Elena

My inside was consumed with anger. All for Victor. I didn't plan on crying but thinking about his laughter left me with no choice. He was practically making fun of me. He's seeing me as a joke. Everyone is. I thought father will take my side when I told him about what Victor did by bringing me to this cheap house but all what he said was. "Hang in there Elena. He will protect you" that word had tainted my brain since that time. Which was why I got angry and brought some home appliances. I can't use his cheap stuffs.

I turned off the shower and wrapped the towel around my body before making my way out. My heart skipped seeing Victor face to face with me. "What are you doing!" I yelled out clutching the towel to my chest. What a pervert.

He quickly turned over his back facing me. "I didn't know you were going to come out now"

A hiss found its way out of my lips. "Are you deaf. Can't you hear the sound of the shower getting turned off"

"The one who is deaf is you. And you were at fault. You know you were going to take a shower yet you didn't lock the door"

"You- Right" I rolled my eyes. I stormed inside the bathroom angrily that I forgot to lock the door. But that shouldn't give him the upper hand to misbehave with me.

"Are you going to stand there and watch me change. Move out" I ordered. He didn't move an inch which got me raising my brows. "Am I talking to a deaf man. I want to change. Kindly leave" I heard him heaved out a sigh before finally marching out.

"Crazy man" I exclaimed to the door as if he could see me.

Opening the wardrobe and I was met with an arrangement different from mine. Victor's clothes were side by side mine. "What the!"

I grabbed the clothes and was about to drop them on the floor when I stopped closing my eyes on the accord. Cut him some slack Elena. My inner voice ushered. If I'm going to allow him to share wardrobe section with me, we have to talk one on one. Basically everything in the house. I changed into a simple blouse, applied lotion to soothe my skin before making my way out.

The very first thing that attacked my nostrils was the aroma of something cooking. At that moment, my stomach decided to make its presence known. Well, I only ate sandwich and orange juice for lunch. Nothing special. I didn't tell you how the meeting went with Mrs. Jessica. All thanks to Larisa and Taylor for having my back always. They had to make up a good story to make her stay. That I was caught up in traffic at my new place. Had to trek all down to arrive at office.

Okay, it's not like it was all a lie. I did trekked. All thanks to Victor for messing up with me. I got a ride after I've gone far from the neighborhood. Forgot to add they told her I got married. The woman freaking shouted on my ears with congratulatory applauses. Up to the end of the meeting, she wouldn't stop giving telling me about how getting married early is the best choice to make.

I was brought back to reality by the sound of something falling. My legs charged towards the kitchen seeing smoke all over the place. "What are you doing" I said covering my mouth with my palms. All my the new kitchen utensils are on full display. Great. Just great Victor.

"Step back" Victor gestured like I will listen to him. All of a sudden the smoke disappeared as he sprayed something on the air.

"What is that?" I couldn't help asking. The corner of his lips twitched up. "It's use to prevent the smoke from spreading. And fret not, I'm not doing all this for my benefit. We can't starve to death can we?" the way he said it made me roll my eyes.

"I didn't say I want to eat together with you"

"We're not eating together. I'm cooking for us as you can see" He threw rendering me speechless.

A moment of silence suddenly occupied the room with me thinking of what to bring up next. Probably what fight to start. My eyes landed on the open doors refrigerator. "You know you were not supposed to use all these stuffs without my permission right?"

"It's for our own good" He answered dressing the smoked salmon with a soy sauce that got my stomach drooling.

"It's not for my own good. We need to talk on this" I emphasised.

"Really?" He spared me a glance. I nodded in return.

"Let's eat first" And he pulled me by the wrist towards the dining area and pushed me down.

I tried as much as I can to ignore the sound of my stomach but the sight before me wasn't helping matters. I moved my gaze back to Victor whose eyes were already on me. "What?" I mouthed.

"You don't have to ask. I will not starve you"

"I didn't say I'm starving" I ushered.

"You licking your lips is enough proof" my eyes slightly widened to a certain degree. Did I just do that?

Fuck!

"Anyways, I won't make fun of you because you couldn't stop drooling over my cooking. Have a taste for yourself" this time around I burst out with laughter.

Who the hell does he think he is. Me? Drooling over his cooking? No. Okay, maybe I did that a bit. But I can't allow him to see how badly I want to taste the food. "I don't drool. And I'm only going to try it to see whether it's good or it's as cheap as this house"

He didn't respond. Nice. I finally touched him. I cleared my voice before reaching for the fork and knife. As I took a bite of it. I could swear my brain malfunction for some seconds. It taste... I collected my thoughts by taking a sip of water covering it up with a look of disdain.

"So..." Victor trailed of as getting my feedback is the only thing that will save him.

"Well, it's not bad. Though it didn't exceed my expectations" Flat lie Elena. It exceeded every brain cells of yours. I wouldn't mind having a taste again but I have to save my pride.

"Liar" Victor answered flatly. "What do you mean by that? I'm telling you so-"

"Because no one eats my food without complimenting it. So thank you. Finish up the rest" I can't believe he caught me red handed.

"Whatever" And I still went ahead and continue eating. No words were exchanged between us as we eat. Only the sound of the plate and fork mingling together. Until Victor decided to break the silence. "Have you had from your boyfriend" If it was before I would get overly upset at him but hearing him saying boyfriend when he's married to me. Like don't he feel bad.

"No" I answered shortly. I don't know why I answered him. Before I would rant on him to mind his business. Somehow this time around, I felt like I needed some help. To get to Nick. And the only person that will be able to help me is Victor. Sounds funny right.

"His phone is still switched off" I added casting my head down. All my messages are left unread. I should be worried about that. In fact I'm worried for the fact that I'm afraid of Stacy's words turning true. Nick doesn't love me as much as I do.

"Do you want an honest answer?" Victor asserted breaking me out of my trance.

I contemplated for a while before I nodded my head. Ignoring the bitter truth now will only hurt me later. Victor leaned forward intertwining his hands on the table. "Your boyfriend is not coming back" It strikes my heart but I try not to let it show.

"I'm not saying all these for my benefits but he's a fraud. He's into drug dealing. He used you to escape" I felt something dropped in my chest. Something painful. I didn't know how to react so I kept mute while I allow Victor to do the talking.

"Every charge is pointing towards him. The police needs one evidence to take him down. But unfortunately.." He trailed off leaning back.

He didn't have to complete his statement for me to understand. My vision began turning blurry. "Shit. What the hell is wrong with me" I stared up trying to control my tears.

"I don't know what to say" I sniffed in my tears. "Nick is-" I stopped to take a sharp breath.

"Here" He pushed his phone forward. "I don't want it to look as if I'm making up a lie. These are everything regarding the business he's into" And I read it. Reading every line. This time around, I didn't try to hold in the tears. I can't believe Nick used me. How I was left in the dark blinded by his love and gave him all of me. And in return, he...

"Sorry to say but you he used you for his benefit" That hit me flat across the face. Like a piercing needle. My body felt numb. I don't know whether I should scream on top on my lungs or hit myself. "I didn't listen to Jaxon all these while when he warned me against him. I got angry on Stacy whenever she says bad thing about him. I didn't want anyone to talk bad about him. Turns out.." And I broke out with tears.

"I can't believe he cheated me. This is.." I placed my hand atop my beating heart. "...too much"

I didn't care how miserable Victor will see me at. How he'd see me at my worst. The pain inside me was getting intense as the memories came flowing down. "Forget him. He's in your past now. Wake up to reality. You have a life ahead of you" Victor interjected. For a moment, my cries halted as we stared into each other's eyes.