Chapter 8: Whispers of the Heart

[Elle Alvarez]

The warm sunlight filtered through the mansion's gardens as I walked along the corridor. A faint sound caught my attention, a voice I recognized all too well – Klyde's. My curiosity piqued, I followed the sound until I stood before a partially open door. Peering inside, my heart sank as I saw Klyde engaged in conversation with a woman. It was his ex-girlfriend and Kendrick's current flame.

Hmm, I smell leech.

My stomach twisted as I watched them. The girl seemed at ease, laughing at something Klyde had said, her hand resting on his arm. I felt a strange mix of emotions – jealousy, frustration, and irritation. Wait id is said jealousy? No! I’m not jealous. It’s just that I still care for Kendrick.  Not just because she was his ex, but because she was now with Kendrick, my ex-boyfriend. The sight of them chatting so casually gnawed at me.

What is she doing here!?

Klyde's demeanor remained as cold and composed as ever. It was as if his emotional fortress was impenetrable, even in the presence of someone he once cared about. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him, wondering if he ever let his guard down. My lips formed a smile, this is the first time I liked his coldness. Take that, you girl!

As they continued talking, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted within me. It was like a storm of emotions swirling beneath the surface. I had been so certain that Klyde's emotional detachment was invincible, yet here he was, sharing a moment of familiarity with his ex girlfriend. How annoying.

I forced myself to turn away, my heart pounding loudly in my chest. Walking down the corridor, I couldn't help but reflect on my own feelings. How had this situation managed to unravel my composure so effortlessly? Klyde was still that same distant and cold person who had been thrust into my life through circumstances beyond my control.

But even as I tried to convince myself of his emotional unavailability, I knew deep down that I was lying to myself. That scene replayed in my mind – Klyde's composed exterior, that girl’s laughter – and I couldn't ignore the turmoil it stirred within me. Questions surfaced that I had refused to acknowledge: Were Klyde's walls truly unbreakable?

And why did it bother me so much to see him interacting with others?

A heavy sigh escaped my lips, frustration mingling with a newfound awareness. Klyde was an enigma, a puzzle I was desperately trying to solve. My emotions were betraying me, threatening to overshadow the rational part of me that knew this was just a fleeting moment. Little did I realize that this seemingly insignificant incident would mark the beginning of a journey that would challenge not only my perception of Klyde but also my understanding of my own heart.

I continued my steps until I found myself lying in bed, my mind clouded with bunch of thoughts, and him constantly running in my mind.

Days turned into weeks, and the memory of that encounter continued to linger in the back of my mind. I found myself stealing glances at Klyde when I thought he wasn't looking, studying his expressions for any cracks in his stoic facade. It was like an invisible thread had formed between us, pulling me into a world of questions and uncertainties.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow across the estate, I found myself standing by the balcony, lost in my thoughts. I didn't expect Klyde's presence until I heard his footsteps approaching from behind. I turned to find him there, his expression as unreadable as ever. Why are you so near yet so far?

"Lost in the view?" he remarked, his voice a mixture of casual observation and something else I couldn't quite place.

I leaned against the railing, meeting his gaze. "Maybe I am." His eyes were the most wonderful view I’ve ever seen.

He joined me by the balcony, his eyes scanning the landscape below. "It's easy to get lost in your own thoughts," he said, his tone neutral but oddly comforting.

I couldn't help but remember the way he had talked to his ex girlfriend – the way he effortlessly engaged with her, even if it was just a casual conversation. "Do you talk to everyone like that?" I blurted out, my curiosity getting the best of me.

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement crossing his features. "Like what?"

I hesitated, realizing I was treading on dangerous territory. "You know, like how you talked to that girl the other day. It's just… surprising, I guess."

‘’Girl? What do you mean?’’ Oh, right! He didn’t saw me! I just said I saw them talking without actually saying it! I’m busted!

‘’Nothing.”

‘’It is Jess, I believe you know her, you've seen her one time.’’

‘’Just answer the question, Klyde. Do you talk to everyone like that?’’

Klyde's lips curved into a faint smile. "Ah, you mean the enigma cracks a little when I talk to certain people."

I chuckled, relieved by his light-hearted response. "I suppose you could say that."

He leaned against the railing, his gaze distant. "Jess is... unique. Our history makes it easier to be a bit more open." But she broke you…

The honesty in his words surprised me. It was a rare glimpse into his past, a past that I had yet to fully understand. "So, you're saying I haven't earned the privilege of seeing that side of you?"

He turned his head to meet my gaze, his eyes searching mine for a moment. "You're different, Elle."

I felt my cheeks warm at his words. "Different? In what way?" Am I blushing? Damn it!

He shrugged, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "You ask questions. You challenge me, even when you don't realize it."

A playful retort was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it back. Instead, I found myself enjoying this moment of candidness with him. It was like a door had cracked open, revealing a sliver of the person behind the cold exterior.

We fell into a comfortable silence, the sounds of the evening surrounding us. I stole another glance at him, realizing that maybe, just maybe, there was more to Klyde than met the eye. And as the days passed, I couldn't shake the feeling that the invisible thread that had formed between us was pulling me deeper into his world – a world of secrets, complexities, and, perhaps, a side of him that was waiting to be discovered.

"Life hasn't given you reasons to smile, huh?" I mused, my voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and challenge. "Well, that's a challenge I'm willing to take on."

He shot me a sidelong glance, his expression remaining impassive. "I wasn't aware this was a competition."

I shrugged, not letting his cold demeanor deter me. "Everything in life is a competition, whether we admit it or not. And I'm determined to make you crack a smile."

His lips quirked, a hint of skepticism in his eyes. "You think you can accomplish what others haven't?"

I leaned in, a mischievous glint in my own gaze. "I've been told I have a knack for the impossible."

He didn't respond immediately, his silence a challenge in itself. Finally, he sighed, as if indulging a child's whim. "Fine, surprise me."

A triumphant grin spread across my face as I launched into my carefully prepared joke. "Why did the scarecrow win an award?"

He arched an eyebrow, almost as if he was humoring me. "I'm waiting."

"Because he was outstanding in his field!" I burst into laughter at my own corny joke, feeling a mix of victory and genuine amusement. Yep, corny.

Klyde's lips twitched, the closest thing to a reaction I'd seen from him. "You find simple things amusing, don't you?"

I nodded, still chuckling. "Absolutely. Life's too short to be serious all the time."

He regarded me with an intensity that made my heart race, his facade of cold detachment momentarily slipping. "You're certainly unlike anyone I've encountered."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the rare admission. "Is that a compliment?"

He looked away, a faint blush dusting his cheeks, almost as if he was embarrassed by his own words. "Take it as you will."

Did he blushed? I made him blush! Did I?

Our conversation continued, a playful back-and-forth that I was growing accustomed to. Despite his best efforts to remain aloof, there were cracks in his armor – fleeting moments when he seemed almost human, vulnerable even. And as much as I wanted to uncover the layers beneath his icy exterior, I knew it wouldn't be easy.

With every exchange, I couldn't help but wonder about the man behind the cold facade. What had shaped him into this distant, guarded person? And more importantly, was there a chance that he could open up to someone like me?

But for now, I was content to push his boundaries, to see how much of a reaction I could elicit. And if along the way, I found myself drawn to him in ways I hadn't anticipated, I was determined to keep my feelings in check. After all, I was just a thorn in his side – an unexpected presence that had somehow managed to pierce through his carefully constructed armor.

However, some things do happen…

"You're impossible, Klyde. Just when I thought we were actually getting to know each other, you throw up this wall again." I couldn't hold back my irritation any longer.

He shook his head, his jaw clenched. "You don't understand."

"Then help me understand!" I shot back, my frustration getting the best of me. "We're not just pawns in some arrangement. We're real people, and I refuse to pretend like we're strangers."

He stood up abruptly, his expression pained. "Maybe it's better if we are strangers, Elle. It would make things a lot easier."

I watched as he walked away, his shoulders hunched, and my heart ached with a mix of anger and hurt. It was as if a barrier had slammed shut between us, and I couldn't help but wonder if our playful conversations had pushed us too far, too fast. As I sat there alone on the bench, I realized that maybe Klyde's cold exterior wasn't just a defense mechanism – perhaps it was the only way he knew how to protect himself from the unknown.

Days turned into weeks, and the tension between Klyde and me remained palpable. We avoided each other, our interactions reduced to polite formalities. I tried to bury my disappointment, reminding myself that I shouldn't have let my guard down in the first place.

Then, one evening, as I sat by the window lost in thought, I noticed Klyde from a distance, his stern expression illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. He was standing near a café, engaged in a conversation with a woman. My heart clenched when I recognized her – it was Jess, his ex-girlfriend.

A wave of jealousy surged through me, catching me off guard. I watched them from afar, unable to hear their conversation but acutely aware of their close proximity. I couldn't help but imagine the memories they shared. Jealousy burned within me, and I had to remind myself that Klyde and I were bound by marriage, even if our connection felt strained.

Finally, Jess waved goodbye and walked away. Klyde stood there for a moment, his gaze fixed on the spot where she had disappeared. I felt a knot in my stomach, a mixture of insecurity and frustration. Why did her presence affect me this way? I had no right to be jealous – after all, he was still the cold, distant husband who barely acknowledged my existence.

As he turned and began to walk back, I quickly averted my gaze, pretending to be engrossed in a book. When he entered the room, his expression was as unreadable as ever. I couldn't bring myself to look at him, afraid that he might see the turmoil within me.

"Is everything okay?" his voice was neutral, devoid of any emotion.

I nodded, my heart racing. "Yeah, everything's fine."

He studied me for a moment, his gaze lingering before he turned to leave the room. Once again, we were left in this strange limbo, where unspoken words and emotions hung heavily between us.

Little did I know that my jealousy was just the beginning of a rollercoaster of emotions that would test both Klyde's and my own understanding of our evolving relationship.

With these strange emotions I had, am I really falling for him?