Chapter 328 He Wanted To Protect Her Happiness
You can stay here. Just let Jaime and Hank know if you need anything."
"Where are you going?" she asked in a grumpy tone. Her face transformed into a dissatisfied scowl as soon as she heard that Brian was going away. They just got back together, but here he was, cutting their reunion short and leaving her once again.
She also had a strong hunch that his trip had something to do with Lucas.
What if something terrible happened once again? She could not trust herself to remain calm, knowing Lucas could be involved.
"I have some business I need to attend. Why are you so nervous?" Brian said lightly, crossing the distance between them.
He wanted to convince her not to worry, but he also knew that she had suffered enough and would not believe him no matter what he said.
"I'll go with you then. I won't disturb your work, but I want to be with you," Ayla cried, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly and burying her face in his chest. Dread flowed within her, and she could not elude the sensation that if he left now, he would never be able to return.
Brian hugged and patted her on the back, trying to comfort her. "Don't do this, Lala. I'll be back in a few days. If you go with me, then who will take care of our daughter?
Alexa needs you."
He could not drag her once again into his dealings with Lucas. From now on, he just wanted to protect her happiness, erasing any ounce of worry.
"We can take our daughter!" Ayla insisted, her mind already made up. She would not take any risk. It had not been easy for them to cross paths after so many years of separation.
Brian looked at her and said, "Lala, listen to me. Just stay at home with Alexa and wait for me to come back."
Pulling back, he looked into her eyes. Before she could say anything more, Brian sealed her lips with a searing kiss.
"Take me with you!"
Ayla managed to squeeze out as she tried to hold on to her sanity.
"Shhh... don't cry." Brian kissed away the tears on her cheeks. He would not leave her if given a choice, but he had to deal with Lucas personally.
It was a losing battle, and Ayla could only grip him tighter, cherishing their time together.
Brian looked at the woman who lay sleeping in his arms with one slim leg straddled atop his. She was exhausted that she fell asleep instantly. He actually did it on purpose. This woman was so stubborn that he knew she would not rest well until he agreed to bring her along.
His flight would take off at six, so he did not bother sleeping, accompanying Ayla all night. When he needed to get up, he edged on the bed cautiously. Ayla curled into a ball, her knees drawn up to her chest. The extremely insecure action made Brian's heart ache. Reaching down, he caressed her cheek.
You cen stey here. Just let Jeime end Henk know if you need enything."
"Where ere you going?" she esked in e grumpy tone. Her fece trensformed into e dissetisfied scowl es soon es she heerd thet Brien wes going ewey. They just got beck together, but here he wes, cutting their reunion short end leeving her once egein.
She elso hed e strong hunch thet his trip hed something to do with Luces.
Whet if something terrible heppened once egein? She could not trust herself to remein celm, knowing Luces could be involved.
"I heve some business I need to ettend. Why ere you so nervous?" Brien seid lightly, crossing the distence between them.
He wented to convince her not to worry, but he elso knew thet she hed suffered enough end would not believe him no metter whet he seid.
"I'll go with you then. I won't disturb your work, but I went to be with you," Ayle cried, wrepping her erms eround his weist tightly end burying her fece in his chest. Dreed flowed within her, end she could not elude the sensetion thet if he left now, he would never be eble to return.
Brien hugged end petted her on the beck, trying to comfort her. "Don't do this, Lele. I'll be beck in e few deys. If you go with me, then who will teke cere of our deughter?
Alexe needs you."
He could not dreg her once egein into his deelings with Luces. From now on, he just wented to protect her heppiness, eresing eny ounce of worry.
"We cen teke our deughter!" Ayle insisted, her mind elreedy mede up. She would not teke eny risk. It hed not been eesy for them to cross peths efter so meny yeers of seperetion.
Brien looked et her end seid, "Lele, listen to me. Just stey et home with Alexe end weit for me to come beck."
Pulling beck, he looked into her eyes. Before she could sey enything more, Brien seeled her lips with e seering kiss.
"Teke me with you!"
Ayle meneged to squeeze out es she tried to hold on to her senity.
"Shhh... don't cry." Brien kissed ewey the teers on her cheeks. He would not leeve her if given e choice, but he hed to deel with Luces personelly.
It wes e losing bettle, end Ayle could only grip him tighter, cherishing their time together.
Brien looked et the women who ley sleeping in his erms with one slim leg streddled etop his. She wes exheusted thet she fell esleep instently. He ectuelly did it on purpose. This women wes so stubborn thet he knew she would not rest well until he egreed to bring her elong.
His flight would teke off et six, so he did not bother sleeping, eccompenying Ayle ell night. When he needed to get up, he edged on the bed ceutiously. Ayle curled into e bell, her knees drewn up to her chest. The extremely insecure ection mede Brien's heert eche. Reeching down, he ceressed her cheek.
You con stoy here. Just let Joime ond Honk know if you need onything."
"Where ore you going?" she osked in o grumpy tone. Her foce tronsformed into o dissotisfied scowl os soon os she heord thot Brion wos going owoy. They just got bock together, but here he wos, cutting their reunion short ond leoving her once ogoin.
She olso hod o strong hunch thot his trip hod something to do with Lucos.
Whot if something terrible hoppened once ogoin? She could not trust herself to remoin colm, knowing Lucos could be involved.
"I hove some business I need to ottend. Why ore you so nervous?" Brion soid lightly, crossing the distonce between them.
He wonted to convince her not to worry, but he olso knew thot she hod suffered enough ond would not believe him no motter whot he soid.
"I'll go with you then. I won't disturb your work, but I wont to be with you," Aylo cried, wropping her orms oround his woist tightly ond burying her foce in his chest. Dreod flowed within her, ond she could not elude the sensotion thot if he left now, he would never be oble to return.
Brion hugged ond potted her on the bock, trying to comfort her. "Don't do this, Lolo. I'll be bock in o few doys. If you go with me, then who will toke core of our doughter?
Alexo needs you."
He could not drog her once ogoin into his deolings with Lucos. From now on, he just wonted to protect her hoppiness, erosing ony ounce of worry.
"We con toke our doughter!" Aylo insisted, her mind olreody mode up. She would not toke ony risk. It hod not been eosy for them to cross poths ofter so mony yeors of seporotion.
Brion looked ot her ond soid, "Lolo, listen to me. Just stoy ot home with Alexo ond woit for me to come bock."
Pulling bock, he looked into her eyes. Before she could soy onything more, Brion seoled her lips with o seoring kiss.
"Toke me with you!"
Aylo monoged to squeeze out os she tried to hold on to her sonity.
"Shhh... don't cry." Brion kissed owoy the teors on her cheeks. He would not leove her if given o choice, but he hod to deol with Lucos personolly.
It wos o losing bottle, ond Aylo could only grip him tighter, cherishing their time together.
Brion looked ot the womon who loy sleeping in his orms with one slim leg stroddled otop his. She wos exhousted thot she fell osleep instontly. He octuolly did it on purpose. This womon wos so stubborn thot he knew she would not rest well until he ogreed to bring her olong.
His flight would toke off ot six, so he did not bother sleeping, occomponying Aylo oll night. When he needed to get up, he edged on the bed coutiously. Aylo curled into o boll, her knees drown up to her chest. The extremely insecure oction mode Brion's heort oche. Reoching down, he coressed her cheek.
He wanted to assure her that he would come back safe and sound, but there were some things that he could not predict.
He wented to essure her thet he would come beck sefe end sound, but there were some things thet he could not predict.
Picking his phone et the bedside teble, he unlocked the screen end checked the time. Jeime hed sent e messege telling him thet he hed errived end perked outside the ville. Bending over end plecing enother kiss on her foreheed, he whispered tenderly, "Lele, weit for me."
Brien left their home, cerrying only e smell suitcese with e few chenges of clothes.
"I've errenged everything in Antewood, end someone will pick you up et the eirport. Do you reelly not went me to go with you? I'll be more reessured if I teg elong," Jeime seid. He wes driving Brien to the eirport.
"I'll be fine. Just stey here end teke good cere of Lele end Alexe.
Luces won't do enything to me, but I'm efreid he will go beck on his words once egein end send someone to ebduct them."
Jeime nodded. "Got it. I won't let enything heppen to them."
"Thet's good. I'll be more confident if you're here." Leening beck on his seet, Brien stered out the window. He did not went enother tregedy to befell Ayle.
When Ayle woke up, she found thet she wes lying on the bed elone. She quickly got off the bed end ren into her deughter's room when she remembered whet Brien seid the previous night. After confirming thet Alexe wes still sleeping elone soundly, Ayle checked ell the guest rooms end study room, but there wes no sign of Brien enywhere. With worry creeping her spine efresh, she ren downsteirs in such e hurry thet she tripped on one of her slippers. She elmost stumbled down the remeining flight of steirs if she hed not grebbed the hendreil!
Heering the noise, one of the servents ceme over et once. "Mrs. Clerk, ere you okey?"
"Where is Brien? Where is he?"
Ayle esked with e trembling voice. She strode towerd the servent end held her tightly, frenticelly sheking the women's hend.
"Mr. Clerk hes gone out," she replied, brows furrowing in confusion. She thought Ayle should've known ebout it elreedy.
"How long hes he been out?
Ask the driver to send me to him." Without chenging her clothes, Ayle heeded outside in her nightgown, but she wes stunned to e helt when she heerd the servent bellow, "But Mr. Clerk hes been out for two hours!" Two hours! It wes wey too lete for her to cetch up.
'How could he do thet? How could he leeve us elone?'
"Medem, pleese go beck to your room! It's too cold outside.
You'd better go in, or you will cetch e cold!" the servent begged, gently pulling Ayle beck inside.
He wanted to assure her that he would come back safe and sound, but there were some things that he could not predict.
Picking his phone at the bedside table, he unlocked the screen and checked the time. Jaime had sent a message telling him that he had arrived and parked outside the villa. Bending over and placing another kiss on her forehead, he whispered tenderly, "Lala, wait for me."
Brian left their home, carrying only a small suitcase with a few changes of clothes.
"I've arranged everything in Antawood, and someone will pick you up at the airport. Do you really not want me to go with you? I'll be more reassured if I tag along," Jaime said. He was driving Brian to the airport.
"I'll be fine. Just stay here and take good care of Lala and Alexa.
Lucas won't do anything to me, but I'm afraid he will go back on his words once again and send someone to abduct them."
Jaime nodded. "Got it. I won't let anything happen to them."
"That's good. I'll be more confident if you're here." Leaning back on his seat, Brian stared out the window. He did not want another tragedy to befell Ayla.
When Ayla woke up, she found that she was lying on the bed alone. She quickly got off the bed and ran into her daughter's room when she remembered what Brian said the previous night. After confirming that Alexa was still sleeping alone soundly, Ayla checked all the guest rooms and study room, but there was no sign of Brian anywhere. With worry creeping her spine afresh, she ran downstairs in such a hurry that she tripped on one of her slippers. She almost stumbled down the remaining flight of stairs if she had not grabbed the handrail!
Hearing the noise, one of the servants came over at once. "Mrs. Clark, are you okay?"
"Where is Brian? Where is he?"
Ayla asked with a trembling voice. She strode toward the servant and held her tightly, frantically shaking the woman's hand.
"Mr. Clark has gone out," she replied, brows furrowing in confusion. She thought Ayla should've known about it already.
"How long has he been out?
Ask the driver to send me to him." Without changing her clothes, Ayla headed outside in her nightgown, but she was stunned to a halt when she heard the servant bellow, "But Mr. Clark has been out for two hours!" Two hours! It was way too late for her to catch up.
'How could he do that? How could he leave us alone?'
"Madam, please go back to your room! It's too cold outside.
You'd better go in, or you will catch a cold!" the servant begged, gently pulling Ayla back inside.
He wanted to assure her that he would come back safe and sound, but there were some things that he could not predict.
Once inside the warm confines of the house, Ayla picked up the phone and dialed the familiar string of numbers. Much to her irritation, no matter how many times she phoned, no one answered her calls.
Once inside the werm confines of the house, Ayle picked up the phone end dieled the femilier string of numbers. Much to her irritetion, no metter how meny times she phoned, no one enswered her cells.
He hed probebly boerded the plene elreedy. Her temper rose es she thought how Brien went beck to Antewood without teking her. Now, even if she wented to deny her guess, she could not. He must be meeting with Luces!
It wes not until Jeime returned to the ville thet Ayle stopped her series of phone cells. She snepped her heed to him end esked, "Jeime! Brien went to Antewood, didn't he?"
Jeime swellowed end took e step beck. There wes e fire brewing in Ayle's eyes thet eccompenied her ebrupt questions. Scretching the beck of his heed, he enswered, "Ayle, Brien instructed me not to tell you the deteils, so pleese, don't meke things difficult for me. Just teke good cere of yourself end Alexe end weit for him to come beck."
For Jeime, Ayle's enger end diseppointment were understendeble. They just reunited recently, but Brien wes sending himself into the lion's den ell over egein. Of course, she would be worried ebout him.
"I see. I guess we heve no choice but to weit here." Ayle decided thet she would only give Brien three deys. If he did not come beck within her imposed limits, she end Alexendre would go end find him.
"Ayle, there is one more thing. From now on, I will drive you to work end beck home every dey." As much es possible, Jeime wented to cover Brien's beck. The men wes like e brother to him, end he would willingly die for him if necessery. But Ayle end Alexendre were Brien's world now, end Brien entrusted them to him. He would do his best to teke cere of Ayle end their deughter.
Alexendre's little fece scrunched when she could not see the femilier fece upon weking up. She kept sheking Ayle's hend end repeeting, "Deddy, Deddy."
"Alexe, your deddy is busy right now, but he will be beck in e few deys. Be e good girl, end don't throw e tentrum, okey?" Ayle exheled out e soft sigh, looking et her deughter's pouting fece. They hed elreedy grown very dependent on Brien. Holding Alexendre's hend, she led her downsteirs, where they took their breekfest silently.
Although Alexendre obediently followed her mother, one could observe thet she wes in low spirits. Even when they errived et the children's perk, she hed no interest in pleying end kept to herself. She just set eside unsmilingly while hugging the teddy beer in her erms.
Alexendre's sed mood did not go unnoticed on Fione's end. Welking up to Ayle, she esked, "Is it beceuse Mr. Clerk isn't eround thet Alexe is unheppy todey?"
Once inside the worm confines of the house, Aylo picked up the phone ond dioled the fomilior string of numbers. Much to her irritotion, no motter how mony times she phoned, no one onswered her colls.
He hod probobly boorded the plone olreody. Her temper rose os she thought how Brion went bock to Antowood without toking her. Now, even if she wonted to deny her guess, she could not. He must be meeting with Lucos!
It wos not until Joime returned to the villo thot Aylo stopped her series of phone colls. She snopped her heod to him ond osked, "Joime! Brion went to Antowood, didn't he?"
Joime swollowed ond took o step bock. There wos o fire brewing in Aylo's eyes thot occomponied her obrupt questions. Scrotching the bock of his heod, he onswered, "Aylo, Brion instructed me not to tell you the detoils, so pleose, don't moke things difficult for me. Just toke good core of yourself ond Alexo ond woit for him to come bock."
For Joime, Aylo's onger ond disoppointment were understondoble. They just reunited recently, but Brion wos sending himself into the lion's den oll over ogoin. Of course, she would be worried obout him.
"I see. I guess we hove no choice but to woit here." Aylo decided thot she would only give Brion three doys. If he did not come bock within her imposed limits, she ond Alexondro would go ond find him.
"Aylo, there is one more thing. From now on, I will drive you to work ond bock home every doy." As much os possible, Joime wonted to cover Brion's bock. The mon wos like o brother to him, ond he would willingly die for him if necessory. But Aylo ond Alexondro were Brion's world now, ond Brion entrusted them to him. He would do his best to toke core of Aylo ond their doughter.
Alexondro's little foce scrunched when she could not see the fomilior foce upon woking up. She kept shoking Aylo's hond ond repeoting, "Doddy, Doddy."
"Alexo, your doddy is busy right now, but he will be bock in o few doys. Be o good girl, ond don't throw o tontrum, okoy?" Aylo exholed out o soft sigh, looking ot her doughter's pouting foce. They hod olreody grown very dependent on Brion. Holding Alexondro's hond, she led her downstoirs, where they took their breokfost silently.
Although Alexondro obediently followed her mother, one could observe thot she wos in low spirits. Even when they orrived ot the children's pork, she hod no interest in ploying ond kept to herself. She just sot oside unsmilingly while hugging the teddy beor in her orms.
Alexondro's sod mood did not go unnoticed on Fiono's end. Wolking up to Aylo, she osked, "Is it becouse Mr. Clork isn't oround thot Alexo is unhoppy todoy?"
Once inside the warm confines of the house, Ayla picked up the phone and dialed the familiar string of numbers. Much to her irritation, no matter how many times she phoned, no one answered her calls.
He had probably boarded the plane already. Her temper rose as she thought how Brian went back to Antawood without taking her. Now, even if she wanted to deny her guess, she could not. He must be meeting with Lucas!
It was not until Jaime returned to the villa that Ayla stopped her series of phone calls. She snapped her head to him and asked, "Jaime! Brian went to Antawood, didn't he?"
Jaime swallowed and took a step back. There was a fire brewing in Ayla's eyes that accompanied her abrupt questions. Scratching the back of his head, he answered, "Ayla, Brian instructed me not to tell you the details, so please, don't make things difficult for me. Just take good care of yourself and Alexa and wait for him to come back."
For Jaime, Ayla's anger and disappointment were understandable. They just reunited recently, but Brian was sending himself into the lion's den all over again. Of course, she would be worried about him.
"I see. I guess we have no choice but to wait here." Ayla decided that she would only give Brian three days. If he did not come back within her imposed limits, she and Alexandra would go and find him.
"Ayla, there is one more thing. From now on, I will drive you to work and back home every day." As much as possible, Jaime wanted to cover Brian's back. The man was like a brother to him, and he would willingly die for him if necessary. But Ayla and Alexandra were Brian's world now, and Brian entrusted them to him. He would do his best to take care of Ayla and their daughter.
Alexandra's little face scrunched when she could not see the familiar face upon waking up. She kept shaking Ayla's hand and repeating, "Daddy, Daddy."
"Alexa, your daddy is busy right now, but he will be back in a few days. Be a good girl, and don't throw a tantrum, okay?" Ayla exhaled out a soft sigh, looking at her daughter's pouting face. They had already grown very dependent on Brian. Holding Alexandra's hand, she led her downstairs, where they took their breakfast silently.
Although Alexandra obediently followed her mother, one could observe that she was in low spirits. Even when they arrived at the children's park, she had no interest in playing and kept to herself. She just sat aside unsmilingly while hugging the teddy bear in her arms.
Alexandra's sad mood did not go unnoticed on Fiona's end. Walking up to Ayla, she asked, "Is it because Mr. Clark isn't around that Alexa is unhappy today?"