CHAPTER 3

BIRD WITHOUT WINGS

"Thank you so much. You are very understanding, Babe," he said.

Nicholas was grateful to his wife. This is the most beautiful and kind woman he has ever met. He never once hurt or cheated on her during their three years of marriage. That is why he works so hard to provide a good life for her. She was simple; she never complained even when he could only give her a small sum of money.

"You're welcome."

They are embracing each other upon walking inside the house.

"Where is Brielle?" He asked.

"She is already sleeping peacefully. She fell asleep waiting for you. But I told her that you go somewhere." Tabitha replied.

"That's good to hear."

"She wants you to buy something for her."

"What she wants? Foods? School things? There are many foods and fruits in the fridges." Nico said.

"I don't know. She told me that she was the one to tell you what she wants." Tabitha replied.

"Are you done eating, Babe?" Nico asked.

"Yeah. I'm starving waiting for you. So I'm eating. What about you?" Tabitha asked.

"I'm hungry. Please prepare food for me. Babe. I'm going to take a bath first." Nico said and go into their room.

Candice started to enjoy the night. She drinks the hard drink that Genevieve gave her. And she started dancing. She was a like bird that can go out of her cage. Her parents were right. Being to unwind and going to a bar is something. It's like all of the tiredness and problems go away. In her case, she doesn't have a problem. She is successful in life and has loving parents. And now that the liquor spread in her entire system. She realized everything that she miss being a woman. She can't force herself but tears came to her eyes unexpectedly.

Then Genevieve notice her so she rush to her and asked.

"Are you okay, Harlow? Why are you crying?" Genevieve asked.

"I'm fine. I didn't know that this liquor can affect a woman's state. It makes me cry even though I don't have a problem right now." she replied.

"So stop drinking. I don't want to send you home in your improper state. I'm afraid that your parents scold us for letting you drink too much." Genevieve said.

"Don't worry. They felt happy when they saw me like this. Their daughter experiences this. Okay, let's party everyone!" she exclaims and runs into the dance floor.

"Oh my, this is not a good idea that we invite her in here. Look at her, she was like wild animal dancing there. I didn't know that she had a talent for dancing even though she was drunk." Letitia said as she hear.

Candice was dancing and dancing. She was jumping and swaying her hips to the music. She was like alone in a place where rock music is her companion. The lights were like stars twinkling and following her steps. Then she notices that her sweat was falling from her cheeks down to her neck. Then she saw Nico's face looking at her and he was not happy seeing her dancing. Is she hallucinating? As far as she knows that Nico was already at home. And Candice knows that was already drunk because it's like her world is spinning. She stops dancing and walking zigzag and goes to their table.

"Guys, let's go home. My head is hurting," she said and walked outside the bar.

She wasn't walking straight. It's like at any moment she fell and kissed the floor. She can break her face because of drunkenness, not the other way around. She saw Genevieve hold her shoulder.

"Be careful, Harlow. It's like you walk in the wrong way. On this side, our car is parked." Genevieve.

"Oh."

Then the car door opened and Candice hop in slowly her head was being Cblown on the car seat. Her head started aching and it was unbearable. She noticed that the car is moving and her sling bag is in her lap. She closed her eyes for a while hoping that her drunkenness goes away. She wants to go home as she state earlier but she doubts she is already drunk. Minutes passed she arrived home. Genevieve helps her get out of the car. The car window opened. Levi and Logan smiled at her. And she waved at them. Then she saw her bodyguard look at her.

"Thank you guys for sending me home," she said.

"You better sleep, Harlow," Genevieve said.

"Okay."

After they left, Candice walked slowly until she reach the front door. The two bodyguards try to help her but she won't let them.

"I'm okay, guys," she said.

Then she was slowly walking up the stairs and her both hands held the baluster hard. She was afraid being fall on the stairs. She felt relief when she reaches her room afterward. She didn't want to disturb her parents at this hour because she knows that they are sleeping peacefully. When she was watching her wall clock it was midnight and her face wrinkled. This was the first time that she got drunk and wasted.

She finds clothes for her to change into because she is sweating. After a few minutes of changing she was lying in her bed and closed her eyes.

In the morning, a cold kiss wakes Nicolai up. When she opened his eyes. A sweet smile of his daughter that he first saw early in the morning.

"Good morning, Daddy. You go home late at night." Brielle said and she is frowning.

"Yeah. I'm sorry," he replied.

"But Mommy said, you go in a bar with your office mate."

"Yes, they invite me," he said and sit down on the bed.

"What does it look like? The bar?" Brielle asked.

"It's not a restaurant that nice to go, Love. It's a place where men and women go to drink alcohol."

"Is that so?" Brielle asked innocently.

"Yeah."

"Get up there, Daddy. You won't be in the office right now?" she asked.

"Of course, I go."

"Ah, I see. Just took a bath first and follow me outside."

"Okay."

Nicolai enter the bathroom and took a bath. After a couple of minutes, he goes out with a towel on his waist. He found his office in the cabinet was fully ironed. He smiled. This is how he loves Tabitha she was very caring all the time. She wouldn't forget to prepare his office clothes or even house clothes. He wears it and goes out to their room. He directly went to the kitchen and found Brielle and started eating.

Tabitha gives him a plate with food on it.

"Thank you, Babe," he said.

He notice that his daughter kept on looking at him but he didn't pay attention to her and he started eating. She will frown at him.

"What now, Love?" he asked.

Brielle smiled at him sweetly.

"Daddy, since it's I'm good at school. Please buy me a tablet." Brielle said with shyness in her tone.

He smiled.

"How much does that cost?" he asked.

"It's not that expensive. Mommy knows the price. We are done seeing it and testing it in the store the other day. So your money and approval are what I waiting for." Brielle said.

"So you already plan it, don't you?"

"Of course, Daddy. I'm dreaming to have gadgets." Brielle replied.

"Okay. Just asked your Mommy later. I already gave her money." he said.

"Yeezy. Thank you, Daddy. You are the best." Brielle shout and kiss him.

"You're welcome, Love."

After a few minutes. Nicolai was outside the house together with Tabitha. He is looking for a taxi to send him to the office. He didn't call Levi or Logan because he felt ashamed every time he rode a car with them.

"Just brought what Brielle wants, Babe," he said.

"Are you sure?" Tabitha asked.

"Yeah."

"I got my salary next week so it's okay," he replied.

"Thank you because you tried always to give us nice life," Tabitha said.

"Yeah. I have to go," he said and kiss her on the cheeks.

Nicolai enters the taxi when it stopped in front of him.

Candace's head hurts when she woke up the next morning. She feels regrets drinking too much that night now she got a hangover and she doubts that she can't go to work. The door opens and her mother comes in smiling.

"Good morning. It's eight o'clock in the morning and you haven't gotten up there. What time are you home at night? I never hear you call us when you came home." her mother said.

"It's midnight but I didn't disturb you and Daddy. So I directly go to sleep. I drink too much so my head hurts."

Her mother smiled widely.

"So you having fun?" her mother asked.

"Sort of. At the last minute when I drink alcohol. Now I know why many women got wasted and became crazy because of alcohol." she replied.

"At least they are having fun."

"Whatever, Mommy. Oh my, my head hurts. I doubt it I can't go to work right now." she said.

"That's why I brought you medicine for a hangover and a coffee." her mother said.

"Thank you, Mommy. Just put it there. I'm going to take a bath first. I go to work, I almost forgot that I have many works at the firm." she said.

"Okay."

After her mother left. She slowly got up and went to the shower room and take a bath.