Time went by quickly. I prayed and hoped time would stop. Every day I went to bed wishing that when I woke up, I'd go back in time to the previous day so a day wouldn't be added. Unfortunately, it didn't happen. He kept his promise and didn't show up in my face after our marriage was registered. A few times, his bodyguard, Cadmus, would come and take Zayne and Serenity to see him. Zyaire followed a few times and didn't ask why the arrangement was like that. Since he wasn't the type to care about anything, I wasn't a bit worried about him.
The new apartment he got us was a small two-room apartment. I didn't like the place and I knew he intentionally did it to make me as uncomfortable as possible. He never said a word to me, not even a greeting during the months.
I knew I was the one who asked him for that, but it sucked how easily he obeyed. It just reminded me more why he easily ruined my life in the first place. I wanted him to provoke me so I could have more reasons to pour out my anger and hatred, but he didn't give me a reason to. He avoided anything that would provoke me and avoided me as a whole.
How do you kill someone you hate who won't give you a reason to?
He opened an account for all five of them and sent money to the accounts as a daily allowance. He also bought them new phones so Zyaire had something to be busy with. Savia was always staring at her bank account and giggling like a fool but Zach didn't even open the box of the phone. Serenity and Zayne, on the other hand, had gotten close to him, they talked about him every time they returned from their visits. They also bragged a lot about his villa, making Savvy jealous but she still didn't visit him. Savvy and Zachary didn't say a word to him either.
The others had no idea what he did and it pained me that Savvy and Zach knew. They were just kids, they shouldn't harbor such hatred in their hearts as I did. I got to learn that during the months I watched how happy the others were. The only thing that made Savvy happy was her bank account and Zach wasn't happy in general. It wasn't right. They should have been happy and oblivious to the truth. If only they didn't figure it out… If only I wasn't so careless.
"Remember, Mrs. Verlice, make sure he gets daily exercise to stretch his legs," the doctor continued to list the things I should make sure of to ensure their safe health. "Don't let him stay cooped up in one place for too long and also for now, don't let him overdo it either. Once he finishes the drugs, he can begin challenging long distances and other activities he used to do, but still make sure he doesn't overdo it, and if there's any sign of a relapse, inform his doctor immediately. Once you get a new doctor, let me know so I can transfer his files. Also, remember to take him for a test every month. You can't forget it. The test is to make sure there are no more complications or new issues. If he complains of intense or sharp pain in his back, give him this and apply this one on his back. Remember his daily massage—"
"Stacy, are you getting all of this?" I cried. The list was too long. The doctor had grown a personal liking for the children, especially Zayne, so he took their medication seriously.
Stacy adjusted her glasses and nodded. "Well received," she was in charge of monitoring Zayne and Serenity. She begged me to. There was no one better for the job. She wanted to quit her job and become their nanny, but Rominic refused and Stacy still held a grudge. They agreed that he'd get another secretary so she could still manage the children and her work simultaneously.
"When is he going back to school?"
"Um, Stacy?"
"A list of the very best schools has been prepared and a thorough investigation was made by his grandmother. When they arrive, she plans to allow them to visit each of the best selected and choose for themselves which one they'll love to attend,"
"Right. Just make sure he doesn't get into any hectic activity for now," he instructed. We nodded. Except for martial arts lessons, Zayne wasn't interested in any other activity that worked up sweats. "Keep his diet light for now, so his weight wouldn't make his movement more difficult, and Zayne, you're not allowed to sweet-talk your parents into letting you go back to martial arts training. I'm serious," he scolded. Zayne loved working on his self-defense. His resolve was that he needed to be strong like his brothers to protect me and his sisters.
"What about later?" Zayne whined.
"Yes, later, when you're alright,"
"I'm sorry to interrupt, Mrs. Verlice, but the jet is ready. Mr. Verlice wants you and the children inside now,"
"Oh," Zayne and Serenity were the only ones outside with me. They wanted to say a proper goodbye to the doctor who was kind enough to follow us to the airport. I looked back at the doctor and smiled. "I guess this is goodbye,"
"Yes, it seems so. Make sure you take good care of the children, okay?" I nodded.
"Thank you, Dr. Patrick,"
"It was a pleasure taking care of them," he ruffled their hair. "And good luck in Chicago,"
"Thank you, I'll need it." After finalizing the farewells, we went to the jet. It wasn't my first time in a jet. I used to be his fianceé and he almost always kidnapped me for a romantic getaway. I frowned at the displeasing memories. They were nothing but cheap lies.
We didn't say anything to each other when we were on the jet. It was the children's first time in a plane so they were both excited, scared, and amazed. After the jet landed in his private airport, we were made to cover our heads and faces in case of any reporters. The children were also thrilled to ride in a limo for the first time. Even Zachary did.
"You'll be changing vehicles and your destination is George's family hospital. Remember him?" I nodded. "I already talked to him so he's just going to check them and register them into the family health book," George was his family's doctor. It was a hereditary thing. According to what I learned, George came from a family of doctors. One or two out of the children were always doctors and one always took over as the family doctor. George wasn't the family doctor when I left.
"What happened to Brett?"
"He died so George took over," I mouthed an ‘O’. I was never close to him but to George and his high school sweetheart. I wonder if they are still together.
As he said, we changed cars along the way and we were taken to George's family hospital. It was a bit different from what it used to look like, which meant George renovated it. It was great to see him again. George was in shock throughout the visit until we were leaving. According to him, he thought Rominic was hallucinating again. I didn't bother to ask why he would think Rominic would hallucinate like a mad person.
"Thanks for having us, George,"
"No, it's a pleasure to be taking care of the next Verlice generation. They are adorable! Mara would love to see you again," George was still with his high school sweetheart. They even had two daughters.
"I remember someone telling a wise someone that he wasn't sure if his high school girlfriend was his soulmate. Hmm," I stroked my chin thoughtfully. "What did that wise lady tell you?" I smirked. George laughed. "I'm happy you came back to your senses without me being there to whack you in the head," I smiled.
"Indeed," he grinned. "And as my way of expressing gratitude, expect me at your home every week for checkups," home, where was their home? I most likely didn't have one. Nic's house would never be my home.
I laughed. "I'll love that. We have to go now. I'm certain Kara is pacing in front of the house impatiently. Any hour later and she'll gain the ability of teleportation," George laughed and nodded in agreement. We finally departed and went back to the car.
Zach was still unimpressed with everything and I was starting to worry over how bitter he was getting. I needed to put a stop to it, and the only way to do that was to act like I had forgiven their father. I knew he shouldn't be bitter at his age, so his childhood wouldn't be as rough as mine.
He had Perry on his shoulder, his hands in his pockets as he stared at the car uninterestedly. "Come on, Zach, you can ride shotgun!" Savvy squealed out. He sighed tiredly and rubbed his face with his palm.
"Mom," he raised his head to look at me. "May I take a cab? I don't think I can get into this thing, it'll suffocate me," he said with a look of displeasure. I scooped him into my arms immediately, sending Perry flying with a squawk. I wrapped his legs around my waist and laughed at his annoyed face. "Mom, I'm going to be nine soon, can you please not carry me like a child?" He complained.
"But that's it, you are my child," I smiled, intentionally rocking from side to side to prove my point. Savvy and the others were giggling.
"Mom," he whined, trying to wiggle out of my arms.
"Baby, let's get in the car, okay? We'll suffocate together,"
"But, Mom—"
"No, don't argue," I slipped into the backseat and let the driver shut the door.
"Urgh! At least, let me sit on my own!"
"I call shotgun!" Zyaire shouted. He was already in the bloody chair. The others whine in protest. I focused on Zach who was adjusting himself beside me. He surprisingly didn't go away, instead, he wrapped his hands around my waist and placed his head on my chest. I smiled and brought my hand to his hair, his beautiful creamy hair.
The driver started the car and turned on the small TV in the car before he started driving. The children were very glad to watch it in awe.
"Zachary," I called softly, stroking his hair. His body shook with a sob, a sob he didn't mean to let out. He didn't want to bother his sisters and brothers. I lowered my face to his hair and kissed the top of his head. "Tell me, baby, what's wrong?"
"I'm scared, Mom, I'm scared," he sobbed. "I don't like how I keep feeling, I don't like this tightness in my chest, it's killing me. I think of him taking us away from you and the only thing I see next is me stabbing him with a knife. Mom, I don't want to think about killing anyone, especially my father. But I don't want to forgive him…"
This is exactly what I was afraid of.
I pushed his face back a little, pulled out my hanky, and mopped his face dry. "Don't cry, you are the man of the house so you have to be strong for your siblings and me. Don't feel bad for wanting to forgive your father because I have. I no longer hate or detest him, still mad but I no longer hate him. If I can forgive him, then so can you,"
"But what about what he did in the past? Mom, I remember every night you came home late and exhausted—"
"The strongest and most powerful man is the one who forgives," I repeated the words George told me. I almost rolled my eyes at the useless words I would never listen to, but it was useful to him, Zach. "You be the man I want you to be, the man you ought to be. You are an idol to your brothers and sisters, even Savvy–though she will never admit it–so don't mess things up with rage. Savia is also trying to forgive him. Have you noticed?"
"She said the same thing," Zach muttered.
I smiled. Savia was probably forgiving him because of her bank account but whatever. "I'm always here, Zach, for you and your siblings and I will always be. No one is taking me away from the five of you,"
"Promise?" He asked with a small voice. Whenever he cried, he was the cute, sweet little boy his age ought to act, or maybe what I wished he'd act like.
I crossed my pinky fingers with his and grinned. "Booty honor," he burst into laughter, throwing his face into my chest to conceal his wet face but still laughing. I looked at the kids and saw Savvy giving us a weird, suspicious look. I shrugged, which earned me her famous 'spill it' look. I mouthed later to her and she nodded in understanding.