It should have been like this episode 5

❤️ Love before reading ❤️

❌ Do not copy this work, I repeat, please do not copy. Not that I can stop you but please, gain some conscience. ❌

🤩 Kemmy B. Gabriel Present Another rom-nce Novel: 🤩

💔 It Should Have Been Like This 💔

👩‍💻 Book Five: enough 👩‍💻

🧡 Rominic’s viewpoint 🧡

I thought her death drove me mad, but I was wrong. That was just me acting erratic. The silent treatment she forced me to give her however, drove me completely nuts. It wasn’t easy walking into the wards of my children and ignoring the beauty sitting there, pretending like I didn’t exist.

So many times I wanted to compliment her outfit because even if it was poor, it still looked good on her. It got h-rder at each passing day with the way her skin became brighter and her body back to it former glory. Not former though, a wh0le new glory. I couldn’t talk to her, but I made sure to prevent every means of her leaving without me finding out. I gave her a choice to leave or stay, but we both knew the real choice was stay or stay.

I was trying my best to take it easy with her.

As predicted by my best friend who still thinks I’m an ass, she fell for the offer to become my PA, just to destroy me. It wasn’t nice to know why she was really working for me, but I didn’t have a choice and Phineas did assure me that she wouldn’t do anything.

“Okay, why don’t you offer her a job?” He had asked, rolling my pen between his fingers. “She can be your personal assistant,”

I snorted outrageously. “And why would she agree to work for me?”

“And why would she not?” He asked back, “she obviously hates your gut, the offer would be too tempting to resist.”

“How is being my PA tempting? She doesn’t want anything to do with me! In fact, breathing in the same air with me seem to suffocate her! So tell me, Phineas, why would she agree to work for me when she can’t stand me?” I said sardonically. Shouted most of the way.

“Because she hates you and want you dead. Her hate for you would make her accept because then, she would have a way to pay you back for all you did. It’s revenge brought to her in a platter of gold.” He said cheerfully, spreading his arms to prove an invisible point.

“And how is that suppose to make me feel any better? That she would agree to work for me just so she can kill me!”

“It’s not, but it is certainly making me feel better,” he laughed. I deadpanned him, causing him to choke on his laughter, “oh, come on, man, it’s funny. Do you wanna know why? Because you are the one whose head she wants, not mine. Just picture her axing your head,” he continued to laugh.

“Phineas, stop being a pain and be serious! I’m having a real crisis here! The only way to get the children to completely accept me is through their mother. My first son and daughter are probably harboring my funeral song in their hearts, especially the boy!”

“I’m amuse. Do you expect them to just forgive you like that? Especially her?” He chuckled, but not his usual playful one, “you ruined her life, her family, her career, her destiny…” I winced at his painful reminder, “better listen. Her father disowned her because of you. Her stepmother died of heart attack because of you. Her sibling died as well and because of you, her brothers went into stealing to provide for the family. Where are they now? One got shot in a raid, the other in jail and her father died a miserable drunk. She doesn’t even know about that part and she already hates you. Now imagine what she would do when she finds out. You ruined her, man, you ruined her already unhappy family. You know sorry is never going to be enough to make up for what you did, ever.”

“I know, I know,” I said sadly, burying my face into my palms. “But what am I going to do? I don’t know how to get her to forgive me. Phineas, I want her back, I want her forgiveness, I want my children to forgive me…”

“And that is why you need to do this. The best way to get her to forgive you is to show her that you have changed, that you are sorry and the only way to make her see it is if she is close to you. There is no other possible way to get her to be near you except through this means. You’ll keep your things away from her, so she won’t destroy you. Plus, I know she won’t because she loves her children and hurting you would be hurting them…”

“They hate me…”

“Two out of five,” he interjected, “just get her to be your PA and if niceness doesn’t work on her, then be the man that you are and use your power. I promise you, Ass, she’d forgive you. You can also use the children…”

“What if it doesn’t work?” I voiced out with worry.

“Look,” he sighed, “you didn’t ask for my opinion when you destroyed her, so don’t vex me. I’m only giving you this advise because your life have been miserable enough and that lady deserve love and peace again. You either do it, or you don’t. It’s none of my concern.”

I did it, now I pray and wait and hope that everything goes exactly as planned. “They’re ready!” I snapped my neck to the stairs, my jaw dropping at the beautiful woman gracefully walking down the stairs. Her body wasn’t what it used to be, expanded but hell did pregnancy do her good.

The slim woman I fell in love with, the woman with short Sandy brown hair and the woman walking down the stairs, eyes fixed on her daughters skipping down the stairs in front of her, were different. This one was fatter, fuller br-asts, wa-ist and curves were in places she never had. Lavender was not curvy, she didn’t even have h¡ps to begin with, just really slender.

Pregnancy was a miracle to her life.

She wore a glinting star dress, a black one that did no good in covering her now fleshy thighs. Not even the fishnet helped shake my gaze off her legs or send my wild imagination away.

I am doom.

“Beau… Rominic, are you ready?” She asked, pulling Serenity back from jumping down the stairs. I shook my head.

“Ready? For what?”

“Shopping. There is no way I’m taking them shopping alone, Serenity and Zayne will never let me hear the end of it. You are their new best friend, apparently,” she rolled her annoyed eyes to me, “plus, it will help ease Zach’s anger,” my l-ips parted a little, she wanted to help me earn his trust?

“You…”

“I’m doing this for him, not you,” she stated firmly. But even though, it made me smile.

“Daddy,” Serene pulled at my hand, “do I look beautiful in this dress? Grandma thinks it pretty but I think I look like a sheep,” she complained, scowling at the puffy white dress she wore. “Why can’t I wear something as nice and lovely as Sera?” She whined.

“Because, these are the only good clothes we have, for now,” Sera, the sharp mouthed girl answered, “now stop complaining, Serene, or you are grounded for a week,” Serene cupped her mouth and nodded obediently. I loved how Serafina took charge at most situation. She already had the family command in her and my manipulative ability, also the ability to draw the truth out of anyone and anything. Her brother, Zach, he just had the looks. His eyes could make things happen within seconds.

“Okay, kids, your father would take you shopping, I’ll be going with your grandma to check out your new school…” My eyes w¡dened in horror.

“You are leaving me to shop with kids!” I shouted in panic, “two girls!”

“Relax, they are eight, not sixteen, at least, not yet. I’m sure they won’t stress you that much. Your real worry should be Zyaire, he can never decide what he really wants so go crazy or ask Zach.” She shrugged. I gulped and glanced at the bored boy that hate me.

“Mommy, can I buy myself videogames too?”

“That’s between you and your father, not me,” she said with a dismissive wave, but I could see her smile. For some reason, it was making her happy. “You better get going, we all should… Mama, what’s taking so long?!” She shouted, looking up at the stairs. “I swear, that woman takes more time doing her makeup and I’m younger.”

“Women,” Zachary sighed. Sera immediately smack the back of his head. He gro-ned and shifted away from her. “One of these days, I’ll sell you and use the money to buy ice cream,”

“I’ll donate your org-ns for free, Zach, if they are useable,”

“Is it my turn to shout enough or behave? Because you two are going to fight again,” Zyaire said with a disapproving frown, “and remember my enough always comes with a smack,” he warned, waving his palms for whatever reason.

“Hey! I learnt two new words today!” Sera squealed with joy, “it starts with shut and ends with up,” she glared at her brothers. She definitely is the alpha of this little pack.

“Enough, now run along, kids,” Serene raised her hands for me to carry her. Boy does she love free rides. I smiled and lifted my daughter into my arms while the rest went on to k-ss their mother’s cheeks. She didn’t follow us to the car, she ran back upstairs to check on mom. And so my first outing with my kids began.

~~~

I got to know why she was smiling, she knew the torture she was subjecting me to when she sent them with me. My little girls were worse than my sister and cousin when they are on a shopping spree. Hours later and I was still walking around and carrying their bags. They were determine to stroll through the wh0le mall and buy souvenir for every store they drag me to. And boy were they bossy!

“Not that one, daddy, that pretty pink one,” Serenity huffed with annoyance. I was suppose to help her pick a pair of shoes from the top rack, but she kept saying that one not this one. What’s the difference? They all look the same!

“Okay, this one?” I asked, reaching up for the ones next to the rejected one. She face palmed herself and shook her head, probably cursing me in her mind.

“She meant that pink one, dad,” Zyaire said, pointing at the shoes I didn’t see there before. I gro-ned and walked over to the shoes that was frustrating me. I effortlessly but annoyedly pulled the shoes from the rack and walked back to her. She squealed and clapped her hands with joy.

“Oh, thank you, daddy, you are a darling,” she said, taking the shoes from me. I turned to find Sera. She was still standing at a line of clothes, trying to decide which among the five dresses she would pick, been there for twenty minutes.

“Sera, darling,” I called, walking over to her, “still deciding?”

“I just can’t make up my mind, dad,” she sighed, “which one is prettier?” I itched the back of my head cluelessly. They look exactly the same. “Argh, you’re no help!” She huffed out loudly. I rolled my eyes and flick the back of her head. “Ow, sorry, I’m just having a fashion crisis here, sorry if you have no taste in fashion,” she said sarcastically.

“What do you know, you are eight,” Zyaire again. Sera turned around to glare at him. He raised his hands up in surrender.

“Sera, all five of them are the same,” Zach spoke. He barely said a word or bought anything, Sera and Zyaire did the buying for him and Zayne sometimes. It was obvious he didn’t want to be part of the wh0le thing, as long as I was there.

“No, they are not and you would know that if your brain wasn’t at the edge of extinction,” she huffed again, “look at this one,” she held out one, “this one has slimmer wa-istline,” she left that one and held the other two, “this one is longer, this one is shorter,” she held the remaining two, “this one has glitter and has a particular neckline, but the color is duller than the rest, and this last one has an amazing chest design and the skirt is royally. See the difference now?”

“No.” Zach deadpanned.

“Zach, you are useless,”

“But not insane,” Zach retorted. Sera dramatically waved her hands away.

“Go away, cow,”

“Daddy, this stupid shoes won’t fit!” Serenity cried out with annoyance.

Isn’t there suppose to be people who do this kind of hærd work?

I walked over to her, she was going to cry. “I really like this shoes, daddy, why doesn’t it fit?” I crouched between her small and carelessly opened legs.

“Because you are growing and becoming a little lady,” I pinched her cheek, making her to giggle, “why don’t I take these to the sales girl and ask if they have a bigger size and if they don’t, I’ll get my designer to make one for you…”

“With more glitters?” She asked with wide twinkling eyes. I chuckled and stroke her chin.

“And all the sparkles in the world,”

“Yay!”

“Yes! I finally got it! I’ll buy both the glitter one and the royal one! Zach, what do you think?”

“When will you realize that I don’t care?” Zach sighed jadedly. It was followed by a loud smack and a cry. I chuckled to myself.

After getting the shoes, I was dragged to a shop for hats and beads, Zach loved beads so it made him happy for the moment. After beads shopping, I found myself buying them jewelries, getting a stylist to make Sera’s hair more curly like Serenity’s so they would look more alike like they said and let them get a streak of colors in their hair for easy identification. Sera got a color she kept calling liseran purple and Serene got candy pink. But honestly, I can’t tell what’s the difference between the two colors… Okay, maybe I can’t tell the difference between a lot of things when it comes to my daughters.

After their hair, they got a manicure and pedicure and made me take them to a place they could get their skins to glow. The boys didn’t really do much than buy toys, games and most things I would want if I’m a little boy. They even got themselves bicycles. We were finally done, at least I think we are.

“Oh,” Sera said, placing her hand on her forehead, “I’m so hungry I can eat you, Zach, which is saying something because you are too ski-ny and tasteless to be eaten. Now if it’s Zyaire… No, he would make me dumb, Zayne is the least scrawny among you three idiots…”

“Why do you find joy in picking on me? You have been doing that recently,”

“Because, my dear little brother, you are miserable and miserable people need to be tormented,” she smiled, pinching his cheek, “take Sokka for example,”

“I am not miserable, I am just not in the mood! And you are only older than me by five minutes!”

“Five minutes, three, even two seconds,” she shrugged, “the point remains what it is, I came first and you came next, so I’m older, little brother,” she taunted.

“Call me that again and I’ll…”

“Adore me? Oh, thank you,” she said c*ckily, flipping her newly curled hair, “see my hair, little brother? It’s better than yours…”

“Why you…”

“Okay, let’s find you all something to eat before you eat each other,” I chuckled.

“You mean before I eat diseased meat, get an infection and die. Hear that, Zach? You have a disease,”

“Urgh! Mr. Verlice, tell Sera to leave me alone!”

I hate that name.

“Okay, okay, let’s go home and on our way back, we can stop at somewhere for ice cream,” Zyaire pleaded more than said, he was looking at me.

“Sure, I think I know a good place,”

“See? Now that’s why I love you, Zyaire, you are not completely stupid,”

“I know! I’m like Batman!”

“Yeah, and I’m Taylor Swift,” Sera said sarcastically, Serenity giggled. I rolled my eyes with a smile as I let them lead me to my car. Guess I was right for bringing an SUV along with my car.

~~~

How did Lavender deal with five children all by herself? Barely an hour and I was already dying of tiredness. Geez! They can argue and disturb! Halfway through their cherry-topped ice cream and pizza, Serenity wanted to pee and before I could say a word, they cried that they wanted to pee too. I wasn’t allowed into the lady’s room because Sera said and I quote:

“Every women should be respected with their very own privacy, whether big or small because privacy is what makes a woman get-up-and-go. So get lost, mister, shoo.” And I wasn’t allowed to be in,side the men’s room because my boys demanded privacy as well.

“If women can get privacy, then get out, dad, you’re prying in our private business,”

Fantastic.

The door opened and a annoyed Zachary came out grumbling, glaring at the doors as he continued to walk towards me. I took in a deep breath and smiled and cleared my throat. He halted, looked at me and scoffed.

“What do you want?”

“You know, when I was your age, I didn’t have the guts to speak to people that way, let alone my parents,”

“You know, when you were my age, you weren’t living from hand to mouth, watching your siblings go through this life threatening sickness to the other, watching your mother labor and struggle each and every single day just to bring food on the table for you. You didn’t have to watch her cry herself to sleep or offer her body as a means to earn money while you are fully aware of the assh-le father that practically ruined her life and yours. So, my dear father, you had no reason to be like me now that I am this age.” His red eyes glared at me. I smiled sadly at the little bitter boy. If it was me, I would feel the same.

“You know I didn’t know about you and your siblings, if I knew…”

“What? You would have kept her prisoner until she gave birth and then gotten rid of her so your pretty wife can turn us to a fairytale novel? You would have magically changed your mind and give her everything you took away after shattering her heart and her trust? Tell me, ‘father’, what would you have done?!”

“I will not lie that I would have given her everything, I don’t know what I would have done then but now, I am sorry…”

“Sorry doesn’t fix it, Mr. Verlice, sorry doesn’t make up for the pain she had to endure and the pain she is still enduring,” tears rolled down his cheeks, “sorry doesn’t soothe this hotness in my chest, sorry doesn’t make up for the lost years, the years we suffered in the street. Mr. Verlice, sorry is never enough to fix anything,”

“But sorry is enough to begin,” I countered. He kept closing his mouth and re-opening it to say something, but nothing came out. Serafina walked out of the restroom, adjusting her dress.

“Sheep, hurry up!”

“I am not a sheep!” Serene cried. Sera laughed silently and walked towards us with a wide smile. She paused and looked at us suspiciously, giving Zach the look I had grown use to.

“Should I care why you are crying?” She asked, her hands on her h¡ps.

“No, I’m fine,”

“Oh, you are, I can’t see the tears you have on your face on anything,” she said sarcastically, “but whatever, do what you like, I’m going to get more ice cream.”

And I need to think.

~~~

“Good evening, mom!”

“Welcome home, kids, how was your day?” Lavender asked, her eyes fixed on the books she was arranging. Serenity gasped.

“Mommy, are those our books?”

“Yup, you are staring school coming Monday, or taking the test rather,” the children cheered, except the moody little one. I kept my eyes on him, watching his every move. “So, how was your day?”

“Boring, I’m going to bed, goodnight.” I watched him exit again, going to hide himself in his room, away from me. I could never make up for what I did. Only he knew what his mother went through. He must have spent the years watching her, even more than she knew. It made my heart squeeze more just thinking about what she had to endure to keep them alive. Especially the sleeping with men part.

Bloody bastard men!

“You should go after him,” her voice made me look at her. She was nonchalantly arranging the books, “go to him,”

“He hates me,”

“Think about what you can give him and see what wonders it create,” she glanced at me, giving me a brief smile, “just try to remember what you have learnt from being with the children today.”

“I didn’t learn anything about them, just how to carry bags and deal with noise,” I said crossly. She looked up at me and gave me her cryptic smile, one that always made me flick her forehead. My fingers tingled with the familiar urge to do it, but I resisted.

“What’s Serenity’s favorite colors?”

“That’s easy, honey gold and pink. She however likes some certain pinks only for some certain things. For example, her teddy bears can only have carnation pink, candy pink, dark pink, coral pink and three other pinks I don’t know. She loves candy pink hair, her dress must not be Barbie pink and she prefers all her shoes to be one pink color that sounds like cherry but not it.”

“And Serafina?”

“Can never decide what’s her favorite other than the shade of purple in her hair and the blue of her shoes, she really hates red. Zyaire on the other hand loves red and green, Zach prefers colors that make him look like a bad boy and Zayne loves any color that reminds him of food.”

“What do they like to wear?”

“Sera loves dresses, gowns especially, but Serenity hate them. She prefers skirts and jumpsuits. Zayne wears anything that makes him glow, Zyaire don’t care as long as the clothing has any superhero logo and Zachary is your typical cool kid. Why all these ridiculous questions?” She rolled her eyes.

“Think it through,” I opened my mouth to snap, but shut it back when what she said actually made sense. I didn’t know that before. I learnt quite a lot about them, including their likes and dislikes. I knew exactly what to give him.

~~~

I knocked on his room door gently for the third time. “If your last name is Verlice, scram,” he repeated for the third time. I opened the door and walked in. “I thought I said no Verlice allowed,” he said, not removing his eyes from his laptop screen. I quietly walked to him and dropped the laptop on his small desk. He glanced at it only to return with a gasp.

“You know my company works with gadgets of many kind, this model was made exclusively for me, but I think you would make better use of it,” he raised his head to look at me with wide eyes. I smiled and dropped my backup credit card for him. “You can buy your bird any house he wants and order for anything that would help you with your inventions and if you ever have any issue figuring things out, you can come to me, I’m a pro…”

“But why?”

“Because,” I ruffled his head, “you have The Verlice brain and I wouldn’t want to stop you. Or if you want, you can use my laboratory whenever you get an idea, it can help the company…”

“I have lots of ideas!” He squealed, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “I’ll show you!” He stood up and ran to his drawer to get something. He came back with a big book, slammed it on the desk and sat down. “All the ones I haven’t tried and the ones that failed. I was thinking a cool skateboard for kids, boys would go gaga to get a high tech one, don’t you think so, da… Ur… Mr. Verlice?” He almost said it, he almost did. Maybe sorry is not enough to take away the pains and memories, but it is enough to begin a new chapter.

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To be continued.