Chapter 341: _ A Moment To Ourselves
~Axel’s Point Of View~
After the brief clash with Ignacio, I stayed in bed with María José throughout the rest of the day. Even when night fell, my wife didn’t wake up. I would’ve loved to think that she was sleeping peacefully, but the intermittent screams from her dreams told me otherwise.
My wife was hurting, and it broke my heart to see her in so much pain. It was even more so when I knew the bastard who caused her so much pain was still running around, preparing his next terrible scheme.
I was going to rip Ignacio in half the next time our paths crossed.
When morning came, I slipped out of bed and walked into the bathroom. Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I couldn’t help but criticize myself.
"When did you become so weak, Axel? You had just one job! One job! And you couldn’t even do that properly.
Hugo’s voice sounded in my head, "Don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s difficult to go against a demon who can shift forms at will."
"Still," I winced and grabbed the edges of the sink. "I should’ve protected her. She shouldn’t have to go through so much pain. And she’s pregnant, Hugo! Pregnant for fuck’s sake!"
Hugo fell silent. After a while, he said, "About the babies in her, Axel..."
"Don’t! Or I swear to the goddess I will rip your throat out and feed them to the pigs!" My eyes turned bloodshot instantly as I warned. Whatever Hugo was about to say, I most definitely did not want to hear. Because I knew, I fucking knew of the possibility.
The twins my wife was carrying...
If what Ignacio said was true, and he had been violating my wife over and over, then there was a strong chance that the babies belonged to him. That was the logical thing to think.
But, my heart simply could not accept it. And I dreaded to think what would become of me, of us, if that happened. Of course, I most definitely would continue to love María José with all my heart.
But the hate for that bastard...
"¡Mierda, Hugo!" I cursed out loud. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and asked with a trembling heart, "Am I cursed?"
"No, you are not," Hugo responded firmly. "And, rather than sitting here moping about what we cannot change, why not use the time to do something good for our wives?"
María José... right...
I slapped myself in the face and dipped my head in some water. After collecting myself, I stepped out of the bedroom and left the room after planting a kiss on my wife’s head.
I made my way through the house and arrived in the kitchen. The maids there bowed with respect and admiration as they all greeted me.
"Beta Axel," The head chef walked over. He was a man of profound age and was probably one of the oldest staff members in the house. "Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes. Or, do you need our help with something else?"
I looked around the kitchen, my eyes darting from dish to dish. It was a mesh of mouth-watering delicacies.
But, it was missing something. I clicked my tongue and said, "Everyone, please leave. I need to cook something for my wife."
The head chef nodded with clear understanding. He signaled to the other maids and they all walked out of the kitchen in a file. After they left, I exhaled deeply and began shuffling around the kitchen in search of ingredients.
I didn’t know what I wanted to make in particular, so I decided I would just let my heart guide me. And so, I grabbed an apron and busied myself for the next few hours.
When it was a few minutes past noon, I exhaled and took off the apron. Before me was a steaming bowl of Paella Valenciana— a hearty dish that included golden rice, tender chicken, green beans, and artichoke. I scooped a spoonful into my mouth and chewed for a few seconds.
"¡Brillante!" I nodded with satisfaction. María José’s mood was sure to get better with this.
After dishing the food, I added a bottle of wine and two cups, before carrying the tray back to my wife’s room.
When I stepped inside, María José woke up instantly. It warmed my heart that the aroma of my food stirred her from her dreams. My lips curled into a warm smile as I said, "Buenas tardes, mi corazón."
"Axel," She hid a yawn behind her palm. Her expression softened when she saw me. "Mi amor." She smiled.
Her smile was weary, but that was to be expected.
I placed the tray on the bedside table and helped her sit up. "Are you okay?" I asked.
She nodded slowly.
"It’s just, I’ve been so tired lately. And, not the usual exhaustion. I feel like my entire body is being drained of energy at a rapid rate."
I frowned when I heard that. Even Hugo muttered, "Could it be what we’re thinking?"
"We’ll talk about that later." I offered María José a smile and settled on the bed next to her. I balanced the tray on my thighs and unscrewed the wine cap, before pouring us both a glass.
"Did you make this?" Marí suddenly asked with a teasing smile. I nodded and responded with a laugh, "Yes. Why?"
"Must’ve taken hours," she said.
Oh, my love, for you, I can wait an eternity... I mused inwardly and grabbed the spoon.
"What are you doing?" Her eyes widened in embarrassment when I scooped some rice and brought it to her lips.
"Feeding you, of course!"
María José brought her hands to her face. It was oddly satisfying to see her act childishly. After all she had been through, the growth, the torment, it felt like she had aged numerous years in just the span of a few months.
"She’s strong, that’s for sure," Hugo said with what I pictured would be a satisfied smile.
I finally got my wife to try the food. She chewed for a moment, and her eyes blazed with delight.
"My goodness, Axel! This is amazing!"