Chapter 452: Upset
Night had settled quietly around the house.
The lights in the living room were dim.
Only the glow from the television illuminated the room as a romantic edy played softly on the screen.
Genevieve was curled fortably against Stefan’s side on the large couch. A blanket covered both of them from the waist down.
Stefan’s arm rested around her shoulders while Genevieve’s head lay fortably against his chest.
Neither of them seemed particularly interested in the movie anymore.
Every few minutes, Stefan found himself glancing down at her. And every time he did, he caught her looking at him too.
The first few times, neither of them said anything.
Then eventually, Stefan caught her staring again. Genevieve immediately looked away.
Stefan laughed and kissed the side of her lips.
Genevieve started laughing too.
“What?” she asked innocently.
“You were staring.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
“Yeah, right.”
Genevieve grinned. “Fine. Maybe a little.”
Stefan shook his head. “Are you falling for me again?”
“I fall for you every second.”
Stefan chuckled. “I bet you do.”
Genevieve laughed. “So why were you staring?”
Stefan smiled and pulled closer. “Because I love looking at you. You’re my favourite piece of art created by God.”
Her chest warmed immediately, and she smiled softly.
The movie continued playing in the background.
A woman on the television was crying because her boyfriend had forgotten their anniversary.
Genevieve looked at the screen. Then back at Stefan.
“You would never forget our anniversary.”
Stefan raised an eyebrow. “Do we have an anniversary? That reminds me, when did we start dating?”
Genevieve gaped at him, making Stefan laugh out loud.
“I was kidding. I won’t. How can I forget such an extraordinary day?” He asked, still laughing.
Genevieve narrowed her eyes and folded her arms. “Can I trust you? Tell me the date.”
Stefan laughed so hard he nearly choked.
“Tell me the date.”
“I know the date.”
“Tell me.”
“Trust me, babe.”
“Stefan Kirk.”
Stefan laughed again. Then he finally gave up. “It’s the seventeenth of August.”
Genevieve giggled proudly. “See? I know you.”
Stefan snorted. “You doubted me.”
“Only to prove to you that I know you,” she said defensively, and they both laughed.
A fortable silence settled between them. Then, after a while, Genevieve sighed happily.
“You know what?”
“What?”
“I miss your place in Ludus.”
Stefan looked down at her.
“My place?”
Genevieve nodded. “I can’t wait for us to go back.”
Stefan smiled softly. “You mean our place.”
Genevieve’s face immediately lit up. Then she grinned. “Yeah. Our place.”
Something about those words made her ridiculously happy.
Stefan kissed the top of her head.
Genevieve smiled against his chest.
For a while, they simply watched the movie.
Then Stefan spoke again. “What do you plan to do while we’re waiting?”
She looked up. “Waiting for what?”
“Until this whole mess is sorted out and we can reveal that you’re alive.”
Genevieve’s smile faded slightly.
Right.
The world still thought she was dead. She couldn’t exactly resume work when she returned. She’d need to keep a low profile both in public and online.
Genevieve thought about it for a moment, then she smiled.
“I want to focus on being married.”
Stefan laughed. “That’s your plan?”
“Absolutely.”
Stefan shook his head. “Very ambitious. I love it.”
Genevieve giggled. Then, after a moment, she asked quietly,
“Do you think I’ll be a good mother?”
Stefan didn’t even hesitate. “Of course.”
The answer came so quickly that Genevieve blinked. “For real?”
“For real.”
She sighed softly. “I hope so.”
Stefan raised her hand to his lips. “You will be.”
Genevieve smiled softly. “Just so you know, I want lots of kids.”
Stefan laughed. “How many is lots?”
Genevieve considered it seriously. “Maybe eight.”
Stefan’s brows rose. “Eight?”
“Or ten.”
Stefan laughed harder. “How about we make it eleven?”
Genevieve giggled. “I’m being serious.”
“Me too. I’m just imagining the chaos.”
Genevieve grinned. “I think it would be fun.”
Stefan looked at her. The excitement in her eyes made him smile.
Then he said thoughtfully, “You know, if you want to be a good parent, we can start reading parenting books together. If you don’t want to fail at something, the best thing to do is to prepare for it.”
Genevieve blinked. Then smiled brightly. “That’s a really good idea. Let’s do it. I like it.”
Stefan nodded. “Good. We can learn together.”
Genevieve’s smile softened. “I love this.”
“What?”
“Our relationship.”
Stefan looked at her with a soft smile. “Why do you love it?”
“I love how I can tell you anything.” Her fingers slipped into his. “And I love how you don’t keep things from me too.”
Guilt twisted heavily inside Stefan’s chest, and the smile slowly disappeared from his face.
Immediately, Genevieve noticed the change in his expression.
Her brows pulled together. “What’s wrong?”
He looked away.
Genevieve sat up slightly. “Stefan?”
For a moment, Stefan said nothing. Then, finally, he exhaled slowly. “I’ve been hiding something.”
Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately sat upright. “What?”
Stefan rubbed his jaw. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
Her stomach tightened. “What is it?”
Stefan looked at her, then quietly said, “It’s about your mum. I put her in rehab.”
The room suddenly felt very still. “You did what?” Genevieve asked in a very low voice.
Stefan swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
Genevieve stared at him.
For several seconds, she couldn’t even process what he had just said.
Then her expression hardened, and she slowly pulled away from him.
“Why would you do that?”
“Genevieve—”
“No.”
She shook her head. “I told you I wanted nothing to do with her. I made it very clear.”
Stefan nodded. “I know.”
“Then why?”
His chest tightened. “Because she’s still your mother.”
Genevieve laughed, but the sound held no humour. “Mother? No. She is not a mother. Definitely not mine. Not after all she did to me. And she doesn’t deserve anything from me.”
Stefan remained quiet.
Genevieve folded her arms. “Or from anyone connected to me.”
Then Stefan spoke carefully. “You should know better than anyone that people deserve second chances.”
Genevieve stared at him with disbelief.
“What does that mean?”
Stefan immediately regretted saying it.
But it was too late.
Anger flashed in her eyes as she rose from the couch. “What is that supposed to mean, Stefan?”
He stood too. “I didn’t mean—”
“Are you saying that because I was a horrible person and I got a second chance, I have to give my mother one too?” Her voice rose. “Do you have any idea what my childhood was like?”
Stefan’s heart clenched.
Genevieve shook her head. “Do you honestly think I would have bee the horrible person I was if she had done her job as a mother?”
“Genevieve—”
“No.” Her eyes filled with hurt. “Don’t.”
Stefan stepped closer. “I wasn’t trying to upset you.”
She laughed bitterly. “Well, congratulations.” Her eyes shone with tears. “I’m upset. And you didn’t even have to try.”
Then she turned sharply and started walking away.
Stefan moved immediately. He caught her wrist.
Genevieve tried pulling free. “Let me go, Stefan!”
“No.”
“Stefan.”
“I’m sorry.”
She tried again, but Stefan pulled her gently back towards him.
Genevieve glared up at him.
Then he kissed her without warning.
Genevieve pushed against him angrily, but Stefan didn’t let her go.
For a moment, she resisted, but slowly her resistance weakened and the anger slowly melted away.
Then she kissed him back.
When the kiss finally ended, both of them were breathing heavily.
Stefan rested his forehead against hers. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Genevieve closed her eyes.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then she let out a long, tired sigh.
“I don’t care what you’re doing with her. Just leave me out of it. I don’t want to be involved.”
Stefan looked at her quietly, then nodded slowly. “Okay.”
Genevieve stepped back slightly.
Stefan hesitated, then he said, “The rehab called today.”
Genevieve immediately groaned. “I just told you I don’t want to know.”
Stefan’s chest tightened. “She is heartbroken. She thinks you’re dead. They said she’s been upset all day.”
Genevieve’s expression didn’t change. “Maybe that’s for the best. That way, the connection between us can finally end.”
Stefan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her.
Genevieve didn’t resist. She simply rested her head against his chest.
Stefan held her tightly. “You don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of her. You don’t have to meet with her if you don’t want to. I only told you because I didn’t want secrets between us.”
Genevieve closed her eyes.
The anger was mostly gone now. Only emotional exhaustion remained. The type she felt only when she thought about her mother.
After a long moment, she finally sighed. “I love you, Stefan. Thank you.”
Stefan’s embrace tightened.
“I love you too.”
Genevieve leaned further into him. “I still wish you weren’t getting involved with her.”
Stefan kissed her hair softly. “I know.”
She sighed again. “But I’ll let you do your thing.”
Stefan smiled faintly, then he rested his chin on top of her head. “Thank you.”
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