EPISODE FIVE

EPISODE FIVE

"Mum,I'm so sorry,I shouldn't have..."

"Christ. Stop blaming yourself for what you didn't cause,He will calm down sooner or later."She smiled softly at me.

I walked to the smashed picture and knelt beside it.

I tried using my hands to pack it but she grabbed them immediately.

"You will ruin your pretty hands,The maids will do it for me,Just leave it and go."She scolded.

"I'm sorry,I just.."

"Go now before he gets mad,No one can survive Stefano's anger."

"Oh,I will leave now"I bowed respectfully before walking out of the house.

The rain was heavier than I thought.

Stefano was already in the car which is a little bit far from the entrance.

I catch cold easily when I walk under the rain but I have no choice.

After taking a short prayer,I ran into the heavy rain.

The rain drenched me before I got into the car. The driver opened the door from the inside for me,I entered the car almost bumping my head On Stefano's chest who was just getting up to adjust his seat.

"I'm sorry"

No reply.

He plugged his earphones,The driver ignited the car to life and drove out of the compound.

"Stefano"I called softly during the ride but he couldn't hear me because of the stuff in his ears.

I tapped him this time around,He shot me a stare before taking them off.

"I'm sorry for what happened earlier,I shouldn't have given you the towel,I..."

"The last thing I want to hear right is your voice or your presence,I don't want you to talk to me,Shut the fuck up."

"You really need to loosen up a bit and stop treating me like I'm some piece of trash."I protested,He scoffed before turning to me properly this time around.

"Piece of trash? How are you of any difference from trash?you even gave up on your career because of that fuck you called a father."

"Is that the reason why you're being cold to me?"

"Every fucking thing about you irks me so much that I don't want to see you anywhere I am,Don't you understand at all?You're just a liability for me."

"My brother liked my father the most,Even if he wasn't always around for me. He made sure my brother never lacked anything. Why should I give him the joy of the childhood I never had?"

"And that's why you accepted the marriage?To live with someone like me?"

"It was my fault that I dragged you into this,I shouldn't have,I ought to have looked for another means to bail my father out,I..."

"It's of no use again"

"Stefano, please,I.."

"Stop talking,I don't want to hear you talk for the rest of the ride"He warned.

I kept my mouth shut immediately and faced the window,shivering terribly.

Cold tears ran down my cheeks,I pressed my lips together to stop the whimpering.

I shouldn't have sacrificed myself for this,My father even disowned me and my estranged husband isn't taking it easy on me too.

Why do I have to be like this?

How did I put myself in this mess?

The driver stared at me from the front mirror and took his eyes away the moment I caught on.

I cleaned my tears immediately.

The cold clothes gummed my skin, making me shiver.

The ride is a long one. His house isn't located in the busy streets.

He built it in a very quiet area with few houses around and I don't think people live there.

The driver drove the car the moment the gate opened automatically.

A gasp left my mouth the moment we entered.

I'm not exaggerating but Stefano's house is a heaven.

His house is far better than his mom's.

It was built like the ancient ones,the expensive bulbs changing light at intervals,glowing on the beautiful flowers outside.

There is another section for his cars,They were about six.

I noticed the cars behind us earlier didn't follow us to his house.

Only Luca's car which was behind us.

"You can go home now,I booked a ride for you."He muttered simply to the driver before stepping down the car.

The rain has stopped already but it's still very cold.

Luca dropped off the car and wheeled my bag to where I am.

"Are you okay? You're shivering"He asked in concern and tried touching me but I moved away, nervously.

Which I regretted. I shouldn't have rebuffed him.

"I'm sorry,I thought you would get more cold if you touched me."I lied.

The truth is that I don't want him to touch him because of Stefano. He is still with us.

"No,it's fine,Here's your bag,I'm sorry for the gadgets,If you want me to buy new ones for you,I will."He offered politely.

"No,It's fine,I will get another one myself"I mumbled.

I literally don't have any dime on me again because I transferred everything to Mom for Josh upkeep.

I hoped I will be able to get a new one soon so mom won't worry about me.

"I will leave now,Make sure you take care of yourself"He waved at me with a smile lingering on his face.

I bowed slightly before walking to the entrance of the house,I was walking like I'm on eggshells.

Everything is just so delicate and beautiful too.

I waited in front of the door for Stefano to open the door for me.

STEFANO'S

"You don't really have to do anything today,Right?"Luca asked suspiciously.

I scoffed before pulling my wet hair back.

"I'm not fucking attracted to her,I will never be,Don't make me mad"

"Stefano,It's gradual,You don't have to rush it."

"I'm not a 'gradual' person and you know that,I'm not planning to keep her for long."

"Ste..."

"Mom is mad at me right now because of her,I don't know why she's acting like she cares about me."

"I'm setting up the meeting tomorrow with Chad,Don't mess him up again."He warned strictly this time around.

"That fucking bastard,I wondered how he's still alive,I should have shot his balls off."

"He's your Uncle,And he needs your help."

"I almost died years ago,He backed off me because he didn't want to get into trouble. Don't tell me what to do about him,I will kill him myself if I can."I spat angrily and slammed the car keys on his chest.

"Dude. Are you not taking the car out again?"

"I'm taking this."I kicked the tyre of the black jeep beside me before walking away from him.

Surprisingly,Hazel was still outside shivering in the cold.

Her small wet dress gummed to her body revealing her cleavages.

"What are you doing here?"I asked, walking past her.

"I was waiting for you,I can't open the door."

"The door isn't always locked,you didn't make an attempt to."I huffed and pushed the door inside.

The bright light of the living room hit my eyes immediately,I turned back to Luca who was just about to get into his car and yelled at him.

"You didn't turn off the light?You bastard!"I cursed angrily.

He covered his mouth in shock knowing he messed up already. Idiot.

"I'm sorry, dude"He apologized in a rushed tone. He slipped into his car and zoomed off immediately.

"Fool"I cursed angrily.

Hazel wasn't scared of me,She stared at me in an amused manner watching the way I talk to Luca casually.

She entered the house after taking off her cheap shoes at the entrance.

She tried wheeling her bag inside but it was heavy.

She struggled and after a few attempts,she turned to him.

Shit.

I took a deep breath and bent to the small stairs at the entrance.

Our body was touching due to the close range,I dragged the bag up at one go and finally moved away from her.

Christ. What's that?

"Thank you,"She mumbled.

I started pulling the buttons on my shirt without answering her while she continued watching me.

Her eyes widened the moment I took off my shirts revealing the tattoo on my chest.

She turned away from me swiftly.

"Go upstairs,Your room is the second one on the left."

"Okay,thank you."She mumbled before walking upstairs.