Leila stepped out of the hall with her heart pounding in her ears. She had to circle the hall twice to put off Kelvin. Her purse was vibrating and she knew he had to be the caller. Her feet hurt from wearing the heels for that long but the ache in her feet was nothing compared to the one in her heart.
He knew Charles.
Her husband knew the man who almost raped her. He was related to the devil and he never said a word.
The thought made her head throb, she grabbed her head and gasped out a sob. Maybe she should return home. At home, she didn't have to worry about men. She would never be reminded by his uncle that she wasn't his first option and would not last a year in the marriage. Uncle Levi had seemed nice at first until they got a chance to be alone. He had wanted to know if she was a gold-digger.
While she could understand his uncle's worry, his harsh judgement of her was unjustified. He didn't know her, he should have tried to do that instead of jumping so quickly to accuse her. Kelvin's black card was still intact. She always used her money for her stuff.
There was no one outside when she opened the backdoor. She pulled off her new shoes. The sight of them caused a stirring in her belly, she flung it at the wall and screamed. Screaming wasn't enough for her, she wanted to do more. She needed to clear her head, after that, she would decide her next move.
The tremors from her purse doubled her annoyance. The only reason she didn't smash the Samsung phone against the wall was because of its price. The longer she stood there, the more the thought appealed to her. She should have done more with Nazo, flirted with him since the man was already interested in her.
Why did she have to be such a good girl? Why did she allow Kelvin's hurt expression bother her?
Kelvin should be the least of her concern. She had to start thinking about herself too. Where could she go? Kelvin was the last person she wanted to see right now so home didn't seem like such a good option anymore.
The ground was cold against her feet, sending chills up her legs. But she didn't mind. She wouldn't mind anything as long as it didn't involve Kelvin. Her purse was in a tight grip as she marched around the building.
A ruckus on the side caught her attention. She backed into the shadow to watch the funny scene unfolding before her.
Charles was arguing with someone. A security personnel. Her purse clattered to the floor and the sound echoed. He saw her before she could take off so she was forced to wait. The security disappeared inside once Charles left, she should have been worried they were the only two outside this chilly evening but she didn't care.
"Hey." He almost sounded genuine. The light from the building opposite theirs cast a glow on his face. He was handsome but beneath that beauty lurked a familiar devil. "I'm so sorry." Stepping away to avoid his eager hands, she scowled. "Leila, I didn't know you were married to him."
"It's fine, Charles," she replied, hands glued to her sides. Whatever the case, she was stuck with Kelvin. He was better than his cousin.
"Do you really want to be with someone who lies?"
Leila snorted. All men did was lie and cheat anyway, why did she think Kelvin would be different? Charles wasn't an exception, just a wolf in sheep's clothing and she had been fooled by his gentlemanly facade once. She would pick a lying Kelvin over a truthful Charles.
"Someone who is dishonest and cannot introduce you to his family member? Leila, I'm many things but a liar. You know what liars do, right? They lie and tell more lies. Do you want to live another life of lies?"
The unspoken words hung between them. Her parents had lied to her. That was if she could call them parents. That lie had sent her to Korea in search of the truth. Aside from Freya, Charles was the only one who knew this and she couldn't help but curse herself for opening up to him in the past. She would have made the same mistake with Kelvin but fate had intervened.
"Divorce him, Leila."
Leila smirked. His confidence would never cease to amaze her. He walked around with the certainty that he could get any woman he wanted. It worked once but now, she was wiser. Looking him up from bottom to top, a sickly sweet curled her lips. He must think her to be the same Leila who was carried away by his words in the past.
I swear to God, Leila. It won't happen again.
I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you.
Please, give me one last chance.
Lies, lies and more lies. How dare him call Kelvin a liar when he was that and more? A violent drunk. A sexual assaulter. A woman beater.
"I'll rather live a life of lies with Kev than be with someone like you, Charles." Her purse vibrated again but she didn't check to confirm the caller. Kelvin could handle himself. Better still, he should go and have fun with Mia. They were better suited for each other anyway. A marriage between them would have strengthened the two families bonds. Starting today, she was done caring about his needs and that of any other man. Her first. "Someone who thinks it okay to hit women."
"I'm a changed man, Leila." If she got a dollar each time he uttered this statement, she would be swimming in dollars. Why did she stay that long? It had to have been the fear of being alone. With no one to talk to, except for a best friend who was over the moon with her new lover, staying had been the best option. "Everyone deserves a second chance, Leila. Give me one."
But she had given him a second and third chance, and the outcomes were all the same. "I'm married, Charles. Until death do us part, I'll be married to Kelvin."
His eyes glazed over, he raised his hand and an image flashed across her mind. Fear sunk its claws into her, she closed her eyes and waited for the hit but it never happened. One eye peeled open, Charles was staring down at her with his fingers locked in his hair. Her breathing came out rushed, she was fine. He wouldn't hit her.
"I'm sorry I ever hit you," he whispered.
His apology took her off guard, she cackled with bitter laughter. Sorry was useless. Charles ran his hand over his face.
"I'm leaving but think about what I've said." There was nothing to think about. Their chapter was closed. "I went to rehab. I've been taking anger management classes. I'll never hurt you. I love you, more than your husband could ever do." Still, she would pick him over this beater. "Has he even told you he loves you? You don't have to answer because I know he hasn't. The fact he is ashamed of showing you off to the public tells me all I need to know. You married the wrong brother, Leila."
Cousins. They were distant cousins, she forced herself to remember that important fact. This vile man couldn't have shared the same womb as her Kelvin. Now, what was she thinking by calling Kelvin hers?
He wasn't hers. Everything he had told her was a lie. If he cared, he wouldn't have hidden this part of himself from her. She kicked the air after Charles left. Screw him, screw everybody who hurt her.
An agonising pain tore at her chest, and she wrapped her arms around herself. This dress suffocated her. Maybe she married the wrong brother. She had been out here for minutes and he didn't come after her.
Seconds blurred into minutes, she didn't know her next move. If she went to Freya's, she would have to tell her about tonight. She didn't want to ruin that image of Kelvin her best friend had.
A sob caught in her throat, Leila leaned on the wall and took deep breaths. It was a simple lie, that was if she could even call what Kelvin did a lie. He didn't lie. He just never spoke about it. She could get over it. She could forgive him.
Back rigid with this thought, she made to turn but she never got far. Strong arms gripped her. The person smelt foul. Nothing like Kelvin or Charles. Her brain was slow to process what was happening, and when it dawned on her, she tried to scream but it was too late. Something soft was placed over her nose and a wave of dizziness hit her. Stars dotted her vision, she tried to fight off that urge to sleep but it only grew stronger.
The last thing she heard before slipping into unconsciousness was an unfamiliar voice saying, "Gotcha."