CHAPTER THIRTY
Lorelei
“Are you really sure you want to do this?” Desmond asks me for the third time.
“Yes. I need to face him and get this over with.”
I can tell that Desmond doesn’t like the idea of me meeting with Alexander, but I need to do this. I have to face him and get this behind me. He had mentioned earlier on our way to this party that his father would be present.
“Fine, I’m coming with you. There is no way I’d let you be alone anywhere near him,” Desmond says as he holds my hand.
The way he worries constantly about me is rather cute. For so long, I had tried to deny the fact that Desmond doesn’t love me, and now, I realize it was my insecurity speaking. Now, I know better, and I’m glad that Desmond never gave up on us.
As we shuffle through the tables, Desmond greets a few people, most of them interested in trying to get on his good side. The battle against Alexander is going quite well, and according to Damian, Desmond should be able to take over from him in a matter of years.
“I can’t wait to play with my great-grandchildren,” Desmond had said with a laugh.
I had blushed at that statement. Yes, Damian is looking forward to meeting his great-grandchild, but I can’t say the same for Alexander.
“Is there something you’d like to say to me?” Alexander says as we join him.
He takes a sip from his glass of champagne, and I study him intensely. I really don’t understand how he can be so different from Desmond.
“Why do you have your head stuck up your ass?”
Alexander almost chokes on his champagne, and I can hear Desmond trying to stifle his laughter.
“What did you say to me?” Alexander asks, turning to me as he dabs around his mouth with his handkerchief.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’re a big jerk? No, that’s an understatement, maybe a cockroach?”
I can see veins appear on Alexander’s face, and I realize I might have pushed him too far.
“Young woman,” Alexander begins, literally forcing himself to remain calm.
“Yeah, I know I shouldn’t speak to you that way, but I don’t understand why you can be like this to your own blood.”
“Like I have told you, what happens with my family—”
“Still not an excuse to treat them the way you have. I guess you have your reasons for being angry with Damian, but family is family. You don’t treat your family like crap!”
Desmond places his hand gently on my shoulder and whispers that I might have pushed things a bit too far.
“Someone who can finally speak to Alexander,” a voice says behind us, and we all turn to her.
Something about her seems familiar, and I stare as she walks towards me. She holds my hands and says softly. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Lorelei.”
“I’m sorry, who are—” I begin looking at Desmond and Alexander, who has gone stiff.
“Mother. What brings you here?”
Mother? Like Desmond’s mom?
“What are you doing here?” Alexander questions.
“I came to see my husband and son. As well as meet my daughter-in-law,” She answers before turning to me. “We have a lot to catch up on.”
Desmond takes me away, but I find myself looking at both of Desmond’s parents. There seems to be a variety of emotions flickering across Alexander’s face. A man who seems to always have his emotions in check is staring at the woman in front of him.
“Did you know she was going to be here?” I ask Desmond, who shakes his head.
I guess her appearance must have startled him just as it did with Alexander. People drift around Alexander and his wife, who later makes her way towards Desmond and me.
“Finally, I get a chance to talk with you alone,” she says as she stands next to me.
Next to her, I feel a little bit intimidated. Everything about her gives off grace and elegance. A woman who is used to being the center of attention.
“Yes. I am finally glad to meet you,” I force a smile.
“There is no need to try to be courteous with me. I bet you think of Alexander and me as scum of the Earth.”
I open my mouth to deny it, but her gaze stops me. I admit that I might have heard a few unpleasant things about her.
“Yeah, that’s better,” she says as she looks around the room. “Alexander and I were just like you guys. We fell in love, but our love wasn’t enough to weather the harsh reality of this world.”
“Desmond and I will prevail,” I say almost immediately.
I am not sure exactly what she’s trying to do, but no one would be able to change my mind about where I stand with Desmond Sinclair. Unless he tells me he doesn’t want me, and even that won’t be enough to stop me, I will always be beside Desmond.
“Do you think you can stand against the world just the two of you? Even if everyone doesn’t approve of your relationship?”
“Yes,” I answer confidently.
Cassandra, his mother’s name that I soon learn, doesn’t say a word, and for a few minutes we remain by each other. Desmond had noticed his mother and is now making his way towards us.
“Mother,” he says as he joins us, his eyes wavering between the two of us.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t bully her,” Cassandra assures him.
“No one can bully Lorelei,” he says as he wraps his arms around my waist. “That’s one of the beautiful things about her. In some ways, I guess she’s like you.”
My cheeks burn at his statement as Cassandra laughs, saying that she is glad to see that Desmond has someone by his side.
“It’s really nice to see both of you. Lorelei, please look after my son. My husband and I failed him.”
She pats Desmond softly on the cheek before she walks away to join Alexander, who is waiting for her. A few minutes later, they both leave the party, and I can’t help but wonder if Cassandra had made Alexander leave that early.
“Want to head home?” Desmond whispers in my ear as we waltz on the dance floor.
“Yes, please. I’m a bit worn out for tonight.”
He laughs before telling me that, after my courageous display in front of his dad and my meeting with his mom, I have had quite an eventful night.
“He looked like he was punched in the gut when you were talking to him earlier,” Desmond says with a bright smile.
Maybe I had pushed things a bit too far, but I doubt I’ll ever cross paths with Alexander again.
At least not willingly. Desmond mentions that we won’t need to return to Daston again, since someone would be taking over Westward Logistics from him.
He offers to move my grandma down here to Velhaven so she can be close to us, but she refuses.
According to her, she has found a love interest at her care home, and she doesn’t want to leave.
After raising me alone for many years, I guess I can’t be against her trying to find love again, but I feel a little bit reluctant about leaving her alone in Velhaven.
At the moment, I am thinking of starting something on my own despite how much Desmond stresses that I don’t actually need to work. Staying all day indoors would tire me out easily. The problem is that I am not entirely sure what I’m going to do.
“When our baby comes, you’d have your hands full,” Desmond tells me.
I can’t deny that I really look forward to being a mother. Even though I’m still months away from birth, I already have a nursery bursting with items from Damian, Dean, and even Cassandra.
I married into a beautiful family.
“What exactly is this surprise?” I ask Desmond as he invites me to sit next to him.
“Just wait,” he says as he holds my hands.
Two men dressed in suits step into the room, and I look at Desmond, not sure exactly what is going on. I recognize one of them as Mr. Carlson, the lawyer back in Daston who had helped me file my papers.
“We are pleased to inform you, Mrs. Sinclair, that we’ve been able to acquire a spousal visa for you,” Mr. Carlson announces.
I turn to Desmond, who nods, a smile on his face.
I hug him tightly, unable to believe this good news.
Mr. Carlson goes on to explain what comes next and how things would progress from here, but I barely listen, my attention focused on Desmond, who made all this possible.
Six months ago, I was unsure of where things were headed, and it looked like I would have to leave the United States, but now, thanks to him, my life has done a complete one-eighty.
“You managed to keep that a secret!” I say as I playfully hit him.
“I wanted to see the look on your face when you get your visa,” Desmond tells me as we walk to our car.
He orders the driver to take us to the restaurant, and he mentions that we will be having lunch on Dean’s yacht. I remind him that I am not exactly sure if I wouldn’t get sick on water, and he assures me that we wouldn’t be getting on, if that’s the case.
“How do I thank you for everything, Desmond?” I ask as I look at him.
“You don’t. Just stay by my side, Lorelei. That is all I want. That is all I have ever wanted,” he says as he pulls me onto his lap.
I sit on his lap as he gently slaps my butt. I can never get enough of this man, and even though I desperately want him now still, now isn’t the time to quench my desire.
“Never. Even if the whole world is against you, I’d always be with you,” I tell him.
“Then that’s all I ask, Lorelei,” he says softly, his husky voice enticing me.
Being Mrs. Desmond Sinclair is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I’ll always be grateful for that very moment when I saw him walk into the dispatch room.