''''Thank you ''''


    She said to the waiter who brought her meal as he carried the tray to the dining table and ced it on it. The moment of relief Tiana felt dissipated when the waiter left the room. She closed the door quietly and avoided ncing at Nicus as she walked to the dining table.


    Sitting down, she began munching into her food. The whole ce was eerily quiet; she could feel Nicus'' gaze on her as her meal painfully went down her throat; she didn''t want to look at him, but she couldn''t control her wandering eyes, and before she could stop herself, her eyes turned to him and they locked in his gaze, instantly she choked on her meal and coughed, she immediately gulped down a ss of water to stable herself.


    Can he not look elsewhere?!!


    Tiana screamed in her head. Ever since she sat down he had been staring as though there was some strange painting on her body.


    Fine, she had misbehaved the previous day, but staring at her like that would kill her before her time!


    ''''We''re going back to the US tomorrow, do you want to see beautiful ces in the city today?''''


    '''' ''''


    Tiana''s eyes widened so much that it nearly fell from its sockets when she heard him speak suddenly. She turned to her back to make sure it was her Nicus was talking to. When she saw that there was no-one else there, she turned back to him.


    His eyes were not ring, and his features were very rxed. He looked like a normal human being, a freakily handsome human being without his iciness.


    Her brows narrowed;


    Did something happen the previous night? Or did he wake up missing some parts of his brain?


    What was he trying to achieve? Did he think because she had mistakenly let her guard downst night, she had put the past behind her? Then he must be utterly mistaken. After everything he had done to her, he expected her to pretend as though everything was okay? And besides, wasn''t he supposed to be mean and arrogant, was he pitying her now? If that was it, then he shouldn''t pity her, thest thing she needed was his pity. In fact, he should continue with his wickedness. She preferred that side of him.


    A hint of annoyance found its way to her face, and she shook her head, rejecting his offer.


    ''''No, I don''t want to. ''''


    She replied curtly. Turning back to her food, she continued eating. Even if she wanted to see the city, she wouldn''t do it with him, not even in her next world; in fact, she would prefer to go out with a guinea fowl than go out with him.


    Nicus pursed his lips.


    What was he thinking? That she would put the past behind her just like that, as though nothing had happened?


    He knew that she still bore grudges against him and had been putting up with everything and just her one reply had exposed it all. Although it was just a sh, he saw it in her eyes, her deep hatred for him.


    He wondered just how much she hated him. He wished he could turn back the hands of time and change what happened in the past, but it was not possible, he only had the present to amend.


    How would he get her to forgive him?


    He wondered; his gaze shifted to the phone in his hands.


    Just at that moment, he received a video call from his grandmother and his brows creased; why was she video-calling suddenly?


    Swiping up, he answered the call;


    ''''Grandma… ''''


    ''''Nicus! Why did you forget your grandma, you don''t even care to call to know how we are faring, why? ''''


    Grandma was in a spa with a towel tied around her hair, her face was flushed from the treatment she just had on it;


    ''''Grandma, you know I''m always busy. ''''


    ''''I know, but it won''t kill if you call once in a while, would it? '''' She asked, creasing her brows. Nicus did not reply, he just stared at her as though waiting for her to tell her reason for calling.


    Grandma seeing that he would not reply reced her frown with a pretty smile,


    ''''So, is Tiana with you? '''' She asked anxiously; after that time Tiana came by for dinner, she had not seen her again.


    The call was loud, so Tiana heard when Grandma asked of her, and she stopped eating.


    Nicus raised his eyes to Tiana briefly;


    ''''Yes, she''s here. Tiana,e say hello to grandma. ''''


    Tiana turned to Nicus, and she knew she didn''t have a choice. Quickly, she stood up and walked to where he sat and sat a few inches away from him, forcing an excited smile to her face;


    ''''Grandma! ''''


    She called happily as though she was excited to see her.


    ''''Tiana? I can''t see you well,e closer to the camera so I can see your beautiful face. '''' Grandma said; she was just seeing half of Tiana''s face.


    Grandma had called so abruptly, she didn''t even have time to prepare herself, and given what just happened a few minutes ago, she couldn''t bring herself to close the gap between them. Before she could even find the courage to, Nicus put his arm around her waist and pulled her close to him, such that there was no space between them. Tiana''s face flushed with embarrassment, but she did well to put on a smile as though everything was fine.


    ''''grandma, how are you?'''' She asked once she could see grandma clearly. Grandma had a sweet smile on her face as she watched them. When her grandson brought Tiana home saying that she was his girlfriend, she doubted him, she knew how frosty he was, he didn''t even have friends not to talk of having a woman but now, seeing Tiana in casual clothes and sitting so close to him, she felt satisfaction wash through her.


    ''''Oh, my darling! I''m fine, how is my grandson treating you? ''''


    She asked, still smiling. Tiana giggled;


    ''''He''s the best grandma. I can''t have enough of him. '''' Tiana said and turned to Nicus with a smile.


    ''''Uh_uh, that''s so sweet. Oh yes! that reminds me, '''' Grandma eximed when a thought dropped on her mind; her gaze shifted to Nicus.


    ''''Your grandfather''s birthday is in two weeks, everyone ising home tomorrow, I know you don''te back but you have a girlfriend now, don''t you think it''ll be nice to bring her home to spend some time with the family? ''''