Obsessed With My Husband's Step-brother - Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Leilani
Surprise graced my features as I stepped out into the living area, my shoes clapping softly against the marble floor. My gaze strayed to look at Adonis standing in the far corner, dark and imposing and…pissed?
The glint of diamonds caught my eye and my gaze moved to see an elegant, sophisticated woman perched on the couch, legs crossed under her sparkling black dress, and the edge of her red-bottom heels peaked from the hem of her dress.
Light reflected off the rings around her perfectly manicured fingers as she slowly moved the glass of expensive champagne in her hand with a slow swishing rhythm.
I recognized her immediately.
Ms. Freya Declan. Neil’s mother.
I had only met her once and that was the week after Neil proposed to me, and the entire visit to her house was stiff and tense for some reason I never did discover. She had an aura about her that made the edge of my nerves stand on edge. Apart from that one meeting, I never set eyes on her again, even in Neil’s family events. She was not part of the Giles family officially, since she had been divorced by Neil’s father since Neil was a little kid, so I get why she’s never at family events.
But here she is.
Accessing me thoroughly with blue eyes so similar to Neil’s, that it unnerved me. Her eyes were almost like Neil’s, but also very different. Neil’s eyes were almost always full of light and warmth.
But hers. Her eyes were so…
“Leilani Waters, is it?” Her voice barged into my ponderings. Her voice was polished and silky. Well modulated.
I briefly glanced at Neil. He was smiling at me, his eyes filled with appreciation.
“Hello, Ms. Declan-” She seemed to tense up. “-It’s really good to see you. And yes, it’s Leilani Waters.” I finished in my best conversational tone, smiling pleasantly.
Neil leaned forward to hold my waist and softly tug me down to sit by his side, placing a small kiss on my cheek.
Ms. Declan stared at us with her dark red lips curved into what I guess was a smile. “Neil always talks about you,” Her eyes sparkled. “You are the only thing in his mind all the time.” The way she said it made my stomach start to churn with unease. Then she arched a perfect dark brow at Neil, her curled blonde hair pinned regally into some intricate hairstyle while the loose tendrils around her face swayed gently. “Am I wrong, honey?”
Neil chuckled warily, squeezing a hand around my waist. “Come on, Mom.”
She only looked back at me piercingly before taking a small sip of her champagne.
I swallowed. Then looked back up at Adonis. He was still standing on that same spot, dark eyes brewing silently. I tried to meet his gaze, but he was looking at something else. He was staring at Neil’s hand around my waist.
My pulse stuttered.
“Leila.” Neil leaned in to whisper in my ear. “You look amazing, babe.”
I struggled to concentrate on his words as I gave a distracted smile. “Thanks…”
Neil looked up at Adonis. “Stop standing there, come sit.”
Ms. Declan glanced at Adonis briefly. “What’s he doing here, Neil? Don’t tell me you’re into charity now.”
My eyes widened at the jab obviously directed at Adonis. But he was very quiet, dark eyes unreadable.
Neil shifted beside me. “We’re working on something together.”
She ruminated over his answer for a moment. Then her eyes glinted in time with her diamond rings. “He’s working for you?”
Neil was growing increasingly uncomfortable, and I could feel him start to tense. The animosity hanging in the air was heavy and as thick as fog. Why was Neil’s mother so passively hostile towards Adonis? And why was Adonis standing there deadly and dangerous, his dark eyes shuttered and devoid of light.
I have never seen him like this.
“No. It’s a project and…” Neil abruptly paused, then changed the topic entirely. “You just got here. We could give you a tour of the house and then show you to a room to spend the night-”
Her dark laugh cut Neil off. “Dear son. Spend the night? Who says I’m only staying for one night?”
My heart sank. And so did Neil’s face, even though he tried his best not to let it show.
“W-well-”
Her sharp laughter suddenly filled the room, cutting off whatever Neil was starting to stutter out.
I stared bewildered. Even as she laughed at whatever she found funny, my eyes ran over her from top to bottom, taking in every tiny little detail of her appearance.
God, she was almost perfect. She looked way too young to be Neil’s mother, even though she had him at a young age, it still looked like she was immune to aging. Her skin was supple, dewy, and spotless, lashes long and straight and her hair curled abundantly on her elegant head. She looked more like she was Neil's older sister.
“My, oh my.” She daintily fanned herself with her fingers. ‘I‘m only joking, Neil. I don’t plan on spending the night here.”
“But it’ll be dark soon and-”
She gave Neil a biting stare. “I know you don’t want me here, honey. I believe you’re an adult now. Do not patronize me.”
I glanced at Neil. He was just staring at his mother with his lips pinched in a firm line.
Okay, what the actual fuck is going on here? Like, I do not get it.
My body sensed Adonis moving before I became vaguely aware and I looked in his direction. His hands were buried in his black pants, his dangerous eyes staring straight at Ms. Declan.
“You should know, Freya, that you’re not wanted anywhere,” Adonis said coolly.
My mouth dropped open at the stark disrespect.
Ms. Declan paused. Then slowly, oh so slowly placed the champagne glass on the glass stool, clinking softly. For a moment, I thought she was gonna hurl the glass at Adonis.
“Ace?” She turned her eyes to rest on Adonis. Ace? She’s the only one who I’ve met that calls him like by his middle name. “You seem to have forgotten how much of a disappointment you are to your entire wretched family.”
Adonis arched an eyebrow. “At least I’m not the insane outcast.”
“Adonis!” Neil thundered, shooting up to his feet. “That’s my mother right there!”
I could tell Neil was furious. His fists were clenched, his fine muscles tense and bunched up, his blue eyes burning under the dark slash of his eyebrows.