16: Uncle Flavian Is Back.

"Honey! You're back!"

Someone yelled, rushing past me like a flash. Who?

The person I see choking Flavian in a hug was Layla. I bet she missed him a lot, a whole lot.

"Mommy you're squeezing my wrist!" Christopher's voice snapped me out of my daze. I realised how stiff my expression was as I stared at the lovely couple obstructing my view.

My eyes never peeled off Flavian; my chest tightened with irritation as I watched him kiss her. He kissed her? Of course he would, that's his wife.

But it should have been you he shows that affection to... it should be you in his arms after seven years, not that...

The fuck is up with my mind today... Whatever happened has happened; it's all in the past now.

I'm not a home wrecker—

Now why is he looking at me with those eyes when kissing his wife? What's he playing at or trying to prove? That he's a loving husband that loves and cares for his wife? Yeah, no fuck, I have eyes and a lot on my plate to give one or two fucks. I gritted when he deepened the kiss, holding her closer.

"What happened to my pilot?" I glanced at Crandon.

"Food poisoning."

"Is he dead or something?" I furrowed my brows.

Today of all days has to be packed with all these misfortunes? Damn, the gods must be testing your level of patience, Eve. Don't break, don't crack.

"My men had him rushed to the hospital an hour ago."

Benjamin was the one to respond, prompting me to glance at the hospital building in the distance.

"You speak when I speak to you," I responded to him, keeping my tone professional.

Benjamin can try all he wants, but he cannot hide the disdain he now harbours for me. After our little affair was over, he didn't stop trying to convince me with reasons I should choose him, until I got tired of seeing his face and had him removed from the estate security and assigned to another branch.

Now he's back, his demeanour is more calm and his naive eyes had gotten calculative.

Something's not right, how can my pilot have food poisoning?

I narrowed my eyes at the feet now approaching me, uncle Flavian and his dearest wife Layla.

"You should be in London before church service commences."

"Why do you think I'm still here, uncle? To make an entry like yours there?"

Why does everyone keep making silly statements that don't do any good to the mood of the day?

I glared at him when he brought up my black veil, offering me that unapologetic smirk.

"My condolences, your mother was such a lovely woman."

Who was he fooling with that robotic tone?

When his eyes descended to the little boy hiding behind my back, with his arms hugging my waist, I didn't miss the subtle hostility in his eyes.

"Hello, what's your name?"

He asked.

I thought he'd know, he should know, he's the chief of security, he monitors the members of the family, knows everyone's affairs in and out, and he's here asking my child, who's not such a secret child, about their name?

He couldn't just be bothered with me, of all people. Wow, I'm shocked.

"Christopher, but you can call me Toph."

"Well, Toph, are you the one delaying mommy here?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose when he squatted to Chris's level, right in front of me, meanwhile someone was boring a hole into me. Layla was staring at me, not glaring; she was more confused than I was.

"I'm not delaying mommy, it's the pilot, he has food poisoning."

"Food poisoning? Today? Benjamin."

My nose flared when he invited Benjamin into the conversation with ease.

"Chief, my men are currently monitoring the situation and doing an investigation, the doctors are still treating him as we speak."

"All's well then." He brings his eyes back to me. I liked this dynamic right now where I can look down on him.

"Fly with me then."

"Fly with your family, uncle."

And leave me the fuck alone. I folded my arms, hostilely.

"Layla, didn't you say you couldn't make it to the funeral since you'll be taking Hannah to India for her surgery?"

He turns to Layla, setting the spot on her with a question.

"Aahh, yes," Layla sounded almost unsure when she smiled at me; it was strained and stiff. The guilt in her eyes did most of the talking.

How did she not tell me? I'm not hurt, but I feel sad, sad for her, she's a mother. The type that constantly has to watch her child fight for her life in the hospital. It's been going on for several years since Hannah was diagnosed with a weird illness... here's the twist, Flavian never once made an appearance.

I haven't seen Hannah in a while because of work, but I'd hope she's doing fine.

"Eve... I—"

"It's okay, extend my greetings to Hannah, let her know she's now a villa owner."

"What?!" Layla exclaimed.

"That villa in the Netherlands, the one she likes to go spend time on vacations, I bought it for her," I said, watching her smile before she embraced me in a hug.

"She'll be thrilled to hear this," she said gleefully.

I patted her head warmly while glaring at Flavian with a smirk tugging at my lips.

When Layla started walking off, I shook my head slightly. I couldn't comment however I wished, Christopher still glued to my waist. Children...

"Shall we go—"

I interrupted with an index finger that hushes him as I pulled out my pocketwatch again.

TICK

TOCK

TICK 

TOCK.

In this part of the family the members don't fly together, it's rare, it's inconvenient, and your help in my case is convenient... your arrival isn't coincidental, is it?

TICK

 TOCK

 TICK

"I'll have to deal with the person who poisoned my pilot."

"You do," he grinned, showcasing a gold tooth that was implanted to replace the canine tooth he lost to a mistake years ago to very passionate night.

He'll lose more than just a tooth when Grace comes into the picture.

"Let's go."