While Mariana chopped some garlic, her mind bobbled and whirled around the incident inside Walmart. She didn't know if she did the right thing with Elisa, or if she could've done something else. Her shouting out of anger made her feel like a bad mother, and this feeling cling onto her like heartache and the sorrows of a cloudy day.

She sighed and suppressed her tears that threatened to surface her depressed face. Maybe just buying her chocolate just this time wouldn't be too bad. But she didn't want her to be on a sugar rush or aggressive when she couldn't give her anymore.

She huffed out as her brain burned by all these thoughts. Then her hand slipped, and she accidentally cut her finger. She yelped and clutched her hand. She started jumping around as the cut seethed into the skin, making blood trickle out. She quickly dipped her hand in water, hoping it would cool her down.

How much worse can this day get?

"Mariana, are you alright?" Micah walked in through the dimly lit door.

"I'm fine, just a little stressed." She tried smiling, but ended up tearing up at the pain that coursed and prickled her veins.

"Did you hurt yourself my angel?" He went behind her and inspected her finger. It was like a beating heart and flared up with redness.

"Yes daddy, I hurt myself." She sulked like a baby.

"Poor thing." He pouted as Mariana shifted uncomfortably while standing.

"Do you want me to fix it for you?" He slowly lifted her chin to face him.

"Yes please," she responded and swayed her body a little.

"Okay, I will help you." He gently took her hand, which stung greatly like shots of pain through her fingertips, and then dried it off before bandaging it.

"How did this happen?" he asked.

"I don't know, I got distracted." She sighed and rested against his broad shoulder. He felt his body heave slowly, and his heat transitioned onto her. She felt safe and comforted as he gently soothed her burns with the paste.

"Why don't you go have a rest, and I'll make dinner?"

"Really, you would do that?"

"Of course, what were you making with the garlic anyway?"

"Um, I was going to use it to make creamy salmon with garlic bread." She shrugged.

"Okay well, I'll just make it. How about you go help Axel with cleaning the mess on the wall he made?"

"He drew on the wall?" she mumbled tiredly.

"Yeah, that's why I was coming in here, to get something for him to clean it with."

"Okay, I'll go sort it out."She took out a bowl and then mixed it with vinegar and water and then grabbed a sponge before transporting it to the living room.

She instantly found Axel hiding behind the couch and the wall used as a canvas. She sighed and slumped over as a yawn escaped her mouth. She didn't realize how worn out she was until she almost passed out when she got down on her knees next to her baby boy.

She snapped her fingers to gain his attention, to which he slowly turned around like he had been caught red-handed. The red crayon was still held hostage in his pudgy hand and his mouth hung open.

"*Come on Axel, give me the crayon," she said sternly in Italian.

He shook his head wildly. "*I don't want..."

"*I said give me the crayon Axel!" she raised her voice, gradually losing her patience as her eyes drooped, and she felt her muscles grow limp.

Axel got startled and eventually placed the crayon inside her palm. She stuffed it into her pocket and sighed while massaging her temples. She didn't mean to get snappy, but maybe it was because she was in desperate need of a goodnight's sleep.

She glanced up at Axel, and he was now leaning on the wall, looking sullen at the dull carpet like he was suddenly bored and had nothing to do. She then took a look at the walls, and thought that he may wanted to draw but had no paper.

"*Would you like to do some coloring with Mommy?" she asked, softening her tone.

He suddenly smiled and eagerly nodded.

"*Okay first clean up your mess, and then you and mommy can draw together on paper." She smiled gently.

"*Okay Mama."

She soaked the sponge into the vinegar and gave it to him. He peacefully started scrubbing the decorated wall with his tongue stuck out.

Meanwhile, Mariana acquired some paper from the couch where Elisa quietly napped. Mariana checked up on her and noticed that her blanket had strayed away from her body. So Mariana pulled it back up, which made Elisa shuffle her body inside like a snail.

She kissed her forehead to which she grinned like she had sweet dreams in her sleep.

Such a sweet little girl, I'm so sorry for shouting at you.

When Axel had finished, they sat on a little table and started drawing together. Rio jumped on her lap and she started stroking him while drawing. She glanced over at Axel who looked much happier and scribbled a bunch of lines like he was an artist.

He was probably looking for somewhere to draw on, Mariana comprehended, so he found the biggest thing that looked like paper.

"*Axel next time you want to draw something, you can always ask mommy and daddy for paper instead of using the wall, okay?"

Axel eagerly nodded, but didn't pay attention as he drew to the brim of his happiness. Mariana was satisfied that she gave him a better alternative.

"*The wall is not something to draw on, and besides, if you use paper then you can get it hung on the fridge if you want."

He nodded as he continued drawing random shapes.

"*So what are you going to do the next time you feel like drawing on the wall?"

"*Ask paper!" Axel's fist punched the air as he firmly revealed his answer.

"*That's right, high five!" Mariana put her hand down, and Axel whacked it in excitement. They then continued drawing and Mariana was like mission accomplished.

Mariana woke up to nothing other than the visible light of a lamp that was lighted in the corner like a mysterious flame.

"Micah?" She called out, but no one answered. The room got dimmer and darker, as the curtains wavered with the ominous wind howling through.

"Micah?" She shouted again. Panic rose in her throat as she tried to move around but her arms felt tied like she was trapped. Sweat dripped down her temples as she suddenly heard a murky chuckle. It was deep and threatening and made the hairs on her stand like they were screaming in fright.

She turned around and the door opened and Micah quickly ran in.

"Hey, are you alright?" he asked with concern.

Mariana looked towards him and was relieved. Also, everything returned back to normal and she realized she was laid on the couch.

"Hey, how long was I sleeping?" She blinked in confusion.

"Um about an hour.I came, and you were fast asleep so I decided to leave you here since you looked so cute and didn't want to be disturbed."

"Aw, I wish you woke me up for dinner though, but it's okay." She sat up and yawned again and smiled at him like a cheerful cookie.

"But I got something prepared for you."

"Really? What?"

"I'll show you." He slowly lifted her off the ground and carried her bridal style up the stairs.

Soon, they were in the bathroom, and Micah gently placed her down and twirled her around like a princess. When Mariana saw the majestic sight in front of her, she gasped and covered her mouth like her breath was taken away.

Around the luxurious bath were dozens of scented, strawberry candles laid around, their tiny flames were like an inviting path to a peaceful sanctuary. Bubbles flowed over and created a luminous cloud of cotton candy inside the tub. The lights on top flickered and danced around with the candles.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Mariana exclaimed, with tears flowing through her eyes.

"Since you had quite an exhausting day, I thought you deserved a relaxing bath."

"Thank you Micah!" She whirled around and pulled him into a hearty kiss. Her tender lips melted into his plump ones. She loved him so much and sincerely appreciated this gesture, especially after enduring the tedious, tiring hours.

"I'll let you get settled then." His body slowly departed from hers, and she dearly missed his touch when he disappeared out. A happy sigh was let out because that kiss made her light on her feet like she was floating serenely.

She undressed and then slowly dipped into the bath, quickly becoming immersed by the pleasant soothing waters that cleansed her body.

"Mmm..." she moaned softly and swam a little till her curvy back hit the side. The flaming waters rose calmly up her body, like gentle waves on a beach. They splashed around her chin like tiny raindrops, causing her to spit some out. But nevertheless, she slowly soaked her head into the deep, until nothing but her drenched eyelids and her pinkish lips could be seen.

She allowed her body to relax into the endless ripples that rippled the tension out of her muscles. Her fingers defrosted while being submerged, like they were frozen in ice and now were in the warmth. Her round cheeks received a wet massage as well as her body.

This is nice... exactly what I needed.

She then had enough of relaxing and grabbed her washcloth then whirled her body wash around in the middle. She then sat up and started scrubbing herself. It felt like all her problems were being scrubbed away and by the time she got out, she would be a renewed person.

When she decided to wash her hair, she got her massage brush and squirted out shampoo. Before she could massage it into her hair, someone touched her shoulder.

"Huh?" She turned around, slightly startled by the distraction. But Micah waved to calm her down.

"Hey, can I help?"

"Um, sure." She gave him the brush, and he began massaging it into her curls. She leaned her head back and bit her lip, for it felt so nice.

"Oh Micah, I love you ever so much..." she murmured.

When he was done, she took it off him and then grabbed the shower head.

"Thanks Micah, I'll do the rest." She kissed his cheek and then he went on his way.

When she was done with her bath, she diffused her hair along with scrunching jelly. She still had her robe on and approached the bed where Micah waited for her.

She smiled sheepishly and then slowly climbed into the bed like a lioness.

"You feeling better now?" Micah asked, opening up his arms towards her.

"Yeah, much better daddy..." She gripped onto his shoulders and kissed him deeply. He then gently lowered her down, her hands combined with his, like a heart being united with its other half. Their fingers intertwined with each other, like they were vines connecting them as soulmates, while their lips closed the gap. No longer were they separated.

"And I'm about to make you feel even more better," he said and flipped her over. He pinned both arms above as she shrieked with excitement. His hands snaked around her neck and pressed it, causing her to choke a little. He devoured her lips and sucked hard on her fiery neck like sweet honey.

Mariana moaned and bit her lip. Her body curved, her toes curled, as he kissed all her sweet spots.Around her belly and her thighs that heated around her core, before going back up to her lips. His glistening eyes directly stared into hers, making her blush insanely.

"Are you comfortable my Mariana?" he murmured, his words rolling out as he lowered himself on top of her.

"Yeah..." she said, sticking one finger into her mouth and giggled slightly.

He smiled and then slowly kissed her lips as they made passionately love.

A/N: Hey I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I think I lost count of how many times I've bit my lip while writing this book😂😂.

Axel listening to them be like 👁👄👁
Nah I'm jk😂