The Man of My Prayers (Fitzmael 3) - COMPLETED

Special Chapter: At Fifty, We Retire

ADORN ZHARICK VALE-FITZMAEL

"VENGEANCE!" I KNOCKED on his door. "Are you ready?" I asked.

We were headed to M's Mall to shop. He had volunteered to come with me since my husband was busy taking care of Fitz Hospital today.

He opened the door and gave me a wide smile. "Let's go, Mom."

"Why didn't you go with your cousins? I heard they're hanging out today," I said. I couldn't help but smile as Vengeance threw his arm around my shoulders.

Can you believe it? He was only sixteen, but we were the same height now!

"Boring," he snorted. "And I promised Dad, if he's not around, I'll take care of you. When he's here, I can go with them."

"Your Uncle Zacchaeus invited us over. His birthday is tomorrow," I said as we arrived at the garage.

He opened the door for me to the driver's seat before heading to the shotgun seat.

"Okay, Mom. We should buy a gift for him. Does he have many guests?"

I looked at him, a wide smile on my face as I caught a glimpse of his eyes. I never got tired of admiring their color. "It's just us," I laughed. Our family is so big that when I say 'just us', it's never fewer than fifteen people!

Our family has grown so much.

I heard him sigh. "I have so many people to look after again. And my cousins are such troublemakers."

I started the engine and began driving toward the mall. I stole a quick glance at him. "Don't you have a girlfriend?"

"Boring..." he replied. "Chaos might even get a girlfriend before me," he said, disinterested. He just stared out the window as if he had no interest in our conversation at all.

"What do you mean, boring?!"

"I don't know, Mom. I'm just not interested in anyone. I don't think anyone could last with me."

I furrowed my brows and sighed. He was still young, so I knew he had a lot more to experience, but Franco and I were getting older, and I couldn't help but wonder what Vengeance's child might be like, if that ever happened. My thoughts were interrupted when I suddenly heard his cellphone ring.

"Hello, Dad..." he began.

I smiled, my heart racing. I missed him so much! It had been almost twenty-four hours since he hadn't come home because of an emergency and a conference meeting at the hospital.

"Ah," Vengeance murmured. "Alright, Dad. I'll tell Mom," he said before hanging up the phone. He looked at me and then spoke. "Mom, Dad won't be home until tomorrow."

My chest suddenly tightened. I knew it was his job, but I couldn't help feeling sad. I missed him so much. I didn't know why, but as time went on, I was becoming more and more clingy.

"Mom?" Vengeance called out to me. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

I cleared my throat and stretched my neck. "Y-Yes, baby."

"No. You're not," he remarked, his tone certain.

I smirked. "How can you tell?"

"You stretched your neck and stuttered. That means you're tense and lying."

"You're just like your dad, you can read me like a book," I commented. "I miss him!"

He laughed loudly. "Mom, you're like a teenager!"

"Is that a bad thing?"

He shook his head. "No. Actually, seeing you two happy makes me happy too."

"I love you!"