White Tulips and Daisies

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE

Build had been discharged from the hospital. But strangely enough, it felt like the entire Sumettikul household had moved in with him.

The suite was nowhere near large enough.

Prem and Wichapas had turned the living room into a makeshift office—laptops and paperwork sprawled across the coffee table. Dao and Aunt Praya had overtaken the kitchen, chopping and stirring among ingredients cluttering both counters and dining table. They were cooking for what felt like an army.

Meanwhile, Blue and the twins had fully converted the bedroom into a playroom. Plushies, plastic dinosaurs, toy cars, and glittery stickers littered the floor and bed like confetti after a parade.

Build had been told to rest.

But rest was impossible when your supposedly quiet recovery room now looked like a daycare center meets a military headquarters.

He stepped out of the bathroom just as a shrill scream echoed from the bedroom. Seconds later, Blue and Tin came sprinting down the hallway. Tin dashed to the kitchen. Blue launched himself into Wichapas' lap, nearly knocking the laptop off.

Prem instinctively grabbed the device before it fell. Wichapas steadied Blue on his lap.

"Easy there, buddy," Wichapas chuckled, though his eyes were still scanning the documents.

"Daddy, Ta Love is smooching Blue on the face!" Blue cried, muffled against his chest.

"Young master, don't play here—it's dangerous," Dao called from the kitchen.

"Hide me, P'Dao! Ta smooching us. It's gross!"

Build stood frozen, watching the mayhem with a hand over his face.

This suite isn't big enough. It never was. Build facepalmed himself.

It was after lunch when Build found the time to speak with Wichapas. The man is engrossed with the paperworks since Prem was back to the office. The kids were playing in the bedroom again. Build sat beside Wichapas. The man immediately placed down the papers and looked at him.

"Hey, do you need anything?"

Build sighed. "The doctor said I need more rest."

"Yes. You should go and take a rest." Wichapas smiled at him.

"How am I supposed to take a rest? The bedroom was converted into a playroom?"

Wichapas bit his lower lip. "I will send them home now so you can rest."

He was about to stand up when Build held his arm. "You don't have to be like this. I am safe here."

Wichapas sit back down. "Remember when someone attacked you here before. We thought you're safe here back then."

"But you upgraded the security already. The door lock is fine and Brent and Harris are keeping us safe."

"Are you saying you don't need me anymore?" Wichapas sighed and looked away.

Build sighed. "I am saying we don't have to squish in a small suite like this. You can work well and the kids can play well in your huge mansion."

"So, you want us to leave?" Wichapas looked at him, full disappointment in his eyes.

"You..." Build closed his eyes, trying to calm himself down. He took a deep breath and looked at Wichapas again."What do you really want?"

Wichapas perked up, eyes similar to Blue whenever the kid wants something. "Move in with me. The house is big enough for all of us. We will fit there. You can take a rest there without being disturbed by the kids. The house is big enough for all of us." Wichapas looked at him in the eyes with huge anticipation. He is smiling at Build while waiting for an answer.