Jeremy stared at his brother for a while and then swallowed the lump that was in his throat forcefully. He opened his mouth to talk, but words failed him and Zeke spoke up again.“In fact, it’s all useless. I will deal with my personal matters by myself, you may leave now.”“I doubt if you can make her forgive you without my help,” he shrugged his shoulders off.“Leave, Jeremy. My driver will drop you off at your destination. You should leave right away,” he said and then walked to the stairs.“But, it is late. I can’t not travel at such an ungodly hour.”Ryan glanced at Zeke who turned deaf ears as he ascended the stairs and then turned his head to look at Jeremy. He shook his head at him and pressed his lips together.“Let him be.”“Ah… that depressed mother fucker,” Jeremy shook his head and Ryan chuckled.“He is not depressed. You wronged him.”Jeremy sniffed and then nodded his head. “I know.”“I’m leaving,” he raised his hand to wave at Ryan and then turned around.“Tell him to
“I believe you will be on your best behavior when we get there,” Zeke said to Ryan who kept his head buried in the phone, not minding that they had arrived at the basement of Elena’s company.“And, please, no matter what she says or does to you… can you not react? I’m afraid she’s not the same Elena you used to know.”Ryan finally raised his head and a wide grip plastered across his face.“You worry too much.”“That is because I know what I’ve seen… and heard from her,” he smacked his tongue and Ryan nodded his head.“I am not her enemy though. I doubt she would treat me the same way she treated you,” he shrugged his shoulders off and then pushed the door open.“So… don’t compare me to you,” he said and then got down from the car.“You are overly confident for someone who knows nothing about the person I am talking about,” Zeke shook his head and followed suit.“Did she know I am coming… or you?”“She knows I am coming. Not you,” he answered as they walked together.“Hold on, what bus
“Excuse me?” Elena raised a brow as she turned to look in his direction.“How… how could you…” he stopped halfway as he dropped his eyes on Ryan who shook his head at him like he was warning him to not talk.“How could I what?” She asked, knowing exactly where he was heading.“Never mind,” he hissed softly.“Biased? No way, don’t tell me you expect some sort of welcoming too, Zeke?” She twitched her lips upward in disdain and he swallowed hard.“Do I not deserve one?” He answered back without thinking twice.“You?” She asked and then laughed sarcastically before turning to look at Ryan.“I have missed you so much, Ryan,” she said as she settled on the couch, beckoning him to sit also.“Would you believe if I told you that I missed you more? I am sorry I didn’t make my visit sooner,” he swallowed.“I do not worry about that.”“I know, but I should have. It’s been over a month since you arrived, and not to lie… I have purposely missed out on social gatherings just so I would not run int
Zeke contemplated if he should do what was in mind without minding his ego, or if he should not while he watched Elena who settled in her seat after she had ignored him when he called her name.He closed his eyes for a few seconds, pressed his lips together, and then curled his fist tightly.Staring at Elena who sat on the single couch in front of him, with her legs crossed, he knew he needed to do this.Seeing the way she acted with Ryan and Chloe was proof that maybe she had not changed entirely and the only person she was like this with was him… and probably Camila.He breathed out, glanced at the floor again, and slowly, he went on his knees.Elena sat upright, startled by his action, and then raised her brows.“W… what are you doing?”“Elena…” he started after he had licked his lower lips.“What the fuck are you doing?”“I know… I know that I have wronged you terribly. I know… I know I was not the best husband while we were married. I know… you suffered because of me. But, I am r
“Did I keep you waiting?” Chloe asked as she settled in front of Elena in the coffee shop away from the company.“Not really. Did you go somewhere far?”“No. I was with uhm… Ryan.”Elena didn’t fail to notice the blush that spread on her face and chucked gently. “With the way you just blush, someone could assume that you have a crush on the man.”“Which man? Ryan? No way!” Chloe protested hurriedly and Elena chuckled.“You don’t know how to lie.”“I am serious, Elena! I don’t have a crush on him!”“It’s been six years. You are not over the feelings yet?” “What?” Chloe breathed out.“I know you used to have a crush on him… as a teen,” she smiled softly.“B… but how? I mean… Why would you think so? I don’t…”“You always talked about him like he was a god. A sculpture. You talked about him and infatuation was all I could sense from you,” she said.“Elena,” Chloe swallowed and bowed her head.“What? Are you ashamed of your feelings?”“He is my brother’s friend.”“Is there any rule that
Instantly, Chloe choked on her saliva and kept coughing till Elena reached out to her and patted her shoulder.“Easy, Chloe. Is that too much of a news?” She chuckled.“You…” Chloe inhaled as she tried to regain her composure.“You have given birth… to two children?” When Elena nodded her head in agreement, she leaned back and exhaled again.She was expecting such an answer, but why had it gotten her more surprised?Was it because she answered without denying or was it because she has not just one child but two?“I… I thought… I thought you had not been with anyone since my brother,” Chloe stuttered.Instead of answering, Elena shrugged her shoulders off, picked up her coffee, and then sipped it slowly while she stared at the lady who was finding it hard to believe.“Who is he?” Chloe asked.“You ask too many questions, don’t you?”“I am curious about many things, Elena.”“You didn’t think I would tell you the truth, did you?” Elena raised a brow and Chloe shook her head.“W…who is t
“Your words hurt, Elena…” Chloe exhaled, a painful smile escaping her lips.Elena adjusted in her seat, and shook her head, “I did not mean to.”“Elena.”“You cannot meet my children.”“Why? Do you hate me too? If I could go back in time to change the past, I would, but I can’t. Why… why are you…”“I am not being hard on you on purpose, Chloe.”“Let me meet them.”“And who would I tell them you are? I would not introduce you to them as their aunt. You might think it’s just a word, but my children are so smart and you would be surprised by how quick they will figure you out.”“Anything!” Chloe sniffed and wiped the tears that laced her eyes with the back of her hand. “Anything, if aunt does not sit well with you.”Elena watched Chloe who kept tearing up no matter how much she wiped her tears away and then smacked her lips.Her eyes fell on her coffee and her ice had already melted. She picked up the glass cup, removed the straw, and then drank the coffee directly from the glass.“I co
“What do you mean by ‘a Russo’? She is just Chloe?” Elena rolled her eyes.Raymond kept his eyes pinned on the lady who was starting to feel intimidated by the man, and then, Elena exhaled and talked again.“It’s okay, Dad. You’re intimidating her.”“Does it look like I care?”Ariana rushed towards Elena, grabbed her hand, and then dragged her to another side of the room.“What are you doing? You never wanted her here.”“She knows already.”“About the twins? How?”Elena took a glance back at Chloe who kept her head bowed in front of her parents, and then returned to look at Ariana.“I told her.”“Elena!”“She saw the cesarean section scar and asked if I had given birth. Of course, I would not say no,” Elena rolled her eyes.“Are you cool with it?”“She said she would never tell anyone.”“And you trust her?”“Hold on…” Elena drew her brows together and exhaled.“If I remember correctly, you were urging me to tell her because ‘she is different from her family’, right?”“Just that I didn