Suddenly the memory of her mother always defending her and protecting her no matter what she did wrong burst out just like that to cover her memory where her mother accused her.
Her heart trembled with longing to meet her mother, and she couldn't stop her tears.
"Roxy, love. Open the door, please."
Roxy could hear the soft voice that lulled her to open the door, but she didn't want to show her tears.
No. She was embarrassed that again Declan found her weakness and enlightened her.
"Sweetheart?" called Declan once again. His gently shooting voice touched Roxy's heart.
She was neither a good girl nor a good child, but why did her mother and fiancé love her unconditionally?
Roxy wiped her tears from her cheeks and got up to open the door. As soon as the door opened, Roxy immediately buried her face in the man's chest.
Declan's hands circled her and enveloped her in a tight embrace while showering her with his kisses.
"How come you never mad at me?"
"I'm mad at you."
"Don't tell me you're mad in love with me." Roxy stared at her fiance blankly. She already knew this man's skill at twisting her words.
"Well, you already know me."
"That's not what I meant."
"I know. But I could never be angry with you. If I recalled it again, I think, I never get angry at my sister too."
"You never? Like ever?"
"Hm… Unless that she endangered herself, I was never mad at her."
"Lucky her. Rothbert is always angry at me, like… all the time. He's a bad big brother."
Declan chuckled in amusement. "Are you feeling better now?"
Roxy didn't answer and snuggled deeper inside his arm while sighing in pleasure, feeling the warmth of Declan's hug.
"What should I do? I don't know if I've forgiven her, but… I do miss her."
"Then we can meet her."
"But…" what if her heart ached again when she met her mother?
What if the voice of her mother blaming her replayed in her head?
Roxy felt bound by a tangled thread, and she didn't know how to break free. Even if she found scissors to cut the thread that binds her, the thread cannot break and binds her even more tightly.
"Didn't your mother invite us over this weekend? We will go, and if you can't stand it, I'll take you away. We will do it slowly. What do you think?"
"Okay. Let's do what you said." Roxy closed her eyes while taking a deep breath to smell Declan's masculine scent that calmed her heart. "What am I supposed to do without you?"
Declan smiled softly at the whisper of his wife. "I'll always be here."
The next day Declan received a call from his father. Mr. Old Black summoned him as he had something to talk about. Before leaving for the office, Declan decided to stop by his parents' house first.
"Oh, Uncle. Good morning." greeted Jacob, who happened to be going somewhere.
It's just, why does this young man look neat as if he's about to go on a date?
"Are you seeing someone?"
"Yeah, I'm seeing my friends."
"…" that's not what he meant. "What about the assignment I gave you?"
"Oh, please, uncle. You gave me an impossible assignment. I know nothing about BPE, and you gave me the newest project."
"It's only a theme park."
"Only a theme park?"
"I think you like playing."
"…" he likes playing, but he prefers playing online games rather than a theme park for kids. Really. How old does his uncle think he is? "Can I take a breather?" Jacob had no other choice but to plead for his mercy.
Declan held back his amused smile and said, "Alright. Go and have fun, but when my assistant calls you, you have to listen."
"Okay. See you." Jacob wasted no time running away before his uncle changed his mind.
And a few minutes later, Jacob arrived in front of the bus stop while greeting someone.
"Letti,"
"Jake," Letti replied with a big smile.
"You came early?"
"Not really. I just arrived too. Did you manage to get an old Katleen Morse album?"
"You bet I did. Here." Jacob handed Letti the album of the legendary jazz singer.
Letti accepted it gladly. "Are you sure I can have this?"
"Yup. I already copied the songs in my iPod."
"Thanks, Jake."
"So, where do you want to go for today?" asked Jacob in a friendly tone yet sounded excited.
"How about we go to the town square? I heard our seniors will perform there."
"Sure!"
They both got on the bus they were going to, and Declan knew nothing about his sister's newfound friendship with his nephew.
Declan walked straight to his father's room and greeted the older man who was reading a book.
"Dad?"
"Oh, you're here. How are you?"
"I'm great. So, what do you need to tell me about?"
"Have you ever heard of Dario Gonzales?"
"Yeah, I've heard him. He has an oil miner in Arabia and built a food factory in Montana. What about him?"
"He made an offer to us. You know I'm planning to build a hotel in Montana, and he suggested investing in the land and the architect."
"Isn't that good?"
"Yes, it's good, and it's quite tempting, knowing he's one of the successful businessmen. But he required to meet you to sign the contract."
"Me? I'm only a temporary director in BPE, and I can't go to Montana to see him."
"You've never met him, do you?"
"No. Should I know him?"
Mr. Old Black rose to his feet and picked up his phone on his desk. After opening a gallery and finding what he was looking for, Mr. Old Black gave his phone to Declan.
Declan received his father's phone in wonder, but his eyes were fixed on the person when he saw a photo there.
This person… is Dario Gonzales?
"What do you think, son? Are you going to meet him?"
Declan's eyes shifted to his father, and he asked in a flat voice, "When is the appointment?"