Heaven And Hell novel Chapter 107

She knew that Arthur had been heartbroken and depressed because of Davina, and had turned to alcohol for comfort, shutting his family away and forgetting his son, but after his three-year rehab, he was a changed man. He was the old Arthur again.

All he wanted now was his son back. But Cole was too far away to reach.

Lady Portia believed he could change like her son, though. She knew he wasn't heartless enough if he allowed to take his father into his home and get others to care to the older man's needs. Cole also took care of the responsibilities that went under his own title and his father's.

He needed someone to let him open his eyes and thaw the somewhat frozen heart he had. He needed someone to help him love and trust once more.

Margaret was right: Olivia seemed to be the answer. But the girl wasn't the only solution, Lady Portia thought reasonably. Cole needed his family and the love they'd give him. That would be a stupendous help to recover from Davina Boselli's heartlessness, claiming she loved her son but was only after his money. It was pathetic and disgusting.

Looking into his beautiful periwinkle eyes, she laid a hand on his cheek, and said, "We simply wish for you to be happy, darling. That's all that matters to us, most especially to your father."

Cole closed his eyes and sighed. He didn't believe he could be the same with his father again, but he didn't wish to upset his grandmother tonight. He stepped toward her and kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep now," he murmured. With that, he turned around and walked toward his room.

And when he went to bed, he thought about a pair of glowing cornflower blue eyes and soft lips upon his.

After having a three-way FaceTime session with my family, and a solo call with Brett, pretending everything was okay but feeling this horrible guilt clogging my throat, I went to bed with my heart beating rapidly.

But as soon as my head hit the pillow and I closed my eyes to sleep, I only dreamt of a handsome boy with knowing periwinkle eyes, and the way he kissed me and held me in his strong arms.

The jet lag finally hit me like a boulder over my head, and I'd refused to be woken up for hours. Aunt Mary could attest to that since she'd been trying so hard to get me to eat and shower, or at least pee, but it had been no use because my body clock was on full whack and my new bed had become my major sweetheart.

However, Aunt Mary's voice hissed in my ear this fine day.

"Livvy!" she hissed again. "Get up!"

I moaned and covered my head with the plush duvet.

"Livvyyyy!"

I managed to pry one eye about two-thirds of the way open, which proved to be just enough to focus upon the clock on my bedside table.

"Good heavens, Mary," the familiar voice said again. "Your niece isn't so chipper when woken up, is she?"

Aunt Mary wisely held her tongue.

"Her cat's much better than her," the voice continued.

I pushed my legs to the side and yawned. I heard Aunt Mary say, as she flung a hand toward me, "Brad would have to be dead to achieve that."

"I can see that."

Rubbing my eyes again, I stared up at Aunt Mary, who was shaking her head at me in astonishment. "Christ, Livvy! You look...you look..."

I stared at the vanity across the room, catching a glimpse of myself despite my slightly hazy vision. One side of my hair was sticking up, and I was squinting, my eyes heavy from sleep. My mouth was in a scowl too, and my back was hunched over.

Whoever I'd be marrying in the future had to deal with my morning glow.