I stopped teasing him. I actually missed these moments with him. Like we don’t have any problems. No walls between us. I’m happy that we’re slowly going back to what we were before.
I was happy at the result of his visits here in the Villa. We always do movie marathon every weekends like we usually do. He also make sure that I don’t do anything in the house. He hired a housekeeper to help me with some stuffs and do the laundry.
At the very least, I rested my mind from overthinking. I don’t think too much about tomorrows because Ellwood is there.
“What do you want to watch?” he asked me one afternoon while holding the remote control.
I was laying on the sofa while my feet was on his lap. The bowl of popcorn was on my stomach.
“Anything, you’re the only who’s gonna watch it…”
He glanced at me and lifted his lips. “Are you gonna sleep on me again, huh?”
Before I could say anything, he reached my waist and tickled md. In the end, the popcorn flew to the floor.
“Stop it, Ellie!” I screamed. I was teary-eyed because of laughing too much.
I pulled his one hand to stop him, so he ended up close to me. His other hand is now resting over my head. I stopped laughing at our small distance. The bowl was the only boundary between us.
I swallowed hard as I looked at his coal-black eyes and his perfect stubble jaw. I can’t help but to drop my eyes to his pink lips.
“Damn! You’re making me so hard…” he uttered huskily.
My heart pounded so fast, breathing seemed to stutter from my lungs. So I open my mouth to breathe in.
He watched me doing it continuously. I thought he’s gonna kiss me but he only looked up and closed his eyes.
“Damn!” he said, and blew out a sharp breath.
We stayed in that position for a few minutes before we heard someone cleared its throat.
“Ah, excuse me, sir?”
He quickly moved away and turned to the maid that called him. I sat properly and placed the bowl of popcorn on the table.
“Someone’s looking for Ma’am Meredith.”
Ellwood cleared his throat first before he nodded, “Who?”
“She said her name is Alessandra.” she politely answered.
Ellwood turned his serious gaze at me. I only replied a nod.
“Okay, let her in…” Ellwood told her.
He faced me after the maid left.
“Are you sure about this?” he worriedly asked.
I searched for my heart’s courage and gave him a small smile. “I’m okay, Ellie, don’t worry about me.”
Even if I was nervous, I managed to greet her by the door.
My feet froze in place when I saw her walking towards me.
My heart twisted a bit when I saw her wearing a maternity dress. I tightly gripped my loose shirt and slightly dropped my head in pain.
“Hi…” her sweet voice greeted me.
I looked at her, now wearing a lovely smile on her face.
“Uh,” I tried to utter a word but I quickly zipped my mouth because of agitation.
“Can I come in?” she said and stepped inside.
I stepped backwards to make way to her. Ellwood was still there sitting comfortably at the sofa.
“Hi…” He stood up and gave Alessandra a timid smile.
Instead of answering, her eyes went to mine and Hezekiah’s wedding portrait hanging on the wall. Her eyes wandered around the house before turning to me.
“Can I talk to you in private?” she said in a serious expression.
I glanced at Ellwood before I led her to the garden near the ocean pool.
We chose to sit on a metal chair while sightseeing the oval-shaped pool.
“Uh, what do you want? Juice, coffee or tea?” I asked her timidly.
“No, thanks. I’m not gonna stay for long.” she said.
“I’m not here for anything except for asking you to stay away from my husband. I know it’s not easy because of your traumatic experience when you lost him. But you managed to live without Gabriel for almost 4 years!” she straightforwardly said.
My lips pursed tightly. I bite me tightly clasped my hands together on my lap.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t just give up my husband. I’ve been looking for him for a long time. You don’t know how much I suffered when he disappeared. I almost lost everything, I don’t know how to start my life again without him that time!” I said in my controlled voice.
“But you did make it, you lived without him for that long. What more now?”
I shook my head and smiled bitterly.
“You don’t know what you’re saying. He’s my husband and I am his wife. Isn’t it still clear to you?!” I wanted to raise my voice but I stopped myself to prevent a heated tension between us.
“If Gabriel treats you as his wife, why does he go home to me? Why does he still treat me like his wife! Come on, Meredith, let’s not joke around here. Gabriel’s not the only one that could cheat on her wife, there’s a lot of them… ” she said with lips twitched a bit.
My cheeks heated. If not for her pregnancy and heart condition, I would’ve slapped her already.
But I tried to manage my temper and relax my nerve. I took a deep breath before staring at her back.
“I’m not stupid, Alessandra. Do you think I’ll just give my husband to you? You’re wrong. I will file a case against the both of you and I’ll involve Marcus, too! Concubinage, Bigamy, and scandal! It’s enough to give justice to what you did ti me!”
“Go on! I’m not afraid of you! Because I know the ace is in me!” her eyes dropped on the small bump of her stomach before looking at me.
I crossed my arms against my chest and shook my head. “Don’t involve the child here…” I said firmly.
“Yes, if that’s the only way to get you out of our lives! Remember, you only hold a marriage while I hold a child, so if I were you, file an annulment case with your husband!” she said confidently. She stood up and went out of the Villa.
I was left speechless. I unconsciously caressed my tummy and bit my lip.
I felt Ellwood coming towards me, he stood beside me and gently held my shoulder. I gripped on his hand tightly as I breathe deep.
“What’s your plan now?”
I shook my head. I don’t know. If I sue her, my conscience would probably kill me when I see her and her baby imprisoned.
I know she’s just doing this because he loved Gabriel too much. She’s madly inlove with my husband, so even if it’s wrong, she’ll still do it. Even if she lose her own dignity, her own sanity for the sake of what she called love.
“Ate, where should I put these?” Trina asked me smoothly.
She was holding Hezekiah’s shoes that she found in the storage room.
“Just put it in my room. I’ll arrange it later.” I said while cooking.
“Is there anything you want me to buy or is the grocery list fine?” she asked again.
“None, after you’re done with that, you can go.” I said, not looking at her.
“Yes, Ate …”
Ellwood couldn’t visit for a few days because he had a business to do in Manila. He promised to go back here in weekends, but I didn’t really have expectations, knowing that there are a lot of shipments in the line-up.
I tasted the Menudo I was cooking before turning the stove off. “Hmm, perfect…”
My forehead creased when someone rang the doorbell.
“Trina, please check who it is!” I called.
No one answered. Well, I just realized that I ordered her to go upstairs so I guess she didn’t hear me.
I took my apron off and went to the gate to check it.