Adeline Santiago's POV

I wake up earlier than usual, with a slight headache.

I gently untangle myself from Matéo and grab my phone off of the night stand and switch it on.

2 missed calls from Isabelle

6 missed calls from James

3 missed calls from Jerome

And...

19 text messages and 4 missed calls from Aaron.

I sigh and get out of bed and I go out of the room, to return the calls.

Jerome

I call him back and I listen to the dial tone ring.

"Adeline" he says into the phone.

"Hey, Jerome. You called?" I ask.

"Yeah, get ready. We've got somewhere to be" he tells me.

I nod as if he can see me.

"Igh, I'll be ready soon" I respond.

"I'll be there in an hour." He says.

We say goodbye and I hang up and finish returning all my calls and texts, before I go back to our room.

Matéo is still asleep so I leave him to rest.

I go to the bathroom and take a shower. Once I've done that, I tie my puffy hair into a bun and get dressed.

^^ Adeline's fit.

I walk back into the bedroom to see that Matéo is still asleep.

He lies on his back, with an arm over his eyes and his lips slightly parted as he snores lightly.

I get on him, straddling him and lean down to whisper in his ear.

"Baby, get up" I whisper.

He doesn't move.

"Babe, get up!" I say a little louder.

"Matéo!" I yell in his ear.

He grabs my hips and I squeal as I suddenly find myself underneath him, his body weight, making it impossible for me to move.

"Matéo!" I squeal.

He smirks, lazily at me.

"Good morning amore" he says.

He looks down at my clothes.

"You look good" he tells me and I feel my skin getting hot.

"Thank you" I mumble and he kisses me gently.

I kiss him back, but then pull away and he groans.

"Could you not?" He whines and he buries his face in my neck.

"What?" I giggled.

"Pull away from me like that" he sighs.

He kisses my neck and I run my hands through his hair.

"I gotta go, Jerome is gonna be here soon" I tell him.

He pulls away and rolls his eyes at me.

"Fine" he sighs.

I peck his lips a couple of times and he gets off of me.

He walks into the bathroom and I go downstairs to the kitchen and grab a carton of orange juice and some aspirin.

I down the medicine and the drink and then pour another glass and stay where I am.

I lean forward and lean on the counter, resting my elbows on the surface and go on my phone scroll through Instagram for a while.

I continue, until I feel a presence behind me.

"Jerome's not here yet?" He asks and I shake my head, still focusing on my screen.

He is suddenly right behind me and I snap back to reality.

I don't move an inch and I pretend to still me focusing on my phone.

"You trying to ignore me?"  He asks and I feel his lips lips on my neck.

I bite my lip and still don't move.

He digs his groin into my ass and I whine, making him chuckle.

I turn around to face him and I see boyish mischief dancing around in his eyes.

I'm about to roast him hard, when he puts his lips to mine.

I kiss him back, the previous insults melting away.

His hands slip down to my waist and he pulls me closer to him.

I smile into the kiss a little, as he backs me up against the counter some more, sitting me on it, so he can stand in between my legs.

It's about to go further, when we hear someone clearing their throat.

I pull away suddenly and feel my whole body heat up, as I see Jerome standing at the entrance to the kitchen.

His eyebrow is raised and he stares directly at Matéo, who glares back.

"I've come for my sister" Jerome says coldly.

"How did you get into this house?" Matéo questions him.

Jerome dangles a pair of keys from his middle finger.

"You left 'em at base" he responds, throwing the keys at Matéo, who catches them.

"Finish up whatever the fuck this is and let's go" he clips and walks off.

What is his problem?

I walk around my husband and towards Jerome.

"Ade" Matéo calls and I turn to face him.

"I'll be out late on business so don't wait up, ok?" He says and I nod.

I walk back up to him and peck him on the lips.

One peck turns into another

And then another....

"Baby, I gotta go" I remind him.

"Hm, five minutes" he groans, kissing my neck, hitting my weak spot.

I push his chest gently.

"We can finish this later" I whisper.

He nods.

"Ok, amoré" he says and I reluctantly walk away from him.

                          ***

It has been a good five minutes....

I am sitting next to my older brother in his car and he hasn't said a single word, since we left the house.

"Jerome, what happened back there?" I ask.

"Ade, you know I care about you right?" He asks.

I turn to him shocked and try to ignore the fact I feel a wave of nerves hit.

"Jerome, of course I know." I reply, shocked at his question.

He nods.

"I know, you just seem to forget about me, when you're with him. You need to know that I will always have your back too" he sighs, referring to Matéo.

"Jerome. He is my husband and maybe if you hadn't hidden from me for the past 15 years of our lives, I could appreciate you being around a little more. You 'having my back' wouldn't be questionable" I argue.

"Ade, I am fully aware of the fact that I ain't been there but you gotta understand, that there are reasons" he shoots back. 

I fold my arms across my chest.

"Whatever Jerome" I respond coldly and that seems to shut him up.

A few minutes later, we are parked in front of my father's house.

He gets out of the car first and I do the same. 

We walk up to the house and I open the door and walk inside, with him behind me.

He looks around, emotionlessly and then looks back at me.

"Let's go to his office, he's probably in there." He says.

"Jerome what is this about?" I ask him, but he is already walking off.

I have to jog to catch up with him and by the time I realise, we are in front of my father's office.

He knocks on the door three times without hesitation.

"Come in" my father's low voice responds.

Jerome opens the door and saunters in.

My dad sits at his desk writing something.

He takes a look at Jerome and amusement flies across his features.

"So you decided to come back." My father says.

So he must have known too.

"Why?"

You know exactly why I'm back, Amos" Jerome responds coolly.

My father chuckles.

"Ah, so we're on a first name basis now?" He asks.

His eyes flit in my direction and he gives me a once over.

"You even got your sister to join your little protest while you're at it." He sniffs.

I turn my head away from him, face burning.

I know I should stick up for myself, but...

I can't.

"Don't talk about her like that" Jerome tells him, voice raised and teeth gritted.

He smiles back.

"I'll ask you again. Why are you here, Jerome?" My father asks.

"You know why" Jerome responds with a shrug.

"And you are standing in my way" he finishes.

Amos rolls his eyes.

"You really what the bastard back?"Amos asks me.

The fuck?

What bastard?

Does Jerome have a child?!

What the fuck, is happening?!

Jerome nods.

"Yes, I want what you took from me" Jerome responds, but his voice falters a little.

Amos shrugs.

He is just about to respond, when the door clicks open.

I turn to face, whoever walked in and my heart plummets.

There stands a man.

Dark skinned, cropped hair and a look of pure hatred on his face, aimed directly at Jerome.

Elijah.

Amos says nothing but just gets up and walks out of the office.

None of us stop him, too shocked to speak.

Elijah grabs my wrist and pulls me behind him, his large frame, blocking my view.

"Elijah, I- -" Jerome starts, but Elijah raises his hand, silencing him immediately.

"Ade, leave the room" Elijah tells me stiffly.

"No, let her stay, it's my fault. Let me explain" Jerome says.

Elijah chuckles darkly, under his breath leaving me completely frozen, with my blood roaring in my ears in fear.

From the looks of it, he was just as clueless as me.

What the hell do I even do?!

Elijah steps forward and Jerome stays in place.

Jerome tries to look nonchalant, but I see fear in his eyes.

"Explain?" Elijah asks. His voice is low and threatening.

Jerome nods looking straight into Elijah's face and continues.

"I'm sorry. I should have come to you sooner and spoken to you like a man. As my brother. I'm so sorry, I really am..." Jerome says.

"Brother" Elijah muttered under his breath.

"Not a chance"

Before I can stop him, Elijah raised his fist and punches his older brother straight in the face.

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