But, slowly I watched the grin fade from his face as he said,
“Livy seems to hate me so much and I don’t know why. I’m also afraid that if I push her too hard, she might just repeat what she did yesterday again. So for now, until I find out how to restore her faith back in me, I want you to look after her. You may listen to her when she needs someone to talk, hold her when she cries, and give her a shoulder to rest on when she is tired. Sadly, these are the things she won’t let me do for her, but I plan to change that no matter how long it takes.” he ascertained, confusing me.
“Is these some kind of test? Cause I’m telling you now, I’ll not fail… because I am in love with her and want to do all that and more for her.” I told him in all truthfulness.
“Because you care about her, that’s why I’m asking you to do this for me. And I’m in doubt, but if Livy ever chooses you over me, I want you to take very good care of her no matter how much I’ll suffer. Please… promise me this, Daniel.” He pleaded with me.
Markian is really a shrewd persona. He is honestly asking me to ‘care’ for Livy, but never once did he say I should love her, nor did he admit that I’m in love with her.
Scoff, I knew there was going to be a catch to our reconciliation.
“I promise… We are family after all,” I replied genuinely.
And just like that, Markian Winfrey won again.
Even though he didn’t say it in plain words, he just marked his territory and asked me to guard it while he works on his strategies.
But I’m not giving up, because in every 99% odd that she would ever love me, there’s that 1% that could start a spark and lead to a huge flame.
*************************************************
7 Days Later
Markian gets a packed lunch from home every working day, but today was different and special.
Livy had decided to prepare Markian’s lunch and bring it with her to Castlehill before lunch break, as she also had to attend an Executives meeting there before noon.
It’s been a week since the whole suicide fiasco, and luckily there were no unsettling rumors as she was doing much better juggling Luthel Inc, the Verc and Castlehill.
Markian had done as the doctor recommended, and Livy have been visiting a therapist for 3-4hours every week.
She still haven’t confronted Markian, Heather or Daniel about her outburst at the hospital a week ago, making it clear that she wasn’t ready to apologize for everything she said that day.
Well, Heather have been trying her best to avoid Livy by all means, while Livy have been icing out Markian still and avoid Daniel who was still in Minnesota.
Which was why Markian, on hearing that Livy wanted to prepare his lunch today had been nothing but excited and happy all morning.
Heather received a text message from Livy, asking her to come to Castlehill. But she thought if Livy was trying to apologize, then she had to do more than just a text ordering her to come to the company. So, Heather ignored the it.
After the Executives meeting, Livy headed out first to her office in the company without greeting or sharing compliments with any of the other executives present at the meeting.
She was so quiet but straight faced, not responding to her surroundings.
Markian wanted to go and see her in her office, but he remembered what he had told Livy a week ago back at the hospital.
Recalls-
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she had asked him.
He had just finished helping her put on the seatbelt, and safely putting her inside his car, they were about to leave the hospital.
“Markian… talk to me!” She pleaded, after she didn’t get any response from me.
“The doctor said you’ll have to make an appointment with a therapist 3-4 hours every week. Luckily, your testimony matched mine and you were allowed to be discharged early. Is that what you wanted to hear?” He asked her sternly, but she was quiet.
She crawled up in the car seat she was sitting and began to weep silently. It was few moments later, Markian noticed she was crying, so he pulled over.
She looked up at him with searching eyes, and asked, “I know you heard me when I said I killed Sophia. But you’ve not brought it up even though I know you want to… Don’t you hate me?… I said I killed the woman you loved, you must hate me even if you don’t believe me yet…”
“Is that what you want- for me to hate you? Would it make you feel better if I hated you? Then- fine… Livy, I hate you. I hate the fact that in order to push me away, you tried to hurt yourself. I hate the fact that my love for you is causing you- so much pain. I hate the fact that even though I have made up my mind not to try and get close to you again, I’m still scared that I’m not going to be strong enough to keep my word. Livy… I hate you so much, I don’t even know what to hate anymore. So, everything is fine. You can go on with your life, I promise not intrude nor let my feelings for you show from now on. In 9months time, we can get a divorce and live our separate lives, you don’t need to worry anymore.” He blurted out sadly and upset.
He stared at her with a broken heart as she turned her eyes to the window by her side, looking into the dark.
Markian started the car and they continued their drive home silently, as Livy stopped crying too.
Ends-
So, it was taking him all of his will power not to march down to Livy’s office to see her face, with the excuse of getting his meal box from her.
He knew that would just be a nuisance and make things even harder for Livy, so he sat back down in his office.
He would clenched his hands into a fist, and release continuously and nervously, just to keep him from going mad or insane.
He soon felt his phone vibrate and hurriedly grabbed it, thinking it was Livy. He was disappointed when he saw Heather as the caller ID.
Few days ago, he had literally begged Heather to forgive what Livy had said at the hospital. But for some reason, she was being unreasonable and that made him upset.
If he can’t be with Livy at this time, he at the the very least had to make sure that Livy has friends and family by her side. So, he reluctantly picked the call.
“Hello?”
“Hello?! Markian? Oh, thank God you’re alive.” Heather stated panicky.
“What?” asked Markian.
“I called your home and they said Livy made lunch for you? Please… do not taste anything that witch sets before you, I’m almost at the company. I’m on my way to your office.” Heather blurted out upset and worried, before ending the call.
Something about the call sounded sketchy to Markian, and Heather would never call Livy a witch, so why did she?
Heather even called the mansion to know who prepared his lunch? That’s a bit extreme even for Heather, Markian thought.
But he could hardly put much thought into it, as he’s mind was flooding with other ideas of whether Livy would bring the meal herself or, she would have someone else deliver it.
He really wish she would bring it herself, so he could finally take a good look at his wife even if it’s for a minute.