Two years ago…
Elizabeth
Seb was right—Adira was a thorn on his flesh, but not on mine. I wouldn't lie; having her around the house was actually quite entertaining. She treated me like a queen, and Seb like a male servant. Most nights, she would have me stay in her room, deliberately keeping Seb and me from… other activities. Seb would text me secret rendezvous in the kitchen when the confinement became too much for him to handle.
Our wild, stolen moments often happened at midnight in the kitchen. That was our routine—until one fateful night when Adira almost caught us. She woke up at midnight and couldn't find me beside her. I had to hide Seb behind the refrigerator before she even glanced our way.
When she asked why I was downstairs, I lied that I only came for water. But the sweat glistening on my skin gave me away. Adira immediately sensed something was off but said nothing—until she mentioned that she'd first checked Seb's room and hadn't found him there. Thank God for the quick lie on the tip of my tongue: I told her he was in the study, busy with work. Crisis averted.
Other times, Adira would "kidnap" Seb from the gym early in the morning to make breakfast, chop vegetables, pound yams, help cook, or clean the house. The household staff were delighted, stress-free, and grateful for her guidance. Antoni pitied Seb whenever he visited and witnessed this, often stepping in to lend him a helping hand.
Adira even set strict times for Seb to finish work and run home for dinner preparation. Speaking of dinner, I had the chance to taste most of her African dishes—especially her Nigerian jollof rice. It was mind-blowing, top-notch, and mouthwatering—definitely my favorite.
I swear, Adira was a woman of endless talents. In just one month of living with us, I was already noticeably chubbier. Bianca and Antoni visited randomly and barely recognized me. I wondered whether it was the pregnancy—or Adira's generous hospitality and delicious cooking—that was causing me to gain weight.
I didn't even get the chance to go to work without her by my side. She accompanied me everywhere, from meetings to office errands. Because of her, we returned home as early as 4:30 p.m., only to find Seb already at home, completing his chores again. I used to think Seb was fearless with his mother—but he was utterly terrified of her. He respected her down to his very last bone.
It was the weekend. Seb and I were cuddling in the bathtub when Adira's shrill voice cut through the morning calm.
"Sebastian!!! It's 7 a.m. Stop keeping her hostage! I need her downstairs for breakfast. We're going to the baby store today—don't make me repeat myself or I'll break your head and put some sense into it!"
I couldn't help it—a lazy chuckle escaped my lips.
Seb let out a frustrated sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll dispose of her."
"She's cute," I said, sitting up, my nakedness on full display.
Seb's eyes roamed me up and down. "Really? You enjoy watching her torture me in my own house?"
I shrugged my small shoulders. "What can I do? She's your mommy, and mommies are always the best."
He groaned, clearly unconvinced. "This one is a pain in my ass."
Adira banged on our bedroom door. "Sebastian!!! Let that girl down now! I know you're making love in there! Don't touch a pregnant woman!"
"Get the hell out of my house, dear mother!" Seb shouted, his frustration loud enough to make me cover my ears.
"We're going to the baby mall! Let her be!" Adira yelled back.
"It's just 7 a.m.! Leave us alone!" Seb shot back.
The fight escalated by the second—mother and son exchanging sharp words over me. Eventually, it ended when I got dressed, and we finally headed out.
Later, all three of us were at the baby mall, shopping for our unborn child. Seb gravitated toward the male items while I browsed the female ones. Adira quietly observed our playful debate over the baby's gender, shaking her head.
"I think you guys should get both," she finally said. We both turned to her. "Yes, it's still too early to tell the gender, right? And if you ask me, I love anything that comes from God."
Her words gave me confidence to shop more for the gender I preferred. Soon, we were walking out of the mall, arms and hands full of bags and boxes.
Seb was loading everything into the back of his SUV when his phone suddenly interrupted the quiet. A slight frown appeared on his face as he checked the screen. He excused himself to a corner to take the call.
When he returned, his expression was one of utter disappointment—the world's biggest "I-can't-believe-this" look.
I had to pull him away from Adira's reach, my voice full of concern. "Is everything alright? You seem… bothered."
He let out a heavy, defeated sigh. Surely, nothing was fine. "Something just came up. I'm afraid I'll be away for a couple of months."
My mouth dropped, and my grip on his arm gently slackened. "A couple of months? But… next week is Bianca and Antoni's wedding."
"I know." His voice was barely audible, and he avoided my gaze.
I held his chin, lifting his eyes to meet mine. "Hey…"
He removed my hands, looking anywhere but at me. "Is it that important?"
I swallowed hard. He wouldn't give up his cousin's wedding for anything—even if it meant leaving me for months.
After a tense silence, he finally spoke. "It's business. And it's very important."
I sighed, placing my hands on my hips. He drew closer, concern etched on his face. "Look, baby… talking to Antoni about my absence isn't the problem. My real concern is you."
I blinked back the sting in my chest. Forget about me or my safety—he was putting duty above us. "You were supposed to be his best man," I murmured.
"He'll manage. Frank, Ben, Dobrav, Matt, Callaway… any of our friends can handle it," he tried to reassure me, but my gaze stayed downcast, weighed with sadness.
"Baby," he reached for my face, and I let him. "I know how you feel about this, but I promise to stay in touch. For you… and for our baby."
Water welled in my eyes. I couldn't hold back my emotions. "Seb, this is our first pregnancy. We're supposed to be there… for the baby."
"I know." His thumbs brushed away the tears rolling down my cheeks.
I didn't want to be the reason he abandoned his duties, but I also didn't want him out of my sight. "We're supposed to go to the checkups together, visit my obstetrician, everything… When are you going? Where? How long? And when will you return?"
I could see his self-reproach. He hated himself for leaving, yet he also knew he couldn't change it. "Japan. Five months. I'm leaving tonight."
My jaw dropped. "Really? Five—" I inhaled deeply to steady myself, clearing my throat and forcing a weak smile. "It's okay, honey. You have my consent… but talk to Antoni first. He deserves an explanation."
He didn't say anything. He simply pulled me into a tight hug and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
Later, once we settled inside the SUV, he explained everything to Adira. She didn't know what to say at first. Finally, she reminded him, "I have no control over this part. She's in charge. You need her consent before doing anything." she was actually referring to me.
Sebastian's lips curved into a satisfied smile. Those words from his mother were exactly what he wanted to hear.
Convincing Antoni wasn't difficult. Boys' lives, he said, were different from women's. He understood immediately and even encouraged Seb to follow through with his plans.
That evening, I escorted Seb to the airport where his private jet was waiting.
Neither of us were ready to let go. I couldn't bear to take my eyes off him. Tears slipped down my cheeks. It felt like this was our final farewell, like we might never see each other again.
"I'll miss you," I murmured into his lips as he leaned down to kiss me.
"I'll miss you too." He pressed his forehead to mine, eyes soft as they met my tear-filled gaze. "Hey, I'm not going to die." He chuckled lightly, brushing my tears away. "I promise to FaceTime you whenever I can. Just like always."
I sniffled, burying my face in his chest. "But… this is different. You'll be gone for five months. I'll be alone in the bed every night."
He glanced behind me, his gaze landing on Adira, who was quietly sniffing and dabbing her own tears. "Mom will be with you the whole time, okay? I've also asked Hendrix and Danny to look after you."
I drew lazy circles on his clothed torso, pouting. "You know I don't like being followed."
"You have no choice, honey. You're not alone anymore, and your safety means everything to me." His eyes softened as they fell to my stomach. Squatting down, he pressed a tender kiss to it. "I'll miss you too, little one. Tell me… what do you want Daddy to get you? A car? Toys? A plane?"
I chuckled at the sight of him speaking to our unborn child. "It says, 'I'm good, Daddy. Thanks.'"
His brows knitted. "No. He's not frugal like you. He has my blood, so I can already hear his demands."
I teased him, smiling. "Then what did he say, Big Daddy?"
"It's boys' talk." He stole a quick kiss from my lips. "A secret I shouldn't share with Mommy."
I pouted, "Sad. Mommy's out of the game now."
He laughed, pulling me into his embrace again. I closed my eyes, resting my head on his chest as long as I could, savoring the warmth.
We stayed like that for a while. Parting felt unbearable. Five months without his presence loomed ahead, and it hurt more than I could put into words.
"I love you," he whispered, breaking the silence.
"I love you more. Every day. Forever, Seb."
Bruce came hurrying toward us. "Boss, we have a plane to catch."
I reluctantly pulled away, finally letting him go. "Bye—" My words died in my throat as he leaned down and kissed me deeply, passionately.
It felt like our last kiss. I couldn't help but moan softly and ran my fingers through his hair, reluctant to let him go. I knew he had to leave—his project was important, and he had responsibilities that demanded him.
"Boss?" Bruce checked his watch, impatience growing with every second.
Sebastian finally pulled away, brushing his lips against mine one last time. "I love you," he said as he back-walked toward the plane.
I bit my lower lip, whispering, "Stay safe."
Adira stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. "You kids these days… so head-over-heels." She waved at her son as he disappeared into the plane.
I didn't move until I watched the plane vanish from sight.
By midnight, Adira quietly entered my room to check on me. I was curled up alone on the king-size bed, wrapped tightly in the sheets, looking like a fragile piece of cake.
She sighed softly and closed the door behind her before walking over.
I wiped the tears from my cheeks as she sat beside me.
"You're still crying," she murmured, catching a glimpse of the selfie Seb and I had taken weeks ago on my phone. "It'll hurt the baby if you keep this up."
"How many hours does it take to reach Japan?" I whispered, voice trembling. It had barely been four hours, and I couldn't get through to him.
Adira's eyes softened with worry. Seeing me like this broke her heart. "Ten hours… or maybe even more," she said gently.
I sobbed harder. Why? Just why?
"Elizabeth?" Adira moved closer, pulling my head to rest against her chest. My tears soaked through her nightie, but she didn't flinch. "Shh… it's okay now. Relax, my dear. Sebastian will call you once he arrives, alright?"
"T…Tell…Te—Tell me he'll be safe," I stammered, my voice breaking.
"Yes, yes, yes," Adira whispered, holding me tightly to her chest. "My son is safe. I'm a hundred percent sure of it. It's okay now… Please. Sebastian won't be happy to see you like this. Consider the baby too. Take a deep breath, my dear."
I nodded, still sobbing, feeling the warmth and steadiness of her embrace. At some point, I drifted into sleep, comforted by her presence.
When I woke the next morning, the first thing I reached for was my phone. My eyes widened in shock—countless missed calls from Sebastian and over forty text messages crowded the screen.