Look who is back and updating :) 

Life had changed; it was such an understatement, but it was a true fact for me. Life had changed for me, more like; it had begun for me. In the past few weeks after Caleb and I decided to happily cook together and be civil with each other. This marriage did not seem like a bad idea, I had been thinking about the contract from which one month had already been passed and felt that being civilized with each other would actually help us reach our ending period.

And we have been civil.

Well, when I say civil, it does not mean cooking every day but there has been no fights, little arguments here and there but that was fine, nothing big. I still avoided my in laws; I still did not call my parents or sister. But I got out of house, shopped and attended a concert, even went to watch a movie. Alone, I must mention. Caleb being civil with me had nothing to do with his intention to go out with me so I did not ask.

"Have you seen my ring?'' While I am rummaging through my cupboard, I heard his voice. I turned around and saw him fixing his tie with a frown on his forehead. He looked pissed; well, I learned that he got pissed whenever he cannot find something.

"Wedding ring?" I asked, softly.

He shook his head, "No, the silver plain ring I wear usually on my other hand."

"I did not see, I have just been to bathroom so not there. Maybe you left at office," I said and turned towards my cupboard again, as I could not spend all day wrapped in mid length towel.

I heard him step towards me, I did not pay attention and kept on collecting my shirt, jeans and other relevant things to put on. "It is not in office, do let me know as soon as possible when you find it," he whispered while standing a step away from my back. I nodded and did not let him know that his voice did hold some significance in my life and I was being bewitched by it. It definitely made me skip a beat whenever he talked to me; this was not right, I was always trying to convince myself.

He seemed to have left the room and I just immediately shut the cupboard and slipped in my clothes. I did not fail to not think about the ring, questions arose in my head regarding it. Yet I was reluctant to ask, patting my hair dry with a towel, I was strolling in my room checking drawers, cabinets and any place where it could have gone. 

Well, I did give up soon after. It was not my ring, I should not care! That was an absolute selfish thing to think about but I was trying to not involve in any business of Caleb. He was affecting me with his deep and low voice, sparkling blue eyes and those pale pink lips that I wanted to kiss a few days ago for no reason. So, from my side, I was trying my best to stay the hell away from that beautiful man, but he was making it so hard, he was polite to me! How could I resist when he looked at me so genuinely.

I shrugged all of those thoughts and focused on my lunch setup with Kate that day. Still there were hours left to meet, but I was befuddled; constantly chewing on my lip, picking on my side nail skin, digging my nails on my palm by curling my hand so tight. Because I knew what Kate was going to ask, she was going to make me revisit that horrifying day of my wedding. 

Not that she didn't have the right for an explanation of what just happened but I was embarrassed about sharing that, it made me feel weak. She had been asking for a lunch for a few weeks as well, but I kept on making excuses. But I had to come out of my shell, I had to face that the world was open and filled with questions, even the ones I did not want to answer.

So, the time finally came, when I was sitting in a cozy restaurant waiting for Kate. Sometimes I used to wear disguise through wigs, contacts and all to be isolated from paparazzi or my parents' associates but that time I had no courage for it, I just chose a random small restaurant instead to be away from the cameras. "Hopefully," I muttered to myself.

While glancing here and there, I finally caught the sight of her bouncing blond hair, she lost a few pounds and her violet mid length dress used to be quite fitted before. She caught my glance as well and waved at me, I warmly smiled and waved back. She came at the table and chirped, "Hi, Scarlet! Gosh, Long time no see, love." She gestured me for a hug. Ugh, I should have thought of that. I got up immediately and a sheepish look fell over me, I hugged her tightly.

We both settled down and decided to order first then continue with our catch up. While our food was on line to get prepared, I was ready to first time talk to someone I know after wedding.

She huffed, "The traffic is getting worse these days, I am sorry I was late." She tucked her hair behind her ear.

"No, It is alright. I understand." I did not know if she realized or not, but suddenly something formal was going on between us. Just by looks of it; the way we dressed up and sat and interacted, anyone could tell the stiff air between us.

"So, what is up these days." Her question was ironic for me, I did not know how to answer.

I replied with a small pursed smile, "The usual!" My answer was pathetic, but somehow I was trying to avoid the talk that could lead our conversation to that wedding day. I was also realizing while sitting there that how much mentally affected I was by that marriage. It was hampering me from being comfortable with my friend. I shook my head slightly just by the thought of it. I was sure Kate noticed me shift in my seat and clear my throat and sensed the awkwardness.

"Well, trust me I was not meaning to meet you for any scandalous talk, you know!" she lowly clarified. I did not know why I could not look straight in her eyes, maybe because I was afraid to breakdown and lose all the courage that I have mustered up in the past month.

I nodded, "Thank you for your kind intentions." That came off as so fake and probably offensive.

"I just want to let you know that...that I know what kind of a person you are and how much things must be hurting you, but I want you to know that you are strong and you will get through whatever is an obstacle for you." She moved forward and held my hand, my palm was already sweating.

"Thank you," I whispered, maybe she did not even hear. The awkward silence fell between us, amidst that our food arrived, thankfully! I sighed and delved into my pasta. She also engaged in eating when I looked up at her and immediately looked down to avoid her stare.

I was thinking that I was being a bit too reclusive and it was coming off as impertinent because she was just trying to be a good support. So I spoke up, "It is really nice to know that you think of me as strong, because to be really honest, I have just continued to think myself as weak since that day." That time, I looked up straight at her.

Her eyes seemed to have shined a bit with moisture, maybe she felt sad about what I said, "Do not blame yourself in anyway. I do not know anything but still I believe that you were done wrong and you have nothing to fear or feel weak about. You have survived a month after that, It is a big step. Cherish it."

I raised a brow at her, and mentally patted myself, "Yeah, a big achievement," I murmured, "-I did not think that I would survive a day."

"Do I need to beat up Mr Cold eyes?" She asked while munching.

I chuckled, "Um, not now, I think." I scratched the back of my head and looked down. The image of our first few encounters flashed right across my eyes, at that time he definitely needed the beating.

"What is the plan," she questioned, I frowned being confused, "-I mean, for future?" I sighed.

"I do not know! But..." I stopped myself for a few seconds, unsure If I wanted to disclose or not, but I continued anyway, "It is a six month deal. My father and his father have some sort of business related contract so..." before I could say anything further, her food almost fell off her mouth because of a shock she felt.

"What the fuck!" she immediately gathered herself. I nervously laughed slightly. She was shaking her head, "Please tell me that husband of yours is nice to you at least!" she exclaimed in pure agony.

"We are...we are fine, we do not...I am not sure how to define our equation now, initially we were bad of course but now, it is okay I think. He talks to me when it is necessary, so do I." I finally mustered up the courage to talk about it! Our relationship, if there was any relation in that ship anyway.

"I love you, I am there for you, you should know that. Do not ever feel alone!" She assured me. I blew a flying kiss at her and she caught and acted to keep it in her bag. We continued about her life from then and shortly were done with the lunch.

"Meet you soon," I hugged her, "Good bye, take care."

"You too, take care." She parted away and left, while I sat back in the restaurant for few more minutes.

~

When I parked my car back at the mansion in the evening after lunch and a good stroll in the city and also a mini shopping spree, I saw Caleb's car parked. He was back. I rushed myself out of my car and felt myself moving quite quickly towards my room. In the hall, I caught a glimpse of his dreadful mother looking at me and her eyes held that fake innocence, I huffed and ignored. 

As I entered the room, "Did you the find the ring here?" that was the first question I get. To say that I was disappointed, it was no justice to my worn out look. A small smile that I held quickly turned to pursed lip. I looked down and rolled my eyes.

I did not answer right away, he was lying in his side of the bed with his head resting on the back of the bed and his arms crossed and positioned behind his head. I walked up to the dressing table and put my bag and watch there, I could feel his gaze on me, I spoke up, "No." and he did not ask any question.

I went to bathroom, and staring right at myself in the mirror, I whispered to myself, "You are a fool, gather yourself." I stripped myself off of my clothes and just lay myself down in a bath tub.

As I walked out, the TV was on and his attention was still on it, I saw him turn towards me and then again look back at the TV. I ignored that detail, as I should have. But I again went against my goal and looked at him, surprisingly I caught him looking at me with those big blue eyes. Ugh, the irresistible ones. He licked his lip and sat up straight, I turned around and walked towards the window.

"Are you alright," I heard him ask.

"Yes."

I heard the bed screech a little as he hopped off it quickly, a few steps later I found him behind me, "Doesn't seem like it. Something happened?"

"No."

I heard him growl and he held my forearm, a little tight that moment and twirled me around, "Seriously! Yes, No! What am I? A survey that you are answering!" his voice was higher, his famous frown came back and he seemed pissed.

"Leave me," I looked at him intently and then looked sideway at my clutched forearm.

"What has happened to you, You are being like this for past few days, I have noticed," he stated.

I chuckled, "Oh, you did! That is shocking." I huffed.

"What do you mean?" he groaned, pulling me closer to him. That intimacy was not helping! He was way too oblivious to notice my fastened breathing, the sweat beads on my forehead, the longing in my eyes.

"Nothing," I pushed him away from my left hand, that was free of him.

I walked passed him, and asked while moving towards bed, "Anyways, why is that ring so important?" I lay down on my bed, brought my comforter to my chest and waited for his response.

He took a few good seconds; he looked down immediately and his frown disappeared, he looked up at me but again tried to look sideways to avoid me, his lips parted but again no answer came. He finally said, "It was a gift."

I tried not to overthink about his reluctant tone and shifted behavior, "must be special," I said and turn to other side from where I could not see him but I heard a soft "Yes" from him before he switched off the lamps.

I was almost dozing off until that hit me. That memory! That heart breaking memory. It was of Irene herself packing a ring box in the hall of my father's house, I saw a shiny plain silver ring she was packing. My eyes shot opened at that flashback, I lost my sleep. It was always about Irene, always would be. I kept thinking that throughout the night.

I hope you enjoyed, do vote and comment your opinion, and also share with your friends. What do you think of #Saleb, Scarlet's struggles, what do you think will be the future of them? Let me know of your views.

Do not forget to check out, "Mafia's Beautiful Silence"; another story of mine.

Peace out, Ella-