"Where were you?"
That was the first question Beatrice heard as soon as she entered Andrew’s house. That was her temporary stay since Elara left, and she wanted to convert it into a permanent one with such eagerness.
Beatrice, who hadn’t expected Andrew to be at the house, especially in the living room with all the lights dimmed, jerked in her place, her bag dropping from her hand.
"Jesus, you nearly gave me a heart attack," she answered before she walked to the center and lit the lamp on the small table beside the couch.
Her gaze fell on Andrew’s battered form. His stubble showed a little, and the smell made it clear that he had been drinking.
His eyes were hooded when he lifted his head slightly and looked at her. Even in his drunk state, he looked nothing less than a sight to see, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
If it had been any other time, she would’ve definitely tried to make a move on him, but not tonight. The gaze he held for some reason wasn’t welcoming. His gaze wasn’t usually welcoming. However, it has always been neutral at least.
But tonight, his gaze held a weird grudge, a bad vibe. He almost looked repulsive.
"You didn’t answer me. Where were you?" He asked.
Beatrice forced a smile on her face, hoping her expression wouldn’t sell her out and reveal what she had been up to recently.
"I was out working. I didn’t expect you to be here, or I would’ve arrived earlier." Beatrice gave out a thought-out reply that would appear light and not forced.
She was about to stand and tell him she was going to have a shower. She really needed it after what she did on the construction site. However, before she could say anything, the man’s following words stopped her.
"Bullshit. I know you weren’t out working. So tell me where you were for real, Beatrice." Andrew’s eyes darkened, and he leaned forward, his form predatory.
Beatrice’s smile faltered. She looked at the man for a brief moment before tilting her head.
"I mean, I was working with the producer on the script. Have you forgotten I quit working at the company? What is wrong with you? You are looking at me with this accusation as if I am leaking some company secrets. Are you okay?" Beatrice asked, her eyes holding sadness before they teared up.
Seeing her getting emotional, Andrew snapped out of the haze and nodded.
"You are right. I am sorry. I forgot you had stopped working at the company. It’s just... you’re living in my house, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. You arrived so late, so I was worried," Andrew said, his composure relaxing.
Beatrice heaved a breath of relief that she didn’t know she was even holding before she walked to him and held his hand in hers.
"Hey, I understand. You don’t need to apologize. I know everything is wearing you down. You know I am here for you if you need me, right?" She asked.
Andrew nodded before he stood from his seat.
"You should rest up," Andrew said, and then, without waiting for a reply, he walked to the stairs.
Beatrice looked at the hunched back of the man who was ascending the stairs and sighed.
She almost got caught. All thanks to her quick wit, she could twist up the situation.
She massaged the area between her brows, shaking her head as she made her way to the guest room.
Once inside, she pulled off her scarf and removed her blouse.
The glaring red bite marks and hickeys on her shoulders and back, and the scratch marks near her belly and breasts, were all too evident, and she bit her bottom lip.
This man knows no limit to when to stop. She thought before she sat on the edge of the bed, still sore from the earlier activities.
After messaging Carla to inquire about the latest news, she went into the bathroom to have a warm bath.
Andrew, who stood under the showerhead, heard his stomach rumble from the emptiness gnawing at his insides.
As he thought about how his life had changed drastically from the moment Elara left the house, he felt a rising bile in his throat and belched over on the toilet seat, vomiting the alcohol in his system.
Well, what did he expect when he was drinking on an empty stomach?
If Elara had been in the house, he wouldn’t have spent so many nights hungry. When he used to return home from late-night shifts, he never had to worry about supper.
For some reason, she was always there, smiling, waiting, holding a plate full of healthy and tasty food for him, no matter what time it was.
But ever since she left, the place that was once a home has lost its warmth.
His mother even hired a cook for them when she heard that Beatrice barely had time to cook for him.
Then again, she was a guest at their house. How could they even expect her to cook in the first place?
Although the cook was available, her food was barely edible. They changed the chef three times, but none of them could appease his taste buds. Or maybe he was just used to Elara’s care so much that nothing else tasted better.
The thought alone made Andrew sit on the bathtub, defeated as he remembered the look on Elara’s face when she mentioned divorce.
Everything was going downhill. He didn’t want this divorce. Yes, he had been an unloving and uncaring man in the past, but it didn’t mean he didn’t respect her.
There were times when he had to side with others, but it was all because he meant well for her. He didn’t want anyone else to bully her, and he wanted to show her that jealousy won’t take her anywhere.
But divorce? Even though he once threatened her with it, he never really wanted to have one for real.
Then why did she have to apply for it?!
Everything was going well for three years. What really changed that night? He got all the facts checked with Jason. After his call, she went to distribute the cake to underprivileged children and then returned home.
Those photos and rumors didn’t air for the first time either. Then why was her reaction so strong this time?
The thoughts weren’t leaving his head, and his intoxication only made it worse.
Not being able to control himself anymore, he turned the showerhead off, wrapped a towel around his torso, and walked out of the bathroom before picking up his phone to dial Elara’s number.
Today, she’ll have to answer his questions.