My heart thumped erratically, knowing that the tension between us was left hanging in the air.
"So, Mr. Magnus. Can we expect for you presence on our engagement party?" Ellwood cracked the silence in a decisive way.
"I'll think about it. I have a lot important things to do than to socialize at the party," he replied.
Ellwood emitted a smirk. He shook his head before he confidently leaned against his chair.
"If you haven't had a wife, I'd think you're against our plan of marriage..." His lips turned up wide, "But because you're already knotted to another and it looks like you and Alessandra love each other, maybe I'm wrong."
Ellwood's smirk became wider, having the plan of igniting the fire.
I swallowed hard. Even if I don't like where this is going, I suddenly want to hear Gabriel's answer.
He licked his lower lip slowly. He looked up, seemingly loosing his patience.
"Marriage isn't a ring worn or a paper signed. It is the union of two hearts beating as one. I'm not against it if you love each other."
Gabriel leaned forward, folding his arm on the table. He tilted his head a bit. An insulting smile escaped his lips.
I can feel the tension. Ellwood clenched his jaw and balled his hand into a fist.
"Love is nothing like finance, we don't give a certain amount to get something back. It's not important who's loving or who's not. The important thing is, I'm ready to fight for her and not hurt her."
I gasped at Ellwood's remark. I can't believe it got out of his mouth. Even if it was corny, I can feel his sincerity.
"I pity you for telling those cheesy lines..." Gabriel shook his head.
I blinked when Ellwood suddenly laughed beside me. He sounded like he's in need for air while hoolding his stomach. But his face suddenly became serious and got up from leaning.
I became agitated, "Ellwood, stop–" I couldn't even finish my sentence. Ny tongue shrunk when I saw his reaction.
"Why don't you step up and prove me wrong. Prove you're better!"
"I know you hate me for being successful, and that was the fucking truth, right, right?!" he spat out, looking so annoyed at Gabriel.
Gabriel stayed calm while his lips were on a tight grim line. He didn't utter a word. Instead, his eyes flashed with flat-black, dispassionate as bullets.
"Don't look at me like that, like you think you can even try..." Ellwood sneered in his voice.
"Just fucking stay away from my wife..." Gabriel said in a low rumble voice.
His last words replayed like an echo in my head. It was like a fire burnt all the oxygen in my body.
The cold breeze of the wind grazed us. The humidity of my heart increased rapidly. I want to open my mouth and end this heated conversation, but Ellwood already spoke before I could even did.
"Wait, who's the wife you're talking about? Definitely not Meredith, cause' as far as I remember, his husband died three years ago."
"Shut the fuck up, Ellwood! You know who I'm talking about!" Gabriel spouted. His scowl grew even more pronounced.
Ellwood gave me one last look, then squared his jaw.
"So you're not that dumb to understand what I'm conveying," he said, a smirk lifted to his lips.
"I'm not stupid enough to fall for your trick. Not now." His voice was now calm but his stare was still dark while looking at Ellwood.
"Woah! Should I be scared?" Ellwood mouth twitched like he wanted to smile.
"I might say yes!"
"Is that your best shot?" Ellwood said in a challenging tone.
I sat properly, trying to cease the tension between us. But Gabriel turned his scowled face at me, telling me to stop. But I can't stand this conversation anymore.
I took a sharp intake of breath. I stood up while my innards felt ablaze.
"Can both of you stop?! You're not children anymore!"
I didn't get time to think much because I quickly strode my feet to walk out of that cottage. I heard Ellwood calling my name but I didn't mind him and continued walking.
I arrived the hotel instantly because of brisk walking. Hunts greeted me when I entered the hotel. He escorted me to my suite without questioning.
"I want to rest. I don't want to be disturbed by anyone," I grimly said to Hunts.
He just nodded in reply, pulling the door close while I locked it from inside.
I walked straight to my room and slacked off the soft mattress of the bed. I closed my eyes to ease the rising emotion in my heart. Even if I tried to stop it, the tears cascaded down nonstop. I want to end all of this, but why is it so hard to do?
This is far from what I had expected. My mind's on haywire. I don't know where I'll place myself. I'm so tired thinking of how I could get through this problem. If only I could bring everything back from the start. The very moment I stepped onto the soil of San Marcelino, I should've told the truth so it won't come to this.
I cried all night, I didn't stop until my eyes were tired and my voice was hoarse. I'm mad, I'm mad at myself because I didn't do anything but to let all the chances to tell the truth to Alessandra pass. I'm mad because Ellwood had to be involved in this. And I hate myself more for acting like it didn't hurt, and for playing such a martyr wife in front of everyone.
I'm also mad at Gabriel. This is all because of him. I couldn't imagine that he could play with both Alessandra and me even after I confessed that I'm his real wife.
I don't care about his plans for us. Staying here with him will only cause more troubles and heartache for me. I can't wait for tomorrow or the day after just to wait for him to be hit in the head and realize everything.
I've decided. I will fly back to Queensland. Not to be wedded to Ellwood, but to tell everything to Dad and Mom that Hezekiah is still alive. Whatever the results may ne, I just want this to end. I slept with a concrete decision. I have made up my mind, I will go home tomorrow.
My eyes flew open in the darkness. The cold wind brushed against my skin. I rubbed my eyes before staring at the opened window. I was awakened with the coldness the wind brought so I stood up and closed it.
I furrowed my brows as I took a glance at my dress. I haven't changed it since last night, I guess I forgot to change in so much anger.
I shook my head, I don't want to remember what happened. I just want to sleep and rest.
I reached for the zipper in the back of my dress. I stepped backwards to move away from the window. When I met the half-way, I lolled my head and slowly turned around.
Not a second after, my jaw sank faster than a penny on a pond because of the man in front of me.
His silhouette was seated against the lounge right in front of me and from his perfect outline and dark feature, I know for sure that it was him...
My heart skipped a beat, I stepped backwards in shock. While holding his wine glass, he walked towards me. Did he watched me all night? When did he came here? How did he entered?
I returned to reality when he stopped right in front of me, rays of sunlight touched his face.
"W-what are you doing here?!" I stuttered.