I took a deep breath. Squinting slightly, I peered at the person before me. It was indeed Anthony.
Without thinking, I collapsed into his arms, sobbing. “It was my baby! He’s here! He… he hates me! He hates me because I didn’t protect him!”
Anthony wrapped his arms around me tightly. He inhaled, then said hoarsely, “He doesn’t. He knows that you love him. How can he bear to hurt you, knowing that you loved him so much? Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
He gently patted me on the back, soothing me. My tears flowed freely as I lay in his arms, my heart heavy. “I’m sorry! I really did my best, but that rope was just too thick. I couldn’t get free!”
Anthony nodded. He gave me another squeeze and said tenderly, “He knows, he knows. He doesn’t blame you for it.”
We lay on the ground for a while as I recovered my wits. With Anthony’s help, I tried to stand, but the pain was still unbearable.
With a single swift motion, Anthony picked me up and carried me back to my bed. He then tucked me in and sat beside me.
I realized then that the pool of blood I’d seen spreading across the floor had been accumulated rainwater that had poured in from the window that I hadn’t managed to close.
As I gazed absently at the puddle on the floor, Anthony looked at me worriedly. “Are you sleepy?”
Another thought occurred to me. “How did you get in?” I asked curiously, ignoring his question.
Anthony looked rather shamefaced. He then admitted, “The two balconies are connected. If you want, you can cross over easily from one to the next.”
I gave him a hard look. “Anthony, you trespassed on private property!” I accused.
His gaze traveled up and down my body, then fixed on my arm. “How did you get hurt?” he demanded.
I then realized that there was a giant bruise on my arm that I’d overlooked in my distress.
Anthony had already flung the blanket aside, a rapid motion that lifted up my skirt along with it. Horrified, I snatched it back and cringed beneath it. “Anthony, you brute…”
He turned to me with a smouldering look. Without another word, he got up and strode out of the room.
I gaped at him. Did he just walk out on me? I thought in disbelief.
Anthony returned a few minutes later with a first aid kit in his hand. He once again took up his seat beside my bed and deftly began to apply ointment to my arm.
Anthony’s regular, handsome features, framed by the soft glow of the light in the room, made a familiar but irresistible picture. I realized with a start that I’d known him for close to ten years now. He remained, however, just as gorgeous as when I’d first met him.
When he had finished, Anthony suddenly raised his head. Deep in thought, I hadn’t time to react and was confronted with his intense stare.
Our eyes met. For a moment, I felt as if I’d plunged deep into his obsidian eyes. My face burned and I could feel my heart racing in my chest.
“Ahem,” I coughed. My throat suddenly felt incredibly parched. “I’m very grateful to you for what happened tonight. I’m willing to overlook your trespassing incident and so won’t be calling the police. Goodbye!”
“Ha!” Anthony gave a high, dry laugh. He narrowed his eyes at me, then remarked, “Sienna, I never realized how cunning you are with your words!”
He reached out and grabbed my chin. Anthony was just inches away from me, and we were close enough to feel each other’s breaths on our faces. I flinched. “I wasn’t quibbling,” I argued breathlessly, my heart pounding. “I was speaking the truth. Anthony, I told you that there was nothing between us anymore. Once I’ve finished this project, we’ll go back to J City and get our divorce papers. Things will be officially over between us then.”
I refused to look at Anthony and lay back down on the bed, facing away from him.
Anthony remained sitting as still as a statue. After a while, when he hadn’t moved, I began to feel uneasy.
I thus turned back to look at him. To my shock, Anthony was staring straight at me. “Is it because of the baby? Or is it because of your parents?” he asked thickly.
The melancholic look in his eyes gripped me. I bit my lip, then said slowly, “Isn’t it obvious? You didn’t experience first-hand any of the events that I went through. They’re all a list of incidents in your mind. We lost a baby, and I still bear grudge against my parents. You don’t know how it feels! You think that these things can be overcome easily. You think I should move on and continue being with you as if nothing happened. That’s selfish, Anthony!”
Anthony continued gazing at me. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally spoke. “They’re not just a list of incidents to me. If you want freedom or a new start, I’m willing to give everything up. Until then, Sienna, you need someone by your side to take care of you. When you’ve found that person, I’ll agree to the divorce readily and leave. I’ll let you live the life you want then.”
I was taken aback by his matter-of-fact tone. I hadn’t foreseen that Anthony, who was usually so domineering, would suddenly soften once pressed. It discomfited me.
“All right, you’d better keep your word then!” I replied hotly. As those words left my lips, however, there was a vague aching in my heart.
…
After the dark, stormy night, the next morning arrived bathed in a soft, sunny radiance. The air was filled with the scent of freshly turned soil.
When I woke up, Anthony was no longer in the bedroom. He’d evidently snuck away sometime in the night, probably after I had fallen asleep.
Without giving it much thought, I headed to the bathroom to wash up, then went to downstairs to prepare breakfast. There was no sign of Armond for a long while, however.
Puzzled, I knocked on the door of his room, then opened it. The bed was still neatly made. It had clearly remained undisturbed the whole night.
I then remembered that aside from the ruckus I’d raised in my bedroom, the rest of the house had remained singularly hushed. Armond must not have come home last night then.
Had he been with Nora? I pondered.
The relationship between Nora and Armond seems to have made rather rapid progress! I was delighted for them but was rather anguished over the amount of food I’d made. It was all about to go to waste now.
I decided to pack it all up and bring it along with me. As I exited, I noticed a black Maybach parked right outside the neighboring unit. It was probably Anthony’s.
I got into the passenger’s seat, then looked at Joseph. “Morning, Mr. Campbell. Have you eaten breakfast yet?”
Joseph looked at me in bewilderment. Then he quickly stammered, “Morning, Mrs. Featherstone!”
I grinned at him. Anthony was nowhere to be seen. Handing the breakfast over to Joseph, I said, “You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you? Eat this while it’s hot.”
Joseph was about to reply when Anthony slid into the backseat. Tersely, he commanded, “Let’s go to Gold Scale Estate first.”
“All right!” Joseph said, transferring the breakfast in hand to Anthony. “Mr. Featherstone, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Mrs. Featherstone made this for you. Eat it while it’s hot!”
I shot a glance towards Joseph. My words sounded strange in his mouth when spoken in his usual formal manner.
Anthony then looked up and noticed me sitting in the passenger seat. He acknowledged me with a nod, then began eating.
I had originally intended to hitch a ride. From the curt exchange between Anthony and Joseph, however, it didn’t sound as if the car would be heading in the direction of Lavelian village. I announced hastily, “You won’t be passing by Lavelian Village, will you? I’ll be off then. See you some other time!”
I had opened the door and was ready to alight when Anthony cleared his throat rather aggressively.
Joseph immediately jumped in. “Mrs. Featherstone, we’ll definitely be going to Lavelian Village. We’re only planning to make a short detour to Gold Scale Estate. Why don’t you come along with us? There aren’t many cars headed in that direction, and with the one-hour-long drive, it’ll be inconvenient for you to get a taxi.”
I looked at him uncertainly. “Really?”
Joseph nodded, then said earnestly, “I wouldn’t lie to you, Mrs. Featherstone. The Lavelian project just started, so we definitely plan on heading over there to take a look. Isn’t that right, Mr. Featherstone?”
Anthony made a brief grunt of acknowledgment. I turned to look at him to size up the situation, but he seemed thoroughly focused on tucking in the breakfast delicately. I guessed that Anthony hadn’t heard a word we’d said.
Seeing Anthony’s unconcerned demeanor, I decided not to put myself out unnecessarily. I slumped back into the seat and beamed at Joseph. “Thanks for the ride, then!”
Joseph smiled politely, then drove off.
The Gold Scale Estate was rather close by, and we arrived within ten minutes. We were greeted by the sight of Rachel in a white linen dress, her permed hair rippling over her shoulders. On one hand, she toted the most fashionable luxury handbag that was available this season. She looked every bit a wealthy heiress.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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