Agreeing To Return Home

Enzo’s statements answered many of Genelia’s questions regarding the Moretti brothers. She sighed and turned towards Zander, fatigue, and stress obvious to her features. She just wanted to deal with him as soon as possible and move on from her past, but strangely, he showed no signs of leaving. 

Zander watched her every movement like a hawk, wondering if she would return home with him. The chances looked bleak this time, but he had to try something fast, as he had very little time at hand. He had no other option than to leave baby Ziana at home with Mila, who had just recovered from a sickness. He dared not tell Genelia about Ziana yet else she would misunderstand him and never ever return home. 

“So that chapter is over now. How are you Gen?” he asked in a soft whisper as he sat beside her, gazing at her with longing, his shimmering eyes reflecting the happiness he felt at reuniting with her at last. 

“I’m fine, Brandon, as you can see. My delivery is next month, and I’ll inform you if you want to see the twins.” She got up to go to the kitchen to make herself some dinner, since Brandon didn’t show any signs of leaving yet. Zander followed her to the kitchen, his face grim and thoughtful, contemplating his next move. From her tone, it was clear that she didn’t want to return home with him.

“Of course, I’ll be there with you at the time of delivery. You’re be coming back with me and I won’t listen to you this time, Gen.” Despite her dismissal of him, Zander was determined to convince her somehow and take her back with him. Genelia took out the ingredients to make a simple chicken hot pot, but Zander took them away from her hands. 

“I’ll make dinner for you. Why don’t you sit down and relax for a while?” Although his offer was enticing, Genelia didn’t wish to surrender to his wishes this time. Once was a misunderstanding, but she couldn’t tolerate Bianca’s presence in her life all the time. He had to make a choice. How can any woman just walk in and kiss him whenever they wanted to? 

“I can manage Brandon. Why don’t you go back to those who need you more?” she said, snatching the ingredients and working with a determined scowl on her face. 

“I told you that there’s no one waiting for me.” He sounded annoyed and restless as he watched her with a grim expression on his face. “Trust me once and come home with me. If you ever see Bianca again anywhere near me, you’re free to take your final decision. I swear on my unborn children that I have thrown her out of my life. Please trust me for the last time,” he pleaded, his voice breaking with desperation while he locked his eyes with hers, entreating her silently. 

Genelia searched them, hesitating a little, but all she could find was sincerity and a promise of a better tomorrow. She sighed, knowing what her heart wanted, and went back to her job of making dinner for the two of them. While her entire body craved Brandon and her heart longed to trust him again, her mind was at crossroads, unable to take the actual plunge. 

“I’ve risked my life for you and hunted Moretti down like a madman since the day you disappeared. I’ve stalked him to Malmesbury, to Pretoria, to Soshanguve, yet he escaped us every time. When Enzo drove you away out of Moretti’s house in Soshanguve, Carlos and I were right there watching you, but sadly we didn’t know you were there in the car with him. Moretti escaped after torching the house and when the cops found your charred clothes, they refused to believe me. I explained to them it was all Moretti’s ploy to get away, but the forensic report claimed that the fire burned both you and Ross Moretti alive. I didn’t believe them and with Carlos’s help, I hunted him down and killed him. When I returned, I went into depression and Bianca came over with Ziana. I was drunk and unconscious in my room and might have left my phone at the bar downstairs when you called me. She accepted it on my behalf, without my knowledge, but I threw her out the next morning when I came to my senses, Gen. I really did,” he admitted, avoiding further details. He would tell her once she met Ziana herself. 

“Why did you have to risk your life, Brandon? What if he would have killed you?” Zander gazed at her, stupefied by her questions. There was no doubt that she still loved him, just like before and his heart filled up with hope. 

“I told you I can do anything for you. This is nothing when I can give up my life for you, Gen,” he whispered, his eyes filling up as he made a valiant effort not to break down in front of her. Genelia stilled and gazed into his shimmering eyes, seeing how much he really loved her. Maybe he was right, and she needed to trust him more. He was hers and they had a right to be together. She should have trusted him and fought Bianca for him instead of escaping like a fool all the time. 

“Thank you, Brandon. Thank you for getting rid of Moretti, but promise me you’ll never ever do such a thing without consulting me first.” Zander nodded but stood still, watching her next move with longing. Would she pull him close to her heart and kiss the heartache away? Would she want to revive the magic they shared? 

“I’ll come home with you,” she said, gazing back at him and Zander’s eyes widened, realizing that she had finally agreed. It might not be the heart-warming reunion he had been expecting, but at least she had agreed to go home with him. He smiled and went forward to help her with the food. They didn’t say a word to each other as they silently cooked dinner. Although Zander was dying to talk to her, he preferred to remain silent in case she took offense and changed her mind. While the food simmered in the pot, she turned towards him, looking at him with concern. 

“You can freshen up if you want to,” she said at last, breaking the silence. 

“No, I’ll have dinner and hit the bed. It’s been a long day,” he said, stirring the food every now and then. 

“When do you have to return?” Genelia had to know since she had to talk to the Hemphills. She wondered what they might think of her! 

“Tomorrow. Do you have a lot to pack up?” he asked, hesitating a little, hoping she wouldn’t ask him why he was in such a hurry to get back. 

“Not much, so I’ll pack up after dinner.” Zander released a sigh of relief and smiled at her. Although she smiled back, Zander noted that it wasn’t the heartfelt happy one he was used to, but he knew he would win her over with his love. 

“I’ll help you,” he offered, and Genelia nodded, going to the dining table to sit down while he brought in the food. They ate in silence, although Genelia wanted to clarify so many things with him. 

“Didn’t you get involved with the cops for killing Moretti?” she asked in between bites, the curiosity getting the better of her.

“No. Moretti was already dead to the world when the SAPS team declared him dead.” Genelia nodded and smiled with relief. 

“Did you know I killed him?” 

“Yes, I overheard Enzo tell Carlos.” Zander nodded, since he had overheard her and Enzo’s conversation when he arrived at her apartment. 

“Then why didn’t you come home, Gen?” It was a simple question, but it made Genelia’s heart constrict with pain. She had wanted to go home, but she couldn’t forget the kiss and neither Bianca’s words. 

“Bianca threatened to kill me and my children if I returned. She said that you three were together as a family and you considered me dead already.” Zander felt angry that Bianca could stoop so low.

“Then you definitely should have returned home and faced her with the same courage you faced Moretti. Why do you let her get away with anything? Can’t you stand up for your rights? Why can’t you fight for me, Gen, the way you used to?” Genelia gaped at him, realizing that he was actually right. Why did she let Bianca win all the time?

“I will, the next time,” she whispered, feeling a little guilty. 

“Good. Did you go for a check-up recently?” he asked and she nodded, updating him about what the doctor said. 

“Then can you manage the long-distance travel?” 

“Yeah. I’ll take bedrest for a month after reaching home if the need arose.” 

After dinner, Zander booked their tickets and then went to talk to the Hemphills while Genelia packed up. She had little to pack, as this time most of the items she had borrowed from the Hemphills. Finally, she fell asleep waiting for Zander. Their flight was the next morning, and she needed the rest. Zander didn’t wake her up and quietly freshened up and changed for bed. He lay down beside her just like before and his heart swelled with raw emotions that he had no control over. 

He was glad that she had finally given in and agreed to return home with him, but there was only one problem now. Ziana! He did not know how she would react to her! Would she accept Ziana as her own? Would she accept Ziana in their lives? He just prayed that she did since the poor baby had no one to call her own!

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