THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 74: A TONGUE WAGGING KISS

Chapter 74: A TONGUE WAGGING KISS

"You came!" She said, as he lifted her up.

"I did. But you know what would be really nice?" He asked, after turning her around.

"What?"

"If you let go of my neck."

She chuckled, and pulled away as he dropped her. She was down for all of two seconds before jumping to Fay.

"Oh my God my fairy, you look so beautiful!"

Fay crouched until she was leveled with her. Placing a gentle kiss on her cheeks, she pulled away and pinched the spot she had just kissed.

"You look beautiful yourself my princess. I’m glad to see you smiling."

"Everyone has been so kind. But I missed you so much Fay. Didn’t you say you won’t go out until you’re fully healed? We pinkied." She pouted and raised her pinky fingers.

"Don’t I look healed? I’m totally fine."

"Yeah, you look really beautiful," she cheesed, showing a missing tooth Fay was pretty certain was a recent occurrence. "isn’t she beautiful, Ace?" She turned her head behind to see his response.

He gave Fay a once over, feeling his pulse quicken. "She’s stunning," he said. A deep dive into his heart made him realize he had meant every syllable.

"Thank you." She blushed and rose to her feet.

Gabriella Atticus came forward, and reached out a hand to Sophie. She blew kisses at both Fay and Ace, before going to her adopted mother.

"Didn’t I say you just can’t run around? You’re lucky you’re so cute," she scolded with a smile on her face.

"I was just so happy to see Ace, and Fay. Forgive me?"

"Come here you sweet girl," she laughed, and hugged her.

Ace’s heart lurched. It had been a while he saw his mother genuinely laugh. Sure she smiled but it was nothing compared to her laughter right now.

"Mummy! When’s the food going to be served? I’m starving!"

Ace’s grandmother turned to her last child. Having given birth to five children, if you count the twins as two, she had been a mother for as long as she could remember. It was still so satisfying that her son called her mummy.

"Come sit beside me with your wife, Ace. Dinner will soon be served." She beckoned with a hand gesture.

"I can’t believe he’s still getting special favors. Lucky bastard," Colin, the son of her third child said.

Fay’s eyes nervously searched Ace’s at the sound of those harsh words. But to her surprise, he didn’t look angry.

"Good to see you got a better haircut, loser!" He retorted.

Colin laughed, and so did the rest of the cousins. She felt relief wash through her, after learning that it was all jokes.

It seemed like they were mostly cool with each other. Well aside the obvious feud going on.

She didn’t know who was who. The grandchildren, and the children. It made her nervous as she followed behind Ace to take her seat.

"Are there any more kids here?" Gabrielle looked around.

"I think that’s all," one of her twins answered.

"Alright. Sophie darling, you’re coming with me to the kids table."

"Okay ma’am. See you later Fay!" Tiny hands waved, as she was turned around and taken away.

Ace dragged a seat out for Fay and waited for her to seat, before he did.

She knew the gesture was just for show, but it made her feel good. He had also taken the seat between her and one of his twin sisters, so she was actually sitting next to his grandmother.

This gave her the perfect opportunity to perform the action that had given her the biggest anxiety thus far.

"I’m glad you came, Fay. You look so beautiful. Ace is a lucky man to have clinched a rare beauty like you," the old woman directed at her.

Her face flushed with gratitude. "Thanks for your kind words, ma’am. Here, I brought you a gift, just like I promised I would."

Ace, who was conversing with his sister, turned when he heard what Fay had just said.

His eyes trailed to the bag she had just handed over to his grandmother. No wonder she was holding on to it like her life depended on it. It had been a gift after all.

"Thank you so much for this, Fay," her eyes lit up with both surprise, and appreciation. "Can I open it now?"

"Yes grandma."

"Let’s just eat and get this dinner over with."

Both Colin, and Celine said at the same time.

Internally, Ace scoffed. The bitterness in her eyes had almost created a sunken hole. It was so visible, he wasn’t surprised by her own children not being present at the dinner.

He had done a quick count when he came in.

His grandmother’s second child wasn’t present either. She barely ever came around for family time. Mostly because she lived in a different country.

The fourth was his grandmother’s last. He was in his mid forties, yet still very childish. He had no wife, no kids, and no zeal to work.

Aside from his aunt Celine, Caleb was his least favorite of the Atticus’.

The third was probably one of the calmest dudes he knew. Out of all his uncle’s and aunts, he actually liked the man and his kids the most.

He and Colin, his first child, were around the same age. They used to be close until he went to Greece to work.

"No one’s going to tell me what to do. What I’ve decided to do is open the gift my daughter in-law has brought me."

Fay buried her head shyly when everyone’s head turned to her. She hated being the center of attention. Regret filled her finger tips, giving her a prickling sensation..

She wished she had just waited until after dinner was served to hand her the gift. Probably cornered her when no one was looking.

Ace, feeling how nervous she was, reached out for her hand underneath the table. He told himself he was just trying to keep up appearances. Deep down, he knew it was one of the biggest lies he had ever told.

His grandmother ripped open the fancy paper used to wrap the gift, and a bottle of perfume in a heart shaped red bottle appeared.

As soon as the fragrance touched the atmosphere, it drifted into everyone’s nose.

"Wow!" Someone blurted out.

"You made me a perfume?" Grandma said, loss for words.

"You said you liked mine. I decided to make some for you whilst I was making another batch for myself," she said, her face still planted down.

"You make perfumes?" A female voice asked.

She wanted to look up so badly, but she was a little afraid she’d be overwhelmed by their stares and make a fool out of herself.

"She does. Really good at it too," Ace replied on her behalf.

She felt him squeeze her hand reassuringly, and her heart bubbled. He had done something so good, she wanted to hug him tight and never let go.

"Was that her perfume I perceived when you both walked in? If so, I may have a business idea ready to roll," Aqua continued. She was Colin’s sister.

"Way ahead of you, but unfortunately, she doesn’t want to monetize her skills."

"Is she brain dead? Why do you have to speak on her behalf?" Celine Atticus, who had been silently observing, asked.

"Celine, don’t start," her younger brother, Caleb Atticus warned.

"Start what?" She wriggled her nose. "Poor thing has had her head down since she came in. We’ve seen the rumors in the news. I told everyone how he threw me out of his house. What if he’s really violent towards her? Are we going to protect an abuser because he’s family?"

Everyone held their breaths at the bomb she just dropped. Their eyes darted towards Ace, waiting to hear his response.

"I don’t think that’s an appropriate dinner discussion, Celine," his grandmother hissed before he could respond.

"Why isn’t it? We seem to be waiting for food that’s not coming, so we may as well discuss other things. Example, your precious grandson’s troubling behavior."

"Celine!" She banged her frail fist on the table, causing shudders to run through the majority’s spines. "You promised not to cause any trouble. Keep to your promise girl!"

"Causing trouble in this case means telling the truth? Why can’t the girl defend him?"

Fay’s heart thumped once more, as everyone’s gaze returned to her. Ace’s hold on her wasn’t as tight anymore. She wondered if he had lost faith in her.

She was a coward. It didn’t take anything to come to his defense. She tried hard, but just couldn’t open her mouth.

Much to her surprise, he raised her hand that was locked in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed it.

That raised her head up. As she whipped it to the side, enamored by what he had just done, he wrapped his hand behind her head, and pulled her in for a kiss.

Right in front of everyone, he kissed her until a moan escaped her lips. Only then did he pull back.

"My husband has never been abusive to me. He loves me too much to do that. And I love him too. With all my heart," she said, and it was as if he had unlocked her speech, with a kiss.