IDTMB — Chapter eleven

It was already dark when Arthur returned to the cabin, still irritated about what had happened earlier at the company. Dominick is really testing his patience, and he must not let his guard down because it will bring him down at any time. Even though he does not want to drop the charge, he swallowed his pride and instructed his private attorney to do so that the situation does not become complicated. He must be cautious, especially since his former best friend can manipulate their situation at any time, which is something he learned from him before they became nemeses. Our friends weren't our friends, and who are they when you don't look back?

"I'm back," Arthur said as he closed the cabin door and went to the kitchen to put the food he had taken out in the restaurant. Nobody answered him, and before he could start looking for her, he noticed the plates in the sink and even smelled the dishes coming from the pot. "How does she know how to cook when she can't?" he wondered, looking at the food.

"Arthur, is that you?"

As soon as he heard the voice, he turned to see her, who was only covered by a robe since she just came out in the bathroom when she heard a noise. "Is there anything you want to tell me?" He asked, not moving from where he was.

"I'm the one who was supposed to ask here because I was the one who left here," she replied sarcastically, "Where have you been the whole day? I didn't know you'd be gone this long. Have you even realized if I'm already eating here or who's going to cook because Ellie doesn't know how to cook!"

"What are you demanding there when you already have food here? Are you just pretending you don't know how to cook?" His dark eyes sharpen as he looks at her deeper than usual.

"Wh-what do you mean pretending?" Everytime she hears the word pretending especially when it comes to him, seems he was always blaming her on their situation because even they already have everything there are things that they couldn't.

"Like what you told me to do to pretend that we're siblings!" Arthur screamed in rage, his anger towards Dominick rising on his head, along with the fact that he can't have her because everyone thinks they're siblings.

When she heard what he said, it was as if the words became a knife that struck her heart, causing tears to form in her toffee eyes. "I didn't pretend any here that I didn't know how to cook if it's what you are thinking. I-I met Edison accidentally earlier here, and he's the one who cooked food for me while you were gone, and I just left something for you in the hopes that you'll like it." She explained, her voice nearly breaking.

"And you expect me to eat that?" he shouted, pointing angrily at the pot. "And you even let another man inside my cabin without my permission!" He threw the pot where the food spilled on the floor that made her eyes widened in shock.

"How am I supposed to tell when my phone is still stuck in your car!" she yelled back, beginning to feel her rage at what he had done, "If you were angry at me because I let Edison here, you don't have to spill the food on the floor asshole!"

"You should've waited for me like I said to the note I left," he clenches his fists, trying not to make the same mistakes he had made with the food. His rage at Dominick combined with his jealousy of Edison caused him to feel as if he was losing control.

"I can't wait for you to return while I'm dying of hunger, and I'm grateful Edison showed up while you were gone!"

"Say his name in front of me again, and you'll regret it," he warned, greeting his teeth.

Ellie bursts out laughing sarcastically. "You know what? I don't understand why you've been acting like that to Edison since you met him in the airport; Edison was a nice guy, and he's been good to me since I had a vacation in Japan, and we're really close!"

"I said don't say his name!" Arthur rushes over to her, where she was already locked in his arms as he slammed his hands against the wall.

"Get off me, you asshole!" She tried to push him, but he was stronger.

"You really have no idea with my feelings, Ellie. You still don't get it."

"Hahaha. What feelings?" she scowled at him, "Is it something to see or touch? Because if it is, I'm not sure what feelings you're talking about other than your own selfishness!"

He smirked at what he heard about her. "You're right, I'm selfish," he said almost quietly. "I don't like sharing what is mine with others because I am a jealous type." His other arm moved down to her waist, where he reached the rope of her robe.

"A-Arthur, step back." Her toes trembled nervously as Arthur untied the rope of her robe. She gulped as he drew her waist closer to him, hugging her tightly in her arms and stopped on the thought that he wants to do in claiming her. His afraid that she might run away again to him.

"What is mine is mine, Ellie, and you are only belong here in my arms, not anyone else's, and I will never let him have you, and I'll make sure once I ask you again, you will choose me over this life that we are living," he said as he combed her hair with his fingers, "You are only belong to me," he added, and Ellie began to cry in his chest when she didn't know what to do with him.

"Please, let me go," she begged and tried to distance herself from him, and she succeeded when he released her on his own, "I'm begging you for the second time, Arthur, stop talking nonsense because there's no way that we can be together; I'm not the one for you, and you're not the one for me-"

"You're only saying that because you're afraid of losing everything we have right now; you're afraid of going back to a life where we have nothing but food waste that we eat every day."

"Yes, you're right, I'm afraid because I deserve more than living on the street; I deserve this life, so don't take it away from me just by talking nonsense about your feelings for me! You already have a daughter with your fiancee, so grow up like a man, Arthur." She wiped the fluids from her cheeks, trying to hold back the remaining tears.

"You should be the one who grows up here, Ellie, and stop pretending that this is really what you want." His voice became cold when the pain he was holding inside couldn't take it any longer. He was already consumed by his emotions and he doesn't want her to see him wasted.

"You shouldn't have followed me in the bar in the first place, Arthur," she said quietly, and he punched the wall in what she says.

"Damn it!" he yelled. "Then what do you want me to do, huh? Let you be harassed by that asshole?"

"Yes! He's going to be my fiancee anyway and my husband!"

"You are really unbelievable."

She diverted her eyes somewhere and  bited her lower lips before saying, "This is not going to happen if I didn't go with you."

"Yeah, right and we're not supposed to be here if I didn't brought you," he sounded regretting like her how she regret first, "And I thought you are just naive, but you're also stupid."

She grimaced after his last sentence. "I want to go home, Arthur, take me home." Ellie's aura suddenly turned like a grey sky who's ready to pour a never ending tears. "And please, once we get there, let's pretend this never happened and focus on things that are more important than this."

"If it makes you happy, so be it." Arthur turned his back on her, but before he could walk away, he turned around and faced her again. "You better get ready now because we're leaving at seven," he said, and they still have thirty minutes before they leave.

When Arthur finally turned his back on her, Ellie followed him with her gaze fixed on his bandaged and bloodied fists. She noticed it the moment she saw him, and she has no idea what happened while he was out there. Whatever it is no longer bothers her, and she begins changing clothes so they can leave. She doesn't see him as she walks out of the room, and the food that was spilled on the floor has already been cleaned up. Ellie walked straight outside, where he noticed him already inside the car, waiting for her to go out. The two went off into the forest, not saying a single word while they are on their way. The silence only broke when they returned home late at night.

"Get out," Arthur said as he came to a halt in front of the gate.

"Are you not going in?" Ellie asked as she taking off her seatbelt.

"Since you care," he said sarcastically, staring at him in the rearview mirror.

"OK." She immediately leaves the car, and slammed the door shut.

When the guard sees her from the CCTV, the small door of the gate automatically opens. Ellie didn't bother looking back as she walked out, and all she heard was the sound of his car driving away. She sighed before entering the gate, and every step she took through the house felt like she was carrying the entire world with her. It exhausts her greatly, and all she wants to do is rest and start over the next day.

"Ellie!" Anecita rushes over to Ellie and gives her a hug as she enters. "I'm glad you're back."

"Mom, why are you still awake? It's late; you should be sleeping by now."

"Our security guard told me that you were already home, so I went out in the room to see you before I went back to bed. So how was the brother and sister bonding? I bet you miss each other a lot after ten years," she suddenly changed the subject.

"Ahm, it went well, Mom," she says with a fake smile.

"Would you mind telling me what you did for bonding? Do you go to an exclusive resort? hotels? restaurants? or do you visit Enchanted Kingdom?"

"Mom, can we schedule it for another time? I'm already tired of telling stories right now."

Anecita clasps her both shoulders and smiles at her. "OK, I understand. You go to your room now and rest because we have an important event tomorrow before I forget," her adoptive mother reminded her.

"What is it about tomorrow? Am I missing something?" Her sleepiness has been replaced by curiosity.

"Did Arthur not tell you?"

What is it that he didn't tell me? she asked in her mind before shaking her head as a response.

"There will be a dinner party with the Yuzon family, as well as your engagement party with Dominick, and I'm so excited to see you both tomorrow; I know you two are perfect for each other!" Anecita couldn't stop herself from hugging her again. "Now go to your room and get some beauty rest."

"He he. Good night, Mom," she replied, taking a few steps upstairs as her mind raced ahead to what her day would be like the next day.