After breakfast, it was time to head back home. Nina had showered each of them with warm hugs, face kisses and warm cookies. Getting on the boat, Darius finally realised how distant Astrid was. To confirm his doubts, he decided to start up a slight conversation. “Hey.” He started, sitting beside her. Her uncomfortable shift didn't go unnoticed by him. “Is there something you want to talk about?” He asked, frowning. “No.” Astrid replied, her tone sharp. “If something's bothering you, you can always talk to me.” His form of encouragement was replied to with a scoff. Astrid looked away from him, staring out at the long stretch of water before her. “Sure.” She said, but Darius could tell that it was sarcastic. Just when Darius thought that Astrid would never tell her anything more, she turned back to him. “Do you ever plan to fall in love, get married and have children?” The unexpected question threw Darius off course for a moment. “I'm not sure.” He answered honestly. He saw her ey
“Couldn't sleep?” Darius asked as he saw Astrid approaching him later that night. “No. Stargazing it is.” Astrid replied, sitting beside him on the picnic table. Leaning their heads back and staring at the starry sky in silence, both their minds were drenched in their own thoughts. “I like that one.” Astrid voiced out, pointing at a blinking star. “Yeah? Why?” Darius asked, shifting his gaze to her face. “It looks like it's on the verge of dying out, but you just know that it's still got some fight left in it.” She smiled faintly, staring intensely at the star. “I see.” He nodded. “Which one's your favourite?” She asked. “All of them. They're all unique.” He answered without hesitation. “Yes, but if you had to pick one out to keep with you, which one would it be?” She asked. “The brightest one. Like that one.” He pointed at a very bright star and she giggled. “Of course you would choose the brightest one, you attention whore.” She mumbled jokingly, but Darius was close enoug
After a whole night of turning restlessly in her bed after the incident with Darius and her mother, Astrid got out of bed exhausted the next morning. The only thing on her mind was explaining the situation to Rose. Just one thing bothered her – How to explain. She spent about five minutes pacing in her room, wondering what exactly she would say that would justify what Rose had seen. As far as she knew, Rose didn't like Darius, and she thought Astrid had fallen into one of his tricks. Astrid knew that there was a possibility of Rose being right. She had probably fallen into Darius's trick, but a part of her wanted to remain in the fairy tale that maybe it wasn't a trick. Heading down the stairs for breakfast, Astrid found Nikoleta and two women entering the living room. “Ah! Just the person I wanted to see.&rdqu
Astrid found Darius sitting with Nikoleta in the dining hall, both of them in a heated argument. “All I'm saying is that I have it all figured out, mum. We're taking it at a slow pace.” Darius said.“And I understand that, I really do. I didn’t bring them here to rush anything. I just wanted to get some work load off your back about the wedding.” Nikoleta defended.“You’re supposed to be focusing on your health. If you don't want to continue chemo, it's not fair to either of us.” He said, expertly trying to shift the direction of the conversation.“I keep telling you that I’m perfectly fine! I don't need it.” She waved it off.There was silence between them as Nikoleta ate. Astrid took it as her chance to get Darius’ attention. “Darius.” She called.He turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “Let’s talk in private, please.” She requested.He got up from his seat and followed Astrid to the garden at the back, where everything that had happened the night before started.“How's your mum tak
By noon, Darius could barely look at Astrid without guilt tearing away at him. He already knew the answer to Astrid's question, if he could stay committed to one person.He couldn't.He didn't know how to control himself. He didn't know how to pick up his phone, call Cassia and tell her not to bother about meeting him later.He was too caught up in his thoughts to realize that he had been acting different enough for Astrid to notice. “Darius.” She called, slightly tapping him.“Yes?” He answered, refusing to meet her gaze.“Is something wrong?” She questioned.“Why do you think something is wrong?” He frowned, losing his appetite.“You've been acting quite strange.” She replied.“Don't worry about me, I’m fine.” He stood up, deciding to head to the office and bury himself in work until Cassia would meet him.“Are you sure?” He almost flinched when her hand covered his.“Absolutely.” He murmured. He hated that she cared about him and he was rep
The sun seeped into the room through the door to the balcony, forcing Astrid's eyes open. She looked around her empty room in confusion until the events of the night before struck her.She got off the bed, brushed her teeth and had a quick shower before any of her assistants would show up. As she stood in her closet, unsure of what to wear, Mary and Sky walked in.“Good morning, ma'am. Sorry you had to take a bath before we could arrive.” Mary apologized.“No problem.” Astrid said. She wouldn't have found it flattering if they had seen her laying naked in bed, anyway.“How about this outfit?” Sky asked, holding up a pair of jeans in one hand and a blue, chiffon shirt in the other.“Looks good.” Astrid nodded, putting it on as they both left.She walked down the stairs for breakfast and found just her parents in the dining hall. She had to talk to Darius about what had happened between them. She wanted to know if it would be the new normal for them to be intimate, especially if he woul
“Darius,” she looked at him with teary eyes, “why do you do this to me?”Darius gulped down the alcohol in his glass and sighed heavily. “I don't know, Astrid.”“Do you not want me to stay?” She asked.“Of course, I want you to stay. If I didn't, you wouldn't be here.” He answered.“Alright, alright.” She shook her head, trying to get rid of the drunkenness.“I don't know where to start. I want to show you how much you mean to me, but I don't know what to do.” He admitted.“If I give you all of me, will you know how?” She mumbled.He turned to her with a confused look. “All of you?” He questioned.“Yes, Darius.” She nodded with a slight drunken grin.“I don't understand.” He poured her a drink and watched her gulp it all up.“All I'm saying is that I want you. Every bit of you. Right now.” She hopped off the barstool and swayed from side to side.“You want me to have sex with you.” Darius said in realization.“Ding-ding-ding. Correct.” She giggled, pulling him by his arm.“Are you sur
He wasn't there.Astrid burst into a mild fit of panic after realising that she had woken up to an empty spot right beside her.Discovering that she was still sore from the night before, coupled with the hangover that made her head feel like a tampered minefield, she decided to take care of herself first. After a quick shower, she made her way down the stairs to request for painkillers."Did you sleep well?" She jumped in shock as Darius' voice came from behind her.Not bothering to turn to face him, she nodded. She couldn't afford to let him see how flustered she was."What's wrong? Did I do something?" He held her shoulders and spun her around so she could face him.Managing to look up at him, she saw genuine worry and an underlying softness which she had never seen before in his eyes."I need painkillers. I have a headache, that's all." She answered, looking away shyly.Reading her body language and facial expressions wrongly, Darius frowned. "If you're not happy with something I di