Next To Love [Book 2]

Chapter 33 : Toxic Altercation

Melanie

I was foolish to think Harry wanted to redeem his relationship with me when he has possibly redeemed the one with his wife.

I was so foolish. I always have been, and I always will be.

Juniors warm and welcoming embrace only lasts a matter of seconds before his dumbfounded mother pushes herself off the cushioned sofa and stands superiorly on her expensive heels, looking enraged as she stares at the sweet interaction between her son and I. Her thin brows furrow in both confusion and fury as she gawks at us for a moment longer before her head snaps over to the father of her son then back to us.

"Junior, what has mommy told you about talking to strangers?" Samira scolds her son in utter bewilderment, both shocked that in here and that her son seems to enjoy my company while not trying to make her anger seem to obvious for her young son to notice.

Junior is quick to let go of me once he hears the evident disappointment in his mother's tone, giving me the opportunity to stand back to my 5'6 height (nearly 5'9 in these heels).

"Melly not a stranger, mommy," he shakes his head, his sharp curls slightly prancing. "She's daddy's friend, mine too." He innocently smiles.

With a forced, false smile, Samira looks down at her four year old son whom naively stares up at her, waiting for some sort of response. "Is she now?" Her ocean blue eyes part ways with Juniors emerald ones to viciously glare into my dull brown ones, but I'm quick to aimlessly look alway.

"Mhm!" Junior sings, his red lips pressed together to hold back a playful, dimpled grin. "Can I take her to my room and show her my pictures?"

"Actually," Harry speaks up first, beating Samira to it as he slowly crouches to he's knees in order to level with his short son whilst subtly glaring up at Samira, causing her to roll her eyes. "Daddy has some business to discuss with Melly first."

"But!-"

"How about this; you go wait in your room, have all your pictures laid out and maybe later Melly can go take a look at them?" He offers, kindly smiling as he looks at his son with a soft, warm eyes he only seems to have for Junior and I, perhaps not for me anymore though.

"Ugh," Junior groans as he throw his head back in distress. "What if I end up going night-night?" He pouts with frowned brows.

"Then you can show her tomorrow."

"She's spending the night here?" Samira abruptly intervenes, pondering in utter shock.

I'm quick to shake my head before I'm interrupted. "No, I'm no-"

"Okay." Junior finally agrees and lumberingly climbs up the grand spiral staircase to get to his spacious bedroom.

Once the only person who can prevent Samira from lashing out without a filter is gone, Samira is swift to snatch that opportunity before her husband had the chance to speak first again.

"I'm not letting her sleep under the same roof as my son." Samira assertively demands, her frail arms crossing over chest angrily, her posture tall and superior amongst me at least.