Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR: Caught Rigella's POV Ivan burst into his car here in the parking lot so I couldn't do anything but sigh and get into the front seat. When I entered I was a little surprised because he had not shouted or hurt me so I just focused my attention on the window. Maybe later when I face him, he will slap me right away. I don't want to, I'm fed up with him hurting me. "Rigella." He said in a cold voice so I was immediately terrified. I slowly faced him and saw that he was just leaning back in the seat and closed his eyes as his arm rested on the steering wheel. "A ... What's a?" I almost whispered the question. He looked up and frowned when he looked at me. "Why didn't you pick up Ice earlier?" He asked me a serious question. I swallowed and bowed before answering. "Ah ... w-what, we were late at R-Roxanne's mall earlier ..." He sighed violently and hit the steering wheel so I bowed even more. "Would you really prioritize shopping over your son ?! D*mn! It's a good thing I got home early earlier! What if something happened to him huh ?!" I sighed and tears rolled down my cheeks. He was right, I should have gone home sooner than I cried. I also can"t forgive myself when something bad happens to my child. "So ... S-Sorry, it won't happen again-" He cut off what I was going to say. "It really won't happen again! From now on, you're just at home! Take care of Ice and do your job there!" He was breathing heavily so he was obviously angry. I haven't answered him yet. All I could do was cry. It's my fault, I thought more of myself than my son. What if he perished? What if he disappeared? I just think it's like my heart is rash with pain. We were still silent and I could only hear her sobs and her deep breathing. He still doesn"t drive the car for no apparent reason. "Your Mom and Dad's anniversary is tomorrow. They've returned to the Philippines. They are expecting us to go to their party." He said so I stopped crying and sobbing. I suddenly felt happy because of what he announced. "T-Really?" He turned to me and was obviously bored immediately. "Tsk. Yes! I can just say eh. My parents will also attend tomorrow. So you, fix your actions tomorrow. All they know is that we are happy together." I was stunned by what he said. Yes, he was right, our parents knew we were happy and the marriage was strong but ... they were wrong. Really wrong... After nodding, I just nodded. He just ignored me and turned on the car's engine and then drove off. The whole trip my attention was just on the window. I am happy because my parents have returned but at the same time I am also sad because I know they will just go on vacation here in the Philippines and they will return to the States immediately. When we got home he got out of the car first and entered our house. He didn't even bother to open the door for me, tsk. I was just blown into the air and then got out of the car. As I entered the house I looked at my wrist watch and realized that it was nine o'clock in the evening. When I entered the house the lights were off except for the lampshades. I went up the stairs and went to my son's room first. When I entered his room I breathed a sigh of relief because I saw him sleeping peacefully on his bed. I smiled miserably and approached him then sat on the edge of the bed. I stroked her hair then kissed her on the forehead. "Good night, son. Sweet dreams ..." I whispered to her before I left the room. I walked to the other room, Ivan and I's room. But when I turned the door knob I found it locked. I just sighed. It looks like I'm going to sleep in the guest room again now. I went into the guest room and immediately went to bed. Today is a tiring day and full of pain. I need to rest. ~ • ~ Smiling, I arranged my son's clothes and hair while Ivan was wearing his suit and neck tie. I was wearing a white off shoulder dress that Ivan gave me earlier. This is what I'm going to wear now. I also put on make-up earlier so we could leave right away. I also covered my arm with concealer because the bruise was still obvious there. My son's attention is focused on the toy robot so it's a bit difficult for me to fix him. When I finished dressing him and fixing him, Ivan also finished correctly so he was ready to leave. We were going to my parents "mansion, my old house and the house I grew up in. Before we left the house I grabbed his arm so he cut my forehead. I sneezed before speaking. "Uhm, so ... thank you for the dress ..." I promised with a smile. He scolded me. "It's not really from me. It's from Lara. Thank you and my girlfriend was kind and she even gave you a dress." He said and removed my hand from his arm and smilingly lifted Ice. I felt my tears well up but I stopped them from dripping. This dress came from Lara. I have never met him in person, not literally but I have never talked to him. As far as I know he is a famous actor. We got in the car. Ice and I sat in the backseat because children are not allowed in the front seat. When we arrived at the mansion it was going to be night. Ivan created Ice who looked amazed at the house. Colorful LED lights greeted us before we entered the house. My eyes immediately searched for Mom and Dad and I saw that Mom was talking to her friends. We approached Mom and her eyes widened when she saw us. "Rigella, my daughter!" He said happily and kissed me on the cheek before hugging me. He did the same to my father and I who are now smiling, even though Ivan only gave Mom a small smile. Mom accompanied us to Dad and Ivan"s parents. We saw them happily eating at the same table and they had others with them. "Ricardo, your daughter is here with her family!" Mom said so the people at that table turned to us, including Dad. Dad immediately stood up and smiling hugged me so I hugged him back. I am teary eyed now, I missed my parents so much. After we hugged, he hugged Ice and Ivan. Even Ivan"s parents Mommy Jen and Tito Iverson hugged me. I would have just sat down if someone had stopped me. My eyes widened when I saw Kuya Ryan. "Ella ..." he said seriously and hugged me. To my great surprise I did not hug him back. We weren"t that close because he seemed to be mad at me. "K-Kuya Ryan ..." I whispered and hugged him as well. When we sat down I could see Mom's smile. Kuya and I hugged for the first time in his whole life so maybe he's smiling. While eating we couldn"t help but talk. "How are you and Ivan, sister?" Mommy Jen asked smiling so I was stunned by the food. I turned to Ivan and he didn't seem to hear anything. He is still seriously eating and is still teasing Ice. My eyes widened slightly when I saw him wearing his ring. He only wears his ring once, when we have a family gathering he always wears it. It"s still a bit surprising really when I see him wearing that. Maybe it"s because I"m used to not seeing him wearing that. I sneezed and smiled before speaking. "Uhm, it's okay ..." I answered sparingly. I saw Kuya Ryan's raw grin so I turned to him. He was also looking right at me and he circled me. He was obviously disappointed with my answer. I just bent down and ate. Ivan said goodbye to go to the comfort room so I took care of Ice. When I noticed that Ivan had been around for quite some time, I also said goodbye and went to CR first. As I walked towards the CR I felt nervous. I don"t know but the strength of my chest pounding. When I got close to the CR I sighed at what I saw, because the door was open so I could see it. Ivan and Lara ... they are ... they are KISSING. I hid behind the wall and covered my mouth to prevent sobbing. I'm crying again. Kainis, aren"t tears running out of supply? I was always crying. I was surprised when someone approached me and hugged me. "Shh ... stay, Miss. He doesn't deserve your tears ..." was a man's voice. "Si ... Who are you?" I said and walked away from him to see his face. He smiled at me and wiped my tears with his thumb. "You're mean to me, Ella. Don't you know me?" He was joking. I stared at him intently and sighed when I realized who he was. "Seymour ..." CHAPTER FIVE: Cupcake and Cookie Monster Rigella's POV Seymour hugged me while I leaned on his shoulder, we have been like this since then and there is no malice. We sat on the bench here in the garden of the mansion and my tears were still dripping non-stop. I don't know, whatever I stop crying I still can't do. By the way, Seymour is also my childhood friend, my best friend. He left when we were in fourth year high school because his family migrated to Canada. And that's the time I met Roxanne and we became best friends. "Oh, you still don't want to stop, do you? Can I wash the dishes now? Your eyes are like a faucet." He was joking so I laughed and slapped him on the arm. "You're still not changing, you're still corny." I said with a smile as I wiped away my tears. That's it, I stopped crying. Even though I was looking at the fountain in front of us I could feel his gaze on me so I turned to him. And, oh my God! Wrong move, our noses collided and I almost kissed him! He turned his face away from me and laughed and pinched my nose so I looked at him. I sat down and removed his arm around me. I just looked at the fountain and I couldn't help but think of what I saw before. I didn't know Lara was there. That's why Ivan just smiled like that when he said goodbye to CR. He will earn Lara. I sighed and played a game with my hand. To this day, it still hurts. I still can"t accept that he has someone else dear. "Who was with your husband before?" Seymour suddenly asked so I turned to him, he was just looking at the fountain. I smiled sparingly. "Lara ... his girlfriend." I answer and bow. He turned to me and I could see in the corner of my eye the rise of his eyebrow. He just laughed. "Seriously? You're his wife but he has a girlfriend?" He laughed jokingly but unlike before, I didn't laugh anymore. When he noticed my silence he put his arm around me again and I leaned my head on his shoulder again. "How long has your husband been cheating on you?" The tone of his voice was serious to the point that it was as if my body hair had risen. I took a deep breath then replied. "Right from the start, they're Lara. She just got me really pregnant so she married me. It's my fault, I wanted to marry her. So now, I'm suffering ..." I just whispered the last part of what I said so that he cannot hear. He patted my back. "Really? Eh why are they still with that woman until now? Didn't she fall in love with you at least a little bit?" He asked. I was struck by what he said. I knew in myself that I had done everything but why still not enough? Many people say that I am the perfect wife after all, but is it her? Did he ever appreciate me? I looked at my ring. An engagement ring and a wedding ring. Her initials and our wedding date were engraved on my wedding ring. "Apparently, yes. Maybe, I don't know." I sparingly answer. "Tsk. Your charms are strong ah. You're beautiful, kind, hardworking, smart, rich. Everyone is gone but she hasn't fallen in love with you? Admit it to me cupcakes, is your husband an alien?" He laughed and said so I smiled and jokingly kicked him. Cupcake is really what he called me since childhood. I don't know if this is abnormal. But this side of him is what I want from him. When he knows I don't want to talk anymore, he will suddenly joke just to make me laugh or smile. "I don't know about you, cookie monster." I teased him that he frowned. That's what I used to call him. "By the way, the fashion designer I know is looking for a business partner for the boutique he's going to build. You might be interested. Didn't you always dream of having your own boutique?" He said so I walked away from him a little with a smile on his face. "Really? You're not kidding anymore?" I smiled at the question. He laughed and pinched my nose. He really likes to pinch my nose ever since. "Of course not. Then, this is your chance. Maybe you'll be famous. I showed her your sketches when we were still in high school and she was beautiful. So, what? Do you agree? We can meet her tomorrow if you want. " To my great joy I hugged Seymour. Finally, my dreams will come true. "Sure! Can I still deny that, that's my dream. All right, call her then let's meet her tomorrow." I said after I hugged him. He was smiling and staring at me so I was a bit taken aback and averted my eyes. "It's your fault ..." I turned to him and he was frowning now. "Huh? What's up?" Frowning and I asked worriedly. "You didn't take me as your son's godfather ..." he said sullenly so I laughed and pinched his snout which made him say "aray". "Hahaha! How can I invite you then eh we don't have communication with each other? I tried to call your number before but it looks like you changed the number." I laughed saying. "Oh, it's my fault." He said and shook his neck. "By the way, save your number here so I can text or call you when we meet with someone I know." he took his phone and pressed it then handed it to me. I typed in my number and saved it on his phone. I handed the phone to him again and he put his arm around me again. Seymour's scent. That's still his scent, he didn't change it. I like the perfume he used. "RIGELLA." A cold voice said so I settled into sitting. I turned to Ivan and he frowned at Seymour's arm that was wrapped around me so I immediately removed it and whispered to him. "My wife is already there. Just text me what time we are tomorrow." I got up and approached Ivan. Without a word he pulled my arm away from Seymour and I couldn"t help but wince. The tightness too much of his hold. "You left Ice alone there just to flirt?" Her voice was cold and terrifying. I took a deep breath. Shouldn't I be the one saying that to him? "We didn't flirt. That's Seymour, my best friend I haven't seen in a long time ..." "Best friend? Eh why are you being hugged then?" I could hear the annoyance in his voice so I swallowed. I took a deep breath. "Seymo is just like that-" I stopped speaking when he brought his face close to mine. I could smell his fragrant breath mixed with the smell of wine. Our lips were only an inch away. My cheeks warmed as he stared at my lips. My lips were trembling as I stared at him. In a flash I felt the touch of his lips on mine ... CHAPTER SIX: It's still her Rigella's POV I woke up because of the sunlight I could see. I opened one eye and glanced at the wall clock here in the room. My eyes immediately widened when I saw it was nine o'clock in the morning. Here we slept in my parents' mansion in the guest room. I got up and blushed on both my cheeks when I saw that I was not wearing anything. Sh1t, is it true what happened last night? I sighed and blinked emphatically. The t@that I really am. Ivan was drunk last night so he did that. Why did I give up right away? I turned to Ivan and saw that he was still sound asleep. I watched his gentle face. When he is asleep I prefer to watch him. Because his face is so bossy, the opposite is true every time he wakes up. He was always serious and sometimes frowned. I took another deep breath and tucked the blanket over my body. I walked over to the cabinet and grabbed a towel and clothes. I went into the CR and folded the blanket and hung it on the towel holder as well as the clothes and towel. I opened the shower and I couldn't help but blush when I remembered what happened last night, not just once but three times. God! I gave up right away! What makes me really weak when it comes to him. After I took a bath and got dressed I came out with the towel and I saw Ivan in a T-shirt and pants, he was sitting on the edge of the bed while staring at me seriously so I swallowed and I averted my eyes. I took the blower out of the drawer then plugged it in and started blowing my hair. I heard Ivan sigh then he got up and went to CR. After blowing, I combed my hair in front of the mirror. My eyes widened when I saw something hickey in my neck. I quickly finished combing and took the concealer from the drawer and applied the hickey cream. Gosh! Fortunately, I saw it right away. I also put creams that I use on the face and I also apply lotions. I'm careful with my skin and body so I'm used to putting on things like this. When I finished tidying up, Ivan finished taking a bath. I sneezed and faced him who was looking at me now. "Ah, w-what ... I'm going to go out. I'll look at Ice later ... maybe Mom and I have prepared breakfast downstairs. You're just coming down ..." I said and averted my eyes. He was only wearing a shirt and I could see his biceps. He stared at me for a moment before casting a spell and averted his gaze. "S-All right." Wait, did he stutter? I took a deep breath and left the room. When I met a maid, she immediately smiled and greeted me. "Good morning, Mam Ella ..." I smiled too. "Good morning too. Where's Ice?" I will ask. "Ah, it's in the farthest room. Madame Anette woke up earlier and took a bath." He replied. I just smiled and nodded. I went to the farthest room and entered there. I saw Mom dressing Ice so I smiled. Mom turned to me and just finished dressing Ice. When Ice turned to look at me, she greeted me and then hugged me. "Mom, good morning!" He said and hugged me on the waist. "Good morning, son. Have you had breakfast yet?" I will ask. He didn't answer me and turned to Mom so I also looked at Mom. Mom laughed and approached us. "My, that boy hasn't had breakfast yet, Rigella. He said he wants you and Ivan to have breakfast together so that's it, even though he's been awake before, he hasn't eaten yet." I turned to Ice and smiled then pinched my nose. "Hmm, my son's sweet! But next time ah? Don't make us wait. You might go hungry." I remind you. He nodded. "Yes, Mom." Mom sneezed and I was amazed at the kind of smile she had so I frowned at her. "Next time, son, don't make Ivan tired so you won't be up late." He said the reason for my cheeks to get hot. "Ma!" I shyly shouted and looked at Ice with a frown. Mom laughed and approached me then whispered. "I want to have a grandchild again, son." Her cheeks got hotter and Mom's laughter got louder. I just frowned and went downstairs. When we got downstairs and got to the kitchen I saw Ivan already sitting and reading the newspaper but he had not yet touched the food served on his plate. Mom left because she said goodbye to me she would water the flowers and plants in the garden. I made Ice sit in front of Ivan and I sat next to my son. I put fried rice and bacon strips on her plate because that was her favorite breakfast. I also put food on my plate and saw that he had stopped reading the newspaper. "Good morning, son." He greeted our son with a miserly smile. "Good morning, Dad." Ice greeted me with a wide smile on her lips and started eating, good thing my son knew how to eat on his own. Ivan smiled more and started eating so I ate too. Some time later my phone rang so I took it out of my pants pocket and saw on the screen the unknown number calling. I answered the call. "Hello?" ["Rigella, it's Seymour. I called you before but your husband answered. I was even insulted."] He laughed and said so I turned to Ivan who looked up at me and raised an eyebrow at me. I averted my eyes. "Tsk. Why were you called?" I will ask. ["Hala! You forgot right away? Now we're going to meet the fashion designer I know, right?"] The sullenness was obvious in his voice. I was slapped on the forehead. "Of course. Oh he's fine, where will we meet?" ["I'll just pick you up. Around 4:00 pm. I'm still working on something. Just text me your address."] "Are you sure? Will you pick me up?" I was shocked by the question. ["Well, cupcakes! Oh, go ahead. Maybe your husband will beat me up."] He laughed and said so I was surprised. "What?" ["No. All right, I'll take it down."] I just sucked. "All right. Bye, cookie monster." ["Aish! Don't call me that, it reduces appeal. All right, bye cupcakes!"] Laughing, I hung up the phone and saw Ivan's frown. Later, a cellphone rang again. That wasn't my ringtone so I found out Ivan had that phone. He stood up and answered the phone then walked away from us. My forehead furrowed. Who could that be? Out of curiosity I couldn"t help but follow him. He got to the terrace and sat on a sofa so I hid behind a wall. "Yes ... we won't meet today, babe. I have an important meeting today ... I was doing paper works last night that's why I couldn't answer your calls ... what? No. Rigella is not a problem so please, let's not quarrel with him ... yes, babe. Don't worry, you're the only one I love ... you know I can't do that, but soon I'll marry you, okay ?. . sure, okay babe. I love you, bye. " I turned around and quickly walked away. Tears dripped from my left eye but I stopped my tears from flowing. He still doesn't love me. It's still Lara ... To be continued...