Andrew sat in his office, randomly scrolling through the few photos in his phone.
Now that he looked at Elara in the photo, who stood by his side awkwardly, he couldn’t help but notice how underconfident she always was by his side.
He then scrolled to the family photo and saw how her hands were before her lap, humbly, while everyone smiled proudly.
He remembered this photo from when their grandfather had sent them on their honeymoon. They had gone to the mountains, and Elara had wanted to play in the snow, but he felt too bothered to leave the room.
He had gone to the club later because he found a client there with his wife.
Even his honeymoon had turned into a business trip. This was one photo with four of them in one frame.
Elara had insisted he take a couple’s photo with her, but he found it bothersome.
Andrew took a sip of alcohol straight from the bottle as he saw how her eyes had started to lose their shine, little by little, from when she entered the family by marrying him to recently.
The most recent photo of her was taken on his mother’s birthday.
The little stain on her beige dress from the chocolate cake was a bit too noticeable, but she had no time to change into another dress because it would mean missing the family photo.
The guests had praised the cooking staff that day, unaware that Elara had painstakingly chosen the menu and even helped the chef cook.
Andrew looked at her tired smile as she tried her best to look good by his side, while his gaze was on Beatrice, who had a sheepish smile on her face as she evened her gown that was entangling around her foot.
The thought alone of what Elara must’ve gone through during that time, when she saw her husband looking at another woman while she had been working hard to make his mother’s day beautiful, ached his heart.
Andrew finally realized what kind of fool he had always been.
The truth was always right before him, but he was always too dumb and numb to it.
He always believed what his family told him. He trusted the image that his sister and mother planted before him, knowing all too well they never liked Elara because of her humble background.
And her? That girl painstakingly bore everything and still tried her best to be there for them, for him.
But what he did not understand was what made her snap. What happened for her to lose it finally?
He didn’t want to justify his past actions, but for a girl who was living through it all to snap suddenly, something must’ve happened, right?
Those tabloids with Beatrice couldn’t be the reason alone.
Andrew nodded to himself before he dialed Elara’s number, already intoxicated as five empty bottles of alcohol rested on the table.
The number didn’t go through.
"Of course, you have blocked me. Haven’t you?" He chuckled in self-mockery before he stood, almost staggering and falling on the ground.
He took the support of the chair and was about to walk when he saw a silhouette standing in the doorway, his vision too blurry to make out who it was.
"The doctor left, Andrew. I’ll leave tomorrow. Are you okay? You look pretty haggard. I am pretty hungry. Do you want to eat something?" Beatrice asked.
The words immediately reminded the man of Elara, and he smiled.
"Elara, you are back?" Andrew asked.
Beatrice stood there, frozen for a second.
"I know you couldn’t stay away from me for too long. You loved me too much to leave me for just another man. After all, I saved your life, and you said you’ll repay me with your life, no?" Andrew asked.
Beatrice opened her mouth to explain when Andrew walked to her and hugged her close, so close that it almost became unbearable.
Her breast pressed hard against the man’s chest, and she felt her heart skip a beat.
"Andrew, you are too drunk. Let’s get you to your room," Beatrice said.
Andrew smiled before he cupped her cheeks and kissed her temple.
"You care for me so much, Elara. I knew you’d be back. You were just too angry, but I promise I won’t give you any more reasons to be angry. Whatever you say will go," Andrew said.
Beatrice helped the man into the room on his bed, and he laughed as he held her hand.
"Andrew—" Beatrice sighed.
"Come on, you always wanted me to take care of you, love you, and show you the affection a husband should. Today, I will." Andrew pulled her with a jerk, and in a swift motion, the girl was under him.
As if he were possessed by something, he didn’t waste a second and tore her clothes one by one, peppering her with loving kisses all over her body.
Then he proceeded to remove his clothes, finally placing his lips on hers as he kissed her passionately, making her toes curl.
"I know it’s too late to say it, but maybe I have fallen for you, Elara," Andrew whispered before he parted her legs and pushed himself deep inside her, making the woman groan under him.
Beatrice, who had deliberately worn the clothes in Elara’s style and parted her hair like hers when she saw him getting intoxicated with alcohol, and because she heard from a colleague at the office why he was so upset, wrapped her hands around his naked back as she dug her nails into his skin, enjoying the affection meant for Elara.
"I love you too, Andrew." Beatrice groaned in his ears, and as if it turned on the man even more, he increased his pace, making her moan with pleasure and pain as she pulled him closer, her head turning to the side where she had planted a camera beforehand.
She knew this was wrong on so many levels, but everything was fair in love and war, right?
And this was both love and war.
Beatrice cupped the man’s face and pulled him in for a passionate kiss before she closed her eyes to enjoy the process.