CHAPTER 78: EXCITED!

Deborah sighed. "It’s not what I wanted but I will think about her suggestion," she replied gloomily.

"OK, you can do that. Is there anything you want to ask before I go?" Luna Adela patted her shoulder sympathetically.

Deborah replied, "No. For now. Thank you, Mom."

"Alright, I’ll go now." Luna Adela kissed baby Zed’s cheeks and left the room.

Deborah took a deep breath. She is ready to move out of the Burke Family mansion with her husband and have her own place to manage that she can call home, but the problem is she has to deal with that old hag. Grandma and baby Jacob are one package indeed. But seeing that old hag’s face everyday will only make her moody especially since they are already at odds with each other.

What now?

What is the right thing to do so the situation turns in her favor?

She lay down on the bed and stared at the ceiling endlessly, pondering her next move.

Meanwhile...

Alpha Maxwell was already back in his room, chatting with his sweetie pie.

Naomi: I’m so excited to see our son again. I’m dying to hold him in my arms and kiss him. So when are we going to meet? The three of us?

Alpha Maxwell: Um, Grandma and I are still thinking about where to go...

Naomi: How about at the Garden Mall? That is the nearest mall to our house. We can meet there. They also had a hotel where you could check into while waiting for me. I will see you all there.

Alpha Maxwell: Sounds good to me. We can meet next week. How about this coming Monday? Are you free on that day?

Naomi: Let me try... I will ask my father’s permission first. I will tell him that I’m going to meet my friends in the mall. Maybe this time he will allow me to leave the house. You will know tonight after my father comes home from his office.

Alpha Maxwell: Alright, let’s just update each other. I’m looking forward to seeing you again, sweetie pie.

Naomi: Me too, I’m dying to meet you two. It’s been a long time, our separation feels like a century of waiting to see you again.

Alpha Maxwell: So, let’s talk about other things... Um, how’s your married life with Edison?

Naomi: Bad, we always quarrel and I don’t like seeing him in our house but I have no choice.

Alpha Maxwell: Sorry to hear about your sad situation sweetie.

Naomi: How about you? How’s married life with your wife?

Alpha Maxwell: My situation with Deborah is the same as it is with you and Edison. We bicker a lot. She wants to leave the mansion and relocate into a new house we can call our home.

Naomi: I understand her situation. So, what is your decision? What is going to happen to our son?

Alpha Maxwell: I told her that buying a new house was never a problem. But I will only live in that new house with her if she agrees that our son will come with us.

Naomi: So, what was her decision?

Alpha Maxwell: She agreed to take care of baby Jacob if we had already bought a new house. But the problem is she doesn’t like Grandma living with us.

Naomi: Strange, why won’t she allow Grandma into your house but she is willing to accept our son?

Alpha Maxwell: Because Grandma and Deborah are not on good terms at the moment. Grandma scolded and insulted her many times because of her erratic behavior. She feared that Deborah might harm our son when I’m out of the house working. I can’t blame Grandma for thinking that way because Deborah is already harboring anger and jealousy towards our son because of you.

Naomi: Aw, I love your grandma already. She is very protective of baby Jacob. With her taking care of our son I feel my son is safe from danger.

Alpha Maxwell: Yeah, I feel that way too. Baby Jacob is safe if Grandma is around, taking care of him while I’m away.

Naomi: I just got a feeling that maybe the reason why Deborah doesn’t want Grandma living in your future house is because she is planning on harming our child. If Grandma is out of the picture, she can harm our son freely, but if Grandma is around, she can’t indulge in her sick fantasies about hurting our son.

Alpha Maxwell: You are not alone. Grandma and I also think the same.

Naomi: We just have to follow our instincts in order to keep our son safe.

Alpha Maxwell: Yes, you are correct, sweetie.

The couple chatted happily for two hours straight.

After their chat ended, Naomi left her room to find her stepmother outside and discuss with her about her plans of going to the mall. If she allows it, then no need to ask her father’s permission.

She found her stepmother sipping her ginger tea in the living room. She sat beside her. "Mom, um, I have something to tell you..."

"What is it?" Luna Alicia put the cup down on the center table and smiled at her stepdaughter.

"I want to go shopping at the Garden Mall this coming Monday. I’ll return home early," Naomi assured her.

"No problem. You can take the family driver with you," Luna Alicia replied with a smile.

"I don’t need to bring a driver because I can drive," Naomi protested.

Luna Alicia shook her head. "No. Your father won’t allow you to leave the house alone. After the kidnapping incident, you can no longer leave the house all alone by yourself. You need the driver’s presence to protect you just in case the kidnappers attempt to kidnap you again."

"So that means I can no longer leave the house on my own?" Naomi asked worriedly.

Luna Alicia heaved a sigh. "Yes, dear. Your father already gave you permission to leave the house anytime but you need to bring someone with you for safety precautions. It’s for your own good. Don’t try to convince me because you know I will never disobey your father’s instructions especially when it comes to your safety. I hope you understand why we are doing this—we just want to keep you safe. Do you understand, dear?"

Naomi nodded her head. "OK, I understand, Mom. Thank you for giving me permission to go shopping this coming Monday."

"No problem, dear. Anything else?" Luna Alicia asked.

Naomi shook her head. "No more, Mom. I’ll go back to my room."

"Ah, wait, I have something important to discuss with you," Luna Alicia said.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Regarding your husband, he told me you didn’t want to share your room with him. And you want him to have his own room. Is this true? Are you still insisting on a separate room between you and your husband?" Luna Alicia asked.

Naomi takes a deep breath. "Um, yes, I’m sorry about it. But my husband and I have already talked about it. I have changed my mind. I no longer want a separate room for him. He can stay in my room as long as he wants," she said in a defeated tone.

Luna Alicia patted her arms affectionately. "Dear, the wedding is over and you are already married to Edison. The next thing you should be planning is getting pregnant so you and Edison can finally have a baby, which will make you busy. You should grow your family soon. That is our duty and responsibility as a woman," she said, reminding her of her duty as wife to Edison.

Naomi realized that it was useless to disagree with her stepmother’s statement so she quickly nodded her head and said, "Yes, Mom, you are right."

"Good." Luna Alicia picked up the cup and continued sipping her tea, signaling that their conversation was over.

Naomi stood up. "I’ll go back to my room."

"OK." Luna Alicia nodded her head.

Naomi climbed the stairs and returned to her room to share the good news with Alpha Maxwell.

She entered their chat and waited for him to come online.

After twenty minutes of waiting, he finally joined her in the chat.

Naomi: I have good news for you, my love!

Alpha Maxwell: What is it, sweetie pie?

Naomi: My stepmother has already given me permission to go shopping this coming Monday! The family driver will accompany me to the Garden Mall.

Alpha Maxwell: Oh... you have company? The driver will tell your father that we are seeing each other in secret. You will get caught.

Naomi: Not really. I will give the driver some money so he can shop for his wife and children. He will be busy shopping while we are meeting in the hotel room. What do you think of my plan?

Alpha Maxwell: That’s a brilliant idea sweetie.

Naomi: Yes, indeed. I’m very excited about our upcoming rendezvous. I can’t wait for Monday to come!

Alpha Maxwell: Yes me too, finally we can meet each other again. This time no one can stop us!

Naomi: Yes, no one!

The couple chatted for another hour and after their chat was over, Alpha Maxwell left his room and went to the bungalow house to talk to Grandma Franchia and discuss their mall outing this coming Monday. They need a solid plan to avoid trouble.

But how can they leave the mansion together without arousing Deborah’s suspicion?

He doesn’t want the worst to happen.

If Deborah knew about his plan to go to the mall on Monday, she might insist on coming to the mall as well. That would destroy his and Naomi’s plans for a secret meeting in the hotel together with baby Jacob.