CHAPTER EIGHTY NINE
Breakfast was soft pancakes and berries, as warm as they would be in the sun. Maple syrup threaded on the top, and Alyssa couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction.
That was her favorite breakfast. Or maybe, she was feeling excited that Liam and Timothy were seated right beside her.
She waited patiently, hoping to dig into the food immediately, but not willing to appear impatient and wild.
They waited patiently for the arrival of Ryan and Tiffany, who were already on their way to the breakfast hall.
Just then, Alyssa caught sight of Tiffany, who suddenly stopped walking the moment she got into the room. She had seen Alyssa and Liam acting so cozy and loving towards each other, and this caused a massive frown to spread round her face.
Tiffany ignored them, even if it ached her heart to the core.
“Hey, Tiffany”, Alyssa waved at her, with her other arms clinging to that of Liam.
Tiffany only forced a smile to her face, after which she proceeded to focus her attention on Tim who was giggling and smiling at her.
Tiffany looked up at Alyssa who was now digging into the pancakes, and with an eye signal, she asked if she was now together with Liam.
Alyssa nodded her head calmly and returned her gaze to the meal before her. She observed the sour look on Tiffany’s face, since it countered the excited one the current atmosphere at the breakfast table carried.
She was bent on discovering what was wrong, and that caused her to head out of the breakfast hall once she was done.
“Tiffany, what’s wrong?” Alyssa asked Tiffany, who was still fuming in rage.
Tiffany shrugged, trying to ascertain the best way to open up her heart to her best friend.
“I won’t lie… I’m not Liam’s biggest fan”, Tiffany said as she took in a deep breath and lowered her eyes to the ground.
She had thought that it would be effortless to shove everything aside as though it never happened, but she couldn’t live with the fact that Liam hurt her best friend in such a manner.
“He hurt you! He did that in a way and manner I never believed. I mean, Liam had been a nice and soft-hearted guy from the beginning. Witnessing how he suddenly switched up on you made me scared and I haven’t recovered from that…until this day”, Tiffany explained.
Alyssa took in a deep breath as she nodded her head in understanding. With a small smile, she pulled Tiffany into a warm hug.
“Thank you so much for being that friend and sister I wished to have all my life”, Alyssa said as she swallowed hard and pulled out of the hug.
“But Liam is not to be blamed. I caused everything and if you want to get mad, you should get mad at me”, Alyssa said, but Tiffany nodded her head in disagreement.
“He had no right to treat the mother of his child in such manner!” Tiffany replied bluntly and quickly lowered her head to the ground.
“He was only angry because I lied to him. I made the relationship sour from the very beginning, and you should try to understand”, Alyssa protested, but Tiffany shook her head negatively.
“Listen to me. I’m happy that you are in love with the father of your child. That is one thing you have wanted, and I’m truly excited that you are happy again, after everything you went through. You deserve it”, Tiffany caressed Alyssa’s cheeks lovingly, wiping off the little tears that scattered all over her cheeks.
“I love you so much because you’re my best friend and a sister. But Liam would never get into my good book. At least, it would take a while!” Tiffany said and Alyssa chuckled in amusement.
She had known Tiffany to be true to her word, but she had no idea that she would be so insistent and headstrong with matters concerning Liam.
“That’s fine. Time would solve everything, I guess”, Alyssa said, and Tiffany nodded her head in approval.
Just as they talked, Liam came out and caught sight of the both of them talking. He needed no one to tell him that Tiffany hated him to the core, because of the dead glare she sent across to him the moment he walked closer to Alyssa.
“Hi Tiffany!” Liam greeted, but all he got was a cold stare that made his heart skip a beat.
“I only wish and hope that you wouldn’t make her go through what she did earlier”, Tiffany said with a cold voice, with her head lowered to the ground in respect.
Liam made to talk, but the words got stuck in his throat. Tiffany left almost immediately, causing Liam to sigh in defeat.
“He would never forgive me”, Liam said to Alyssa, who pursed her lips and shrugged lightly.
“I would catch up with you soon. I need to escort Tiffany to the town. We have a few things to pick up”, Alyssa said as she placed a quick kiss on his lips and ran off.
Liam stared at her for a while, smiling calmly and walking back to his chambers.
***
Alyssa smiled as she walked out of the palace gates, with Timothy in her hands, and Tiffany beside her. A guard walked behind them, since Liam had assigned him to take care of Alyssa and her son. Although Alyssa resisted and insisted that he left, he ignored her and trailed them.
Most people turned their head when they observed them walking into the town. Some admired Alyssa and her son, while others wondered who they were.
Alyssa cared less about any of that. She was out of the palace for a moment and the feeling was wonderful.
“You should taste this. It’s made of ginseng and other herbal elements that help the body”, an old woman said to Alyssa, stretching out something that was placed on a stick.
“Some people say it makes a home happy too”, the old woman added and winked at Alyssa, who blushed in embarrassment.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
She glanced at Tiffany, who smiled at her and nudged her to proceed with it.
“This is delicious!” Alyssa noted as she placed some coins into the woman’s palms.
She loved going into the town, to witness the ordinary lives of individuals who had no idea of what it was to be of the high class in the society.
“Mummy, let’s give him some money!” Alyssa heard Timothy’s small voice, and before she could talk, he ran off to meet a little boy of about his age.
Alyssa was amused as she gazed at her son, who was now offering him some sweets she had given him earlier.
She admired him for a moment and her heart got elated. Back then, Liam had saved fruits for her and that really gladdened her heart.
“He takes after his father, I mean, a good heart”, Tiffany said as they watched Timothy.
Alyssa smiled and nodded her head in affirmation. She had not just the man of her dreams, but the child of her dreams too.
The day went on smoothly. Back at the palace, Liam was engrossed with various meetings with the elders. They elaborated on the kingdoms and plans to keep the strength intact. At intervals, he smiled and most of them wondered what was wrong. He didn’t care though, he was a happy man and that was that mattered at the moment.