word made the misunderstanding worse.

I pressed my lips together and rubbed my forehead. “Sigh,” I breathed out quietly.

The sound of their laughter felt like tiny arrows, sweet but sharp.

If only they knew how wrong they were.

Just then, my phone rang.

Ring!

I froze, staring at the vibrating phone on the table.

“Who could that be?” I whispered.

It rang again.

Ring! Ring!

My heart started pounding as I picked it up.

One glance at the name, and my stomach twisted into knots.

Dominic.

My eyes widened, and my chest tightened painfully.

“I thought he wouldn’t bother to call me again,” I muttered under my breath.

I quickly looked around the living room. My mother was still humming in the bathroom, and the children were too busy with their fantasy talk.

I couldn’t take the call here—not with all this chaos and not with the way everyone was imagining David as my husband.

I cleared my throat loudly. No one even looked up.

“Good,” I whispered. “They’re too busy.”

I slipped quietly into my room and went straight to the balcony, closing the sliding door behind me.

The phone kept ringing.

Just when it was about to stop, I pressed the answer button.

“Why did it take you so long to answer?” His voice was firm, deep, and slightly irritated.

My pulse jumped. “I was taking care of my kids,” I said quickly, trying to sound calm.

There was a pause. Then his voice softened. “Alright.”

The edge in his tone disappeared.

Then his next question caught me off guard. “Did you miss me?”

I froze.

My heart skipped. “Did I…?”

Before I could answer, a small voice called from behind the door.

“Mummy, where are you? Mummy!”

It was Lily.

My whole body stiffened. My breath caught in my throat.

“Not now,” I whispered urgently, panicking.

The doorknob rattled.

I turned quickly, pressing my finger against my lips as if she could see me. “Oh no,” I mouthed.

“Mommy’s here!” I finally said aloud, forcing my voice to sound cheerful. “Give Mummy a few minutes, okay?”

There was silence for a moment. Then Lily’s little voice came again, soft and playful. “Okay, Mummy! Do quick!”

Her tiny footsteps padded away, and the door clicked shut.

I sighed in relief, slumping slightly against the balcony wall.

“Sorry about that,” I said into the phone, forcing a small laugh.

“Mmm.” Dominic hummed. It wasn’t quite a reply—more like acknowledgment.

His silence always made me nervous.

“So,” he said after a pause. “Answer me. Did you miss me?”

I swallowed. The question lingered in the air, heavy and intimate.

Fearing another interruption, I answered quickly. “Of course,” I said, my voice rising slightly. “I miss you so much I’m almost going bald.”

There was a short silence.

Then a low, amused sound escaped him. “Think less,” he said smoothly, “so you don’t go bald.”

I could almost hear the smile in his voice.

Despite myself, I smiled too.

“Ha ha ha,” he chuckled suddenly.

The sound of his laugh sent warmth rushing through me.

My irritation melted away. My lips curved up unconsciously. I found myself smiling like a fool.

“Ah! Mannie,” I scolded myself inwardly. “What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?”

I pressed a hand against my chest, feeling the quick thud of my heart.

My mouth moved before my brain could stop it. “You should laugh more,” I murmured softly.

There was a brief silence on the line.

Dominic cleared his throat. I could almost picture his face—the serious one he always wore when something caught him off guard.

“Till then,” he said, his voice calm again. “Wait for me to get back. I have another meeting.”

Before I could reply, the line clicked.

The call ended.

I stood there for a moment, phone still in my hand, staring at the dark screen.

“Why do I feel like he hung up because he was embarrassed?” I muttered, a small smile tugging at my lips.

The corners of my mouth lifted higher. “At least I heard the almighty Dominic laugh,” I said softly, giggling to myself.

A sudden thought made me slap my forehead lightly. “I should have recorded it,” I whispered. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard him laugh like that.”

I chuckled under my breath. “Next time, I’ll make him laugh again and record it.”

The thought made me smile wider, but it didn’t last long.

Reality came crashing back.

I had to return to the living room—to my mother’s bright fantasies and my children’s endless chatter about their ‘Daddy.’

I exhaled slowly, rubbing my forehead.

Then I straightened up, squared my shoulders, and walked back inside.

The air in the house was warm again, filled with laughter and the sound of music from the TV.

Just as I stepped into the living room, my mother came spinning out of the kitchen, her head wrapped in a scarf, her body moving lightly as if she was floating.

Her smile was wide, her eyes sparkling.

I blinked. “Mom?”

She turned, her laughter light. “Ah, you’re back! I just made dessert. My grandchildren must eat like kings!”

The children clapped and cheered.

I watched her, my lips parting slightly. She looked… happy. Genuinely happy.

I hadn’t seen her glow like this in years.

The sight made my chest ache a little.

But the more everyone smiled, the heavier my heart became.

Their laughter was bright, their joy sincere—but the misunderstanding that fed it only grew stronger.

I leaned against the wall quietly, forcing a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

The more they dreamed, the more trapped I felt.

The more they hoped, the heavier the burden pressed on me.

And I couldn’t even tell them the truth.

Because one wrong word… and everything would fall apart.

The more everyone acted that way, the weightier the burden I felt on me.