Chapter 6

My eyes were still brimming with tears when I turned from the corner to go back to my apartment as someone held out a handkerchief to me.

“You okay?”

Of all the people who witnessed what happened there, Edward Cross was the last person I thought I’d come across after everything that had happened with Chris there.

However, life is sometimes full of surprises; especially when the very things we don’t want to happen actually do.

I sighed and gave him a small smile before grabbing the handkerchief to wipe the stupid tears that fell from my eyes.

“Yeah, thanks” I replied shyly but the man just stood there staring at me in silence.

Just like the last time I met him, he was silent, cold and flat.

Did he have no emotion? I thought but couldn't help and felt glad he didn’t tease me for my mistake.

“He is blonde, handsome and has a nice body… no wonder Anna is falling for him” He suddenly said, telling me he saw Christian a moment ago.

I sighed and just nodded my head, not knowing what to respond to his words.

“What are you doing here, Mr. Cross?” I asked, trying to change the subject away from Chris.

He tilted his head a little like he knew what I was doing but didn’t say anything more.

“I am here to grab the video from your lawyer and among other things” He said quietly and I just nod stupidly.

Shit, what should I say to him now? I thought in panic until I sighed in defeat.

“I believe I owe you an apology” He raised his eyebrow so I continued “That night… I thought you’re… ehem… I was wrong, I am sorry if what I show you bring bad result for your relationship with Miss Maison”

He just stared in silence before waving his hand toward the awaiting young man behind him.

“Go to Miss Evelina Volt and collect the proof, Peter” He ordered him who nodded respectfully before leaving.

Peter… So, that’s his assistant that Evelina mentioned before.

Then he turned his gaze back at me.

“Care to grab a coffee with me, Miss Eaton?” He asked and called me with my own name again instead of calling me Mrs. Black.

But before we could move anywhere a voice stopped us.

“Ella?”

Ugh… Great…

Only one person called me with that nickname.

I turned my head and saw Christian staring at us in disbelief.

“Here I thought and feared hurting you, only to know the reason why you immediately move to do the separation way” He scoffs rudely while staring at me and Mr. Edward Cross who stood beside me in silence.

I stare in anger at him.

The audacity of this man, saying things like that.

“I am not like you, Christian” I quickly replied coldly “Mr. Cross here just worry because he saw me crying, not what you think”

Christian was taken-aback, especially after I mentioned who the man standing there was.

Looking at his response, I guess he aware who is Mr. Cross here, after I found out about him days ago while thinking he is Anna’s father, I realized that Cross' family is not only a billionaire and someone you can’t dare to face, let alone anger him.

“I…” Christian tried to speak but I quickly turned my gaze away from him and back to the silent Edward.

“Thank you for the handkerchief, Mr. Cross, I will return it to you and sorry for the trouble here, excuse me.” I quickly said and walked out from there.

Well… More like running away from both men.

********

Ring.. Ring… 

Ring… Ring… Ring…

The next day my phone didn’t stop ringing and I had to drag my feet from my bed then grab my phone in the kitchen.

It was Christian, he called me for the whole day in the morning.

I was too lazy to answer him but he didn’t stop.

“Ella…” He sighed after I finally answered my phone.

“It’s Priscilla” I demanded coldly before adding “What do you want? Did you sign the paper yet?”

“F*ck…” He sounded frantic, angry and desperate which put me in silence while waiting for his next words “How did you know Edward Cross? Did you know what he did to me yesterday? Did you tell him about me? Did you do this?”

I frowned in confusion.

What does he mean?

“I don’t know what you are talking about, Christian” I said calmly and he groaned from the other line, like he was annoyed by my answer.

“DON’T LIE TO ME, ELLA” He shouted loudly like he was finally unable to control himself anymore and I just stood there with the phone on my ear, waiting for him to continue. “HE FIRED ME!!!! Saying that I’d done something immoral and lied about a business trip that never happened – how did he know all that if it wasn’t you? That’s why he was there with you yesterday, isn’t it? Why? You said you wanted to part on good terms, so why did you do that?!!”

I just stayed silent, not knowing what to say to her, but at the same time I felt I didn’t need to explain anything to her.

“Why are you blaming me for what you did at your office?” I asked quietly, feeling exhausted by everything that had happened this week; I just wanted it all to be over.

“If you hadn’t been so nosy and started digging into all this, none of this would have happened. Damn it, Ella, why are you doing this to me?!” He kept blaming me as if it were all my fault, failing to see that he was the one who’d caused all this.

I couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh; I found this man utterly pathetic and wondered why I’d ever loved him so deeply.

“Just look, Ella, do you know who Anna Maison is? She’s the heiress to a billionaire; she drives a Porsche to work and only works to pass the time. That’s why I’ve chosen to be with her rather than you, a cheap, poor nursery school teacher with no future.” I could only remain silent as I listened to the words he spoke to me.

An heiress?

He didn't have a clue who Anna really was.

However, I could only stay silent and let him insult me until the time was right; I was sure he would suffer far more than I was feeling right now.

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