Mother and Daughter

Kanalaa and Alistair exchanged wistful glances as they prepared to depart after their week long vacation on the island.

"I wish we could have stayed longer," Kanalaa murmured, her voice tinged with a hint of regret.

Alistair smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, we will have another one," he replied, his tone confident and promising.

Kanalaa nodded and once again roamed her eyes around filling it with the escape in front of her.

"Are you ready to go?" Alistair asked, shifting his gaze towards their luggage.

"Yup, I just need some help with the bags," Kanalaa responded, averting her eyes onto the luggage.

"I got you. I'll bring them to the yacht, go on board," Alistair said with a grateful nod, as he made his way towards the awaiting vessel, ready to assist Kanalaa first before minding the bags and suitcases.

Kanalaa boarded the yatch first before Alistair and the driver on the yatch followed her assisting with carrying their luggages.

Through out their travel from the sea to land to air and back to the land, costed them their energy. Therefore, during the time of their travel, both of them just slept it away.

Both of them decided to stay at their own home instead of staying in one because the two of them knew that work awaits them and given their personas, they will immediately start it once at home regardless if it is not working hours. Despite that decision, Alistair will drop Kanalaa first on her flat before going on his own house.

To Kanalaa's surprise, someone was already waiting for her in her front door.

"What are you doing here?" She asked with hostility not stopping from her tracks but only when she reached the front door and searched for her keys. Meanwhile, Alistair was just following her not knowing what's going on. He can say there's a heavy tension around. He didn't know who's the woman in front of them but by the striking resemblance of Kanalaa and her, he assumed she's her mother. He wanted to give her a polite acknowledgement however, her gaze never left Kanalaa that made him decide to drop it and just follow Kanalaa, not wanting to meddle.

"Darling, spare me some time please," the woman's begging.

"I told you not see me again. All the more here in my house. Go home," Kanalaa's firm answer.

"Please, Kanalaa. I just want to talk and spend time with you."

"Please just go. I'm not interested,"

The woman reached Kanalaa's arm hoping she'll spare her a glance and give up to her request saying, "I will not leave until you spare me some time." as firm as Kanalaa's words but her daughter only shrugged her arm to free from her mother's hold.

"Fine, meet me at my granny's house," Kanalaa giving up.

"Kanalaa, you know your grandmother's resentment towards me."

Kanalaa smirked because that was the reason. Not only the two of them are at odds but with her grandmother also. She knows that she will give up with her condition present.

"If you've got a problem about it, don't expect to see me again," her taunt.

"In your father's house, please."

"You really asked that? In granny's, take it or leave it," Kanalaa's last word before entering her house.

Althrough out the exchange, Alistair was just watching on the sidelines. She saw how pitiful Kanalaa's mother was. Her expression showing how she was hurt and craving for Kanalaa's presence but he can't meddle with their business. He was once warned by Kanalaa not to cross the line between her mother and her. He didn't have a choice but to close the door on Kanalaa's mother. He wanted to help but don't want to cause a rift in their relationship as a couple.

Instead of leaving after dropping off Kanalaa, he stayed. Alistair's brows furrowed with concern as he observed Kanalaa, who sat hunched over, her hands trembling slightly.

"Are you okay?" he asked gently, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

Kanalaa looked up, her eyes tired but trying to muster a smile. "Yes," she replied softly, attempting to reassure him.

"Do you need me to stay with you?" Alistair offered, his voice filled with sincerity as he squeezed her shoulder gently.

"No–" Kanalaa started, but her voice trailed off, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"I'll stay," Alistair cut her off to insist, sitting beside her and offering a comforting presence.

"You don't have to," Kanalaa protested weakly, her gaze drifting back to air. She's used to it but the anger inside her still igniting whenever she sees or talks with her mother.

"Work can be done tomorrow. I'll stay," Alistair reassured her, ignoring her rejection of his offer, placing a hand over hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze, silently promising to support her through whatever she was facing.

Kanalaa hesitated, her mind wrestling with conflicting emotions. She glanced at the clock on the wall, noting that the sun already set and only little work can be done, and then back at Alistair. Despite her protests, she couldn't deny the comfort his presence offered. With a sigh, she relented, giving a small nod. "Okay," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Alistair smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "That's settled then," he said, his tone filled with quiet determination.

As they settled into a comfortable silence, the weight of Kanalaa's worries began to lift, replaced by a sense of solace in Alistair's company. She watched as he reached for the remote and turned on the television, the soft glow illuminating the room. They didn't need to speak—the mere act of being together was enough to ease the ache in her heart.

Lost in their own thoughts, they sat side by side, her head resting on Alistair's shoulder and his arms wrapped around her giving her more warmth and comfort. In their position, it can't be helped but Kanalaa's weight be on Alistair which he didn't mind even a bit. In this set up they found solace in each other's presence as the night stretched on.

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A/N: Releasing 2 chapters today to make up for not updating for quite a while because I was busy reading books just like you and playing games lol i'll try to write as much as 3 chapters per day so i have piled chapters ready to be released whenever i'm busy. I'll try, this ain't a promise hehe