The Billionaire's Secret Lover

FIFTEEN YEARS LATER DEBORAH

I stepped out of the prison yard with a new change of clothes, clutching onto my purse and accessories, the lady at the reception had handed me in my hands.

I shield my eyes from the harsh sun with the purse in my hands, it felt so good to be finally free.

"Woah! The weather is so good today" I exclaimed excitedly, taking a swirl around in excitement.

"Yes, you can say that again" I turned to see Xavier gazing up at me with so much love and affection in his eyes that I couldn't help shielding away shyly. I didn't hear him come to stand behind me "Mom"

The loud voice calling to me from the car got my attention as I turned to smile at my son as he ran up to me. I ruffled his hair and bent to pick him up in excitement.

"Woah! You are so big, Luke. What's Dad been feeding you with?" I told him as I immediately put him down seeing that I couldn't carry him with that weight of his.

"Nothing. Just the usual" Luke replied shrugging as he and his father shared a knowing smile.

"And what could that be? Hope it isn't chocolate?" I asked him preparing to scold Xavier. I had warned him not to feed the boy with chocolate anymore even though it was his favorite.

"Love" Luke and his father replied with smiles on their faces. I couldn't help smiling too since their smiles were contagious.

"Whatever. Let's go home. I can't wait to take a shower. I'm sure I'm stinking, right?" I told them but they only nodded, already leading me to the car.

Xavier took the wheel while I sat beside him and Luke made himself comfortable at the back seat of the car.

Xavier pulled the car out of the parking space and took the direction of our house.

"Mom, when you're done showering, could we go visit grandpapa and grandmama?" Luke's voice called to me from the back seat of the car but my gaze was fixed on the big black billboard in front of me which was showing an advert for Lush Beauty, Nina, Michael, and their kids sat holding a product of Lush Beauty each with a happy smile on their faces while the advert comes to an end, it was captioned" A happy family, a beautiful family. Stay happy always with Lush Beauty!" "Can I ever meet them again?"

"Are you still in love with him?" Xavier's cold voice pulled me from my thoughts as I turned to look at him, shocked that he was using that tone with me.

"In love with who?" I asked him confused about what he was saying to me.

"Him?" Xavier told me pointing to the picture of Michael on the billboard. I finally understood what he was asking me? I didn't know I had said that out loud.

"No. That's not what I mean. I only wanted to meet them to apologize. I have caused their family more harm than good" I told him before returning to the billboard which now shows a random advert.

"That's good. I was afraid that you might still be caught up in your obsession" Xavier explained as he pulled over into our driveway!

"No. I now know better. What I felt for Michael then wasn't love instead it was jealousy mixed with hatred. I wish to apologize to them" I told him as he nodded and came over to open the car door for me.

"Unfortunately, they are no longer in New York. They have relocated a few years back to Greece" He told me, causing me to nod as he ushered me into the house.

I stood gazing at the captivating view of the ocean. I never knew Xavier was this rich to have purchased this kind of house. I thought only the Thompsons could pull up something like this since they have so much money.

"Here you are. I've been searching for you all over the house" Xavier's breath fanned my neck as I smiled and turned to gaze up at him.

"I'm sorry, I was only trying to get familiar with the house," I told him as he nodded and came to stand beside me, his hands reaching out to pull me closer to him.

"What do you think? Do you like it?" He asked me as he turned to watched me with that his so-knowing eyes.

"Yes. This looks so expensive. How did you get so much money to purchase such a house?" I asked him as I folded my hands across my chest waiting for his explanation while hoping and praying that he hadn't gone back to his former job. Xavier was quiet for a long time, refusing to look at my face. I knew I wouldn't like what he would tell me from his gestures which was why I decided to force him to talk.

"Don't tell me you're back to your job of killing people" I told him but he still wouldn't say anything, which was making me agitated and angry. Please, don't tell me this is true. I can't believe he could go back to his bad ways after all his words of encouragement every time he came to visit me at the prison.

"Come on, Xavier. You can't do this to me. What about Luke? What do you want him to think? Are we going to train him to be an assassin just like you are?" I asked him but Xavier still wouldn't say anything, other than the faint gleam of laughter in his lips which I assume was my mind making that up there wasn't any gesture from him.

"Fine. Since you are not going to say anything, I am going to make the decision then. We are leaving this house immediately, I can bring up my son in a house bought with blood money and

I turned to walk out of the balcony in an angry stride and make to open the door but Xavier's gentle touch on my hands got me to pause and turn to glare at him

"What now? Are you ready to talk?" I asked him and he nodded.

"Fine. I'm all ears"

Firstly, this house wasn't bought by me"

My eyes shot up to look at Xavier in shock. I searched his eyes to see if he was joking with me but his eyes had that sincere gleam in them that I couldn't help nodding for him to continue.

"This house is a gift from Michael. He bought it in your name" Xavier told me as he watched my face closely. I knew he was trying to gauge my reaction but how can he do that when I don't even know what to think anymore. Why will Michael buy me a house? I thought he was angry with me or is he secretly still in love with me?

"And Nina?" I jolted out of my thoughts as I brought myself to ask the one question that had been eating me up.

"And what about her?" Xavier asked me with a slight frown on his face as he turned to gaze at the ocean where Luke was playing with his ball

"Did she know about this house?"

Of course, she knew. I mean she brought the idea and suggested that they gift you a house even after returning your dad company back"

I had zoned out, as the smile fell from my face. A minute there I was subconsciously and secretly glad that Michael might still be in love with me. Xavier's last words pulled me from my subconscious mind as I turned to gaze at him in shock.

What did you just say?" I asked him, trying to have him repeat it because it seemed I didn't hear it clearly.

"You heard me. She had returned your dad's company back. You are still the heiress of the Melton's Media House. Congratulations" Xavier told me but why does it feel like he was mocking me? And to think that I was already feeling bad for myself already.

You know what, I still don't

understand how you could hate

such a person as nice and kind-hearted as Nina Thompson. Even after everything, she still did the right thing but what about you? You nearly kill her kids all because of jealousy and hatred. You made me spent days in prison because you just wouldn't hear my pleas to stop your revenge"

Xavier's words got to me piercing deep in my soul. I couldn't stop the tears from streaming down my face as I squatted down on the floor crying my eyes out.

How could I ever repay such pure and innocent love? How could I ever ask her for forgiveness? After everything I had done to her, she still went ahead and restored back my family lost glory? Why Nina? Why?

Xavier wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, I didn't notice that he was crying" I don't know what to say anymore? I felt so bad for even hurting her in the first instance. If I could turn back the time, I would choose the right choice. And who knows, our loved ones would have still been here with us"

Anyway, I'm going inside. You can

take your shower and after that, we could go visit your parents" Xavier dabbed at his eyes before forcing a smile on his teary eyes he turned to walk into the door leaving me to scream as I sobbed on the balcony. It was after some time before I could bring myself to go inside and

shower.

"Woah, you look so pretty. Are you ready to go see your parents?"Xavier asked me already coming over to help me down the stairs with an excited Luke jumping around the house in excitement. I guess he loves going to visit my parents.

"Not yet. There's a place I would love to go to alone. I will be back before you know it" I begged Xavier who was reluctant to allow me to go alone but after giving him my best puppy look and pouty lips, he finally relent.

"Fine. You can use the car and please, don't stay long" He told me before bending to kiss my lips, he handed the car key to me and walked me to the parking lot.

"Have a safe drive!" He called to me as soon as I was settled into the driver's side. I nodded at him and turned on the ignition before pulling off the driveway.

I dropped the flowers in my hands-on Junior's bed which was surprisingly neat and well kept. I guess Xavier had been frequenting here to keep his bed neat and tidy.

"l

Junior, mama is here to apologize

for everything I'm sorry, if only I wasn't jealous and obsessed with Michael, you would have probably been here with your father" I paused as my eyes went to Austin's bed, his picture had been replaced with a picture of us and Xavier smiling into the camera. it was one of the rare pictures we've ever taken without any hatred in our eyes.

"I'm so sorry, Austin. If only I didn't push you to hate Nina, you would have still been alive today. I'm so sorry, please forgive me" I cried loudly into the gentle breeze of the cemetery.

I wish I could turn back time, I could have made amends for all my mistakes. I wish I wasn't wrapped in my hatred, I would have still been holding my son in my arms right now. He would have been eighteen. Oh my God, Deborah look what you've done to yourself!

I cried loudly, dabbing furiously at my eyes. Can I ever forgive myself? Can Austin and Junior ever forgive me? Can the Thompsons ever forgive me?

If only I was patient enough, I would have discovered that neither Nina nor Michael wasn't my enemy, instead, I was the enemy of myself.

Who can I blame for my shortcomings? Is it my dad who has always been so supportive of me? No, I shouldn't blame him, he was only showing me, love, in his own way. He was only trying to be there for me.

Is it my stepmother who has always hated me? No, I can't blame her, she was only trying to protect her right?

Who then should I blame? No one, but myself I, Deborah Melton brought this on myself.

When everyone is busy taking care of their children who are over eighteen years and above, I, Deborah Melton, I'm just starting with my son, Luke who is just 14.

It was after some time before I could bring myself to go home.

Xavier and I had just returned from my parents. After pouring my heart out at the graveyard earlier, I was now light-hearted and ready to appreciate the world in a new meaning.

I could do this with such a patient and caring man by my side and my loving son who is determined to see me change.

Even if I wouldn't be able to apologize to the Thompsons, I will live the rest of my life giving alms to children who needed them.

This is my sad life story. I hope you'll learn from

them and never follow in my footsteps.

Right now, I'm forty years old, still regretting my past decision. A mother and just planning my wedding. I know you feel it too late but I'm still trying to recover those years I've lost...

"Angel, come on, let's go inside. I'm so glad your mom accepted for us to get married. I can't wait" Xavier's warm breath fanned my cheek briefly before he flew down the stairs with his son. I couldn't help smiling at their lovely duo. So perfectly synchronized to each other.

"Mom!"

"Yes, son. What is it?" I asked him with a smile on my face.

"I love you"

"And I love you so much, son" I called to him as I wiped the lone tears that escaped my eyes before following them into the house...

THE ENDODO