Chapter Eighteen

She pushed her food away and sauntered away from him to reach the room. He instantly held her wrist, and halted her, " Finish your food. " He unemotionally told her.
She swirled and glanced at Lana. She was slowly chewing her toast and sipping her coffee. She could see bruise of Michail's fingers on her cheeks. She knew Lana was watching her from the corner of her eyes, " Sorry, I can't see her like this and eat comfortably like nothing happened. " She twitted.
" Get back in your seat. " Ethan said through his gritted teeth.
Lana raised her head, looking at her and shook it slightly. She pursed her lips. She got in her seat next to her husband. She glanced at her bruise face. She was battling to control her anger. She was digging her nails in her palm, she was feeling the piercing of it. It could not pacify the aggression of anger, " That's how you prove your strength showing it to a weak person. " She asked Michail.
He fisted his hands on the table and glared at her. Fearlessly, she was glaring back at Michail.
" Enough Mia! " Ethan bawled out angrily. He grasped her wrist and twisted it behind her back tugging her at him, " Not a word. " He chided her.
She felt the surge of pain, " Or what? You'll hit me. " He lost his grip. Stared at her down with softness in his eyes, " If you will dare to, I will call whole women of my college and they all give you the same taste. " She told him boldly. He unhanded her. He was looking taken aback with her daring as this required great bravery. She pushed herself away, " I'll do the same to you if you dared to hit Lana again. You should understand to sort out the problems with her by TALKING. She's your wife. Huh! You professed to love her. " She left the table as unmanageable tears were hovering at the brink of her eyes. She didn't want them to show herself frail.
She plopped on the velour couch and let her tears flow down. She wasn't taught to tolerate wrong. She was stubborn. Her brother fulfilled her every acceptable unacceptable demand. It passed merely five minutes when she heard footsteps.
" Are you always stubborn? " His voice came from behind. She didn't turn to see him. His voice was saying he wasn't in a bad mood and didn't come here to lecture her.
" Kinda, " She replied in her broken voice.
He sat in front of her. He was holding her untouched food plate. It was cooked vegetables, " They are talking in a decent manner. " He said and brought up his hand with a spoon filled with it.
" Is he shouting at her? " She turned her gaze at him and took the offer.
" No, he took your threat seriously. " He smiled. She couldn't halt her lips in curling up. He got up from the couch, giving plate to her. " I'll see you in the evening. If you'll go out and any plan, you'll call me. " He said. His eyes were holding something as he was keeping himself away from something essential. She wanted to know that would he ever treat her that way?
" Yes, " She nodded.
He grabbed some files from the table and sauntered out. She ate in silence, thinking about him, only him.
She put the plate in the sank, " Mia, Thanks. " Lana smiled and hugged her. She engulfed her arms around her neck.
" What's this for? " She pulled back and couldn't keep them smiling away from her lips.
" He listened to me. " She gleefully asked.
" We should discuss our problems with people who are close to us, you know. " She told her.
" I've no one. " Lana said,
She pulled back from her and gazed at her, " Well! You have me. " She placed her both hands on her shoulders.
" Thanks, um..." Lana hesitated.
" Say it. " She said.
" Was you really going to do that, um gathering your friends and... " She trailed.
" Yes, I'll. But I can tell. He'll not hurt you again if he truly loves you. " She said.
" Hm, you are right." She shook her head. They walked out of the kitchen.
It was ten o'clock and the blistering sun was prickling their skin. Lana told her about Ethan and Michail. They were childhood friends. Lana's family was against her wedding. Ethan stood with them and helped out. She couldn't perceive if it was a love marriage how he could hit her. When she asked her, was it the first time Michail hit her?
She got shocked hearing the answer. He often did this whenever he lost his temper. She was aware of it before the wedding, still she married him. Ethan's restless and raged face appeared briefly before her eyes. Her body trembles convulsively. She shoved away the barbaric memories. She asked her to tell some funny stories of their life. But all she was told was action. She was watching her carefully. She was glad but somewhere in the corner of her heart Lana seemed upset to her.
" Do you miss your family? " She suddenly asked her.
She stopped talking and looked at her, " I do. But they are not a normal family like yours. " Lana smirked, but couldn't hide her pain.
" They must be better than mine. I can bet. " She heaved.
" No, you're wrong. My father and brother is Italian mafia bosses. Obviously, better than yours. They don't like Michail. " Lana said.
" And you still let him hit you. I can guess you know the fighting skills. " She told her.
Both walked in the house as the sun was getting unbearable. They plopped on the couch, " I love him. " She slowly said.
" Doesn't he? " She asked.
" He does, but! " Lana couldn't answer her.
" Lana! " She held her hand, " It's not good to let a third person speak for you. You are strong enough, indeed stronger than me. Whenever I will feel you should speak for yourself. I'll always tell you. Don't let this happen again. Don't lose your spark. " She told her.
" Thanks, I thought, I was losing us. " She smiled, putting her hand over her hand, " But all set now. "
Svetlana told her, ' Her family and Ethan are going to sign a deal and Ethan and Michail are partners in this business deal. '
She explained everything to her. That was why they were here. She was excited as she was going to see her family.
* * *
She came back to her room and opened her laptop. There were several messages from Gretta. She was going to click in and meanwhile she received a video call from her. She instantly accepted it and smiled broadly, " Hello, " She said with full swing of excitement.
" How are you? I'm seeing you after a long time. You are looking happy and pretty. You aren't pretending, right? " Gretta sighed and asked many questions in a single breath.
" Hold on! Hold on! Gretta! I miss you like hell. We are seeing each other after four days. I'm not pretending. I'm happy to see you after my wedding. Sorry, I could not invite you.'' She told her. She held her hand up and showed her the jewelry she sent for her, " I love this. Thank you so much. "
" I'm glad to see you happy. Now I can sleep tension free. I was so concerned about you. Did he hurt you? " She worriedly asked her.
" I'm fine. No one hurt me. " Her eyes filled with tears. She was wishing to be in her room and wanted Gretta to scold her for sleeping like a bear in winter.
" We are sorry, Mia. Frank and I couldn't keep you safe. " Her face saddened.
" Don't include yourself in someone else's mistake which you haven't made and nothing to do with you. '' She told her.
" Mia, I know your brother was wrong. He should not do so. Believe me, I wanted to leave him after knowing all this but I couldn't. He was broken that night. I hadn't seen him crying like that before. He didn't tell you the whole truth. I was there with him that day. I'm so sorry, Mia. I know you hate us. We are extremely sorry. " Tears welled down her eyes.
She extended her eyes to wipe Gretta's cheek. Her skin felt the glass. She was feeling helpless.
It didn't affect her. Virtually, she did not bother who did this. Damage had been done to her. There was no going back. It couldn't bring back whatever she had lost in the past days after being his wife, " I'm fine. You both haven't any need to worry over me. You should concentrate on your life. I'll be fine. I'm glad, you didn't leave my brother. '' She told her.
She knew there was more about the scandal but she wasn't interested and all debt was settled now.
" Mia, I know. " She cut her off.
" My husband will be back soon. There are guests. A lot of work. I'll talk to you later. Most importantly, I'm genuinely happy. " She smiled, wiping her eyes.
" I trust you. You'll reply to my message and calls " Gretta asked.
" Of course, I will, " She replied with a smile.
" Bye, I love you. "
She smiled, " Bye, love you too. " She waved her hand. Gretta instantly waved back with a smile.