The C.E.O'S shattered heart (MxM, C.E.O X C.E.O)

Chapter 20. Back to reality Part 2

I instantly realized my mistake. I smiled at Dominique, then answered him with, "No, Dominique. I wasn't mad at you. I had to go home to take care of some things. I'm glad that nothing happened to you. You learned a valuable lesson yesterday, little chick. I'm sure that you won't take things lightly from now on. I'll give you all a big hug when I visit you guys today. Now show me your worksheets." The kids squealed, then ran towards the indoor patio. Ocean kept yelling, "Don't run, guys!" but the kids didn't listen to her. They came back with their colorful folders, then sat down in front of the television. They each took a turn in showing me their worksheets. Dominique's finger probably still hurt. His worksheets were a little messy, but I didn't mind. Genevieve had neatly colored between the lines. Jacques had surprised me once again. He had tried to draw the patterns on the back of the worksheets.

The kids clapped their hands when I complimented them. I was surprised when Genevieve asked me while stacking her worksheets, "Why didn't you pick up your phone last night, uncle Zachariel? I was calling you." I burst out laughing, then asked Genevieve, "Were you the one who called me twenty-one times, Genevieve?" Genevieve shook her head while giggling. Jacques put up three fingers in the air, then uttered, "No, daddy called you three times. I heard him say it. He got angry when you didn't pick up your phone. Genevieve called you the rest of the times." Dominique nodded, then added, "Yeah, daddy forgot his phone in our room. He didn't know that it was still on. Genevieve thought that she was turning the phone off, but she was calling you instead. Daddy was pretty surprised when he came back to look for his phone."

Genevieve burst out laughing, then uttered, "Daddy said that I made him look like a lunatic. I wonder what that means." I sighed while looking at the giggling kids. "It's naptime now, kids," I said to the children, then added, "You guys can finish the rest of the assignments for today when you wake up." I got startled when I felt someone's hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned around to see who had touched me. The children yelled, "Daddy!" when Alexei took a seat next to me. Alexei smiled at the kids, then uttered, "Hello, ducklings." I shook my head when the kids started quacking in unison. The children calmed down when Alexei asked them, "Did you guys finish your lunch today?" Jacques rubbed his hands together, then replied to his father with, "I couldn't finish my green beans today, daddy. I'm sorry." Alexei chuckled, then responded to Jacques with, "It's okay, Jacques. Don't worry about it. It's not like this will be the last time that you'll ever get green beans served, right?"

Jacques nodded eagerly, then answered his father with, "No, daddy. I'll clean my plate the next time." Alexei frowned when he saw Dominique yawn. "Take the children to their room, Ocean," uttered Alexei while moving closer to me. He then added while smiling at the kids, "We'll see you guys later, kids. Sleep well and listen to Ocean." The kids nodded while waving at us. I quickly reminded Ocean to turn off her laptop and the television. I waited till I was sure that I couldn't see or hear anything, then turned off my computer. I got startled when I saw Alexei looking in anger at me. I quickly notified him to calm him down, "I installed a bug in the television and Ocean's laptop, Alexei. No one will be able to spy on you and your family."

Alexei shook his head, then said, "I'm not mad because of this, Zachariel. I'm annoyed because you didn't even allow me to explain why I was angry yesterday. You fled the moment I left you alone. You didn't even pick up your phone when I called you to explain things." I sighed while looking at Alexei. I didn't want to discuss matters with Alexei in the garden, but we needed to clear this misunderstanding. I looked Alexei straight in the eyes, then said to him, "I felt like it was my fault that Dominique got hurt, Alexei. You know how much emotional baggage I have. Andrew's words make me judge myself even if I don't want to. It's like I can't stop second-guessing everything I say or do. We could have avoided this situation if you had told me what was bothering you."