LOVER MONSTER!
102. Hestias.

A thick jacket anchored on Jessica's shoulder, warmed her up which now stood in an open field.

"Are you nervous?" Demian-si Jackets-owner gets a joke on Jessica. His smile was thin when he found a thin hue engraved on the face of his lover.

Today, on a slightly windy Wednesday morning, Demian with Jessica and Hestia will leave for Italy. Demian is going home, and things rather than feeling nervous, Demian feels calm when he manages to persuade Jessica to come with him.

A few days ago, in Demian's memory, Jessica so rejected the idea. Jessica did not want to travel with Demian because Jessica was reluctant to meet the man's family. Obviously, Jessica's reasoning is pretty reasonable. The Demian family, which was Erthian, had already given a frightening bad impression.

Demian thought that Jessica would never agree to her request at any time, so Demian did not bring up the topic again. Demian had also confirmed to Hestia that he would not return.

Yesterday, a miracle happened.

Jessica agreed, she somehow agreed.

"Just make sure I won't meet your brother," was Jessica's request, and Demian nodded solemnly.

"I promise, I won't get you stuck in my trouble again. Think of this trip as a vacation, a honeymoon. We'll eat good, shop and have fun."

"I don't know about it, but.., as long as your problem is solved, that's enough for me." Jessica was serious about it. He did not come to Italy to taste their pizza or spaghetti.

No, Jessica wanted to come there solely to make sure Demian found a solution in the conflict that had long since pursued the man's feet.

Jessica wants Demian free and can go home with her back to Vegas.

"Just calm. I'll end all my problems and after that, we can have a honeymoon."

Back in the present, when Jessica and Demian join hands enter a private jet belonging to the Bellamy family. Hestia sauntered in front of them without making much noise.

The middle-aged woman said nothing to Demian's decision to invite Jessica, nor did she give an objection reaction when Demian asked Hestia to look after Jessica while there. For Hestia, he was willing to do anything as long as it meant that Demian was back on his feet at Bellamy.

"All this luxury makes me uncomfortable" Jessica said. Rather than bewildered at the luxury that was exposed before her eyes, Jessica instead gave a cringe of horror.

The situation is completely different when he sees Jake Allendale's luxury car. Jessica can't even make jokes at all.

"Wait until you get to Bellamy," Hestia replied from the front. The woman placed her handbag on the table before throwing a gaze at Jessica. "Ah, I almost forgot. You'll stay with me in Rhoden Manor."

Rhoden Manor is where the Hestians settled today. It was the home of her late husband, Dean Rhoden. Rhoden Manor is a historical place that is a relic of the decline of the Rhoden family since decades ago. The manor, although headed by Hestia, belonged to the eldest son of Hestia who was now educated in London.

"Will your family be okay if I stay there?"

Jessica voiced out a question because, to be honest, Jessica would rather stay in a hotel than stay with Hestia. Something about Hestia made Jessica uncomfortable. However, Demian forbade him from staying at the hotel because the place was not safe. Also, Demian seemed to be so trusting of Hestia, so Jessica would inevitably comply.

"In Rhoden Manor there was only me and a few servants. We'll be quite excited to receive one guest this fall."

"Hestia usually opens its manor to guests from reputable campuses. Most of his guests are outstanding students from major campuses in Italy. They visit Sorrento and live there, especially every summer."

Demian added a little information. "Just take a holiday bonus."

"Huh.., that.., amazing."

"Demian dated some of my guests when he was still living in Bellamy," said Hestia, he opened the disgrace of his nephew without burden.

"Waaah, it's fitting that Demian looks so excited when discussing your manor, Hestia."

The spontaneous Demian expression turned sour. "That's because I'm a teenager."

"No, it's because you like women who exude an aura of intelligence and innocence at the same time. Women like.., Jessica." Hestia's gaze was slowly dragged towards Jessica. His disparaging tinkering made Jessica want to jump out of the window right then and there.

Pity it!

"Demian has always had a certain type of woman, I watched her grow up so thoroughly that I knew her habits were right." Hestia smiled gently as she looked at Demian, as if she was looking at her own son.

"You won't be disappointed if you pick a guy like Demian, Jessica. As far as I can see, this guy always gives his all when he's in love."

"What was that compliment?" Demian looked at Hestia while grinning a joke. At least, Demian thought, despite her disgrace being dismantled, Hestia ended her speech with praise. That's better than being vilified.

"Don't big head," Hestia said. "Anyway.., since this journey will be a long one, I hope you two rest. I'll be ahead if you're looking for me."

"All right."

After Hestia left in front of Demian and Jessica, Demian then paid attention to her lover who had not talked much. Jessica might feel a bit disinclined at Hestia, that's normal. However, Demian hoped that the ice wall that was restricting them could simply melt away. Demian did not want Jessica to feel any discomfort.

"What do you think of my aunt?" Demian asked while arranging Jessica's bed. Different from where Demian was purely just a long and wide stool that could be used for the fall, Jessica got extra blankets, a few plushie dolls and pillows.

"Eitherway. I didn't think about it so much." Jessica lied easily.

Jessica did not want to say that Hestia was so upset, Jessica was afraid that Demian would feel offended. After all, it seemed that Demian was quite close to the woman.

"Well, I'll give you a little spoiler...,"

"This is so you're comfortable!"

"I'd be more comfortable if you treated me normally, Demian."

Jessica knew Demian felt guilty for dragging her into the man's personal problems. However, Jessica did not want to get any honest preferential treatment, this was too much.

Jessica did not blame Demian because Jessica understood that the man's situation was critical. Jessica came to Italy happily, for God's sake. It does not come with the purpose of being a burden.

"I'm sorry" whispered Demian. The man's breathing seemed to depict a heavy load clogging up his head and chest. Demian-kendati looks relaxed and calm-hides unrest.

The anxiety could have been because he had dragged Jessica into the problem, but. Demian may have been afraid to see her family back.

Tskkk!

Jessica didn't know at all.

"Forget it" Jessica said. "Don't you say you want to give me spoilers about your aunt."

"Oh, right..."

...*...

Hestia Bellamy is actually a good person, at least according to Demian. Hestia had a high loyalty to the Bellamy family since her youth, she was even willing to marry into the Rhoden family in order to strengthen and expand the Bellamy family business.

Hestia, in Demian's eyes, was like a second mother. The woman had been taking care of Demian and Erthian since childhood. Since Maureen Bellamy - Demian's mother - died.

Hestia was actually a kind and wise person, but, as she grew up and was educated hard by her family, Hestia became quite a hard and assertive figure.

"Perhaps because he was a professor in his youth" Demian said. "He became rather fierce. You know, if parents deal too much with wayward teens, they become witches."

"You've just treated your aunt like a witch, haven't you?"

"Ahahaha.., that's.., keep it a secret from her." Demian glanced at Jessica and smiled faintly. "I hope you and Hestia can coexist peacefully."

"You don't have to worry about me, Demy. Even though we weren't at peace, I was still able to tolerate a week or two of unpleasant days." As long as Demian was going home with her, Jessica would not mind sharing a roof with the woman who always looked at her with sharp delicacies.

"That's the problem, right? I don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"I'm more uncomfortable if I force myself to blend in with your family." Not when they treat it like a pest.

Jessica knew the way Hestia looked at her was very different from a look of kindness or just awkwardness. Jessica was content to be stared at like that when she was in juvenile prison. The supervisor who had been watching him always looked at him with disdainful eyes; full of sincerity. As if his existence was not expected.

"I'm sorry, I seem to have put too much expectation on you."

"You should think about your situation first." Jessica leaned her head against Demian's arm. "When we land, what will you do?"

"I first need to see my father. After all, he was the one who had forced me to go home."

"What will you say when he asks you to be his successor? Are you gonna be okay if you turn down the offer?"

"I don't know" Demian replied hesitantly.

Many things were uncertain in Demian's mind at this time.

Even when Demian listened to Jessica's words regarding her intensity going home, Demian wasn't really sure right now. Demian was unsure of what his heart wanted.

Demian was still thinking about the day in the hotel lobby that night. The day she found Jessica crying in her arms.

The memory terrorized his mind. He appeared in his dream until he chose not to close his eyes.

Demian was afraid that the bad situation would happen again and befall Jessica. Demian wanted to protect a figure that meant a lot to him. However, on that day, Demian faced the reality that he was helpless. He has no power in his hands. If only he had more power than Erthian, if...,

"Demian.." Jessica's voice interrupted her thinking. Demian blinked his eyes. "I know this situation is a bit tough for you, because of that, I want you not to worry about me. Just focus on the most important thing, okay?"

"..."

"I believe you."

With a faint smile on Demian's face, he held Jessica tightly to his chest and gave the girl a rain of kisses on his face. "You are the most important thing to me."

Because Jessica is so important to him...,

Demian, it might be, changed his decision.

...*...