Martha and James are used to living with only the two of them since their children left their home to live their own lives. It has been a while since their dining table was once again full of other people, and not just ordinary people at that.
The room remains silent. Dominic's serious face made the old couple unable to make any noise to avoid making him even more furious. James then turned his head to Elliam, he thought that the beautiful boy is the only one who can willfully smile and be cheerful from this heavy pressure coming from his husband.
"L-let's eat while the food is still hot." Martha stuttered. She mustered some courage to speak. But Martha got dejected when she didn't get any reply from Dominic and Mary. Just when Martha gave up from initiating a conversation with the mother and son, Dominic suddenly went to lift up his spoon and fork, not because he's going to eat but because the little sprout beside him was eyeing the shrimps intently. Since Elliam doesn't know how to properly peel a shrimp, he can only watch but can't touch it. Besides, he has a wound on his shoulder that hurts every time he moves it. Dominic saw him through and went to help the little guy eat some food.
Elliam was munching sliced apples that Dominic gave him when they came into the house. He was eating them while thinking it was shrimp that he was eating. He's salivating just seeing those juicy seafood.
He's focused on his apples and looked up when Dominic asked him if he wanted some vegetables along with the peeled shrimp. When Elliam heard him, he instantly frowned at his husband beside him and whispered, "Don't you dare put those on my plate, just give me the shrimp."
Dominic smirked a little but quickly hid it away with a poker face. Mary was watching the two exchange glances and whispering to each other the whole time. She can also feel the warmth Dominic was giving for Elliam. Mary defeatedly smiled. Maybe worrying about her son's wellbeing was a joke on her part. Dominic clearly enjoys his married life with Elliam. Is this why he's so defensive whenever she suggests marriage with her colleagues' daughters?
Mary casually lifted her spoon and knife and put some food on her plate. She was ready to talk with her son after eating, she'll accept them and ask for forgiveness with Silvia's case. After that, if Dominic asks her to go home then she'll comply.
A sweet and innocent question coming from Elliam broke the silence and tense inside the room.
"Grandma, what do you call this juice?" Elliam inquires to Martha while lifting the glass full of red liquid. He's asking because he can't just drink anything especially now that he's pregnant, anything can be harmful for his baby.
Martha was a little startled by the question but answered him patiently, "It's cherry juice, it's sweet and good for your health. You should try it."
When Elliam heard that it was a fruit juice, he didn't hesitate to drink from the glass.
"It's delicious." Elliam happily assured Martha that the woman thanked him in return. Elliam turned his head towards Mary that was sitting across him and Dominic, she was silently eating her food. Her head bowed on her plate and her shoulders slumped, Elliam thought she looked pitiful. Thinking of what happened a while ago, Mary's relationship with his husband isn't hard to notice. She's his mother-in-law, the one that Dominic always says as a bad person.
"Mary." Elliam called calmly.
Mary heard Elliam's sweet voice calling her and looked up towards him. Elliam was smiling, a mischievous smile that made Dominic, who was watching, frown.
"I'd love to hear more about your stories, can you stay to tell me more of them?" Elliam asked with a grin.
Dominic sighed and replied before Mary could even open her mouth. "She can't. Her husband will go crazy if she's not home before evening." Dominic said firmly.
Mary wanted to refuse and make an excuse just to stay with her son and son-in-law. "I-it's fine. I'll just call your dad later, I'm sure he'll understand." She hurriedly said. She looked at Elliam with a pleading eyes asking for help.
Elliam slightly nodded her head and turned to Dominic with teary eyes and bulging cheeks, trying his best to act lovely as much as he could. Dominic looked at the sprout, amused. Seeing that he's taking the other side made him a little sour in his heart. Elliam knows well how his husband can't take his coquettish side and makes it an advantage to get whatever he wants.
However, Dominic won't let the little guy win this time. He won't allow his mother near him. Whether this weak facade she's showing is to gain sympathy, or she's now showing the real her, Dominic doesn't care. She's a bad mother for Dominic, and she will always be. He believes that an innocent little sprout will continue to be happy even without knowing his mother-in-law.
Mary was fidgeting in her seat. She was hoping for her son to let her stay. Although she's his mother, Mary doesn't have any authority, or control over Dominic. She's well aware of her tainted reputation as a mother and that saddens her to the very core of her heart.
Dominic sighed and firmly said, "I won't change my mind. Go call your driver to bring you back home after eating." Dominic stood up after saying those words. He gripped Elliam's hand on top of the table before leaving the room.
Elliam cautiously turned his head to Mary and saw the woman crying silently again. Elliam hesitantly announced to everyone, "I'll go check on him first." He stood up and immediately followed his husband.
Seeing the couple leave, Martha stood from her seat to join Mary who was crying. "Madame, why are you doing this to yourself? I'm begging you, please tell him what really happened. Dominic is old enough to think rationally. You can't always take the blame for everything." Martha was feeling distressed by what was happening to the family she once served.
Mary has tears rolling down her cheeks. "I- I don't know what to do anymore. Leonard promised me he's doing everything to fix our family, but he doesn't make any effort to fix us immediately. My son hates me more and more as the days go by, and I can't sit around while waiting for Leonard's promise." She mustered between her sobs and hiccups, she's in pain.
"Why don't we try to talk to him again, Madame. I've served your family before and I know that Dominic still has a lingering affection for his mother. He's clouded by hatred that's why he's acting like this. A more serious talk and understanding, I know your family will once again reunite." Martha said in a calculated tone of voice. She wanted to help, but what help would a mere ex-servant like her do with this powerful people's own family problem?
"Martha, Do you really think there's still chance that I can hug my son once again?"Mary questioned.
"And he's not a boy anymore, he's married now and will become a dad in a few months... Argh!, Elliam's pregnant and will give birth in a few months. I'll be a grandma very soon so I need to reconcile with Dominic as soon as possible." Mary said in a distressed voice.
While Mary was having an emotional breakdown on her own, Dominic was outside the house standing alone and thinking through his actions. It was getting dark and a cold gust of wind passing through him, seems like a strong storm is coming.
Dominic was standing with a cigarette between his fingers when he suddenly heard a sneeze from behind. Dominic looked back and saw Elliam clutching his shoulders because the cold weather was slipping through his loose clothes.
"Hon." Dominic called, he dropped the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. Once the cigarette was dead, he stretched out his arm to pull his wife towards his embrace.
***
Sup!!
It's been a while guys.
So, here's a chapter that serves as a compensation for the long hiatus. Just busy with work and reading danmei that I forgot to write my own book, please forgive me.
This chapter's unedited
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BINABASA MO ANG
HIS SECRET WIFE (BL)
Romance(Second book: His Secret Wife) Dominic Martinez is a man of wealth, power, and looks. He is perfect, but also dangerous. He's a man that everyone wants. But what will happen if this famous bachelor announce his marriage? Surely it will cause an u...
