I was in deep thought. Maybe Zuay has a point. Did they use Dad's wealth to make me agree to the wedding because they want Ellwood and I to be together?
"We still don't have a concrete evidence about that issue. Why don't you ask the Echeverriis?" Tawin suggested.
Ellwood was still on a trip. I'm not sure when he'll be back. I kept calling Dad and Mom, but I couldn't contact them.
After the pizza arrived, I went to Cervantes Corp. I took a deep breath before looking at the tall building.
But before I could even walk from the parking space, someone grabbed me by my arm. I couldn't help but to shriek in shock.
"Ssh, it's me..."
My eyes widened as I stared at the man who spoke. My eyes flew open as my cheeks slowly heated.
"Ellwood?!"
****
We've been inside his car for a few minutes but no one had the courage to open a topic.
I can only hear those heavy sighs and frustrated breaths that suffused inside his car.
"I'm sorry. All this shouldn't have happened. It's all my fault." He started.
The bitterness coursed down my throat. My eyes stayed in front. I bit my lip hard as I tried to stop my tears from falling.
"Your Mom and Dad was in States. I don't know when they'll be back. We saw each other last week to talk about what happened, and they left everything to me."
I abruptly turned to him with anger in my eyes. "How could you, Ellwood?! How could you do this to us? For all of the people, why does it have to be you?!"
I can feel my cheek getting wet with tears and a sharp pain lanced through my heart. I can't accept the fact that we had to encounter each other this way.
"Look, I'm sorry. I tried to tell you everything before I left but–"
"But you didn't because you thought I won't find out?! That you thought I'm stupid?!"
"Believe me, they did all of that without asking for my permission. They merged the two companies! It was later when I found out that almost 50% of your family's share in Rising Stone are now in the name of the Echeverriis."
"Everything has been planned if only Hezekiah didn't come back!" he said in a sharp breathe.
My eyes widened. My blood started boiling and my lips trembled so bad because of anger.
"Hezekiah?!" I smirked, "That was a pitiful excuse I've ever heard, Ellie!" I stated and shot him a disgusted glance.
"And you really think that I'll agree to marry you if ever Hezekiah didn't come back?! That is pathetically absurd, Ellwood!"
I saw hurt in his face but I can feel nothing at all. Not this time, hindi he can't manipulate me anymore. If I could overlook what he did to Hezekiah and I before, now, I won't let him play with me in his palms.
He cursed loudly and punched the steering wheel. But I didn't budge even if my cheeks were already filled with tears.
"I will always be grateful to have you, Ellwood. But I don't see myself loving you as my bestfriend anymore..."
I didn't think twice and went out of his car. So this is really a goodbye. A little piece of him died right this moment, even the sweet good memories we had are now turned into nothing. My love and devotion were simply vanished and gone...
I don't know how I managed to drive back to the office. Of all the pain that I've felt, I don't know who to lean on anymore.
I absentmindedly walked inside my office without even fixing my hair as I wiped my tears. I didn't mind the employees' stares and whispers as I passed by.
My feet stopped on Hezekiah's office's doorstep. I stood there for a few minutes before deciding to knock.
"Come in..." The soft tone of his voice roared me back to life.
I filled my chest with air as I opened the door. The sight of him reading papers greeted me.
I suddenly stopped and stared when he finally lifted his head to look at me in the eye. He suddenly stood up from his swivel chair but he stayed there standing.
My emotion welled up from my heart. The muscles of my chin trembled and my lips quivered so bad. My knees slolly weakened as I tried to suppress my tears.
I don't want him to see how miserable I am in front of him, but I couldn't stop my emotions from exploding. My tears fell and my shoulders slowly shook.
Because of embarrassment and fear, I dropped my head down to hide my face. The toughness in my eyes were already gone. I am tired of fighting. I don't have energy to continue what I've started.
With one fluid movement, he took a step closer to me. His fingers slowly touched my skin, gently wiping my tears.
I grabbed his both hands and was hesitant to look up. But he crouched down to meet my eyes. His eyes were so different in this numbingly moment, more soft and gentle.
And I know, he saw the heat rose in my eyes. I couldn't deny the grievance of my heart anymore. My heart was so tired and abused. I'm no longer brave and strong.
I badly needed a hug right now. I want to feel that someone's there for me even just for a moment. But before I could ask him for that, he took the move first.
He wrapped his arms around me and gently rubbed my hair slowly, down to my back. I sunk deeply into his chest and cried silently...
The sun broke in. I woke up with a wide smile on my lips. Hugging my pillow tight and spend a few minutes in my bed.
I want to condition myself before getting up. It's been a week since I started working at the office again. I want to make up for the days that I wasn't here to manage my own company. It wasn't that hard for me to adjust because Hezekiah was there to guide me.
"Good morning!" I cheerfully greeted Trina while she was preparing the breakfast on the table.
"Good morning, Ate!" A sweet voice of Trina made my heart smile.
"Kuya Hezekiah is still here." she said as she sat down to eat.
I nodded slightly, but I was confused because this is the first time he's late for work. We really don't see each other in the morning. I guess it's in his nature to be an early bird.
"Good morning, Kuya!"
My eyes went to Hezekiah and my brows furrowed together as I noticed what he was wearing right now.
He's not wearing his typical office suit, instead he just wore a black jacket and white V-neck shirt underneath, then it was paired with denim jeans and brown topsider.
I averted my eyes when his gaze darted on me. I held the glass of milk and slowly chugged it.
"Hi, Good morning..." He spoke to me in a deep resonant voice.
I suddenly bursted the milk from my mouth. My eyes went back to my food after I shot him a death glare.
"I may not go home tonight..." he started.
That's where I stopped and raised my head to him. I don't see any emotion or something deep behind his eyes. It was like he's hiding something that I could never read.
"It's up to you..." I cut my gaze and just shrugged my shoulder.
I wanted to ask where he's going but shame got to me first. What if he's going to Alessandra? It's not impossible. The familiar pain cut deep right to my heart.
I poked the ham on my plate repeatedly. My bright morning suddenly became dull.