Chapter 4 (The Drama)

My escape plan? Ha! Failed! 

Jericho Arison, huh! His whole existence is a bluff! I don't even feel the sincerity in every ounce of his words. 

'Erina, I am your husband.' I can't shake that off in my head. 

Now, this man is keeping me around his fingers, toying with my emotions.

"Erina?" He called me, and I snap out from spacing out. He pulls me back to the reality that he is dragging me back to our 'home' while holding hands. 

We arrived at the front door as he keeps his gentleman persona to me. He smoothly lets me inside the house, closing the front door silently. 

"Have you eaten your dinner?" Courteously, he asked. Then, he takes off his black suit and loosens his tie. That's kinda hot!

No, no, no! Shit! I shouldn't be thinking about it. I shouldn't be thirsting for this man because he is too suspicious. 

"Erina, you've been spacing out." He said, walking closer towards me. I instinctively back away, but he cages me inside his arms.

"Why are you running away, Honey?" Sensually, his voice got deeper, and he plop his head on the crook of my neck, letting him inhale my scent. 

He is too close, so intimate. However, I couldn't deny that I didn't pick up a scent from his collar. It smells like vanilla. 

"S-sorry, I wasn't running away. I-I thought you were just some random strangers," Yes, I made up excuses. But, I really want to run away. I didn't feel happy. My stomach cramps because I haven't eaten anything since I've arrived here. 

"So, you have no memories of me? Of us, being together?" He interrogates me, and I remove his hands on me. 

Looking into his eyes fills me with doubt. I don't know if I could trust him. So, I subtly dodge his question, "I haven't eaten anything yet, since I've arrived here. Should we grab some dinner?" 

Bluntly, I also don't have any answers to his questions. I have no memories of him, instead, I have memories of---

"Why haven't you had dinner? Celci usually cooked for you. I should go look for her." His eyebrow lifts, and he looks quite worried. 

Celci? So, she's Celci! That bitch needs some lessons. 

"Since when did she work here?" Half-annoyed, I inquired Jericho. His orbs were largens like he didn't expect my question. 

"She's been working here since last year. Why?" This man looks at me with suspicion, and I quickly replied, "I am just curious since she's quite special."

"Hmm, I see... Well, I should call Celci and let her prepare our dinner," He informed me as he planted a kiss on my head. Then, he walks away. 

Unconsciously, I rolled my eyes as I take a breathe in. 

Honestly, I failed to appreciate the mansion since I was busy thinking too much. 

This mansion was all concrete and tall glasses windows, letting the moonlight penetrate to the glass. It's nice since I can get a better view of the misty night sky looking down on me. 

I guess I can take a seat from the nearest couch, facing the window. 

Stars glow the sky like snowflakes in the dusk, yet appear still, like an expensive canva. I chuckled at myself as I enjoyed seeing the stars gliding and darting. Subconsciously, I started counting them. 

"One, Two, Three, Four, Five!" 

At that moment, I saw a promise of life in the darkness, a sense of warmth blossomed from the cold. 

Later on, I saw a shooting star, and I spouted out joyfully, "Look, make a wish, __--!"

*BUZZ*

Suddenly, my head rings, and I see a kid standing in front of me, trying to reach me.

'I will come and get you. I promise, so wait for me, Dre---'

"Erina?!" I heard someone screaming at me as I tried to get a hold of myself despite the uneasy pain.

"Honey, are you okay? Do you feel hurt somewhere?" His hands are shivering, caressing my head as he tries to cool me down. 

"Erina, Breathe in and Breathe! Come on, Honey!" He instructed me clearly, keeping his poise relaxed, so I could follow him. 

Finally, my nerves calm down as I was able to breathe in and out. My eyes quickly lock on his face, and I feel the stroke of his thumb on my cheek. 

"Are you okay now?" His voice was coated with a little sadness. 

"You must be very hungry that you got so dizzy. I am sorry about this, Erina." His nose scrunched when he apologized to me, but not in a bad way. He seems to be genuinely worried about me.

Did I judge this man too early? Did I misinterpret the whole situation?

"We should head to the dining area, so we fill our stomachs," He told me bitterly. I bet he is guilty of coming back home late. Nonetheless, did he scold Celci for not feeding me the right food? Because he took his time instructing Celci to prepare our dinner. Thus, he did not change his clothes. If that's the case, then I am glad. 

Astonishingly, my husband, Jericho, assisted me to get up from the couch. When he realized that my feet are staggering to take a walk, Jericho carried me in a bridal style. 

Jaw-dropping, heart skipping when he holds me like this. Inattentively, my lips purse into a smile. He is such a thoughtful man. 

After quite some time, we arrived in the dining area. My vision never leaves his face the whole time. Damn, why do I feel so foolish! 

Not to mention, this mansion is huge and spacious! I am glad I know the way to the front door. 

Jericho placed me on my seat as I blushed to say thanks to him. He carved out a little smile on his face as he kissed my eyes. Then, he walks to the other side to take his seat. Now, we are sitting face-to-face with each other. 

"Good evening, Mr. & Mrs. Arison." Celci greeted us, making me snort at her.

"Good evening, Celci." My husband greeted her back, but I did not give a damn about it.

"I prepared beef and mushrooms with mashed potatoes. We also have chicken pot pie tonight." Her elegance was showing as she presented the food in front of us.

Satisfied with Celci's actions, I hummed. It makes me want to forget about what happened earlier. 

"So you are Celci, right?" I asked, earning a puzzled look from my husband. 

"Yeah, she's Celci, Erina." Sheepishly, my husband said as he take a mouthful bite of the mushrooms.

"I wasn't talking to you, Jeri-- H-Honey. I was talking to her," I shot my dagger eyes at her, intimidating her. However, she looks unbothered by my stare. 

"Yes, Madame Erina. I am Celci," She finally introduced herself to me properly with a bow.

'Acting so polite, aren't we?' 

"H-Honey." On the other hand, I have to get used to calling Jericho, 'Honey.' I stuttered in embarrassment. I bet my face looks like a tomato now. Oh, God! Help me!  

"Yes?" Jericho retorted while taking another bite of the food. 

 

Shrugging, I said, "Oh, never mind!" Then, I plastered a forced smile. 

When I turn my head to check on the spoon, I noticed something different on my utensils. 

Quickly, I stand up from my seat. My husband looks at me in utter surprise. 

"What is this?" I spat at Celci, raising a brow as my nose flared in anger.

"What do you mean, Madame Erina?" Exhaling, Celci looked concerned, alarmed by my outburst. 

"This!" I shouted at her, pointing my index finger to the spoon and fork. 

Chuckling, my husband said, "Calm down, Erina. What's the deal? I see nothing wrong with your utensils." 

Gasping at my husband's remarks, I fired back at him.

"So, you too see nothing, huh?!" I blinked as I couldn't believe it. 

"How am I supposed to eat with these rusty, little spoon and fork?! This spoon could not scoop a pie! How dare you!" I shouted at my husband's face and his mouth dropped wide open, leaving him speechless. 

Gritting my jaw, I licked my lips to look at Celci with hateful eyes.

"Tell me, how am I supposed to eat with these! Do you think I will enjoy the food?!"

Her breathing hitched as my voice squeaked due to my anger. This woman dares to insult me in every way.

My husband made his way to me, and he rubs my back to say, "Don't make a fuss about it, Erina. We can change your utensils.   You can have something fancier than those." 

WHAT THE FUCK IS HE SAYING?!

I huffed in bewilderment, "Why are you telling me this? Are you turning a blind eye to me?" 

"Erina, it's not like that," He whined as he tries to hold me, yet I quickly slap his hands away from me. 

"Don't touch me!"

"Why are you being so upset and moody? You are not like this!" He yelled at me, and I smirk at him.

Finally, I am starting to see a different side of him. 

"What am I?! How am I supposed to react?! Huh?! Do you want me to give you a rusty spoon to scoop on your mashed potatoes?! Perhaps, that spoon is enough to gouge your eyeballs out!" I shouted back at him, and I could feel my blood boiling in my veins. 

"You could have just told her to replace it! You don't have to throw tantrums like this! Erina, you've changed! You are not like this before!" He said it! 

My tears begin to swarm in my eyes causing my vision to blur. 

I forced a laugh, and I blinked my eyes. 

"Hey, bastard! Have you really checked on me?" Clenching my hands, I confronted him.

Gulping, he breaks away from our eye contact. He shakes his head as he begins to say, "Of course, I do." 

"Liar!" I exclaimed.

"Of course, I checked on you! You are my wife!" 

"But, I wasn't treated like one, Jericho," I said sorrowfully.

"If I was your wife, your maid could have given me a small amount of respect. But, look! She continues to test my patience! She served me spoiled food earlier, Jericho! It's the reason why I am so hungry! You allow others to degrade your wife! What kind of husband is that?! Maybe, that's what killed me," I told him out loud as my tears start to fall.

"Erina, don't be like this," He says soullessly. 

I glanced back at Celci, who is trembling in fear at the moment. Instantly, I grab the spoon and fork from the table, and I gave them to Celci. It appears that she was taken aback, but I tried to present myself harmlessly. So, I open my palm widely. 

Before she snatches the utensils out of my palm, I slapped her face with the utensils. 

*CLING CLANG*

The utensils dropped on the floor. Celci couldn't process what happened as she rubs her burning cheek. She looks at me with a hurtful expression, but I give no mercy. I am so done with her! 

I proceed to pull out her hair, and she yanked on the pain. 

"Erina, stop!" Jericho quickly pulls me away from Celci. 

"You deserve this bitch! You earned this for insulting me!" I groaned violently as I let her go. Celci falls to her knees, crying for mercy.

"I am so sorry." Celci's sobbing and hiccups become louder. While I wiped my tears away. It is such a waste if I cried like this when I am just trying to defend myself. 

"Erina!" My husband called me authoritatively, and I distanced myself from him. I glare at him as he sighed loudly. 

"Erina, you have to apologize!" 

"Oh, shut up! You better find someone better, Jericho, or else you'll never see me in this house again! Plus, I lost my appetite!" 

I believe this has not happened to me once or twice. I wonder how long the old Erina suffered from these kinds of situations.