IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS - EPISODE 26

Lavender’s viewpoint

I’d always wondered how I would react when I see her, when we meet again. Would I cry? Would I scream? Would we fight? What verbal battle would we get into? I’d also always been afraid to meet her again because I thought he was with her and she had everything when I didn’t. I was afraid of her seeing me in poverty, afraid of her finding out about my children and trying to get them killed or using Rominic to take legal custody of them. I was ashamed of her seeing my children in their worse and seeing the bad life I provided for them. I was afraid of a lot of things, Peyton being the genesis of it all.

However, sitting there on the couch, staring up at her with wide eyes, all that fear disappeared. The Peyton I was seeing now was not the Peyton I pictured in my head that I would see. The Peyton staring at me with disbelief and amazement was no where close to who I pictured I would meet. Yes, she still had gold and jewelry adoring her body as always, but it was not the kind of splendor I saw in my head. Her once smooth, spotless and perfect face was not more perfect like I thought it would be. She had eye bags she was covering with fading makeup, wrinkles on her cheek, her skin was paler and not what imagined. She wasn’t as slim as before with the perfect figure, she looked like she was battling to rein back her weight.

Her once bright eyes were dull. I thought it would be more shinier than any other in the world after achieving so much, but it wasn’t. Her clothes were chick but not the glorious one I imagined. I realized then that everything I feared she would be when we meet, was what I was. She wasn’t bad looking but compare to the Peyton Quinns I knew, this one was a rip-off.

I didn’t feel as bitter and hateful like I hoped I would feel, instead, I felt pity. I am the owner of Rominic’s heart, the love of his life, mother of his children and soulmate. I was the one with him at the end, I had the money and everything I needed whilst she, not so much. I could tell just by looking at her that everything wasn’t right with her. She looked a little bit drunk, too drunk for me to exchange words with. Rominic didn’t need to see her either. I didn’t want to ruin our vacation with our past. So I did the only mature thing one could do, I stood up and quietly walked away in search of my boyfriend,

I found him just as he came out of the restroom, a frown on his face as he waved angrily at what someone behind him was saying. He stopped when he saw me. Some kind of emotion glinted in his eyes before it turned to a look of determination and possessiveness. He walked over to me with heavy steps, heavy dangerous steps, grabbed my hand and pulled me along. He looked very, very annoyed, extremely pissed. I didn’t want to ask yet, so I quietly let me pull me to the back entrance and lead me out to the parking lot. He kept glancing behind us, as if someone or something was going to jump out of nowhere and try to snatch me. Whatever happened in the restroom had kicked his protectiveness and possessiveness to overload.

We arrived at his car. He pushed me into the open door, shut it and ran over to the driver’s seat. Just as he opened the door, I heard someone yell, “Nàlǐ! Tā yào gēn tā zǒu!” I sat up properly and looked out of the window (There! He wants to go with her!) “Cōngmáng!” (Hurry!) Some men in red suit were rushing over to the car. The door slamming close abruptly made me flinch. Rominic started the car and zoomed off.

“What the hell, Beau! What did you do to upset those men!”

“Dressing you like this was a bad idea. Turns out a big bad gangster was at the club and has eyes for you but you turned him down along with the other men. So, he came to me in the restroom and made a bargain for me to get you to his house in exchange for payment and my life. The fool doesn’t know who I am and he had the bloody audacity to claim what is mine. I had to leave before things got bloody.” And I hadn’t even mentioned the Peyton part. Guess that remains a secret.

“Wow, am I that hot?” I said humorously, trying to lighten the mood. instead of answering, he looked out of the car and cursed. “What?”

“Put on your seatbelt, we’ve got company,”

Wait, what?!

I looked out of the rare mirror to see four black cars and two motorcycles following us. My heart picked up it pace, sending tremor to my hands. I shakily tried to fasten my seatbelt while Rominic tried to connect with someone on the phone. “Relax, I’m going to keep you safe, Laverne, don’t fear… Hey, Xiōngdì, hěn bàoqiàn zhèyàng chēnghu nǐ, dàn wǒ yù dàole máfan, xūyào rènzhēn de bāngzhù!… Yīxiē dāngdì de báichī xiǎng shāle wǒ… Bù, zài wǒ de chē lǐ bèi tāmen zhuīgǎn, hái yǒu tā no… Shì de, hé tā yīqǐ, tā…” (Brother, I’m sorry to call you like this but I’m in trouble and need serious help… Some local idiots want to kill me… No, in my car being chased by them… Yes, with her, the her)

Since when did he start speaking… You know what, nevermind.

“Shut up and save my ass first, then you can kill me,” despite the situation we were in, he smiled and rolled his eyes. I had no idea what he said since I don’t do Chinese, but I hoped it meant something good. “Okay, on my way.” He was using his earphone. He looked much more calmer after the phonecall while I was busy trying not to panic.

Rominic stepped on the gas and swirled the car into another road, so abrupt it made one of the cars drive into a pole. I clutched the console and the door handle with my strength as my heart pounded against my chest. Rominic was rocketing pass cars, people, motorcycles, everything! Yet they were hot on our trail.

“Hey, did I ever tell you I used to race in highschool?” He asked with a laugh. My heart dropped to my stomach and my eyes widened with horror. I knew what he was going to do and was not ready for a scene in fast and furious! It didn’t matter what I wanted, Rominic changed gear and spun the car, making the car spin and spin and spin while I screamed and screamed and screamed. He stopped the spin abruptly, revising back with speed between two of the cars and somehow finding a way to knock both aside, causing one to sway while the other collided with another, leaving two cars and two motorcycles.

He rocket off again, using the mirrors to aid him. I decided to just shut my eyes and continue screaming in peace, but I couldn’t help peeking. Rominic drove into a tight alley, a foolish move because from what I could see, the car wouldn’t fit at the other end. We were going to crash! “Rominic!” The fool laughed as he drove us to our death. Just when I thought we were going to crash and die, Rominic forcefully turned the car in a way half of the car was driving on the wall and the other half on the ground. I heard two crash from behind us. I dared to turn around and look. One of the motorcycle crashed into the wall, then the car crushed it by colliding into the same wall. I turned back with my stomach sick from what I saw. That biker was as good as dead.

Rominic drove out of the alley and into a street, continuously glancing at the last motorcycle. This one was skilled and was extremely difficult to shake off. “If this was my beloved Turbo, I would have lost him by now,” I heard Rominic growled. “We are coming across a highway, hold on!” Bile rose to my throat and remained there as my heart hammered in my chest and echoed in my ears. I’d never been that afraid in my entire life. The other time he went racing with Phineas, I was not inside the car so it looked fun.

It is not!

“Close your eyes!” I should have just listened, but I stubbornly kept it open. He turned the car, throwing us off the higher lane to the below one. I saw my life flashing before my very eyes. The car fell down, me screaming as tears streamed down my face and my whole world stop. I wasn’t ready to die yet. I still had a future, children that needed me, friends I can’t leave. What about sex? I hadn’t gotten a good one for years and enjoy my new life with Rominic, yet he was taking it away.

I shut my eyes and ready for the impact and my death, felt my body shake violently as we collided with the lane below. I pictured my children’s face when they heard of our death. They would blame themselves for the rest of their lives. My whole family would be destroyed all over again. Why? Why can’t we just live in peace? Why!

“Laverne, stop crying and open your eyes,” at least we got to meet after death and he was laughing for ending both our lives and making our children orphans. I hope that my friends would take good care of them for me and give them happiness. I pray they don’t hate themselves for sending us away. They should blame their father. “Lavender! Open your eyes!”

“I can’t believe you did that crazy move with her inside! Bryson, I know you are insane but I never thought you were this insane. What were you thinking!” Bryson? Rominic’s real middle name. Who’s talking?

“Is she unconscious or something?”

“No, she just scared herself into freezing and thinking she is. She did pass out after the car landed, but she ought to be up now. I’m sure she can hear me… Laverne, you are not dead. I escaped and my brothers found us. They will take care of the men. Can you open your eyes?” As instructed, I easily opened my eyes and blinked. I was staring at a cherubim ceiling with a large blue chandelier spreading it white light across the room. I turned my head in confusion and puzzlement. Staring at me was no other than Rominic and two men I knew quite well.

Two brothers, one younger with midnight black hair, sterling blue eyes and pinkish porcelain skin. His freckled cheeks and dark pink lips that looked like melted candy was forever imprinted in my head, just like his beautiful full-toothed smile. The older, having the face of a grieving monk, gray eyes deep and hollow with no emotions and long lashes continuously blinking like he had dust in his eyes. Lips pressed together as usual, hard cheeks tightened like they were fighting and brown hair flowing over his shoulders. He was never good with looks, not with that face that can scare a new born child back into his or her mother’s womb, and that voice that sounded like a bad weather clash. But, you’ll be surprise how friendly and caring he is. The brothers that lost a game of xiangqi chinese chess, wei qi, mahjong and bowling to me; Feng Jiayi and Feng Zǐmò.

“Brother Zimò!” I flew up from the chair and lunge myself at him, the eldest. He laughed as he caught me in his arms, his very thick hands. “Brother, I’ve missed you…”

“Of course, hug him first and not me, I’m not hurt at all,” Rominic said sarcastically.

“You tried to kill her,” Jiayi said, “a reckless move from you. I thought I was the stupid and reckless one?” He cocked a brow. Rominic narrowed his eyes at him which made the troublemaker smirk.

“I was trying to save her from getting raped,” Rominic defended, “what crime did I commit?”

“Let me see, throwing us off a freaking highway,” I snapped, “I almost died!”

“Well, you didn’t, did you?” He mirrored Jiayi’s smirk. I narrowed my eyes at both of them while Zimò chuckled. I was still wrapped around him, my hands and legs around his neck and waist and his hands holding me up. He was still as strong like he always was, maybe even stronger. Zimò adjusted me so I would be sitting on his hip like a father carrying his little girl.

“I’ll take her to her room where she can relax, the men would bring your things from the hotel soon. Baby, ready to go?” I nodded eagerly. “Rin would have loved to meet you, but she took the kids to see her sister who recently gave birth and Lilith and Jiayi had a fight so she’s rebelling for now, took their kids with her for the war…”

“It is not a war!” Jiayi shouted from behind us. Zimò chuckled again while I rolled my eyes. I still wonder how a lovely lady like Lilith married Jiayi, that idiot. I met them when Rominic brought me along for his wedding with Lilith. I was the wedding planner and her maid of honor since she had no female friends. He impregnated her which was against her family law, so it was stirring up trouble between both family. To stop a war between the mafia family, Zimò made them get married. Those two were like fire and ice, Lilith being the fire.

On their wedding day, he tried to kiss me and get me laid, thank goodness Lilith arrived on time and kicked his ass. Then she tied him to an electric chair and locked him in their basement, in the dark and had a sleepover with me on her suppose wedding night. She liked Jiayi, but didn’t let it show and she was perfect for him. He feared her. She left him there for three days, told everyone he left her in bed and traveled. I was her accomplice because she’s cool. Unfortunately, Rominic and Zimò figured it out and saved the idiot. Then Rominic dragged me home after he agreed to Zimò that Lilith and I need to be separated.

I miss her.

She is more crazy than Annalise because she literally carries out all her threats. But she’s my cool. “What happened this time?”

“Jiayi slept with her secretary to get back at her for wearing a sexy dress to a male strip club,” I twisted my face in disgust, “she skinned the lady alive and buried him with her corpse,” Zimò sighed tiredly. “I’m really tired of saving his ass. She poisoned him afterwards and ran away with their kids…” I was going to speak when he cut me off. “Not a deadly poison, one to kill his manhood until she gives him the antidote. The truth is I don’t care what they do, I’m tired.” I nodded in agreement but was hailing her inside. Lilith is my hero.

“Stop enjoying this,” he chuckled, “it’s written allover your face,” he dropped me gently on the bed and stood with arms akimbo, “them aside. Is everything okay with you and Rominic? Or do I have to intercede for him?”

“No, we are good.” I smiled, we truly are. But there was something I was suddenly curious about. It wouldn’t hurt to ask but I didn’t want him to look at me disapprovingly or in disappoint. I had a feeling I needed it, for my own sake. It’s good to be prepared.

“What do you want? You have the look on your face.”

“Peyton Quinns, I need to know everything about her; what she has been up to the last years, everywhere she goes and what she does for a living. I need the location of her houses, everything. Can you get it for me without Rominic knowing?” I blinked my eyes at him with a innocent smile. He quirked a brow at me for a second before he smiled and nodded. I smiled. “Thank you. Now, wanna be the first to FaceTime my kids?”

~~~

The next day, Rominic and I went to his house, changed and went out for site seeing. For the next three days, we went site seeing with Jiayi who forcefully tagged along because he said and I quote “I’m the reason you are both together so I deserve to share in your love.” His words, not mine. On the fourth day of our stay and Rominic acting weird, Zimò’s wife and Lilith returned. I spent the day with her, cooking and sharing stories, then followed Lilith to plot against her husband to teach him a final lesson. We dressed up and went clubbing.

It wasn’t much of a good idea after what happened the last time, but Lilith assured me we would be fine and I believed her because in case you don’t remember, she buried her husband with the skinned corpse of the woman he cheated on her with. Lilith went all out with the curling of her blonde hair and her makeup. She decided to bless her life with a red glitter sequin lace up dress with long sleeves and low cut back patchwork. The dress was extremely short, but really sparkly. I decided not to overdo it at first, but ended up wearing a sexy red rhinestone mini two piece dress with X straps connecting the top and the down and crystal lining the hems. The neck of the dress was a wide V and yes, boobs expose.

It won’t hurt to be hot, right?

We went clubbing, had a couple of drinks, danced to our hearts content, took pictures and videos and posted it online. Not less than thirty minutes after the pictures went online, Rominic and Jiayi stomped into the club, just in time for Jiayi to see his wife making out with another man while I cheered her on. Rominic captured and dragged me out while Jiayi tried to kill the man, but Lilith protected him. I left her to do the rest, not that I have a choice.

We returned to his house and somebody was angry. I knew what he needed. “I can’t believe it! I leave you for one day with her and you end up in a club, dressed like that, without me!” He shouted angrily as he walked in ahead of me. I staggeringly took off my green heels, then wiggled my toes on the cold tile. “What were you thinking!”

“Ow!” I screamed with feign pain, bending over to hold my stomach, “my…ow,” I cried. He was beside me in no time. I quickly grabbed his face and crashed my lips on his, kissing his anger away. I giggled in my head as he kissed me back instantly, locking his arms behind my waist. The kiss only lasted a few seconds before I pulled away from the stiff man.

Is he okay?

His breathing was deep and heavy, like he was trying to breathe but failing. I tilt his head to see why he was breathing so erratically, it was just a few seconds kiss, not enough to make him breathless. Chill ran down my spine when I saw his eyes. His eyes had thin out and darken with lust and hunger and I knew for what. I completely forgot about the sex promise I gave him.

“Beau?” I called nervously, “are you o… Whoa!” I squealed when he suddenly picked me up. I clung onto his neck more than necessary. He carried me all the way to the bedroom, placed me on the bed and then walked back to the door. I gulped when the sound of the door locking reached my ears. No escape.

“Lights,” the dimly luminated room brightened with white lights, “music.” His back was still turned to me, his hand holding the doorknob while the other pressed painfully on the flat surface of the door. I shifted backward on the bed a little, watching as he rolled his shoulders to loosen his stiff muscles or whatever he was doing. He exhaled loudly, turned around and smirked. I grinned nervously. “Hi?” I rolled my eyes around, looking for where the music was coming from for no reason.

“Do you know how long I’ve been dying to do this?” He asked, taking off his jacket as he took very slow sexy strides towards me.

“Do what specifically?” I asked innocently. He chuckled, tossing his jacket on the floor.

“My lovely wife, what I’m going to do is very simple. First,” he cracked his knuckles with a playful smirk, “I’m going to pleasure you and revel in the bliss of hearing you scream my name every time you cum. Then, make love to you slowly and much more passionately than I’ve ever done, and then, I’m going to bend your body into shapes you have never tried and fuck you so hard the sex would be saved in your long term memory for years and years to come. My starved dick is pulsating just thinking of what I’m going to do to that body of yours.”

I laughed nervously, moving back into the bed. “Do I get to decline the bending part? Can we save that for another day?”

“What do you think, honey?” He smirked. The answer is no, wow. I shouldn’t be that nervous, it’s not like I haven’t been with him before but you see, that smirk on his face is disturbing. Rominic discarded his shoes and pants, and then climbed the bed slowly, only in a tight black boxers, and yes, he was hard. He caught my ankles and pulled me down closer to him before I push myself over the edge of the bed.

Surprisingly, he didn’t kiss me the way I thought he would start. Instead, he moved the strands of hair away from my neck and face and tuck them behind my ears, smiling more warmly and friendly than before. “It’s okay, don’t be scared, I won’t do anything you don’t approve of.” I kept my mouth shut, focusing on my breathing and the wild butterflies in my stomach. He kept his gaze locked firmly with mine as he slipped his hands into my bunch up skirt. Looking into his eyes pushed my nervousness away and soon, I could feel nothing but the heat spreading across my body and the warmth in my heart.

With my nervousness gone, I wrapped my hands around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss, preparing myself for a great night after a long time.