CHAPTER 4

Assuming that her husband is worried for her she tried to put more effort as a payment for his gratitude but oh boy, she's so wrong. She shouldn't have assumed and expected anything like what Percival told her.

A big surprise is waiting for her in the company, something stressful and exhausting.

After putting on makeup and picking a nice formal dress, she patiently waits for her ride to arrive. She turns her phone off because notification from her social media and messages keeps flooding in.

Heart's ride arrived, she saw a familiar man at the driver's seat. Grinning and bobbing his head as he vibes with the song.

Heart's jaw dropped as she stared at the car in front of her. She carefully opened the car's door like it was a delicate thing. She slowly entered and gently sat on the passenger seat, looking around and admiring the clean and cool interior design.

After a few minutes of looking around with her mouth wide open, and her eyes wide in shock, her gaze landed on the handsome man, sitting in the driver's seat.

“Uhm... You're Darryl, right?” she asked as she raised a brow in confusion.

Darryl Chen, he is a famous singer and actor but it's not just that. He is an heir of one of the biggest companies in Asia, he is also in a relationship with the highest-paid supermodel, Ariel Garcia. 

What a lucky man, right?

Heart knows him, of course, she does! Darryl is her ex's idol. Every time they go on a date, he always talks about him, from beginning to end. 

She sometimes wonders if it's just a simple adoration if he really likes his voice and talent in acting or maybe it's another thing? In other words, if he's gay and turns out it's true. 

‘Damn it,’ she cursed, biting her lip as she stop herself from recalling her painful and insulting past.

“Yes, Mrs. Reddson. Darryl Chen at your service,” he said as he winked and turn his eyes back on the road.

Heart stared at him in shock and confusion. “D-Do you need something? I heard you accepted another project, congratulations! D-Do you need a supporting actress or something? I-I can act! I love acting,” she said while stuttering as she excitedly point towards herself, her gaze not leaving his handsome face.

Darryl glance on her way and chuckled, he said, “You're funny, you and my pain in the ass cousin are very different. I hope you're not forced to marry him.”

Heart frowns and looks outside the car, watching the trees appear and disappear. 

‘Cousin? What is he saying?’ Heart thought to herself in confusion.

She turns her gaze back to the handsome man in the driver's seat and smiled awkwardly. “Cousin? W-Who's your cousin? Y-You mean Percival? You and Percival are cousins?” she asked, stuttering.

“Yeps! That workaholic and I are cousins. I'm more attractive and talented, talkative and cheerful but we are both handsome so I thought it was obvious. I'm hurt, he never mentioned me? I thought he was my friend! That damn traitor, he didn't even invite me to your wedding!” Darryl said, pretending to be hurt and angry as he wiped his invisible tears.

“Oh... I see you are his... Cousin? I'm sorry, It's not obvious because there is a lot of handsome men out there, should I assume that they are your cousin when I see one?” Heart joked, laughing at her own corny joke.

‘Man, what am I saying? What am I doing with my fucked up life?! So embarrassing.’

“Well, yes? Especially if you saw them on screen like if you are watching some movie or series with your friends. Most of my cousins on my father's side are actors. To be honest, they are nominated for most handsome faces,” he responded, laughing loudly.

Haha, that gene is good. Fun, right?

“So, I'm guessing Percival is your cousin on your mother's side?” Heart said, trying to change the topic, saving herself from doing another stupid thing that could make her wish she was dead because she can not handle the embarrassment.

“Yeah!” Darryl responded.

Heart just nodded her head and shut up. The best way to stop herself from making embarrassing things is for her to shut her mouth and wait until they arrive at their destination.

‘Percival, that piece of shit! Why would he send someone like Darryl Chen to pick me up and take me to the company?! Paparazzi will be more active and excited! They will pay more attention to us and they will write nasty and fake articles about me!’ Heart thought, cursing her husband to death.

Heart clenched her fist in annoyance as she keep on cursing her husband. She bit her lip to stop herself from voicing out her thoughts.

The ride goes smoothly because no one dared to speak. After a few minutes of driving, they got stuck in traffic. Darryl is still vibing with the music, bobbing his head and singing along when it comes to his favorite part as he looks in front.

Heart, on the other hand, is still quiet. She just finished cursing her clueless husband. Heart looked outside and stared at the sky, watching the clouds as she tried to calm herself down.

They are both too focused on their own little world to talk to each other. 

Darryl's attention turns to his phone when the music stopped, meaning the song ended. He glanced at Heart's way before turning back to his phone, ready to pick another song. He was about to pick his new song when his phone rang.

Darryl look at the caller's ID and smirked before he turned the speaker on and answered the call.  “Hello?” he greeted, still smirking.

Heart eyed Darryl suspiciously. She caught a glimpse of the caller's ID and she is sure that it was Percival's name and number. Heart saw him smirking before he answered the call.

“YOU MOTHERFUCK— WHERE'S MY WIFE?!” a familiar voice shouted from the other line.

Heart was startled by the sudden shout, she look at Darryl with her eyes full of confusion. “Is that Percival?!” she started, asking the handsome singer and actor to confirm her suspicion.

“WHAT THE?! IS THAT MY WIFE?! WHERE ARE YOU TAKING MY WIFE?!” Percival shouted, his voice cracking because of the call's bad reception.

Darryl laughed at his cousin's silly voice as he nodded his head, bringing his index finger to his lips, signaling Heart to keep quiet.

“Hello, my dear cousin. Today is a good day, am I right? Have you eaten your breakfast? Oh! The sun is as bright as usual!” Darryl said, ignoring his cousin's question, “You and your wife are on the news, what a great way to ruin your day!”

“Whether the sun is bright or not, I don't give a damn, Darryl! Plus! Me, eating my breakfast is none of your business so shut it, you got it? Tell me, where the fuck are you taking my wife?!”

Darryl look at Heart and laughed as he lightly smack his legs. “That's harsh, I'm so hurt. We have the same destination so I figured I'll give you a hand, I'll take her to the company with me. You don't have to worry because I will make sure to keep her safe,” he said, “do you want to talk to your lovely wife?” he added, muting the call.

“OF COURSE, YOU PIECE OF SHI—”

Darryl extended his arms, giving his phone to the lovely lady with him. “Your husband wants to talk to you, pretty lady.”

“Hello?! Hello?! HELLO! YOU MOTHER FUCKER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY WIFE!”

Heart just awkwardly nodded her head and reached for Darryl's phone. “T-Thanks? I guess?” she said as she force herself to fake a smile.

“You are always welcome, lovely.”

Heart smiled and unmute the call and turn the speaker off before raising her hand to her ears, listening to her husband's heavy but sexy breath.

‘Wait, sexy?! What the fuck, Heart?! Hold your horses! Did I just find his heavy breathing sexy?! Stop, you need to stop! Focus and only focus or else... Argh! Focus, Heart!’

“Hello?” she greeted, swallowing hard. 

“Heart?! What the fuck?! Why are you with Darryl?!” he started, his voice full of frustration from the other line.

“I-I'm sorry! I thought you sent him!” Heart defended as she kept on biting her lip, feeling guilty because of her lame lies.

‘I hope I got my ex's lying skill. I'm sure this is going to be eas— Wait! Stop, calm down, and don't even think about it. Don't you dare, you stupid self!’

“Really? You think I sent him? What do you think I am? Do you think I'm stupid?! Why would I fucking send a celebrit—” Percival stopped and took a deep breath before speaking, “my lovely wife, why would I send an attention-seeking and loud celebrity to pick you— the new wife of a famous billionaire who needs to get out of our house quietly— and let me repeat, to pick you up?! Huh?! Answer me,” he added, trying to keep his calm.

Heart wipe her sweat as she tried to think of other lies or excuses she could use to survive. “I-I don't know! Stop it, okay?! I don't know what to do anymore! How am I supposed to know you're going to send an old man and not a hot and handsome celebrity?!” she said, glancing at Darryl's way.

Darryl just gave Heart his sweet and expensive smile before mouthing a quick ‘Thank you’ and starting the engine.

“What?! How are you supposed to know?! I don't know! Maybe because that's too fucking unrealistic?! Another question, why aren't you answering your phone?!” he asked.

“I turned it off! People keep on sending messages it's annoying!”

“You know what?! Let's just stop this. Stop making excuses and give Darryl's phone back. I'll kill that piece of shit!” Percival said, his frustration is evident in his voice.

Heart immediately passes the phone back to Darryl and breath. She just found out how horrible she is at lying.

Darryl laughed at Heart's reaction and turn the speaker on. “Yo! Are you guys arguing? Is this your first argument as a married couple? Woah! I heard the great Percival Reddson argue with his wife! I feel so honored,” he said, teasing his cousin as he wiggle his eyebrows.

“Listen here you piece of shit, you better take my wife at the company safe and sound. If I see a bruised or anything I don't like, I will kill you. Plus, don't touch her. Don't touch even a single strand of her hair or I will kill you after killing you. Do you understand?” Percival said as he threaten his cousin, his voice deadly serious that made Heart sweats bullet and tremble in fear.

“Oh, Mr. Reddson you are so possessive. I like that,” Darryl said as he seductively bit his lip, “Do you like that, Mrs. Reddson?” he asked, looking at Heart.

Heart just shook her head and face the other way, avoiding eye contact.

“Oops. Unfortunately, she didn't like it. Weird, women like possessive guys. Too bad for you, Percival. Instead of butterflies in her stomach, you gave her centipedes,” Darryl joked, focusing on the road.

Heart swallowed and silently pray. 

‘I know I'm not a good person, but please save me from this nightmare.’

“Fuck! Just drive and focus on the road! If something happens to my wife, I will kill you!” Percival said, his voice full of irritation before he ended the call.

Darryl just laughed at his cousin's cute reaction and focused on driving.

PERCIVAL keeps pacing back and forth, he is restless. Their driver called and said that Heart is not at their house and she was already gone.

“Mr. Reddson, your wife's phone is probably off. I can not reach her,” Kio said, dialing Heart's phone number for the fiftieth time.

“KEEP CALLING HER! DAMN IT!” Percival shouted in frustration.

He doesn't know what he should do, his wife is gone! Did someone kidnap her?! Hell, that's not impossible! Did she run away?! Shit, that's a hundred percent possible!

‘Where did she go?! Shit, shit, shit, shit!’

Percival was about to call a private investigator to look for his missing wife when his secretary tapped his shoulder.

“A maid from your house called, Mr. Reddson.”

Percival looks at Kio and frowns before snatching the phone from his hands. “Where is she?! Did you see the car's plate number? Did you see the kidnappers?!” he asked questions after questions.

“Sir, Mr. Chen came and take madam. He said you asked him to take madam to your office so we let him in,” the maid explained, her voice calm but he can hear her voice slightly shaking.

“Okay, you'll get a pay rise.” Percival ended the call and give Kio's phone back.

“Mr. Chen took madam? Should I call him, Mr. Reddson?” Kio asked, dialing Darryl's number.

Percival just nodded his head and closed his eyes tightly, trying to calm himself. 

‘That fucker, wait until you arrive here. I'll make you pay,’

After a few rings, Darryl finally answered.

“YOU MOTHERFUCK— WHERE'S MY WIFE?!” Percival shouted, not bothering to greet him and not waiting for Darryl to do the first move. 

“Is that Percival?!” a familiar voice said, her voice small and faint.

“WHAT THE?! IS THAT MY WIFE?! WHERE ARE YOU TAKING MY WIFE?!”

“Hello, my dear cousin. Today is a good day, am I right? Have you eaten your breakfast? Oh! The sun is as bright as usual! You and your wife are on the news, what a great way to ruin your day!” Darryl said, ignoring Percival's questions.

‘This piece of shit—’

“Whether the sun is bright or not, I don't give a damn, Darryl! Plus! Me, eating my breakfast is none of your business so shut it, you got it? Tell me, where the fuck are you taking my wife?!” he said, repeating his question.

He heard his crazy cousin laugh from the other line and said, “That's harsh, I'm so hurt. We have the same destination so I figured I'll give you a hand, I'll take her to the company with me. You don't have to worry because I will make sure to keep her safe, do you want to talk to your lovely wife?”

“OF COURSE, YOU PIECE OF SHI—”

Percival's words were cut off when all of a sudden, the other line went quiet.

“Hello?! Hello?! HELLO! YOU MOTHER FUCKER! WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY WIFE!” he yelled in frustration as he suddenly stood up and ran towards his office door.

‘This piece of shit! If he tries to touch even a single strand of my wife's hair, I swear that tomorrow he'll be six feet under the ground.’

Kio rushed beside him and asked, “Where are you going, Mr. Reddson? You have a meeting in an hour.”

“Fuck that meeting! I'm going to look for my wife!” he said as he got out of his office.

“Mr. Reddson!” Kio shouted, trying to get his boss's attention.

Percival stopped in front of the elevator when he heard his wife's sweet and small voice.

“Hello?” Heart greeted from the other line, her voice small and sweet but he noticed her voice shaking a little bit.

“Heart?! What the fuck?! Why are you with Darryl?!” he started, entering the private elevator.

“Mr. Reddson!” Kio called for the second time, following Percival inside the elevator.

“I-I'm sorry! I thought you sent him!”

“Really? You think I sent him? What do you think I am? Do you think I'm stupid?! Why would I fucking send a celebrit—” Percival stopped and took a deep breath.

Heart's voice is shaking and he assumed that she was scared. Percival doesn't want to scare her, he needs to calm down and talk to his wife, calmly.

“My lovely wife, why would I send an attention-seeking and loud celebrity to pick you— the new wife of a famous billionaire who needs to get out of our house quietly— and let me repeat, to pick you up?! Huh?! Answer me,” he continued, breathing heavily.

“I-I don't know! Stop it, okay?! I don't know what to do anymore! How am I supposed to know you're going to send an old man and not a hot and handsome celebrity?!” Heart responded in panic, her voice still shaking.

“What?! How are you supposed to know?! I don't know! Maybe because that's too fucking unrealistic?!” Percival snapped, ”another question, why aren't you answering your phone?!” he added.

“I turned it off! People keep on sending messages it's annoying!”

“You know what?! Let's just stop this. Stop making excuses and give Darryl's phone back. I'll kill that piece of shit!” he said as he clenched his left fist, trying to calm himself.

“Yo! Are you guys arguing? Is this your first argument as a married couple? Woah! I heard the great Percival Reddson argue with his wife! I feel so honored,” his annoying cousin said, annoying Percival.

“Listen here you piece of shit, you better take my wife at the company safe and sound. If I see a bruised or anything I don't like, I will kill you. Plus, don't touch her. Don't touch even a single strand of her hair or I will kill you after killing you. Do you understand?” Percival threatened, his voice dead serious.

“Oh, Mr. Reddson you are so possessive. I like that! Do you like that, Mrs. Reddson?” Darryl said, trying to make his voice sound sexy.

‘This creepy pervert! I need to save my wife!’

“Oops. Unfortunately, she didn't like it. Weird, women like possessive guys. Too bad for you, Percival. Instead of butterflies in her stomach, you gave her centipedes.”

Percival took another deep breath before he responded. “Fuck! Just drive and focus on the road! If something happens to my wife, I will kill you!” he said before ending their call.

Percival sighed in frustration and closed his eyes tightly. “I need to find my wife,” he muttered.

The elevator's door opened, revealing a beautiful woman in a red beautiful dress.

“Mr. Reddson!” she greeted happily.

“Ms. Garcia?”