His Toxic Addiction
Chapter 29: ’Her’

Chapter 29: ’Her’

Discomfort pricked through Arissa’s skin as she sat on the right side of Nicklaus with his mother on the other side just opposite her.

Arissa did not take a spoon out of her meal but rather, she laid back and studied Nicklaus’s facial features. From his pointed nose to his strong jawline.

His skin was fair and radiant and his whole frame, from his strong shoulder blade covered in a shirt to his moderately firm chest that was shaped out of the shirt.

His now messy hair drooped and when he raised his face to put the meal into his mouth, her eyes watched his attractive thin pink lips as they parted and then went straight into his emotionless dark eyes.

Nicklaus meet her gaze but did not respond or started back at her. Her sight pricks his skin badly.

"Why aren’t you eating?" Mrs. Wyatt raised her face to Arissa as she dropped her cutleries.

Arissa did not answer but her eyes went from the mother and son duo on the table with her eyes as she was still processing everything happening here right now.

She thought that she had already brazed herself for all of these but reality hit her differently as her husband’s identity threw her off guard.

Her eyes moved back to the array of lavish mouthwatering dishes spread across the dining table. To be honest, she was hungry but her appetite has long gone ever since she saw Nicklaus and she came down here because of Mrs. Wyatt’s pressure.

"I’m not-"

"Here," Mrs. Wyatt cut her off as she passed her a plate of nicely selected meals.

Arissa looked at the plate Mrs. Wyatt’s passed over to her and the wish of her mother to do this drowned her thinking.

"I’m not hungry," Arissa clarified as she calmly stood up from the table and cradled Blu. who was seated beside her into her arms.

Mrs. Wyatt opened her mouth to say something but was cut off by the non-approving eyes Nicklaus passed to her.

"Do you both know each other?" Mrs. Wyatt asked the moment Arissa closed the dining room door and headed to the staircase.

The way they looked at each other and the aura they possessed when she went to get Arissa down for dinner.

He munched on his meal quietly and after a swallow, he took a sip of water before looking at his mother.

"I thought I would be informed on who would be my woman before any agreement from both parties," he stated placing both of his fists on the table - if Nicklaus was offended, it did not show on his face.

"You never wanted to talk about it, Nicklaus," his mother reminded him as she dapped the table napkin off her lips, "You told us to pick any lady that comes with the best benefits remember?"

Nicklaus’s finger combed into his hair as a lone sigh escaped his lips, "We have met before Mother," he answered her question leaning on his chair before crossing his arms across his chest, "Twice and I can’t say they were pleasant," of course, they weren’t pleasant particularly when he had to restrain from his usual hard s*x all, because he was her unlucky first man and the other was at the coffee shop.

Mrs. Wyatt signed as she dropped a hand on Nicklaus’s shoulder, "That does not sum up the fact that you can’t make things work. You both can try you know?"

Nicklaus’s thin lips parted in disbelief as he looked into his mother’s eyes. Did she just say he should make things work with a lady?

"I don’t appreciate your words, Mother," he said with a very visible frown on his face. Why would she suggest something as life-changing as that, knowing fully well that he would embrace death or homelessness rather than sticking to a lady or has she forgotten ’that lady’ role in his life?

Mrs. Wyatt swallowed from his grave tune with the realization that her request came too fast and have gone overboard already.

"Nicklaus I-"

"Mother no! No more. And this conversation is over," he declared as he pulled his chair out and stood up from his seat.

"Is it because of ’her’?" Mrs. Wyatt asked stopping Nicklaus from moving further after hearing her question, "Is ’her’ scar on you still that deep?" Mrs. Wyatt asked standing up from her seat and placing her hand on Nicklaus’s back that was facing her.

Nicklaus swallowed as his fist tighten with his knuckles turning white from the tightness of his palm, "Mother don’t-"

"Why Nicklaus?" his mother asked cutting him off, "Why should we never address this when it plays a big role in your life?" she asked further trying to keep her voice strong and avoid going crazy for her mental state.

She does understand why he runs away from this topic but he needs to face it so that he would stop viewing all women in the same light from ’her’ perspective.

"Nicklaus look at me," she ordered with thick comfort in her voice as she held his arm, "Just look at me. We can skip this topic if you want but turn to me please," she pleaded with him when he did not even bulge and from his quietness, she can already guess what he is doing right now.

Nicklaus’s jaw tightened as all memories played in his memory over and over again, "Nicklaus," he heard his mother’s voice calling him again - out of his thoughts.

"Come on," she urged him still holding his arm, "I’m here okay. And it is my promise to you that she would not hurt you," his mother promised him with seriousness because she can’t watch her little boy go through all of those damages again.

Nicklaus gave a light laugh hearing his mother promise, "Not as if I would fall for her," he said with a convincing tune to his mother.

"Okay then," Mrs. Wyatt said as she used her fingers to rub the tears away from his eyes, "I would support you in whatever you do," and then she hugged him while Nicklaus leaned down to get comfort on her shoulder.

She rubbed his back in a stroking form, "Are you okay now?" she asked when Nicklaus pulled away from the hug after a short while.

Nicklaus gave her his mask smile before rubbing his Mother’s check affectionately, "I’m okay,"

"More food?" she asked him turning her head to the table and a small smile came unto her lips remembering how she did all she could to make a good welcome for her daughter in law but it seems like it would take more than this or days for Arissa to warm up to her.

"I want to take a rest now," he answered declining the meal as his mood is now sour, "Did the maids replace my sleeping pills?" he asked remembering he forgot to bring one back on his way home and if there is no replacement, it only means this would be another long torturous night.

"I did,"

"Then I guess I go inside now. Goodnight Mother," he wished giving her a light gentle forehead kiss, "I would make out time someday to eat more of your food," he added noticing his mother’s eyes still on the table.

His mother flashed him a smile before nodding at him and with the nod, Nicklaus went out of the dining room and after getting two bottles of wine from the wine wall, he went up the staircase.