CHAPTER 7

Mae didn't have a choice when Jayce picked her up from work. Her employees looked at her and they were giggling like teenagers. They never saw her with someone before.

"Yes, Mr Conde... would you mind telling me why you're here?" she asked when she got in the car.

"Mrs Conde. May I remind you that we're married and this is what married people do?" Jayce replied and kissed her forehead.

Something that shocked her.

"What? You kissed me a while ago too," he replied. She covered her face with her hair out of embarrassment. Why did I do that anyway? She asked herself.

Looking at Mae's reaction, Jayce chuckled and laid his head on her lap.

"What are you doing?" she asked puzzled.

"Resting, I'm tired from work," he replied. He thought she'd push him but she didn't move. She just sat still.

Silence filled the car. As they drove by the BNB, Mae gave a glance and saw Roger and Freya sitting on the swings in the foyer. It reminded her of the days when she used to get a pen and paper and stay there until the sun sets.

"Where are we going?" she finally asked, Jayce opened his eyes and met Mae's gaze.

"Home," he replied. He waited for her response but she remained quiet.

"Are you not going to ask where?" he asked and sat up straight. Mae looked at him and gave a warm smile.

He felt his heart beat fast!

Why is my heart beating fast? It's just a smile!!!

"As you know, Freya hates me so much that she actually removed all my things from the house and put it in storage. She said I'm already a married woman so I should go home to my husband." she replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Mae of course has the villa but she doesn't want to tell Jayce. She's not sure if she could trust him yet. It's a shotgun marriage after all.

"Quick question. How the hell does your father not see that your step mom is scheming?" he asked.

Mae giggled. "He's been blinded by love I guess."

"Love? Seriously?" Jayce asked sardonically. Mae laughed. Jayce realized she knows what he meant.

"He's been blinded by that woman's beauty and words... I've already given up telling him that." she replied while wiping tears of laughter from her eyes.

"How about your sister?" he asked. Mae composed herself first before giving an answer...

"Miranda is 3 years younger than me. I found out my dad has another woman when I overheard my mom and my dad fight. I was 7 that time," she recalled.

Jayce didn't speak and waited for her to open up. He wanted to know her more. It's true that they got married but they barely know each other.

"Then, when my mom died, he immediately brought Freya and Miranda home. He remarried when I started uni," she said and gave a sigh.

"Sorry about your mom," Jayce replied and patted her shoulder. Mae felt a sense of warmth and comfort when Jayce said those words. Something she never felt from her dad.

"Can we drop by a flower shop? I think I want to visit my mom," She asked Jayce.

Jayce nodded and looked at Bryce, who immediately drove to a flower shop and then to the cemetery.

Mae asked Jayce to wait for her in the car, he nodded and just opened the window so he could see her.

The family mausoleum was simple yet elegant, inside was her mother's grave and Mae gently put the flowers on top of it. She gently touched her mother's photo.

"Hey mom... Sorry if I didn't visit you for quite some time," she held back her tears as mixed feelings overwhelmed her.

"I got married...you might probably be surprised how," she said as she tried to cheer herself up. "The funny thing is... I don't even personally know the guy!" she said out loud.

"Mom... I know you're watching over me... please help me get over this," she said and finally cried.

She didn't know how long she stayed there, she just cried and talked to her mom like she was still there. When she finally finished, it was already dusk. She looked around and saw Jayce standing outside the car, waiting for her.

Jayce saw her and immediately approached her, removing his coat and placing it on Mae's shoulder.

"Let's go home it's getting dark, " Jayce said and walked Mae to the car. He could see that she cried but he didn't say anything.

"Thank you," Mae said when they are already in the car.

"No worries Mae." he replied.

The entire drive was quiet, Jayce just looked at his phone checking emails while Mae was sketching on her tablet.

"Whe~~ where are we going?" she asked when she realized that they're heading to a direction she's quite familiar with...

"Home..." Jayce replied without thinking much of it.

"I know... but where?" she asked she curiously looked at Jayce. She has an inkling where but she wants to confirm.

"Bellezza Residence," he replied plainly.

"Eh~~" she didn't know what to say... Bellezza Residence is a prestigious place in the city. Famous people, politicians, and businesspeople live there. Getting a membership is tedious because the qualifications and requirements are high. It's like a treasure, a lot of people knows about it, but only a few get to keep it.

When they got home, Mae was welcomed with the smell of a home cooked meal. Jayce's parents are there waiting for them.

"Mr and Mrs Conde! Hi!" Mae said surprised... Are we going to live with Jayce's parents? she asked herself...

"Oh please, you're already part of the family. Call us mom and dad or Rachel and Ray," Mrs Conde said and gave Mae a hug.

"How was your honeymoon?" Mr Conde asked. Mae's face flushed red due to embarrassment.

"Dad!!!" Jayce said and looked at his dad with eyes wide open. Rachel hit her husband's arm.

"What?! I'm excited to have grandchildren! I'm not getting any younger you know." he said and laughed. It made the newlyweds uncomfortable.

Mae looked at the couple and got a bit jealous at their sweetness. It reminded her of her mom and dad from a long time ago.

"Ignore my husband... We just want to welcome you to your new home!!!" Rachel said and hugged both Mae and Jayce.

Jayce kissed her mom's cheek and thanked her for setting up the house.

"Dinner's ready so you just have to eat and rest." Ray said and looked at his son. "Don't do anything crazy Jayce... okay?" he said. Jayce nodded and wrapped his hand on Mae's waist and smiled.

"Oh here are the keys!!!" Rachel excitedly handed a set of keys to Mae.

Mae was still shocked...

"uhhh..." she didn't know what to say! Is this really their house? She couldn't believe what is happening that she has to blink a lot of times to realize she isn't dreaming.

"Thanks ... Mr.. and Mrs C~"

"Ah!!! What did. I just say? You can call me mom." Rachel didn't let Mae finish her sentence.

"Thanks M...mom.. Dad?" she was still shy saying those words... it was like those words are foreign yet familiar to her. She didn't know what to feel that she cried!

Jayce hugged her tight. He felt pain when he saw Mae cry.

The parents thought she was just overwhelmed with happiness but actually it was pain and jealousy... she's been ignored for a long time that these gestures made her feel confused.