Iris:
I stopped dead in my tracks. We were still standing right outside the door when I turned around to shoot a quick, judgntal glare at Luca, reminding him that it was because of him my son was asking these questions.
But he only shrugged, acting completely indifferent.
I cleared my throat, trying to speak up, when my mother stepped out.
"No, not yet," she said.
The way my children exchanged glances and smiled at each other told they already had ideas forming.
"Okay, kids, enough talking about it," I said, trying to move forward.
But Amy held my hand, stopping .
"Does that an you two can get together again?" she asked innocently.
My heart broke for her, because I was about to shatter her hope.
He had cheated on .
Just because I was dealing with worse demons now didn’t an I would forgive him.
"It’s never going to happen." But it wasn’t who said it, it was Luca.
"I’m just wondering, why has the rejection never been initiated?" he continued, this ti addressing both my mother and .
"Well, that’s because it’s none of your or my mother’s business," I said, trying to shut down the conversation.
But he had already said enough to capture my mother’s attention.
She started to smirk, which imdiately irked .
"You’re right. I think when you two return from this little trip, we can start thinking about it," my mother suggested.
I raised a hand toward her, a gesture to make her stop. They were exhausting themselves for no reason.
There was absolutely no way I was going to let them make decisions for .
"You can all rest easy on that because I’ll be the one to make an announcent when and if I decide to do anything. So please," I said, turning to my mother, "don’t start this again — especially not in front of the kids."
I was growing tired of repeating myself. These adults were acting like children.
"Mommy, I heard what rejection is, and I don’t want you to get rejected by Daddy."
As expected, my children had caught on. Amy was the first to speak up, while Colin moved closer to my side, holding my hand softly and protectively.
"Because if Daddy rejects you, that ans you’ll never talk to each other," she continued.
"That’s not how rejection works, my dear. We’ll still see each other. It’ll just an things are–different, and maybe even more comfortable," I tried to explain gently, but of course, she was a child. She wouldn’t understand.
"No! I said no, no, no!" she protested stubbornly, stomping her feet.
"Okay, listen," I said, lowering myself to her level. "You will not worry about that, okay? Not right now. Mommy has to work today, and she doesn’t want to think about all this. Promise ?"
She began to pout sadly but nodded faintly.
"Well, you have to train your kids and prepare them for that day. You can’t keep avoiding it," my mother comnted before walking away.
I felt there was nothing I could do at that mont except change the topic.
"Okay, let’s go. We’ll head to the mountain, get the tents set up—" I paused when I noticed my mother talking quietly with Luca, their eyes locked on each other. "—and then we’ll have a perfect trip. After that, we’ll talk about everything, alright?"
I patted my daughter’s cheek and stood up.
It was the best way to distract a child, I was sure they’d forget about the conversation soon enough.
"Goodbye. Have fun," my mother said, faking a smile after realizing she’d been caught stirring trouble again.
As we reached the parking lot and waited for Kash to arrive, I saw him walking out of the house, with none other than Lara behind him.
He was even carrying her bag.
As soon as he appeared, Luca chuckled beside .
"And here you were, worried about him. I guess he already thought about bringing his lover without worrying about what you would think."
"Oh, by the way, I suppose we’ll be heading out in our car now, because lovers would want to go together," Luca added, chuckling so more.
Even before Kash could suggest anything, I began walking toward our car.
I realized I had been overthinking.
I should stop worrying about whether Luca’s presence would bother Kash.
After all, he was bringing Lara everywhere too.
"Mommy, are we not sitting in Daddy’s car?" Amy asked.
We were all quiet for a mont before I got into my car with the kids.
I noticed Kash looking at us, but it was too late, we had already shut the doors.
Still, he walked over to my side of the car and gently tapped on the window.
I rolled it down, keeping my eyes straight ahead.
He leaned closer, the chain around his neck dangling, his shirt slightly unbuttoned to reveal his chest and abs.
I tried hard not to glance at him directly.
"Well, we’re going in our own car," I said, assuming that’s why he had co over.
"I was just asking if the kids wanted to stop by the nearby mall to grab so food and a few things for the picnic on the mountain?" he questioned, making clench my jaw in secret frustration.
"Oh, yeah, sure. We will," I answered quietly, hoping he wouldn’t linger any longer.
"Cool then. Let’s get going," he said casually before turning away.
I was so annoyed.
"We’re taking drivers with us," I called out from my car, making sure Kash knew that neither he nor Luca would be driving this ti.
The two of them didn’t look very pleased.
"I think I agree with Iris this ti. Last ti you two drove together, you went crazy," Lara added, thankfully without arguing.
Luca got into the car with and slamd the door hard, clearly showing how much he hated the idea of sitting idle and not racing like he had last ti.
"You and your ex are equally annoying," he comnted before the car hit the road.
This ti, both of us had drivers with us. Lara and I had insisted after the last ti the two drivers got into a race.
I didn’t want them racing with my children in the car.
I could tell Kash would still be considerate, after all, they’re his children, but I couldn’t say the sa about Luca. He wouldn’t give a damn.
The kids were busy with their tablets or talking to each other, enjoying the ride, while Luca and I stared out of our separate windows.
Then I got a text from Kash.
Ex: What happened? Why didn’t you want to sit in my car?
I read Kash’s ssage and rolled my eyes.
: Well, we all couldn’t fit in your SUV, could we?
I texted back, tapping the phone with my fingers.
His reply ca almost imdiately.
Ex: well, that is because Luca decided to co along.
I frowned at the screen. Our SUV was following close behind his so we wouldn’t be out of sight.
: Well, I didn’t know Lara was coming too.
I shot back the sa kind of reply he’d sent .
Ex: Well, then we are both guilty.
He responded. I was annoyed because my situation was different.
I had a mother controlling my life. But he seed to let Lara in on everything because he didn’t want to upset her.
Of course, I shouldn’t get jealous of it because he was now her fiance and not mine.
I put my phone in my lap and stared out the window, more anxious now.
"Who are you texting with?" Luca asked out of the blue, which surprised . I hadn’t expected him to pay so much attention.
"None of your business," I replied in a harsh tone so that he wouldn’t take lightly.
"Well, it is if it’s Kash." The mont he said that my fist clenched, but I didn’t react loudly.
My kids could still hear and I didn’t want them caught in the middle of our argunt.
"I hope that’s not the case, Iris." Luca repeated himself because I hadn’t answered at first.
"I’m sure you know this isn’t sothing you should worry about. Rember what my mother said, you’re not supposed to co between and Kash to the point that Kash completely moves on and stops looking for a cure."
I tried to scare him off with a statent from my mother, but he already knew what to expect.
"Well, that’s not what she told . Besides, what kind of father would forget his children just because he has no chance with their mother? So don’t fool , and you better put that phone down." There was a quiet threat in his voice.
He smirked when he saw clench my jaw and glare at him angrily.
"Don’t keep looking at like that, or I’ll do sothing reckless and you won’t stop . Rember, you were supposed to react to my intimacy in public." When he said that my head snapped away to avoid his gaze, which only pissed him off more.
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