"You really don't need to buy me lunch, I am having sandwiches after now," Arabella said as Kieran pulled her along."Get in" he said opening the door to his car and nudging her in.She turned to catch his face and pursed her lips to a line before getting into the car. Kieran closed the door and jogged over to the other side of the car.He silently drove a few metres, he was glad that he overheard them speak about the restaurant they were visiting so he could successfully avoid them.They got into the restaurant and the waiter came to th.to get their orders. Arabella ordered and then waiter turned to Kieran to get his order."Aren't you going to order anything?" Arabella asked handing the waiter the menu in her hand."I am having a late lunch, I think I told you that already" Kieran said."Are you going to sit there and watch me eat?" Arabella asked."Yes" he said with a nod."Is that kind of a fetish?"

"How did you know the coffee I like?" Arabella asked as they drove back to the office."I just guessed," Kieran said with a shrug. "I will drop you off upfront because I have to get to my meeting" he added."I told you that I can go back myself," Arabella said in a protest. "You drop me off here" she said pointing to the corner of the road."And risk looking like a bad person?" Kieran commented.Arabella felt her phone vibrate in her lap. She took it up and discovered it was a call from Mark. A smile crossed her face. Since their date on Saturday, they have been communicating like close friends. Each time she felt like he was about to ask her out she discovered he just did not do it. "Hello," Mark's voice came through the line." I thought not to call you because you might be at work," Arabella said in response."I just saw my outpatients and I have a little more time before I go in for surgery and I wanted to hear from

Kieran sat in the bar looking down at his phone. He had just spoken with Arabella and he had no tangible reason for bailing on her without telling her and then refusing to apologize aside from the clenching feeling he felt after he heard her joyfully announce her date with him."What does she see in him?" he murmured as he downed the remnant of the mocktail in his cup. He did not want to drink alcohol because he had to drive himself back home.He did not know why he was bothered that she was having a date. He did not like her so why did it disturb him so much that he did not want to set his eyes on her?He stood up abruptly startling the people sitting by his side. He slid a tio for the waiter and hurried out. He had to try and make it back to his office building so he could take her home before she could leave by herself."He raced as fast as the speed limit could take him. By the time he arrived at the building, the lights were gone and the door

"What?" "Yeah, at first I thought my mind was playing some kind of cruel trick on me but it turns out I was wrong and it keeps showing up and when it shows up I am not sure how to act and that's the reason I end up being rude to you" he explained.She had ranted and it was his turn to talk for long while he listened. "So Seraphina was right?" she murmured to herself."What?" "Nothing," she said startled. She had demanded a. explanation but, not this kind. She did not know what she wanted but she was sure it was none of what she had heard."I better get inside" she said struggling with the handle of the door.Kieran got closer as he wanted to try to help her get the door. "What are you doing?" she screamed when she felt him so close to her."Helping you," he said."Don't bother?" she said in a nervous laugh."I did not want to tell you because I did not want you to feel uncomfortable" Kieran said resti

TRIGGER WARNING, THERE MIGHT BE SOME ELEMENT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE IN THIS CHAPTER PLEASE SKIP IT IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE IT."What do you mean by that?" Everly asked as she turned to face her husband.Since Saturday she had avoided making any meals for him and he had thought she was just temporarily acting up and would be back to her senses soon"If you want breakfast so much maybe you should make yourself something to eat" He had been ordering in since Saturday for all his Melas apart for dinners and he was not going to take it any more."Are you not going to get your husband something to eat?" he asked walking slowly towards her."You should get yourself something to eat if you are that hungry," she said.He moved closer to her and she moved back until her back touched the wall. She was now pinned to the corner and she did not like the feeling of being trapped at all."You have refused to prepare my meals