Chapter 22

The canyon suddenly turned into a graveyard, there was no single sound coming out of each of their mouths. Mateo's heart was racing as he stared at her, he was hurt by what she did but he didn't want to show it. He knew it was crazy for him to have feelings for the wife of his stepbrother but he couldn't stop the feeling he had for her. He feared his heart which was racing would be heard by her, he was angry because she still considered herself the wife of his brother when she was forced to be his wife by force.

He folded his fist angrily as his eyes were blazing with fire, he gazed at the air for some time thinking of what to do. The awkward silence which ensued was disturbed by Mateo.

"Althea, let's go home," Mateo said with a cold voice and Althea stared at him in shock, her mouth slightly agape. She thought he was different from his brother but she was wrong because he was just a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"Where? We just got here and we haven't spent up to three hours" Althea said, still surprised by his outburst earlier.

"We are leaving, and that is final," he said and she looked at him. She now believed that all he was doing earlier wasn't his true character but he has shown his real character. She bit her lips nervously while staring at the food, she never wanted it to waste because the food was delicious. The cook took their time to cook it and they haven't eaten half of the food they brought from home.

"Mateo, what about the food?" She questions staring at him hoping he changed his mind but he didn't budge, he has made up his mind and there is no going back.

"I will send someone to thrash the food," he said, not concerned with his deadly voice. She shivered slightly but made up her mind to continue being persuasive, and he will dance to her tone by letting them stay.

"It's wrong to waste food, there are many people out there looking for food to eat, and because you have the grace to eat as much as you can doesn't mean you should waste it," Althea said with her hands on her waist which enraged him more. He flared up and glared daggers at her with hot steams blowing out of his nose.

"Cut the crap! You don't tell me what to do young lady, you aren't my mother, and you don't decide for me. You should listen to what I'm saying, and I don't want you to alter it. We will leave this instant and the food will be thrashed" Mateo yelled angrily as he stared at her.

Althea was dumbfounded by what he just said, did he just yell at her? She should have known that he is no different from his brother, they are from the same father so she doesn't blame him. She blames herself for allowing them to follow him in the first place. Her face burned with embarrassment and she lowered her head, she was on the brink of crying but she fought the urge. She took the picnic basket which was laying carelessly on the floor, and she held it tightly not wanting to waste the food.

“Althea I'm sorry for the way I talked to you, I was not in my right mind. I was carried away by something" he apologized when he saw she was on the brink of tears but she only gave him a curt nod and headed toward the car.

Althea was hurt by what he said and decided not to show it, she should have not believed him when she first saw him. She was seated at the back of the driver's seat whereas she was seated beside the driver's seat when they came in the first place. She placed the picnic basket on the chair while finding the hem of her clothes. She couldn't believe that the same Mateo who made the first impression on her now behaves.

Mateo ruffled his hair using his hand, he groaned angrily as he used his leg to hit a tree on his way to where the car was parked. He entered the car and stared at her with pleading eyes, she looked away from him and he felt hurt.

"Althea, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you that way, I hope you can find a place in your heart to forgive me" he said while staring at her face with teary eyes.

"You are forgiven," she said like she was picking her words carefully. Her body was stiff and not the vibrant girl he knew days ago.

He knew he was the one who was being rude to her, he regretted his actions but the voice is like an egg and once it falls it can't be picked up. If he was given the ability to reverse time he would do, he knows she was hurt by his words and that was what he expected. Who wouldn't be hurt when they heard the words he said to her?

"If you have forgiven me then smile," he said but she didn't smile, he cursed himself silently for being a dick head.

He sighed sadly as he ignited the engine of the car, the ride home was silent but he tried to make her talk but she seemed uninterested in his talk. He wanted to always make her smile when she sees no reason to smile but that has changed now, he was the reason she was sad and almost close to tears.

Althea on the other hand was feeling immense pain as she clenched her heart, she felt hurt that the person she trusted most had betrayed her trust. She glanced out through the window of the car, and she sighed heavily as the houses went by blur due to the speed he used in driving. She got down from the car immediately after he parked in the garage, she rushed inside the house immediately not waiting for him. She was hurt by his behaviour earlier and all she wants now is a rest to escape all the recent happenings.
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Mateo sighed heavily while holding his head in his hand, his eyes were puffy red and one would have thought it was due to him crying but one will never know he didn't cry. He sighed heavily as he walked into the house, he ignored the greetings of the maids and guards he met on his way. He wanted at that instant to find her and apologize to her properly. He never meant those words he said to her but it all came out before he could caution himself. He said it all to her out of anger and jealousy.

He felt jealous of Xavier for having her as his wife and he felt angry because she was faithful to him. He never thought she would be faithful to him, he thought she would let him have his way with her. He tainted her badly just because he has feelings for her. He knew it was bad to fall in love with his brother's wife, she was a beautiful angel who didn't deserve all the things she got from him. His brother trusted him and he went ahead to catch feelings for his brother's wife.

How will his brother feel if he got to know he is having feelings for her, but he didn't care for any of that? For all he knows is that Althea is too young for his brother and that his brother can't treat her better than he does.

‘You aren't treating her nicely if you are you wouldn't have said those hurtful words to her’ His subconscious said and he groaned angrily which made the guards and maid stare at him like he has gone mad.

"What are you staring at? scram!" he yelled at the maids who scampered away from him. They all knew he was in a bad mood because he had never told any of them for no reason. They all knew him to be a gentle soul and that was why they were surprised by his outburst.

He used his hand to roughen his hair and it scattered all over his face making him look hot. He made his way around the house with the impression of her being in the greenhouse but he was shocked because he couldn't find her there.

He found his way into the library, and he entered with the hope of finding her there but when he saw she wasn't there. He starts to feel uneasy since he knew the library and the greenhouse is the oy place she found comfort. He starts to panic and his body becomes sweaty as he searches for her in the places she likes to be when she is feeling depressed.