The Twist

Chapter 50

The Twist.

Lyla Atelo.

“I'm not…”

“…wealthy enough to purchase this? Of course I know that. Sage gifted this to you, right?” Her eyes were beaming in joy. She didn't look disgusted at all about anything.

“What other things did he get for you?” She peered into the box that sat in front of us, trying to rummage through it.

“You know I can't accept this, right?” Right now, I needed her support for me to turn down these gifts. It was too much. I couldn't handle something this big.

“Why not?” Ivy paused and lifted her head to stare at me with a frown.

“It's not right, and you know that.” I tried to stress out, but Ivy didn't seem to be following. “He is… you know, he's my student. I'm his teacher. This kind of thing isn't supposed to be going on between us.”

Ivy's eyebrows rose further up and she rolled her eyes. “Take it as a simple gift from a student.”

“Simple? You call this simple?” I pointed to the document that still lay on the table. “It's a freaking Jewellery store. Not just any jewellery store, the most expensive!” I whisper-yelled at her.

“So? Have you forgotten your profession? You teach elite students, what were you expecting? An underwear?” She chuckled. “Students of this school don't show their appreciation, only one percent does. And you're among the one percent. You should be proud!”

My shoulders sagged, even though what she said made sense, I just couldn't accept it.

Her fingers froze over the documents she had carried from the box, and a frown covered her face.

"What's the matter? Is something wrong?" I noted the sad look in her eyes as she stared across the room at me.

"I'm so sorry, Lyla," her voice had gotten really tender, and there were unshed tears in her eyes. "I didn't know you were going through this."

I took quick steps towards where she stood and grabbed the documents from her hands. What was she mumbling about? My eyes scanned the documents, and I felt my heart stop for an entire second as my mind processed what I was seeing.

"What?" I couldn't believe my eyes. "He has another family?"

My knees felt weak and I stumbled into the table. Ivy was fast enough to hold me up.

"Are you alright?" She peered into my eyes, and I tried to steady my shaky breath.

My hands gripped the edge of the table so hard I thought I was going to break it. I placed my bottom on the table and pushed the documents back into Ivy's hands.

"Just... Just read it out for me. I think I'm seeing things."

"Are you sure?" Ivy looked at me again to be sure she heard what I told her.

I nodded for her to continue.

"Umm... Okay..." She cleared her throat. "Michael Atelo has been married to Vivian Atelo for fifteen years, and has four children from his wife. They—" She stopped there and sighed. "Lyla... How long have you and him been married?"

"Eight years..." I whispered, my voice sounded foreign to me.

I searched my emotions on what I was feeling. I was hurt. Those six years I spent without him... he was probably with his other family, while I was here, waiting for his return.

"Vivian Atelo is a fashion designer, and is Canadian based. Their children are in high school now, and... Lyla, I'm so sorry about this." Ivy threw the papers away and drew me into a tight hug.

I felt my lungs collapse and my throat tightening in tears. Why did it hurt so much? I squeezed my eyes shut to control the tears from falling. I wasn't supposed to care. I should have gotten over Michael by now, but why... Why did it feel like my heart was being ripped out of my chest?

Ivy's perfume filled my nostrils, calming my heightened emotions, but the pain was still there.

"I'd like to be alone, Ivy." I told her after a while.

*

Ivy Cameron.

"What did she say?" The man on the other end of the call asked me.

I sighed heavily. "She was shocked. She's crying in her office as we speak right now."

"Good. That means she believes it, right?" He asked again.

"Of course she does." I replied, sighing. I paused for a second before thinking about the documents I'd read in Lyla's office. "But why will you send her those documents? It's basically proof that you are cheating on her. What's your purpose behind making her hurt?"

The man's deep voice chuckled. "Miss Ivy, just do your job and get paid. Don't poke around my business with my wife. Just be there for her when more of these things happen. Be her emotional support so she would believe and trust you." He paused for a while. "Also know that you're not the only person under my employ in the school, I have other people keeping an eye on both of you. I will know when you go rogue, and you know what will happen if that happens, right?"

I shuddered when I remembered my son that was still in the hospital. "I'll not betray you." I kept my voice firm. I should have ended the call then, but something made me ask. "Are you aware that she now owns the most expensive jewellery shop in the city? Bought for her by her student who likes her?"

"What?" Michael Atelo barked from the other end of the call. "Tell me everything you know about this student!"