Chapter Twenty Four

After breakfast, she went straight to the bedroom. She didn't raise her eyes at him once. There must be a deep frown on his forehead, she thought.
She rested her head on the headboard and allowed her tears to fall down. She heard the click of the door. She snapped her head in that direction. Ethan turned himself at her after locking the door. Her heart caught a race. She couldn't move with fear.
His face was expressionless, aggravated eyes fixed on her. Before she could understand anything, his hand was on her upper arm. He drew her closer, pulling to his chest, wrapping his arms around him and lifting her up from the mattress.
Putting her both hands in his chest, she pushed him away, which was completely useless. He was exasperated, eyes never moving away from her face. There was ominous silence between them.
" What are you doing? You'll hurt me. " She said to him.
" Deep down you know, I'll never hurt you. Don't you? " He whispered slowly, making her paralyzed for a few seconds.
' He can understand this. Why can't he feel how I feel for him? '
" Please, put me down. " She whispered.
" Not until you are completing your brief. " He explained.
She looked at him confused, " Brief! " She pursed her lips together, " I've told you everything indeed more than I should. You are not a dumb to understand anything. " She was regretting her tone but couldn't help.
" Watch your words, Love. I'm not gonna take shit from anyone, not even from you. " He snapped, drawing his face inches apart.
" Yeah! You can take shit from Kattie. " She snapped back.
There was dead silence again between them. Her heartbeat could be heard throbbing rapidly and sharp breathing.
He just glared at his wife, " Put me down, please. " She told him again.
" Explain it to me first. " He demanded, shaking his head slightly.
" Fine! I'm feeling sleepy. Stay like this as long as you want. " She rudely said and placed her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes. He didn't budge an inch. Tears formed in her eyes, falling on his shoulder, " Why does it matter to you? " she whispered,
" Because, you matter to me. " He said.
" No, I'm not. " she blurted out with tears.
" Kattie, doesn't deserve even an argument after her deception. She doesn't exist for me any longer. " He halted for a second to glance down at his wife, " You are my wife. " He said.
" I know, " She nodded slightly.
" Let me complete. " He said.
" Hmm, " She hummed against his shoulder.
" Ain't you feeling our bond getting stronger everyday. " She didn't reply to him, " When I saw you first. I wanted to cocoon you, keep you safe from everything which could hurt you. I wanted to keep you close, like this right now. I'm not good at explaining such things. If it would you instead of Kattie. I swear, I would have taken you before marriage. " He said.
She looked up at him with her watery eyes and astonished face," Really?' She asked him.
" Yes, " He nodded with a huge smile.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and placed a quick kiss on his neck, " Are you gonna put me down? " She asked.
" You did not explain to me yet. " He said.
" Explain what ? " she shyly asked and stared at her first answer.
He raised his eyebrows, " I wanna be the love of your life, not just your wife. " She hesitantly told him. Keeping her eyes on his collarbone. She saw his white shirt wiped against her wet eyeliner leaving black spot on his shirt. She lifted her eyes. He was staring down at her with parted lips.
' I know you'd be taken back or you'll not care at all. That's why I don't wanna share it with you. '
" You need to change your shirt. " She said, touching the black spot. He looked at her with confusion. She beckoned with her eyes at his collar.
He gathered his eyes on her fingers, " Yeah! " he said and put her down.
He went in the closet and came back wearing a new white shirt. His coat was hanging in his hand, " See you in the evening. " He rested his hand on her cheek and kissed her forehead. He was hesitating stepping back from her.
" You're getting late. " She chuckled.
" Yeah, " He rubbed his nape and paced out of the room. Before closing the door, he took a quick look at her.

* * *
Her phone pinged on the table and she grabbed it from it immediately. She went down stairs, following the route to the backside of the Mansion. She halted near the swimming pool. Lana was swimming.
" Haven't you read the message properly before leaving your room. '' Lana told her. She was in black swimsuit and gave her the feeling of watching a mermaid.
" I did. But I'm not coming in water. " She said, sitting at the pool side and removing her heels and putting her feet in the water.
Lana stopped moving and glanced black at her swivelling her neck, " Oh! " Lana said, " You should tell me. We can make plans later. I really want you to be in the pool with me. " She said.
She got her meaning and smiled, " I'm absolutely fine, Lana. I don't know how to swim. I feared from the water. " She giggled.
" What! " Lana exclaimed in astonishment, " You don't know swimming." She was shockingly gazing at her.
" Yes, I don't know. " She chuckled, looking at her face.
" You should change. I'm teaching you swimming. " Lana smiled.
" No way! " She pulled her feet from the water and stood away from the pool, " You are not doing this Lana. I'm not learning it. " She was watching water with fearful eyes.
Lana came out of the water and draped a white towel around her waist, " Okay, relax. " She rested her hand on her shoulder.
" I'm okay, Lana, just don't wanna go in the water. I like water in my bathtub." She told her and sauntered toward her room, leaving her behind.
I know to hold my breath in water. But I'll never swim. She called in her mind.
" Mia, wait. You can sit by the pool side if you don't like to swim. " Lana pouted.
She giggled, " Sure, I love to."
She was swimming her feet in the pool and splashing water randomly, " Tomorrow, we are going to meet my mother. You will like her. " Lana said.
" Really, " But her smile disappeared when she thought about his reaction, " We have to make an excuse, the solid one. "
" I have. " Lana chuckled and splashed water on her.
She didn't offend it and giggled. She threw water at her with her both hands.