One Night Stand With My Husband’s Brother

Mackenzie squeezed the collar of her shirt and tore her apron off her in the process. She needed to breathe.

Charlotte, on the other hand, moved to the littke girl. She lowered her body in a squat and cupped Calista’s cheeks.

“What’s wrong, sweety? You were supposed to be watching cartoons with Cameron. Did something happen?”

Calista shook her head, a silent sign for no. She raised her eyes to spare her mother a short glance, but Charlotte remained in front of her, patiently waiting for an explanation.

“Cameron changed channels by accident, aunt Charlotte, and the news came up. Mummy, you need to see this! Our new grandpa is on TV mummy!” Calista cried out again. This time, she walked past Charlotte and held her mother’s right leg firmly, pulling and urging Mackenzie to go with her.

Mackenzie’s heart skipped ten beats at once. At the mention of Richard, Chase’s father, she sprang up from her stool and picked Calista up from the ground. She held her daughter in her arms and rushed into the house. Charlotte and Felicity followed her behind. They were curious to know what had happened.

Just as Calista had said, Richard’s Axford’s face was all over the TV. At the right side, there was a dashing picture of him in a royal blue tuxedo. On the left was a video of him in a hospital gown, a weak and tired.

She dropped her gaze to the headline at the bottom of the TV screen.

Richard Axford, founder of Axford Conglomerate, survives his ten-hour cancer surgery.

“I am well, and I have never felt more alive” – Richard Axford.

Mackenzie squeezed Calista in a tight hug. She settled into the couch beside her, and sank into the leather. She shut her eyes tight, parting her lips to suck in deep breaths. She did not want to cry, but the tears of joy that burned the sides of her eyes did not share in her sentiment.

She sniffed in her tears over and over again. As many times as it would take to keep them at bay.

Cameron climbed down from his couch and walked up to her.

“What happened to grandpa, mummy?” The sight of Richard in a hospital gown must have troubled him. The man did not seem well.

“Can we go and see grandpa, please?” Cameron pleaded, pressing his palms together as he whined.

Mackenzie looked down at him and forced a smile.

“Your grandpa is alright, baby. Nothing happened to him.” She reached for her son’s right cheek and caressed it gently.

Charlotte and Felicity stood behind her. Charlotte moved closer and tapped her shoulder, and Mackenzie raised her head to look at her best friend.

“Have you heard from Chase? Just to know what’s going on.”

Mackenzie shook her head. Felicity’s eyes darted to the door that led to Mackenzie’s room, before looking back at Mackenzie.

She did not need a soothsayer to tell her what her friends were saying. She had been thinking about the same thing too. Hell! It was all she had been able to think about since she woke up, except for the time uncle Maverick arrived with his explosive confession.

Mackenzie put Calista down on the couch, and pleaded with Charlotte to stay beside her. She did not need to ask twice for Charlotte to agree. Mackenzie rushed into her room, reached for her phone on the bed, and found three missed calls from Chase.

“Oh God.” She breathed out. Trembling fingers dialed Chase’s number, while her wobbling feet paced about the room restless, waiting for him to pick up.

He answered the phone after a few seconds, and Mackenzie sighed with relief.

“Chase…”

“Where were you? Where did you leave your phone, Mackenzie?”

She was taken aback by the urgency in his voice, but she replied him either way.

“I had some work to do at home. Listen, Calista has been crying and asking of you since she had breakfast this morning. I had to take her to the outhouse to cheer her up a little.”

There was a brief ten seconds of silence, before Chase spoke again. This time, a tad bit calmer.

“Tell them I’ll be coming to see them tonight.”

Mackenzie nodded, as though he could see her. She was about to speak to him when he continued his scolding.

“Still, you shouldn’t have left your phone unattended to. I called, time and time again, and there was no response. In such a crucial time, Mackenzie. Are you even aware of all the things that could go wrong?”

Mackenzie rolled her eyes.

It was sweet to hear him worry about her, but why couldn’t he trust that she was fine?

In no mood to argue with him, she pushed the question aside and hit him with one of her own.

“Where are you?”

“I’m at the hospital.” He replied calmly.

Mackenzie too was more relaxed knowing he was with his father.

“I just saw the news. There was news about Richard. Wasn’t it supposed to be confidential?”

“It was supposed to.” The spite in Chase’s voice had returned.

“The news leaked out the same way that of the children did. I’ve instructed my team to find the identity of the person who’s sabotaging us. I’ll find out as soon as possible. We are already working on it.”

Mackenzie turned around, a complete 360 degrees spin, tapping her fingers on her hips.

“The children are worried about you, Chase. They really want to see you.”

“I’ll be with them soon, Mackenzie, believe me. In the meantime, please stop them from watching the news channel for now. There might be more news about us in coming days, until we can get to the bottom of this. We can deal with articles and blogs, but not the news on the TV screen.”

Mackenzie bit her lower lip hard. She had already seen the evidence of that.

“It’s already a headline on most channels, even in other cities. We have reached out to them to put it down, but some are just so stubborn.” Chase continued.

Mackenzie did pity him. She could hear the growing frustration in his voice.

And the fatigue too. He was tired.

“Alright then. Just…do take it easy, Chase.”

She heard him suck in a deep breath.

“Yes, I will. Meanwhile the security details would be with you soon. I have given them instructions on what to do incase you need to leave the house.”

Mackenzie nodded, listening intently.

“If you are going to come to the hospital with the kids, it’ll have to be later in the evening, when it’s dark, because…”

“You don’t have to worry, Chase.” Mackenzie cut in, in a soft tone she hoped would keep him calm.

“We would be fine as long as we have the security details. We are coming to the hospital. Richard needs the children around right now.” She clutched the phone tigher, a sad smile crept up to her cheeks.

“I’m so sorry, Chase. I had no idea it was this serious. I am supposed to be by your side now, but I’m not. You shouldn’t be alone right now. You don’t deserve to be alone.” She did not want to admit it, but she yearned for him.

“How are you doing? How’s Richard?” She finally asked.

“I’m holding on, but he’s doing well. He is conscious now. That’s a good thing.”

“Yeah,” Mackenzie nodded.

“It really is. Just keep holding on, the kids and I would be on our way soon.”

“Mackenzie…”

“No, Chase. Don’t think about telling me not to.” She cut in. Her defiant tone must have told him there was no use arguing with her.

He heaved a tired sigh.

“Alright then, I’ll see you.”

“Hmmm. I’ll see you. Bye.” Mackenzie’s cheeks flushed at the thought of the three words she would have loved to hear him say.

I love you.

“Bye.” He replied.

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