ELLEN Oliver dragged me up to his room, ignoring all my whimpers. He shoved me down on the bed when we were in his room. “What is wrong with you? Do you know what this would do to Sophie? You are just being wicked,” I snapped. Oliver chuckled with poison in his eyes. “You hid my fucking daughter from me for how long? Six years? Seven? And I am the wicked one? “Oliver, it’s not entirely my fault—” “It’s my fault then!” he barked. “You left me with no choice when you left me in that dingy club room, and dropped me a bundle of money like I was only a prostitute.” “What?” Oliver’s face crumpled in a frown. “What in God’s name are you talking about?” “I don’t know how often you pay for a woman’s drink, but you paid for my drink at Dynamite Club in New York, five years ago. We spoke for a while and had sex in the guest room.” I saw remembrance cross his face. “You...you were that girl?” I nodded. “That does not justify your actions, Ellen.
ELLEN I woke up alone on the bed. Tears stained my pillow because I had cried myself to sleep. I walked over to the mirror and looked at my face. My eyes were all puffy from cry. I could not believe Oliver had changed this badly. He had never been a good person to me anyway, but he has never held me hostage, making me do his biddings and using my daughter as bait. I knew my phone was tapped now, and I could not speak with anyone without him knowing about it. I wore my robe and went down to the kitchen to prepare what I can for Sophie. I would not be subjected to becoming a house wife for Oliver. I will not cook or do things in this house. This marriage was a contract and all I know now is that I am his hostage. I know that even after this contract, I will be forced to stay because of Sophie. That is where Oliver waited for me. I could not go against him in court because I knew he was well connected and had people inside. I cannot imagine a life without Sophie. I ca
ELLEN "You cannot cut me out of her life completely, Oliver." "I am not," Oliver said, not bothering to look at me. "Your decisions are not just the best for her." "I know my child —" "Our child," Oliver cut in. "I will not have you make decisions about her with someone else." Oliver's eyes flicked up to me. "You are jealous of Monica?" "I am not," I defended and gulped the water from the glass. "That is what you denied me for six years. You did not allow me make decisions about her, you denied me the opportunity to bond with her." "Oliver, I —" "It will not always work in your favour. You should have thought about the consequences before you acted. For now, whatever I say goes." "Oliver, please..." I muttered hoping he had some humanity in him. He had been kind to me the last few weeks before I left him. I do not know about this current behavior of his. I was scared and helpless. "I know you are angry and you have every right to be but—" "I am glad you know,
ELLEN “I am sorry for how I have been treating you.” I stared at him in disbelief. I was not making it easy for him, not after what he did to me. He did not even let me explain anything. “Now, you are ready to hear what I have to say?” “Come on, Ellen, this is not even my fault and yet I am here apologizing.” “If you think it is something I should jump up at, then you shouldn’t apologize at all.” I started walking out of the kitchen. Oliver grabbed my hand and stopped me. “Do you think I should be apologizing? You hurt me, Ellen.” “And you are getting your payback, are you not? I am not ready to talk about this. This is exactly the reason I left in the first place.” “I am not fucking talking about when you left the second time. You hid her whole existence from me! You had enough time to tell me about her.” “Not after you ruined my life!” I yelled. He stumbled and left my hand. “I ruined your life?” “You had sex
ELLEN It was one thing to think about Oliver with someone else but seeing them together hurt like a stab in the heart. I ran down the stairs as quickly as my legs could carry me. I had no right to be upset. I walked away instead of telling him the truth. I did not tell who I really was. This marriage was only a contract, and I should not be angry that he is with another woman. I gripped the railing of the stairs to steady myself. It hurt more than I could ever admit, and I hated it so much. I did not know why I felt like this when all he had been to me was awful. God, I wish I can hate him. I cannot even believe what I just saw. I knew I deserved his anger, but I do not know how much more of this I could take anymore. “Ellen,” his voice chased me down the stairs, but I walked as fast as I could without looking back. I did not want to see him; I could not stand it. As he chased me down the stairs, I ducked into Sophie’s room, where her home teacher and Mrs. Jones we
ELLEN When we got back from eating ice cream, it was dark. Sophie was so exhausted that she was already asleep before we got back. It was fun though, Oliver made the most out of it. After getting ice cream, he went ahead to take us to the pack. Sophie was overexcited and I was happy that she was. She and Oliver blended so well that it melted my heart. Sophie would always make us come together. She made us excited and although we were not on speaking terms, we acted along. In another time, I would have cherished the moment, but this was a different situation. No matter how hard I tried to shove it to the back of my mind, the picture of Oliver and Monica kissing lived rent-free in my head. Who knows what else they have done? I should not let this thing go to me, but it was. After all, Oliver and I were not in love—I mean I might be the only one catching the feeling. He had never told me he loved me before. We had a contract and agreed never to fall in love. I tuck
OLIVER When I woke up the next morning, I saw Ellen sleeping soundly beside me, her head on my chest. I thought I dreamt the whole of last night, but it turned out I did not. I finally got it out. I told her that I loved her last night. Although she said she wanted to take things slow, like digest the whole Mafia thing. She was not sure it was the kind of life she wanted for herself. I will try my possible best to keep my work away from our love life if this ever works out between us. I wanted it to work, I really do. I kissed the top of her hair and she stirred but did not wake up. I gently climbed down from the bed. However, I still do not trust her to stay back. This might be a tactic to leave again. Get me to loosen my grip on her and then she takes off again. I was not going to hold her hostage anymore, like not letting her step out of the house any longer, but I will do my best to watch her every move. I went into the shower and washed up. I had to sign some de
OLIVER I dropped the phone and sighed. Why do they have to bring up work over the weekend? I needed this weekend to be with Sophie and Ellen, I wanted to make up for the times I lost with them. I wanted us to go out for the weekend or even a weekend trip, it would bring Ellen and me closer. I knew I resolved to take things easy with her and do it at her own pace, but it was getting harder by the day to resist her. It was not an easy thing to lie beside a beautiful woman with a hot body and not let your mind run wild. She came out from the bath and sat by the dresser to apply some lotion on her body while I sat there watching her. She looked different, not just because of her face, but because she was distant. It was almost as if she was holding back from me. I told her how I felt a few days ago, but she was withdrawing from me. Does she not like me? I noticed she was looking at me from her peripheral vision and she looked so hot. She wore red transparent night