THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 257: INTERNAL CONFLICTIONS

Chapter 257: INTERNAL CONFLICTIONS

Fay left the room to get water for Dream. On her way back, she stopped by the room Leighton had previously taken her into, and picked her phone.

She returned to Ace’s room, and discovered Dream was already fast asleep in her father’s arms.

"So the water was for nothing then?" She muttered, and the sound made Ace open his eyes.

"Sorry, I’ll just lea—" she was saying, when her phone rang.

Her eyes went to the time first. It was way past midnight, but also too late for anyone to be calling.

Looking closer, she saw it was Jason.

Through her lashes, she caught Ace’s swift glance her way, before he turned away.

With a sigh, she backed him, and answered the call.

"Hey Fay. I wasn’t expecting you to pick up," he said the second she answered.

"Then why exactly are you calling this late into the night?" She asked.

"I couldn’t sleep, if I’m being honest. I’ve been thinking about you a lot. All the fun we’ve been having. I want to see you Fay."

She breathed in sharply. From the corner of her eyes again, she stared at Ace.

He wasn’t looking her way. It looked like he was doing everything in his power to pretend she wasn’t on the phone.

"Hey, Jason—-"

"Before you come up with an excuse, just hear me out, okay?"

"Fine."

"You’ve tormented my memories in the last four years. Seeing you again validated my obsession. I think we were meant to be reunited. Besides, we’ve had a lot of fun in the last few days. Don’t you think it’s time we take whatever this is a little more seriously?"

Ace tried his best to give her some privacy by remaining still.

However, he couldn’t help overhearing her call his name.

"Jason," he thought in his mind.

There were a few Jason’s he knew. Quite a lot of Jason’s in the world too. Surely, it wasn’t any he knew.

Whoever it was though, he was quite relentless judging by what Grant had told him, and also the fact he was calling this late in the night.

He wondered if Fay liked him too. It would break his heart if she did, but he wouldn’t fault her for that.

She deserved to be happy, and if this Jason guy made her happy, then good for them.

"I don’t think we should be having this conversation over the phone. It’s also very late. Besides, the situation I’m in right now isn’t very ideal."

"I don’t care, Fay. You told me you have a child, and I don’t mind that. Especially now that the father is no longer alive. This could be the start of something real between me and you, okay?"

She closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down.

She couldn’t explain why she was so annoyed by him stating what everyone else thought.

It was true that to the world, Ace was dead. She just hated hearing it so much.

"Let’s talk in person."

"When?" He asked.

"I’ll text you," she replied.

"That’s too vague, Fay. Are you avoiding me? I mean it’s okay if you want to mourn Ace. But if I can remember clearly, you weren’t happy with him. The day I saw you crying, wasn’t it because of him? I also watched the video of what he did to you four years ago. Is that who you want to mourn forever?"

"But he’s more than that." She found herself defending him in her heart.

He had always been more than his actions towards her.

Perhaps, it was what had made her fall in love with him.

His inactions. They were always so much louder.

He would look at her with nonchalance, but the stiffness of his neck would tell her he just didn’t want to give in to his heart.

It wasn’t always so bad between them. The days they shared a laugh? Times he’d get her food from her favorite restaurant? Even down to the fact he thought her perfume making skills were directly bestowed on her by God.

Ace made her feel a lot of emotions. No, he made her feel every kind of emotion there was.

The bad, the good, and the in-betweens, all included.

It was why she called him her torturer, and at the same time, her redeemer.

"Fay?" Jason called her, and she jerked out of her head.

"I’m not avoiding you. We’ll talk soon," she said.

"Fine. I’ll respect your wishes, but that doesn’t mean I’ll stop talking to you. I’ll call you everyday if I must. That’s how much I care about you. Goodnight Fay."

"Yeah, goodnight Jason."

The call ended, and she took a deep breath, before turning to face the bed.

Ace still hadn’t moved. She appreciated the effort to appear disengaged, but he wasn’t fooling her.

When he felt her eyes on him, he slowly moved Dream to the bed, and propped a pillow behind her head.

He rose to his feet, and smiled her way. "I’ll just be in another room," he said.

Panic shot through her eyes, and before she could stop herself, she found herself asking him a very silly question. "Why?"

He was almost at the door, when he stopped. "I just want to give you some privacy," he replied.

"I didn’t ask for that. Besides, I’m certain Dream would want you beside her when she wakes up." She bit her lips right after, chiding herself for being relentless.

"I’ll see her in the morning, Fay. Make sure you get some sleep, okay? It’s been a long day for everyone. Goodnight."

He walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

Resting his back on the door, he heaved deeply.

"It’s going to get better, Ace," he whispered, before walking away to find Landon.

It turned out Landon also had the same idea. They met at a turn, and found their way in the extra living room next.

"How are you holding up, Ace?" Landon asked as they sat down.

"I’m fine. Fay doesn’t think I am though. She wants me to go to therapy."

"I agree with her. You went through a lot."

"Nah, it’s nothing really. I know I’ll be fine. I just need to take it one day at a time." he shrugged.

"You can do that whilst going to therapy. It’ll help you better in the long run. At least now you have Reign out of your life. You have just Celine to deal with."

"Celine," he laughed dryly. "What do you think she plans to do now?"

"I don’t know, Ace. All I know is whatever it is, she won’t succeed. We’re going to get an arrest warrant soon, and the worst we’d have to deal with is facing her in trial."

"You say it like it’s that easy," he scoffed.

"It isn’t. I just don’t want you thinking too much about it."

"But I can’t not think about it. You saw what happened earlier on. Reign was going to hurt Fay, and my daughter. I almost couldn’t do anything about it. Imagine I hadn’t thrown caution in the wind. What could have happened? Whatever Reign is, Celine’s worse. I just have this dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach."

"Don’t," Landon placed a hand on his back, patting it gently. "You’re stronger than anyone else I know. You can protect your family just as you’ve proven. It wouldn’t be different with Celine. She’s not going to hurt Fay, or Dream. Not on your watch. Besides, we’ve beefed up on security around here. I even told Cam to ensure that all the access scan codes are changed. I’ve got you bro!"

"Yeah, thanks Landon. You’ve been really solid."

"Well you’re the reason I broke out of being a parent pleaser for my parents that were really never available. We love them to death, but you’ll agree with me I had to start doing that I wanted to do. You gave me that courage. That’s why I believe in you more than anything in this world."

Ace smiled mischievously. "If Leighton wasn’t in the picture, I’d swear you’re in love with me," he jested.

"I already told you you’re not my type, man. Give it up." Landon rolled his eyes.

They both threw their heads back, and laughed in sync.

"Wait, why did you come to look for me, again? I thought Dream held you down? I mean even when I was on my way to get you, I didn’t think she’d let you leave her sight," Landon suddenly stopped laughing.

"Fay," he replied without thinking twice.

"Fay? What did she do?" he asked.

"Oh nothing really. She didn’t do anything other than exercise her freedom."

"Her freedom? What are you talking about, bro?"

"The guy she’s seeing called her," he replied, unable to hide the jealousy in his voice.

"Oh. Did you feel weird?"

"I had to stay still and pretend not to hear their conversation. It was awkward as hell. I mean I know I don’t have a right to be bothered, but I can’t help it, man."

"I’m sure you can’t. Especially considering the fact it’s Jason of all people."

Landon’s eyes widened the second he said that.

"Lan?"

He rose to his feet swiftly. "I think I heard Leighton calling me. Goodnight, bro."

Ace grabbed his hand before he could leave.

"Do I know this Jason guy?" He asked, and Landon’s heart skipped a beat.