Chapter 29 - Tristan's Rival

Cheerful laughter can be heard the moment he reach home. He raised one of his eyebrow up and smile softly when he recognized one of melodious laughter that rung out once in a while. For the past few weeks, he would always rush home whenever the clock struck 6 pm. It became one of his new rules that he applied immediately to his company as well as his own clients as soon as he started working. Everyone was dumbfounded because knowing Tristan, he would never let go of his employee when the work is imperfect or it wasn't up to his standard. Bringing extra clothes and place them inside the car was like their routine whenever they left home for work. It was unknown how many days they are going to be stranded inside the company and be able to get away. However when their own President finally went to work few weeks back, he suddenly gave out new rules for them to follow. It was all out of ordinary leaving every employee feeling confused but joyful at the same time. No one knows the reason why but the new changes made them feel like human again.

In the living room Alicia was laughing at Daisy's antiques as she sat next to Raphael who always had his eyes on her. He would be the first one to notice her discomfort from too much laughing and would reprimand his sister from time to time. Remembering his father's and mother's warning about his Alicia's injury, he had to be the one to look out for her safety. He didn't want to see his Alicia to be 'sleeping' inside the hospital again. But his Alicia would tell him she's fine, thus he can only observe her from not moving too much nor laughing a lot. He would sometime gave her fruit, drinks and even fan her when he saw beads of sweat on his forehead. And Alicia would kiss his cheek not knowing the turmoil she gave to the poor little boy.

Looking at it, for others it was just a normal scene for auntie to be spending her time with her niece and nephew. But from Tristan's point of view, it was as if he was going to start a World War 3 with Raphael. The atmosphere start to get chilly and the bright blue sky turn cloudy. He did not expect he would have a rival. And it's from a little boy who are years younger than Alicia. He could not accept it. Especially when he saw Alicia kissing Raphael cheek and he would kiss her cheek back. He squinted his eye at the boy before he left quietly to the master bedroom. The bedroom that he share with Alicia for the last few weeks.

"Get your son out of my house." He said solemnly when he call Ralph as soon as he reach the master bedroom. Pulling off the suffocating necktie and threw it on the bed. Glaring at it as if the tie is his biggest enemy at the moment.

Ralph who was drinking orange juice given by Delilah nearly spill out his drink when he heard Tristan's cold voice. He was stunned.

'How did he offend this demon?'

'His son? What did his son do?'

Ralph cough a couple times before probing into the situation.

"Ugh,,,what did he do? They were supposed to stay overnight at your house since Raphael and Daisy begged me few days ago. It's also school holiday. And Alicia said she miss their company. It's to assure she won't be bored."

"She have me. Get your son out of my son." As soon as Tristan said that, he hung up the phone.

Ralph was left speechless. He rubbed his temple a couple of times looking like he's having huge headache. Delilah who came in the kitchen to check on him frowned. She immediately massage his forehead gently.

"What's wrong? Does your head hurt again? You really need to do checkup for that headache of yours."

"Nah,,,it's not that. It's Tristan. He wants to throw our son out of his house. He sound displeased about something. I don't know how to break the news to Raphael and Daisy. They'll see me as their enemy is i brought them back home tonight. And Alicia might kill me with her glare." He explain to Delilah. But Delilah end up laughing her heart out listening to his trouble. He furrowed his brow.

"That Tristan. He wants to conquer Alicia alone and made our son as his enemy. Perhaps he notice our son fondness towards Alicia. That's why Tristan are venting his frustration at you. We should probably bring them back before Tristan really threw them out. I'll think of something so our kids won't hate you." She said gleefully.

"I love you. You're the best. I'm glad you are my wife."

"Oh? I thought it's because you didn't have much choice back then." She teased. Ralph end up kissing her before dragging her to their bedroom. Wife's lesson. Never tease husband about their embarrassing past, you'll end up being eaten brutally.

At Tristan's humble home, he finally went down after changing he took his cooling bath and change to fresh shirt with pajama trousers. He calls it living a normal life. He saw Alicia sitting on the sofa with a couple of pillows to support and make her comfortable watching television about hurricane. She was left alone in the living room while he can hear some sound coming from the kitchen. He strode towards her and casually pecked her temple and landing few kisses on her cheek before he sat next to her. She was startled at first before relaxed when she smell and feel the familiar scent and warmth. She was now getting used to his spontaneous kisses which usually land on her temple or her cheek.

"Hey, you're back and took a bath already." She stated as she smile warmly at him. Like usual, she would cuddle comfortably on his arm and he would make her cozy for her as well. He played with her long hair and caressed it slowly. She smell wonderful indicating she took her bath already. The helper that he hired must have helped her to the bathroom.

"Ermm. Have you eaten?" He asked. Enjoying this simple moment together with her.

"Waiting for my little chef to finish cooking." She answered.

"Ralph and Delilah are bringing them home later." He told her. She frowned before looking up. He can see her pouting mouth and truly wish he could have a taste of it.

"I thought Ralph said they are going to stay overnight with us tonight? What happen?" He just shrugged his shoulder and watch the programmed on television.

"That stingy brother. I knew he wouldn't let them stay overnight. Hah!!! Wait until i am better i am going to...going to..."

"Curse him? Love, you need to fix on your cursing. No one understood your medical terms." He continued when she have a problem continuing her next word. She was never good in cursing nor being cruel to her own brother. He knows that well. Thinking how she curse Ralph the day he caught her in the back alley is really interesting.

"Then, you're going to help me. We're partner in crime remember?" She look at him with bright eyes.

"I thought it ended." He baited.

"No!!! Once we're partner in crime it would be a whole lifetime." She said as she nodded her head in satisfaction. He grinned evilly. He lowered his head and land a kiss at her seductive lips before she could react he already retract his lip from hers.

"Emmm. For a lifetime." He said gleefully. Realizing she was being tricked by Tristan, her face immediately turn red with embarrasment and she truly wished she could hide her face at the moment. She felt like she just proposed to Tristan. She truly hated the mischievous Tristan at the moment when he still have that wide grin on his face.