It can’t be true. Judy is obviously lying right now- but what would she gain by lying? Markian thought.
“She had planned to run away on the day of your marriage and I knew. I knew that if I used force on her it wouldn’t work, so I threatened her by telling her how I’ll ruin you and Castlehill and I meant it. It was because she cared about you so much that she renounced her freedom and pride just to get you away from my wrath.” Judy continued, leaving Markian with more regrets now than questions.
“Why would she do that for me? She completely despised me back then” Markian asked totally bewildered by Judy’s confession.
“Don’t you understand? It’s because she loves you, you dimwit! If she really despised you as you think, why then did she try to save you from me?…[Sigh] I know I’ve made many mistakes with my daughter, so I needed to do just one good thing for her. Even though I had my own selfish reasons for wanting this marriage, at least it was with the man she loves. And since you cared so much for her late sister, I hoped you would care for her and eventually fall in love with her in time as well.” Judy revealed.
There was no point in hiding her true intentions from him now. She had always been frank with Markian so, he had to know this very detail.
“I… I don’t believe you. I can’t. You’re capable of saying anything just to get what you want, you’re a businesswoman after all.” Markian debated disheartened, hopeful that
Judy was lying so he wouldn’t have to feel like he had made a grave mistake.
Judy exhaustedly stood up from the couch and headed to her desk, sat down, and looked up at Markian.
“Do you think I give a hoot if you believe me or not? Whether you believe what I just told you or not, it’s entirely your problem. My problem is that you nearly ruined several years of my excessive planning to get Olivia to where she is now. And believe me, if she finds out about the connection of our little agreement with the honeymoon vacation, then we will both be in a whole lot of trouble. Trust me.” Judy stated profoundly.
Markian was left in awe of the news he just heard and wondered if what Judy just told him is true. That she and Livy didn’t see eye to eye on his marriage to her.
Then everything that Livy had said and done all this while had been true?
Oh no! What exactly have I been doing to that poor girl? he thought.
She had been honest and open with him but he had never believed her let alone trusted her.
“And as for the Hong Kong contract, your cousin was here and he made some very big claims demanding that I hand the contract over to him. He seems to know his way around the Verc, so you should seriously keep a leash on him or else he might take Castlehill from right under your nose. You may leave.” Judy advised cruelly and dismissed him abruptly.
Right now, the Hong Kong contract was the least bit of his problems, which was kind of funny because that was all he has had in mind since they started packing up to return from their honeymoon to Minnesota.
But now, he just couldn’t shake off the depressing feeling of deep regrets as he struggled to stand up and made his way out of Judy’s office.
When he got outside the office, he was finding it hard to stand properly. He looked around but couldn’t find Livy, so he asked Judy’s secretary of her and was told she had left in anger.
He managed to look cool as he walked carefully to his car and completely broke down when he was sure he was alone with the driver.
‘You still love Sophy right? Keep loving her. But no matter what happens from here on out, you must promise me you’ll never come back to me with these 3 sentences; I’m sorry, I miss you and I love you. Promise me this, Markian.’ He recalled Livy’s words and now understood they were words from a broken heart.
She had been open to him, maybe even with her heart so many times, but he had thought it was all a trap and never really bothered or thought twice about crushing her feelings.
His head was spinning and everything was beginning to irritate him.
The hands that had held Livy and pinned her to the wall with so much aggression- hurting her softly, his lips that spoke rudely to her and teased her meanly, his mind that had thought the worst of her and had almost claimed her maliciously. Everything about him irritated him.
What if he had just hurt the last person in his life who cared or gave a hoot about him for who he was and not for what he had.
He was feeling terrible and for him, this was a new and strange feeling.
He was hurting, not from another’s betrayal but from his very own- and he had betrayed a lot of people without any remorse before in this lifetime.
He sincerely wishes he could start over and undo all he had done wrong with Livy.
The fear and dread of he pain he had caused her, corrupted him.
How would he be able to face her now?
M. WINFREY VILLA
Arriving at the new mansion, the M. Winfrey’s villa was a whole new grand venue for exploration. And when Judy Luthel had said she bought a place for her daughter, she went all out.
But Markian was too depressed to explore his new home. He tried to rest a bit and he is almost grateful Livy wasn’t around yet, that way he wouldn’t have to feel even worse than he already felt.
‘Where is she anyway and why isn’t she back home yet?’ he wondered to himself.
He was almost dosing off to sleep on the couch where he sat when his phone rang.
He sighed when he saw the caller ID. He had to answer the call unless he wants an even bigger problem on his hand- so a clear mind is what he needs now.
“Markian here.” He confirmed half-heartedly.
“It’s Jeffery. I’m currently in Minnesota and I’m wondering if you forgot that you promised to get a place set up for me and a driver too, but I don’t see anyone here to welcome me Markian. I hope I’m still welcomed?” Jeffery asked disappointedly.
“Oh yeah… I’m sorry about that. I was supposed to handle your accommodation arrangement myself. I can’t believe something as important as that escaped my mind.” Markian apologized sincerely.
“It’s ok, I can just sleep at the airport terminal. It’s nothing I haven’t done before, you know?” Jeffery stated sarcastically.
“I’m really sorry man. I’ll send a car to come to get you and bring you to my place immediately. See you in a bit.” Markian replied regrettably before hanging up.
Not really interested in doing anything else, he just called his driver and asked him to go fetch Jeffery from the airport and bring him to the Villa.
It’s already after 6 pm and still no word from Livy yet, so now he’s getting worried.
Jeffery was already on his way to the villa but Livy wasn’t answering her calls and it was stressing him out even more. So much for a restful evening.