Chapter 26

Chapter 26

“Is he okay now?” I asked my secretary when they all brought Brian back to his room. I was only outside the hotel room, waiting.

Brian indeed created a scene there. His manager struggled to talk with the other people who took a video of him. He's a popular model who is still famous in the Philippines. If his video had spread earlier, we'd both be dead. My name will be dragged as well. Even Elijah's name will be included as I already carry his name with me.

Faith Flamera-Luciero. It just sinks into me now.

“He’s sleeping. We found out that he drank tons of alcohol in the club here,” she blew out a light sigh, in distress of the mess Brian created.

“I deeply apologize for this mess, Ms. Faith. He has never been like this, I was surprised, too.” His manager said, ashamed of Brian's sudden action.

“It's fine. Let's just skip his photoshoot for now and focus on the other models,” I suggested. That's the only thing we can do. He was not in his right mind yet to do the photoshoot.

“I'll make sure that he won't be a problem anymore. Thanks, Ms. Faith.”

“We'll go ahead,” my secretary said and gave him a smile.

I heaved a heavy sigh as we began to march out of there. What a morning to begin this day.

“Will you be okay, Ms. Faith? I mean, Sir Brian confessed his feelings to you in front of your husband,” it got me thinking as well.

Why are they suddenly confessing to me? First, Lucas. And now, it's Brian. I see them both as friends. I didn't even do anything to make them like me.

“Well, we're married. I'm tied to Elijah so what he said shouldn't matter.”

I was thankful that Elijah controlled himself earlier. If he punched Brian, that would worsen everything. He cannot show up on the runway having a bruise on his face. His face must be protected among anything else.

“This is really crazy. Can you believe it? The most popular model is in love with you? Heck,” she chuckled, couldn't believe it yet.

I can't believe it as well. What would Freya feel if she finds out that his idol confessed his feelings to me?

“You go ahead. I'll find Elijah,” I said before we separate ways.

I searched Elijah around the island. Earlier, it was kinda new to me not to see him fuming mad with everything that Brian said. He witnessed it all and I was scared that he might lose his temper and it might ruin what we are just starting to have together.

I paused from afar when I saw him sitting near the shore, watching the waves of the ocean. I could tell that it was him at one glance even if I could only see his broad back.

“I've been looking for you,” I muttered as I sat beside him on the sand.

“You're here. How's the jerk?”

“He's sleeping,” I replied.

“I don't know why men are falling in love with you so quickly. Did you hear what he said? He was smitten, damn.” He giggled and couldn't believe that Brian actually said it that way.

“I don't know why he likes me. I mean, he was Freya's idol,” I breathed heavily.

“Was he?” I glanced at him when his voice saddened a bit.

“I'm glad you didn't get mad earlier,” I quickly changed the topic.

“I was mad,” he now glanced back at me.

“I had to control myself because I remember that he is one of your models. His damn face cannot be ruined, right?” He smirked and shook his head.

“I appreciate that,” we both turned our eyes to the ocean in front of us.

Watching it with him calms me. It gives us a depth of serenity.

“Why do you like me, Faith?” That question got me looking at him. He didn't look at me. He remains looking at the ocean.

I wasn't able to answer immediately. His question hovered in my mind for a moment. Then, I asked myself as well, ‘why him?’

“Do you believe that when you're in love with someone, that question is hard? I mean, it's hard to explain why you like someone because inside you, you know that your heart belongs to that person no matter what happens.”

I was lost for words. Words aren't enough to explain why I like Elijah.

“When you told me that you like my sister, I was shattered that day. Why?” I chuckled why I can remember how Elijah told me that he likes Freya.

“Because you told it to me first more than anyone else. You told me that you're damn in love with her and I couldn't tell you that I was also in love with you,” a bitter smile appeared on my lips.

“I didn't plan to upgrade whatever we have. I was happy to have a deep friendship with you. I loved the sight of you and Freya looking at each other romantically.” I blinked twice when I felt my tears welling out in my eyes again.

“I didn't kill my sister, Elijah. I didn't kill anyone,” my voice almost shattered when I finally brought it up. I was able to capture his eyes and I didn't see anything from it. I hope this time, I make him believe me. I hope he opens his mind as he opens his heart for me.

“I'm trying to accept everything, Faith. I'm trying to live and make this marriage work for the both of us,” I saw how he clenched his teeth as he came back watching the ocean.

“We're both wrecked, Elijah. I'm not rushing you, I just want you to heal.”

Right now, I'm content with the thought that he's trying. My hopes will not waver that everything between us will work. I never dreamed of marrying Elijah, but we are tied to each other now. As much as possible, I don't want to end this with a divorce paper where the two of us have to sign.

“You know me, Faith. I could never lay a finger on you, but I was filled with hatred. I couldn't accept Freya's death,” that moment, he can't look at me anymore. I know that tears are already playing in the corner of his eyes.

I nodded. “I know,” I clearly know that it was not the Elijah I fell in love with.

“It was not the Elijah I loved,” I chuckled and quickly shed the side of my eyes before a tear could slip out.

“And I'm trying to make it up, Faith. I should have not done that. I think I ruined the two of us even more,” I held his hand as I eyed him again.

“We're starting over, right? That's what should only matter,” he held back my hand and nodded.

After that conversation we had, I think the weight of everything inside me lessened. I thought I would never be able to bring up that topic, but I did. Elijah is trying his best and I cannot ask for more anymore as of now.

“Of course, as we celebrate another victory, why don't we hear a heart-warming message from the Ms. Faith Flamera-Luciero?”

“Go, Ms. Faith!”

I chuckled as they were all cheering me up. We're having a celebration as tomorrow will be the last day of our preparation.

“Alright,” I said as I stood up. They all shouted and screamed, giving their support to me.

I stood in front of them and heaved a sigh. I had to look at them first before I construct my message.

“When I started this career, it was just a passion and a simple dream. My dream was to own a tailor shop only with the designs I make. I don't know how it turned out like this. I don't know how it happened that I now own my own clothing brand, a company, and not just a simple tailor shop.”

It happens in one snap. I still don't know how I was able to expand my business and did it all by myself.

“I want to honor my sister, Freya, who was my number one supporter. She was the one who told me that I can do it when I kept telling her that I don't think I can,” I looked away when I felt tears roaming around my eyes again.

“She was the best person I've ever had. To my husband, Elijah, thanks for joining me everytime I create my own world when I'm holding my pen and sketchpad,” I heard some of them chuckled a little with that. Elijah was smiling from ear to ear while watching me in front.

“I don't know if I deserve this success, but everytime I see all of you working your fingers to the bone, it reminds me that I do not just deserve it—we deserve it. I cannot do all of this alone. This is not just my victory, this is all our victory.”

I grabbed a wine glass with the champagne inside it and raised it to all of them.

“Cheers for another success,”

“Cheers for another success!” They all exclaimed as we made a toast.

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