The Lotus And The Billionaire

Chapter 69: After The Divorce

I woke up with the sun’s rays hitting my face, the window perfectly open for the rays to land right on me. As my entirety woke, the pain immediately attacked my body, leaving me unable to move.

Well, damn…

Even as I tried to move my arm, I still felt helpless. Sure, I wanted what happened yesterday, but I never asked to have myself destroyed by this man beside me.

A sigh escaped from my lips as I decided to remain here until Alvarez woke up. He’s going to have to take good care of me more today because of what he did.

To be honest, I was quite hungry and I needed him to get me some sort of food downstairs. Even so, I waited for him to wake up even when I could have done it myself, but I sort of wanted to admire him while he slept.

And at long last, after a long wait, he finally opened his eyes. “Good morning, gorgeous…” he greeted, smiling.

“Morning,” I greeted back.

He raised a brow. “You rarely greet me good morning. Are you in a good mood?”

“No,” I replied as I rolled my eyes. “Thanks to you, I can’t go down to get something to eat. Now, you have to get me something.”

A chuckle escaped from his lips as he stared at me for a few seconds. “Alright, then, Your Highness. Allow me to get you something to eat.”

He let go of my waist and stood up to get dressed. Meanwhile, I remained where I was so I could wait for him to get me my food. Damn, I still feel sore all over.

“This is my fault, so I’ll take care of you. You don’t have to say it,” he told me as he walked away.

“I wasn’t even saying anything.”

“You were about to.”

“No.”

“I know you were at least thinking about it or you’re simply planning to say it. You often do it the morning after making love,” he told me in a matter-of-fact tone, grinning from ear to ear.

“Whatever helps you sleep at night,” I replied and rolled my eyes.

“Your embrace. That’s what helps me sleep better.”

“Oh, f**k off,” I replied, trying to fight the urge to smile. “You’re too corny so early in the morning.”

He chuckled again and then left. Well, that was something I definitely didn’t see coming. I thought he’d complain before actually doing it because that’s what he normally does.

I shook my head and looked out the window, admiring the skies that could be clearly seen from here. Ah, it looks pretty. I want to go out as soon as possible, and then do some activities.

Oh. But my body’s sore all over, so I might not be able to…

My lips formed a pout as I thought about how I would have been able to enjoy being here in the meantime if my body felt fine. Ah, I can’t blame Alvarez, though.

“I’m back.”

Speak of the devil!

“Hey…” I greeted him as I tried to stand up.

Before I could even do so, he placed the tray he was carrying on the table and ran to me so he could assist me. I raised a brow and allowed him to.

“Oh, you’re okay with me helping you now?”

“I don’t have a choice. f**k off.”

“You want another?”

I glared at him, so he quickly backed off while laughing. Well, someone seems to be a bit too happy this morning. Perhaps there’s good news that he hasn’t told me about yet…

“What’s going on?” I asked him as the two of us were eating, weirded out.

He raised a brow. “What do you mean?”

“You seem a bit too happy.”

“So?”

“So you are. Then, what’s going on? Is there good news? Can we go back home now?”

He chuckled again. See? My questions were not even funny, yet he has the guts to laugh at me even when I’m very serious. There really is something he has not told me about yet.

I raised a brow at him and crossed my arms in front of my chest, waiting for him to spill the beans. I’d respect that he doesn’t want to tell me if he can give me a good reason not to prod him about it, though.

But now that he seems a little too suspicious, I guess I will be a little skeptical about the matter. I’m just worried it’s something relevant that I should know.

Ah, f**k. I really am paranoid…

“Diaz, calm down…” he told me as he held my shoulders. “I haven’t received any news about the incident since yesterday, but I have deployed my men. Everything will be in motion once we’re back.”

“I see…”

He smiled and gave me a pat on the head. “It’s fine…”

“Then, when are we going back home?”

“As soon as you’re feeling better,” he replied as he scooped my food up and fed me. “That brings me back! I’m not particularly happy about anything. I just somehow woke up in a good mood.”

I stared at him for a little while, trying to decipher whether he was telling the truth or not. I guess he is, but I don’t really see why.

“Is it the s*x?” I asked, grinning.

He shook his head, acting disappointed, but failed miserably as a smile crept upon his lips. “Perhaps.”

“Perv.”

“You are, too.”

“Am not.”

“Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night,” he teased.

I rolled my eyes at him and continued eating. The food is good, but this isn’t a taste that would come from Alvarez’s cooking. I guess this is cooked by the maids downstairs! Damn, their food is good!

Ah, that’s refreshing…

I’m thinking maybe I should visit more often so I could get a taste of this. I often live off of my own cooking and Alvarez’s, so I guess this just made me feel quite refreshed.

“I like this,” I told him. “We should come here more often.”

“I’m afraid ‘often’ would be a tad difficult. You know, work and our current situation.”

I nodded. “Of course. Just saying…”

“We can come when our time allows it, though.”

“Mm-hmm. That would be great!”

As I finished eating, I told him I wanted to wash up because I wasn’t able to last night. The two of us ended up washing together, and then he helped me get dressed, too.

To be honest, I was already able to move on my own. Well, it felt nice to have Alvarez take care of me…and his whole aura became gentler as well. That’s why I thought I could take the act a little further than this.

Alvarez carried me to the balcony of the room, as well. He was quiet the whole time, and I was so close to thinking he really cared for me in a way that might be unimaginable.

Fuck.

I have to stop these delusions and do what I have to do. This is bad. I thought I’d gotten a hold of my goal again, but it doesn’t seem to be that way…

“Diaz, how’s staying here?” he asked all of a sudden. I was sitting on his lap while the two of us gazed at whatever our eyes could reach.

I pursed my lips as I looked at everything my eyes could reach. The forest looks gorgeous from up here, almost as if enticing me to come. The garden, the pool…

Everything feels so relaxing that I began to wish I could stay here for as long as I wanted. I used to run around here as a kid, but I’m an adult now. No matter how much I want to do certain things, I won’t be able to do them because I have a set of responsibilities now.

A sigh escaped from my lips as I looked at Alvarez, who was waiting for my answer. I wonder if things would turn out in a different way if I wasn’t forced to marry him…

“I…want to stay here,” I told him honestly.

This place allowed me to feel peace amidst everything that had happened in the city. Perhaps it was all because there was chaos, but I genuinely love this place. I would stay here if I could.

When we go back to the city, we will not be able to see all of these anymore. There would be chaos everywhere, especially with the media and the authorities wanting to catch the two of us.

But more than any of that, I am sure several of the Alvarezes would want to get involved. Considering the last time they saw the two of us was a disaster, it would only make sense.

“I don’t want to stay here,” he replied honestly.

“I know.”

“You really want me to suffer, don’t you?”

I did not answer.

Normally, I would laugh and tell him he was right and that I was being sarcastic, but I could not find it in me to do so. All I did was stay in his lap and enjoy the time I was spending in an isolated space.

I do want him to suffer. I always have.

Yes, I certainly do.

But if that is the case, then why do I find myself hesitating about something I would usually shrug off or trample over?

What is this…

“Hey, Diaz,” he called again.

“What?”

“Would you have wanted to become an Alvarez if I had not forced it upon you?” he asked as he caressed my thighs.

I do not want these kinds of questions. Not at all.

“Why do you ask?” I asked, trying to evade the question he posed.

He shrugged. “It’s nothing more than a random thought.”

I tried to play it off by laughing. “There is absolutely no way I would want to marry an asshole like you.”

He chuckled and nuzzled his face on my chest. “Of course. Even I would not want to marry a brat like you.”

“You are the brat. It’s definitely not me.”

“Sure, if that’s what you want to believe.”

“Well, I’d like to believe that you’re an idiot.”

I don’t understand why we’re talking about such nonsense. Still, I didn’t want to end the conversation. I felt like if it came to a halt, I would feel like everything would go back to how it originally was…

We will be right back in the city, avoiding reporters and trying to catch Zenon Leviste…all while fighting for our lives and rights. This is making me feel like s**t.

“Alvarez…” I called as I began to play with his hair.

“Hmm?”

“What will you do after we get the divorce?”

He went silent after I asked him that question, and I thought he had fallen asleep. I held his chin to lift his face up, but when I did, his face had turned back into one so void of emotion.

I blinked twice as I wondered if I had upset him because the smile he was wearing earlier had disappeared. Even the condescending expression was gone…

“What’s wrong?” I asked, worried.

“Nothing…” he trailed off as he stared at me. “What would I do after getting the divorce?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I was just wondering…”

“I wouldn’t be doing anything special. Probably just do what I have always done.”

“Really? You won’t try to get other women?”

He shook his head. “I’m done doing that shit.”

I smiled and caressed his hair. “That’s good.”

Alvarez still looked the same, but his expression really reverted back to normal. Damn, did I upset him by asking about the divorce? But we’re going to get it someday, right? There’s just around a year and a half left…

He looked up at me again. But this time, he seemed a little pissed. I really don’t understand this guy. I wanted to ask him what he was thinking about, but it didn’t feel right…

“Diaz…” he trailed off, and I only hummed in response. “You? What would you be doing after…you know, the divorce?”

I shrugged. “Probably just go around and do whatever I want.”