chapter 17

"I never expected this type of welcome from my daughter in law" hearing the voice Emily turns her head to see the intruder

"Sorry, but do I know you" she innocently stated

"Mary, Xenith's mother" Mary hugs her saying that, "you should have come to meet me in the first place, but look at you sitting in an enclosed space looking at the stars in broad daylight" breaking the hug Mary drags her out of the house on the beach

They get settled down on the porch which gave a great view of the ocean and heart the soothing smell of wet sand. Emily was still in a confounded state as Mary introduced herself as Xenith's mother. She was looking at her when Mary kissed her forehead lovingly, "I know what you are thinking but put one thing in mind those two boys always follow my words and you are added into that list... So whatever I will ask, you have to do no matter what" Mary takes Emily both hands in hers saying that and her gesture calms down Emily from all the thoughts.

Mary talks to Emily about everything that includes Xenith, his past.. about his and Zain's childhood... How those two boys always bring trouble at home and love to intimidate the other children whoever tries to outsmart them making Emily laugh at that... She talks about their bond and how Xenith changes over time... How he turned into a person who is unable to explain his emotions and became so stoic. She asks Emily about her thoughts for Xenith but she tries to subdue her emotions from letting Mary know what's in her mind and dismiss her questions. Mary getting that Emily is not in a mood to answer about Xenith, so she let it go and then both of them goes back inside for the dinner, where Xenith and Zain were already waiting for them

"When did you both arrived" Mary inquired looking at the two immersed in their phones.

"When you were busy bitching about us with your daughter" Zain replied earning a glare from his mother while Xenith and Emily were looking at each other

Mary makes Emily sit besides Xenith on his right whereas she herself gets settled down on his left, where Emily usually sits. Lucy comes and serves them after they settled down, "Why are you always here, Emily was complaining that you don't give the couple space to be together" Mary speaks playfully lightening the atmosphere

"Seriously, this time I won't believe you, mom, because for your information Emily loves me more than Xenith... Actually, she is not at all interested in him and a secret that I will reveal today that she will stay your daughter in law only...though Xenith divorces her because I will marry her" Zain says grinning from ear to ear making Emily choke on her food and Mary turns Zain's ears making him scream in pain.

Xenith gives a glass of water to coughing Emily and gets up patting his hand on her back in up and down motion calming her, "Can you stop your banter at least on the dining table" Xenith says in a distressed tone as tears start flowing from Emily's eyes. Mary quickly gets up seeing her state and goes to Emily helping her drink water and caress her hair making her feel better.

Emily removing her tears signals them to sit as she was all good and gulps down the remaining water, "I am better, please continue eating" she says and Mary now sits beside her and asks Zain to shut his mouth who looks at Emily and apologize, "I am sorry"
to which Emily gives a nod and they all eat their food silently

After the dinner when Emily enters her room, she didn't found her things and Mary enters asking her what is she finding, "Actually my things are not here" Emily express in hesitation which brings a smile on Mary's face but she subdues it before Emily sees it, "But why you are finding your things here, it should be in your room" Mary questions her which leaves her speechless

At the same time, Lucy comes out of the bathroom and informs Mary that she has arranged her things and she can go to have a bath, to which Mary nods, "You also go and have a beauty sleep because I don't want this circle to get dark on my beautiful daughter, we have a lot of time to talk tomorrow" Mary asks Emily to go signalling the partially dark circle under her eyes and walks into the bathroom

"Where are my things, Lucy," Emily asks Lucy who takes her out of the room away from Mary so as she should not be able to listen to their conversation, "If Mrs Wilson gets to know about you staying in a different room than it won't be good and she will get disheartened, so that's why we have to move your things to Xenith sir room... Just stay there until she stays here" Lucy informs her in a whisper and push her into Xenith's room

Emily closes the door with a disappointed look on her face and was looking around the empty room to find a space for herself but screams seeing Xenith half-naked who came out of the bathroom freshly showered unknown to her presence. Xenith got equally shocked seeing Emily in the room, who was looking at him baffled and observed him.. his toned body with those abs, shows how much he has given time to gym but when, as he is always busy with his work and the towel wrapped around his torso showing more makes her shy and she turns around unable to bear the heat rising in her body and her thoughts going wild she, runs towards the door but remembering Lucy's word she again turns around and goes into the balcony closing the door behind so as not to see Xenith anymore.

Xenith was surprised seeing a shy and confuses Emily who first run towards the door to leave the room and then turned around and goes to the balcony, he had a good laugh about it which Emily heard and cursed her stars. Xenith got into the closet to change when he saw the other side filled with woman's cloth and gets the situation, that it must be Mary who would have done this and the reason for Emily being in his room. He was so happy to see that and changes his cloth in a minute.

With a deep breath, Xenith knocks the balcony door, "It's your room and your house no need to knock or ask for permission" Emily roared from the other side with sadness laced in her voice

Xenith opens the door to see Emily sitting on the floor looking at the sea waves, he goes near her and sits beside her earning a look from Emily to go away, "So it's because of mom you are pouring your anger at me. I don't have a hand in any of this" he tries to explain himself

Emily looks at him with blazing eyes, "It's not because of you... Ohhh, right you never make any mistake, it's me who is a problem here. That's why I am asking you to let me go, divorce me. That way it will be better for both of us and your family" she sarcastically puts her point and looks away making Xenith sigh

"I won't divorce you, not now nor in future... It's better you make yourself comfortable here and let me know about your necessities so that I can arrange it for you or if you don't like to ask me than at least inform lucy" he annoyingly speaks and gets up as he don't want their talk to end on a bad note, "Also mom is here for time being so it's better you consider this room and this place as yours" and goes inside, remembering something he comes back startling her, "I have to take care of some business so if you need anything than I am in my study..also get up and change, it's better for you to go to bed early" and leaves finally

Emily ignored what Xenith said and makes herself comfortable in the balcony lost in her thoughts....as what God wants from her, why I have to always do things against my will??  Isn't I am also a human like all of them?? Why I have to lose everything, don't I deserve them?? Is it I have committed some sin that I don't remember or if I am cursed?? Why these people don't leave her alone, as they also know that they won't get anything from her?? Why he told me that he won't divorce me?? I never think of hurting anyone then why I always end up getting hurt myself?? If I will have to face these till the end of my last breath?? Why I am so much pathetic??... There were many why's but no answer to any of her question... She wants to cry but controlled herself.

After completing his work Xenith comes back finding the room empty and goes into the balcony to find a sleeping Emily with her head tilted on the railing, he goes near her to scoop her up but because of his broken hand drops the idea and thought to wake her but when he removes a strand of her hair from her face he was instantly attracted by those tempting lips that he bends down for a kiss......