She hugged and kissed my cheek before holding my shoulders. She scanned me before shaking her head, smiling.
"My god! Where have you been?! I haven't seen you in a long time!"
I smiled a bit. "I guess I really enjoyed my vacation. So, how are you here?"
"Everything is fine here, we're actually planning to open a big sale event this coming month. Christmas is about to come. The meeting just ended, I'm glad I saw you!" she said, eyes wide as she spoke.
Zuay is one of my friends since high school. She's one of the people I trusted my company with, considering that she's also one of the stock holders together with Tawin. The three of us had a big share of the company. Although, Zekiah is the major stock holder and eventually the CEO of the company. Because I'm the wife, I'm also treated as the owner.
"It's good to hear that! Sorry for my absence, promise, I'll make it up!" I held both her hands and smiled sincerely.
"Don't worry! You're not new to us. Tawin and I knew what you're going through. You know, we're here to support you always..."
I pursed my lips. I don't know how I could make it up to them. It's not easy to manage a company without someone leading. I felt guilty for my absence, especially at the moments where I'm still grieving for Hezekiah.
"How about this, let's have dinner tonight! My treat! Just inform Tawin!" I said delightedly.
"Sure! She'll be glad of the news!"
Because I wasn't really in a hurry, she came with me as I wandered around the mall. We visited the department stores and all the other stores inside the mall. Even the kiosks and food cart inside.
"See? People really prioritized buying. So, my big sale event idea is good. Also, the 50% off in every purchase in our department stores!"
I nodded while roaming my eyes around. The people starting to crowd the mall. Add to that, the mall shows of some artists that really made the people come to see them.
"I already informed Tawin about our dinner tonight. That crazy woman's actually in Manila!" she rolled her eyes while shoving pasta into her mouth.
"Hmm, if she can't come, we could just go together."
"She said she'll come, she's just finishing som business meetings there. By the way, how's your vacation? Is it fine?!"
My eyes went to my plate and played with the pasta with my fork.
"Uh, It was fine!"
"Eh, why do you look like you're not okay? My God, until when will you grieve for Hezekiah's disappearance?!"
I raised my head to her. My mind's fighting whether I should tell her what I discovered.
"Zu, it's not that easy..." I uttered lowly.
"I know! But he's been missing for three years. You have to move on. Maybe you won't forget him, but please, Emory, don't let yourself be ruined because of Hezekiah's disappearance. You're still alive, good things can still happen to you—"
"He's alive!"
I gulped, eyes stuck on the food even if I knew that her jaw basically dropped.
"I'm sorry?" she asked.
I took a deep breath before staring at here.
"He is alive! I saw it with my two own eyes!" I told her more clearer.
"Oh, shit!" She suddenly dropped her spoon and leaned against her chair.
Silence stretched between us. I don't have a choice but to tell her the truth.
I swallowed before continuing. "I saw him somewhere in San Marcelino and—"
"He's already married to someone else..."
I waited for her reaction and I wasn't wrong. She almost stood up from her seat.
"H-How did it happened?!" she asked bluntly.
I took a deep breath and told her everything. I didn't leave any detail. I want her to know the truth because I'm sure that we'll see each other one of these days, and I don't wanr Zuay to bombard me with questions.
"I can't believe this is happening!" she exclaimed in disbelief. She held a glass of water and drank it straight.
"That fucking asshole! He can't excuse his amnesia to marry someone else. How dare him marry another woman while you're suffering here?" her voice rose, eyes red from anger.
"Your the legal wife. You should've just mop that woman's face on the dirt! You have the rights! And also, we're already im the 21st century! Being a fool and blind even if you know that your husband's cheating on you is not the trend anymore!" she said, shaking in anger.
"I-it's not that easy..."
"Tss. Where's not easy in that? You should've report it to the police so you could file a case of adultery! My God, Meredith, you were not raised by your parents just to get cheated by that man!" she said impatiently.
I blew out a deep breath. I know that she'll react like this. What more if Tawin knew?
"I don't know, he still can't remember anything, just only a few glimpse of his past. Also, Alessandra doesn't know that he had a wife."
"That's my point! She doesn't know, so there's still a big chance that you could take Hezekiah back! They're marriage is basically nulled because you're still married to him. You have a strong fight because he married someone else while he has an amnesia!"
I slowly shook my head. I know that from the start, but when I saw how Alessandra loved Hezekiah, I felt my heart weaken.
"What if he chose Alessandra?"
She closed her eyes, thinking of something comforting to say.
"Come to think of it, if he really loves that woman, he won't have sex with you. How many, Meredith? How many times did something happen between the two of you while you say that he has amnesia! If he really loves that woman, it won't reach to that point!"
I gulped. She has a point, but it's not enough to say that he would actually chose me in the end.
He already knew the truth. I told him that I'm his real wife, but he didn't do anything after. How could I believe that I can pull out a fight?
"I don't know. I want to think of my next steps." I lowered my head and forced myself to finish my food.
Before going home, I stopped by the jewelry shop first. I stayed there for a bit before deciding to go back to the Villa. After I rested, I showered and got ready for my dinner with Zuay and Tawin.
I chose to wear a dirty white straight cut dress and paired it with flat sandals. While fixing my hair, I turned to my phone which kept on ringing.
I kept on ignoring her calls and texts the whole day. I don't know if I should answer her call. Because if I did, I will surely fall for her trap again.
I picked my phone from the nightstand which had a few missed calls and texts. I'm sure it's all from Alessandra. I held it tightly while reading some of her texts.
"Our anniversary's by tomorrow. I know you're busy. I hope you can attend!"
I bit my lip to stop my emotions. I can't help but to read her last text, where she wrote the place of the event.
I weakly placed it inside my bag and stood up to go down. Unexpectedly, continuous horns from a car was heard from outside.
I peeked through my window and I wasn't wrong, it was Ellwood. I immediately opened the gate where he was beaming.
"Hi!" he smiled broadly at me, wearing his dark blue button down longsleeve polo, paired along with black trouser and buttered black shoes.
Even if it was already night, I could still see how he looked good in his clothes. My cheeks flushed when my eyes slowly went to his lips.
Those plump and red lips that was ready to be kissed made me blushed so hard.
"W-What are you doing here?" I fucking stammered by his shocking presence.