After the maid had left, I immediately rushed to the vanity mirror to grab the makeup supplies I constantly used. Grabbing the foundation, I rushed to the bathroom and before the mirror.
Opening it, I applied little on my chin to cover up the bruise. Soon, it looked like nothing had ever been there. I did the same to the other parts of my face and changed my dress to something presentable.
Unlike other women of my status, I had no maids to help dress or bathe me. I did everything myself. I made sure I looked my best, just for my son. He was my lifeline and I couldn't let my lifeline waver or be sad.
I looked at myself in the mirror and nodded. Summoning my inner resolve, I did something I hadn't done in days. I smiled, or at least pretended to. Though, it was not a huge one, it should work just fine for a five year old.
....
My heels cracked on the marble stairs as I made my way down to the dining room where my 'family' was. All I could think about was finally seeing my son after a month.
Just thinking about it made me feel excited.
I hastened my steps, wasting no time to push open the huge wooden doors as the guards didn't bother to do so for me. But I was just to excited to care. Stepping in, my eyes immediately searched the room for my baby. And I found him.
My eyes settled on a cute little boy sitting on the right of the head. He had his mouth full as he focused all his attention on the food before him, chewing as much as he could in one go.
His dark blue eyes had an intense fire in them as he chewed down the vegetables he hated so much. But suddenly, he stopped as his eyes searched the room until they spotted me.
"MOMMY!!"
The servant beside him immediately helped him get out of his chair as he struggled to do so. Immediately he was free, he ran toward me with the speed of light and I felt a huge force impact my hips but I smiled in response.
"Baby...". I lifted him up in the air and kissed him all over, brushing his hair with my hands.
My son. He was back.
"Mommy, I missed you. I was so alone there, Mommy. Why didn't you come with me?" He pouted his lips as tears welled up in his eyes.
My heart melted at the sight and I immediately pinched his cheeks. "I'm terribly sorry, baby. Mommy was just busy over here and couldn't go with you...."
But more tears gathered in his eyes as some fell. "Does that mean Mommy likes work more than me? I'll cry. Mommy likes work more than me! Mommy hates me now! Wahhh!!"
I chuckled as I wiped his tears away. "Of course, Mommy likes work more than you". His eyes became a literal waterfall as more tears began falling as he cried.
I kept on wiping his tears as my lips curved into a smile. "You didn't let me finish, baby". Finally, he looked at me with hopeful eyes as he muffled his cries. My heart melted instantly.
"Baby, Mommy loves work because work enables Mommy can provide for my little Natty!" Nathaniel's eyes immediately lit up at the mention of his name.
"Mommy! I love Mommy!"
He jumped on me once again as he hugged my neck tightly. I felt something I hadn't felt in a long time, peace... and happiness. I just wished this moment could last forever.
"That's enough, Nate".
But as usual, all good things don't last forever. The sound of a very masculine and alluring voice reached my ears as I finally registered that there was someone else in the room.
My eyes darted to the seat at the end of the table and my heart skipped a beat as my eyes met those familiar deep blue seas.
Though his eyes were cold and distant, he made me feel a bit fuzzy on the inside. This was a strange feeling because that was something for an admirer, no?
But now, I was feeling that same feeling for not my admirer but my tormentor. The beast himself. Lord Lucian Blackthorne. His dark blue eyes looked like the night sky.
His raven dark hair glistened under the sparkling chandelier. His jawline as sharp as a rose's thorn. His ever impeccable dressing style of a royal black suit and a black cape with gold linings made him look amazingly dreamy.
But even with all this, one could sense the ruthlessness emanating from this man. The Lord of Valemere. And the father of my son.
He looked straight at my eyes and then at our son who was currently in my arms. He frowned as he asked Nate in a sarcastic and scolding manner.
"Are you still two? Why are you letting your mother carry you? Do you want to tire her?"
One would have been swooning at his words thinking of how concerned he was for me. But I knew better that it was nothing but a pretense. A pretense in front of my son, to be a happy family. A happy couple. Or at least try to be.
My son looked thoughtful for a second before he wriggled his way out of my arms. He stood before me, his expression turning into that of a little gentleman. He looked like a miniature version of his father.
He cleared his throat and said, "Mother, please take a seat". I smiled gently and was about to say something but immediately stopped when I realised I couldn't say it. After all, the devil himself was here.
Therefore, I simply nodded abd went over to my seat, sitting beside my son. I immediately felt the hairs on my back stand as I felt a chilling stare on me.
I looked in the direction of the stare which of course, came from Lucian. He frowned as he looked at me.
"Is that where the Lady of the Land sits?"