Chapter 7 The Panicked Call

|Aria’s POV| “I knew you’d look stunning in the dress. I am sorry, but I am so proud that you have followed your dreams. Over the years, I have realized how stupid I was and would love to make things right…See you soon, my wife.” The letter Ava had given me kept on replaying in my mind. It was like a persistent migraine that has refused to stop, even as I tried to get my mind off it. Brushing my arms lightly, Zion breathed, “Babe, are you okay?” My eyelids fluttered as I snapped my attention from the chandelier looming above the ceiling in my room to Zion’s concerned face. My black silky hair bounced lightly while bobbing my head. Although that did little to nothing to ease his concern as his brows hiked up to his hairline. My lips curved upwards lightly. “I just thought about how the premiere happened and how people showed up. I didn’t believe we could pull it like that,” I said. It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t totally the truth as well. However, I am not ready to talk about Ace Kings. Especially since we wouldn’t have to worry about him. Yet. Leaning towards me, Zion nuzzled his nose into the crook of my neck. “Do your best and leave the rest to God. Now watch him turn up for you,” He repeated his usual mantra. My smile widened and all my worries melted because at this point, Zoe and Zachary know those words like their alphabets. Something suddenly clicked in my head “Wait, Zoe and Zachary…Isn’t it weird that they’re suddenly quiet?” I pointed out. “How did we not notice? This must be bad. They are doing something they should not do,” Zion sighed, and we both stood up hastily. Zion and I had both slipped into parenting roles. We didn’t discuss it, but it happened naturally, because he has been there since they were born. We walked out of the room hand-in-hand, our gaze searching frantically for them. “Zoe…” “Zachary,” My motherly instinct assured that they were fine, and I know the reason they didn’t answer was because they were currently doing what they shouldn’t do. We looked through the rooms, but there is only one place we haven’t looked at yet. The kitchen. They have this serious obsession with flour and its products. “Zachary, I will put you both on time out if you mess with my kitchen.” I yelled. Zion’s hands snaked around my wrist, and we froze in the corner. Two pigtails peeped at the entranceway before waving her hand at her partner in crime. I gave Zion a nod and the moment they bolted out of the kitchen; we made our appearance. “You both. Stop there! Now.” I boomed. They faced us with their pouty lips and their big doe eyes that were irresistible. They were completely coated in flour. Tucking her hands behind her back, “Mama, I am sorry. I wanted pancakes,” Zoe mumbled. Zoe was the scared little kitten that was always coerced by Zachary to do what she wouldn’t do. Zachary looked at his little hands like it was the most interesting thing around him. Zachary didn’t mutter an apology. Apart from the face, the way he acted so much like his father scared me. Bending to his level, I used my index finger to tip his face up “Zachary…what are you supposed to say?” “Mama….. I am sorry. I also wanted pancakes.” He confessed. Pulling them both into my arms, I kissed their foreheads “Next time, when you want something, come to mama. You know I would give you both the world if you asked for it.” Cocking his eyebrow, Zion pulled away from the wall and join our hug. “Then where are the rest of the people supposed to stay if you give them the world?” “I don’t know. I’m sure they could move to somewhere else,” I shrugged. “Mama, Uncle Zion, do you know our dad?” Zoe questioned curiously. I tensed, and my heart raced. What sort of coincidence is this? The day after I saw him, his children are asking about him? My eyes met Zion’s, and he bobbed his head, a wordless acceptance to whatever I decide. “But isn’t uncle Zion acting as your daddy? You can call him daddy. I’m sure he would love that,” I mumbled. Cocking his head to the side, “But he is not my daddy,” Zachary retorted. His tone was too calm for the gravity of that sentence. Zion flinched, but I rubbed his arms reassuringly as he untangled himself from the hug. My eye burned with tears and I just wished that Ace did not throw into this kind of dilemma. I pursed my lips and walked them to their room. “Baby, don’t say such words. You hurt Uncle Zion by saying that. You daddy is currently not around, so he is filling the role and trying his best.” Minutes passed by as I watched them settle with their tablets before walking out of their room and taking long strides to mine. My feet paused when I saw Zion was gathering his stuff already. “Babe, I am sorry. You know he didn’t mean it that way. Zachary is not well with his words, and I am really working on it.” I sighed. His eyes clashed with mine and he waved me over. “Come here. I know he’s just a kid, but I was hurt, too. I guess I will never measure up to their father.” He acknowledged. Wrapping my arms around his muscular body, I muttered, “You don’t have to measure up to their father. You should be in a competition with someone that isn’t in the picture.” Slowly, he pulled out of the hug and picked his bag and his keys from my shelf. “I know. It’s been a long day. I have not really had a good rest since our big day, and besides, dad said I should drop by later.” He admitted. I bobbed my head and pulled him closer, kissing him on the lips, and for a fucking moment, Ace flashed in my face. Stepping aside, I looked at him dejectedly, wishing he didn’t have to leave, but that would be me being selfish. He walked out of the room, his footsteps growing quieter until the front door shut behind him. I took long strides to the door to shut it, watching as his Audi R8 slowly drove out of the front lawn. Rubbing my temples, “These children will not be the end of me,” I declared before going to their room to take care of the flour on their bodies. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I narrowed my gaze because I wasn’t expecting anyone, but when I saw Penelope’s name flashed on my screen, my lip slowly tugged into a smile. Her breaths came out loud and laboured, and I was a minute from asking what happened, but my world stilled after hearing her voice. “Aria, you wouldn’t believe who I just saw…in our estate.”