Once, my paranoid love

After a week, the first light of morning spilled through the curtains, and I awoke with a sense of quiet anticipation. Elena, still lost in dreams, looked serene in her slumber. I couldn’t resist the urge to trace the delicate lines of her angelic face with my fingers, a gentle caress that belied the storm of thoughts swirling within me.

As my hand moved down to gently stroke her belly, I found myself grappling with the complexities of impending fatherhood. Closing my eyes, I felt the weight of responsibility settle upon me. The unborn child carried the promise of a new chapter, a delicate connection between Elena and me.

“When I think you are not carrying my kid, my wrath rises to greater levels, but I can’t be rude to you. How can I harm a baby? I can’t kill this innocent child,” I mused inwardly.

The internal conflict echoed in the quiet of the room. A fragile truce had been forged within me, a realization that the life growing within Elena was not just hers but mine as well.

“So, just one person is expected to survive. I’m your only father, and Elena is your mother. I will not allow anyone to come between us,” I resolved, a silent vow to protect the fragile thread of us.

Later, in the office, the mundane world seemed to tug at the edges of my thoughts. Obin entered with a serious expression, breaking the reverie.

“Tonight, Mr. Kai is throwing a party,” Obin announced, placing the invitation card on the table.

“Tonight?” I inquired.

The party, an external distraction, seemed to hover on the periphery of my consciousness.

I took the invitation card, fingers tracing the embossed details.

**

As the evening descended into the soft hues of dusk, Derek rushed back home, his footsteps echoing with a sense of urgency. The occasion was Mr. Kai’s party, and I found myself standing in front of the mirror, a myriad of uncertainties clouding my thoughts.

“Derek, do I look fat in this dress?” I asked, my voice carrying a hint of insecurity. The dress, a delicate ensemble chosen for the evening, seemed to amplify my self-doubts.

Derek enveloped me from behind, his arms a reassuring embrace.

“Babe, it’ll happen,” he whispered. His support was a balm to the insecurities that threatened to overshadow the anticipation of the night.

“I’m not in the best of shape, so you may go on your own,” I stated, a self-deprecating remark escaping my lips.

“You are the most gorgeous girl I have ever met,” Derek declared, punctuating his words with a gentle pinch to my cheek. I grumbled in response, dismissing his compliment with a playful rebuttal.

“Liar,” I muttered, my gaze meeting his in the reflection of the mirror.

“I’m not lying, honey,” Derek insisted, his lips finding the curve of my neck in a tender kiss.

“But there’s something lacking,” Derek added, a thoughtful note in his voice that piqued my curiosity.

“You don’t allow me to wear heels, right?” I remarked, a playful accusation laced with a hint of teasing.

Derek chuckled, a sound that resonated with the ease of our shared moments.

“I’m a bit shorter than you, but don’t tell me I’m looking too short,” I said.

“Don’t you enjoy it when I lean on you?” Derek responded with a chuckle, turning the tables with a playful twist.

“Derek, you’re changing the topic,” I playfully added, my attempt to steer the conversation away from the insecurities that had lingered moments ago. His hands skillfully unfastened my hair, and a gentle compliment escaped his lips.

“Now you’re looking fantastic,” Derek declared, his words carrying warmth that eased the tension.

A little smile graced my lips as his gestures of appreciation worked their magic.

“I love you, Elena,” Derek kissed my shoulder.

My head lowered in contemplation, a realization settling upon me that this might be the perfect moment to confess about my feelings.

“Derek,” I began, my fingers gently touching his cheek. The atmosphere shifted, and as he stared into my eyes, a nervous anticipation tinged the air.

“Yes,” he answered, a smile playing on his lips. The words hovered in the charged silence, and I decided to postpone my confession for a more opportune moment.

‘No, I’m not going to say it right now. Tonight, I’ll tell him,’ I resolved within myself. A smile adorned my face as I leaned in, kissing him tenderly on the forehead.

Derek, however, seized the moment, clasping my face and initiating a kiss on my lips. In that embrace, time seemed to suspend, and the world faded away as our connection deepened.

When Derek kissed me, it was as if he possessed a supernatural power, drawing me entirely into the vortex of our shared passion.

“I think we should go now,” Derek suggested, breaking the enchanting moment and touching my forehead with his.

As I opened my eyes, I noticed the subtle flush coloring his ears. I nodded in agreement, taking his hand in mine, the lingering warmth of the kiss lingering between us.

The Other Side Of The Story,

Paul’s POV.

In the dim light of my private sanctuary, I took a deliberate step forward and faced the mirror. Tonight was the night I had been waiting for, the night when the pieces of the intricate puzzle would fall into place. The air crackled with anticipation as I gazed at my reflection.

“I can’t wait any longer,” I murmured to the mirror, a self-assured smirk playing on my lips. Tonight, everything would change. Elena, the one who had eluded me for too long, would finally be within my grasp.

“You will be mine today.”

“You’ll be in my arms for the rest of your life.”

As I fixed my bow on my neck, the final touch to my carefully chosen attire, a sense of satisfaction washed over me.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The reflection in the mirror exuded confidence, a man ready to claim what he believed was rightfully his.

“We’ll go a long way from here.”

**

After an hour’s drive, Derek assisted me in stepping out of the car. The night air carried a hint of excitement as we stood at the entrance of Mr. Kai’s grand event. Derek’s hand firmly held mine, and his whispered words lingered in the air.

“Stay with me, alright,” he urged, the sincerity in his voice reassuring.

I chuckled, a lightness in my response, “It’s okay, I won’t run away from you.” His silent gaze, however, betrayed a hint of concern, as if he were guarding against unseen threats.

He scanned the surroundings, his eyes darting across the gathering as though searching for someone in particular. “Hey, are you all right?” I inquired, noticing his vigilance.

“If you try to flee, I’ll lock you up at home,” Derek declared, his words a playful threat that carried a trace of possessiveness.

“You’re so bossy,” I teased, adding a playful comment to defuse the tension.

“I was kidding, of course. If I lock you up, I’ll lock myself up in the same room as you,” Derek quipped, his attempt at lightening the mood. The shared laughter echoed in the air, a moment of camaraderie before the night unfolded.

As if summoned by the energy of the exchange, Mr. Kai appeared seemingly out of nowhere, a gracious host in the midst of his extravagant party.

“Hello, Derek,” he greeted, and Derek responded with a respectful nod.

“I’m ecstatic that you came to my party,” Mr. Kai expressed, his enthusiasm palpable.

Derek, in his composed demeanor, smiled and took the opportunity to introduce me. “Let me introduce you to my wife, Elena.”

Mr. Kai’s gaze shifted to me, recognition flickering in his eyes. “I met you, Elena D’souza, but we didn’t talk that night. I’m familiar with your father. I was shocked when I learned of his situation,” he shared, a somber note entering his words.

“But now he’s much better, sir,” I responded to Mr. Kai’s revelation about my father, offering a reassuring smile. The subtle shift in the conversation hinted at a shared history, one that connected us beyond the realm of this glamorous party.

“Nice,” Mr. Kai acknowledged, the lines on his face softening. “Please come meet my daughter.”

With a subtle gesture, Mr. Kai summoned his daughter, and a young girl soon appeared at his side.

“Dad,” she greeted, her voice carrying a youthful energy.

“Meet them, Nikita. They are really special to me. Please look after them, honey,” Mr. Kai introduced us to his daughter, a sense of pride evident in his words.

Nikita, though initially startled, composed herself and regarded us with a measured expression. There was a pause, a momentary dissatisfaction that flickered across her features.

“Her name is Elena D’souza, and he is Derek Houston,” Mr. Kai presented us to his daughter, and I observed Nikita’s reaction with curiosity.

“Mr. Kai, we’ve met before,” Derek remarked, extending a friendly acknowledgment.

“Yeah, we studied at the same university, right Nikita?” I added, a smile playing on my lips as I attempted to bridge the gap of familiarity.