Passion's Crossfire

Chapter 84

Adam

Mallory is sleeping in my arms, so soundly. Her breathing is soft and quiet, her eyelashes fluttering ever so slightly. She looks so peaceful, so perfect. I'm impressed by the way she handled herself with my mother—constantly smiling, even though my mother was so offensive. The memory of my mother's comments towards Mallory sparks anger within me, but it disappears instantly as Mallory stirs in my arms.

Instinctively, I pull her closer, planting a gentle kiss on her nose. She scrunches it in response, and I can't help but chuckle softly. I could stay like this forever, especially considering what lies ahead at breakfast after my mother's outburst last night. . I let out a sigh, my fingers tracing patterns on Mallory's soft skin.

The sooner we get through breakfast, the sooner we'll leave, and the sooner we'll be back at the apartment. Our apartment. Alone, at last. The thought brings a sense of relief, a momentary escape from the complexities of family dynamics. Mallory stirs again, her eyes fluttering open.

"Morning," she mumbles, her voice still laced with sleep. I smile down at her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"Good morning, beautiful," I reply, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. She stretches in my arms, a contented sigh escaping her lips.

"Last night was intense," she says, her gaze meeting mine.

"You handled it like a pro," I assure her. "I don't know how you stayed so composed with my mother."

Mallory shrugs, a playful glint in her eyes. "Well, I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of seeing me upset."

I chuckle, realizing just how lucky I am to have her by my side. "I'm sorry you had to go through that."

"It's not your fault; just as Matt's behavior wasn't my fault" Mallory says, her fingers tracing circles on my chest. I lean down, capturing her lips in a tender kiss.

As we break the kiss, Mallory looks up at me with a soft smile. "Let's get this breakfast over with," she says, a hint of determination in her eyes.

I nod, reluctantly releasing her. Can't we just leave now? I can't say I have fully recovered from last night. The dining room awaits, and I know my mother is likely not done with her attacks on Mallory. I have to brace myself for what's to come. Staying calm is crucial; I can't afford to lose control.

My mother has a way of seeing me as if I'm still a petulant child, unable to make my own decisions. This time, she needs to see how serious I am about Mallory. And if she doesn't understand it, well, tough. She'll just have to accept it.

I dress in a simple polo shirt and jeans, opting for a casual yet put-together look. Mallory, always effortlessly stunning, wears the beautiful lavender sundress she wore on our first date. It feels like ages ago, a distant memory in the whirlwind of recent events.

"Ready?" I ask Mallory, offering her a reassuring smile. She nods, determination shining in her eyes. Together, we make our way to the dining room, hand in hand. It feels so natural, it has to be the first time I felt complete in this house. When I left to live alone, I did feel complete, or so I thought. I was finally on my own, away from my mother. But the way I feel with Mallory by my side? Complete. Invincible.

And I am not giving up on that.

We enter the dining room, and the morning spread is already laid out on the table—coffee, eggs, bacon, pancakes, the usual. My father sits at the head of the table, engrossed in the newspaper. He glances up, a warm smile spreading across his face as he greets us with a cheerful "Good morning."

"Good morning," Mallory and I reply in unison. I take a seat, and Mallory sits next to me.

"Where's Mom?" I ask my father, and he sighs, sharing a knowing look with me. "She'll be right down," he says, "She's not in the best mood this morning. She took my ear off last night until I pretended to be asleep."

I roll my eyes, shaking my head. "Rough week ahead for you, huh?"

He waves it off with a grin. "Nothing I can't manage, my boy."

As we continue our breakfast, my father leans in, a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Adam, Mallory," he begins, "I was thinking, you two should attend the yearly banquet my company hosts at the end of every summer. It would be a great opportunity for you both to make an appearance together."

I raise an eyebrow, considering the suggestion. "The yearly banquet?" I repeat.

"Yes, exactly," my father continues. "The Vanguards are also invited, and it would be a good chance for you both to network. Don't mention it to your mother, though. She doesn't need to know."

I lean in, whispering back, "What if she does make a scene?"

He smirks and whispers, "She won't. She's not going to risk gossip about her own family. Trust me."

"What do you think?" I ask Mallory.

Mallory shrugs, a nonchalant expression on her face. "Sure, why not?"

I smile at her, relieved, and then turn to my father. "We'll be there."

My father grins, clapping his hands together. "Great! It's settled then."

We continue eating in silence for a few minutes until my mother enters the dining room. The atmosphere tightens, and I exchange a subtle glance with Mallory, bracing ourselves. My mother somberly greets us, offering a stiff "good morning" as she takes her seat across from me. She avoids eye contact with Mallory and me, focusing on her breakfast instead.

"How are you mom?" I ask, attempting to break the tension. My mother doesn't respond though; she doesn't even glance at my direction. Frustrated, I insist, "Come on, Mom, you can't just ignore me."

She glares at me and retorts, "You are ignoring me. Why shouldn't I ignore you?"

"This is different." I argue, but she dismisses it with a curt "Not really."

I sigh and shake my head. Underneath the table, Mallory squeezes my thigh, a comforting gesture that I appreciate more than she knows. God, I love that girl. As we finish our breakfast, Mallory and I stand up, ready to leave. I suggest that we should get going. My father nods and rises from his seat, but my mother continues to ignore us.

We walk out of the dining room, and James informs me that he has placed our things in my car. I thank him, and my father walks Mallory and me to my car.

"Mallory, sweetheart, it was wonderful getting to know you better. I hope I see both of you again very soon," my father says as we reach my car. He hugs us goodbye, adding, "I will send you the details about the banquet."

We get into the car, and I start the engine. "Ready to go home?" I ask Mallory. She sighs with relief and says, "God, yes, please take me home." I chuckle, feeling a sense of relief that we're leaving the mansion behind. I navigate the car out of the estate, leaving the imposing structure in the rearview mirror.