Bed of Nails

Chapter 84

“Answer me, Erick."

He walked inside towards me and tried to take the packet from my hand, but I hid it behind my back, not letting him take it. His jaw clenched when I looked at him stubbornly. I will not give it to him until he answers me. 

“Give it back,” he said sternly when I didn't let him take it. 

“No! First, answer me. Tell me why you are doing this to yourself,” I said stubbornly, not letting him make it. He was now staring so close to me, but I didn't budge. His nose flared, and he looked down at me with anger. 

“Don't pretend as if you care. It's none of your business if I drink alcohol or smoke,” he said, curtly pulling my hand, which was holding the packet of cigarettes. My jaw clenched, and I glared back into his cold blue eyes. How could he say that? Anger rose inside me. 

“Right, I don't care. Do whatever you want to do with your health. I don't care,” I said, throwing the packet on his desk. I was so mad at him. 

“Yes, why would you? If I die, you will be happy because you will be free from me. The very next day you will marry him, right? Your path will be clear with no obstacles,” he said bitterly, and my heart ached listening to it. Before I knew it, my hand smacked his face hard, making his face jerk to the side. The sharp noise echoed in the room. My hand started to throb after slapping him. I hate him. I hate him so much, but I never imagined him dying. Even that thought got this reaction out of me. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was so mad at him. His cold blue eyes looked at me without any emotion in them. I never thought he would think like this of me. If I wanted him to die, I would have never shown up here last night. I would have never let him touch me. I would have never stayed up until he was satisfied. 

“If you want to die smoking, then die. I don't care,” I said while grabbing the packet and throwing it at him. I was beyond mad at him. Tears welled up in my eyes.

“If I catch you smoking again, I'm going to start smoking too,” I said, threatening him and making him glare at me. He knows how much I hate smoking. Without waiting for his reply, I pushed him and rammed him out of there. I didn't want to see his face a second more. I don't know what I will end up doing. I wince, feeling the ache between my legs when I run fast. 

"Doll,” I heard him calling my name. I could hear his footsteps following me. He was not hot behind me, but I didn't stop even if it ached. I just wanted to get out of here. I didn't want to see his face. I bumped into Fergus on my way out. His brows knitted in concern, looking at the tears falling from my eyes. 

“Are you ok?” he asked in concern, but I ignored him and ran out of the house. 

"Grace.” I heard his voice from behind me. Fergus's eyes moved to his master. I didn't look at him. Instead, I continued running out of the house. Before he could reach me, I was in my car, driving away from him. I saw him staring at the edge of the staircase, looking at my retreating car. I wiped my eyes and sniffed while driving away. The rest of the day was gloomy. I went to my apartment and changed my clothes. I immediately left for my office. I had no energy in my body. I ate nothing last night and didn't have breakfast or lunch. I was straying. I slumped in my office chair. I lowered the temperature of the air conditioner. I was feeling so hot because of the thick turtleneck sweater I was wearing. It was my only possession, which helped me hide all his hickeys. 

“Where were you, and why is your cell phone switched off?” Evelyn said as she walked inside my office. Alice must have told her about my arrival. 

"Why is your face like that?” Evelyn said, looking at my face. My eyes were swollen and my nose was red from crying. I kept crying until I reached my appointment, and I kept crying on my way to the office too. His words kept echoing in my head, giving me pain every time. 

"It is a long story, and I have no energy in me to explain it. Evelyn, can you order something for me?” I said in the end. To distract her. I was starving and had no energy in me to explain anything. She looked at me with narrowed eyes but still nodded. 

“Why is it so chilly here?” Aria said while covering her bare arms. 

“I don't know, ask her. She is the ice queen here,” Evelyn mocked, making me roll my eyes. I slumped back in my chair and closed my eyes. I heard Aria chuckling, but she didn't question me. 

“I just don't know what tapping on this girl means,” she muttered while walking out. She is a mother again. Aria took a seat in front of me and grabbed the refrigerator to increase the temperature. I was not feeling hot anymore, so I let her do it. 

“Did you receive a message from Alex?” Aria asked once Evelyn left the office. My brown furrowed, making me open my eyes and look at her. 

“What message? My cell phone is dead,” I asked with furrowed brows while grabbing my cell phone. It was still getting charged. Alex is Evelyn's boyfriend. 

“About her surprise birthday party, you know he is going to surprise her. He is going to propose to her,” she said in a hushed tone, and my eyes widened in surprise. 

"Really,” I said while putting my hand on my mouth in excitement. I was too loud and needed to hush down. 

"Yes,” she said with a huge smile on her face. Evelyn has been waiting for this surprise for so long. 

"Finally, it's happening. I just can't wait to be her maid of honour. I'm so happy for her," I exclaimed excitedly. I forget all the things that were making me say that my mood had changed completely. I am so excited now. 

“Me too. I just can't wait,” she said while lifting her hands in excitement. We hushed down when Evelyn walked inside my office. She gave us a suspicious look, but we masked it behind our tight smiles. I just can't wait to witness the half-long journey of getting tied down in the purest relationship of marriage. We helped Alex with all the arrangements. The rest of the week, I was so busy helping Alex with all the preparation. A girlfriend helped him. He had been with her for fifteen long years and was still so nervous. Cute. At the end of the day, I was so tired that I ended up sleeping like a dead woman. Erick called me and even visited me when I was asleep. He gets out before I wake up. He thinks I don't know about his comings and goings. I can feel his presence and smell his scent even after he leaves my house early in the morning. I have chosen to ignore it. Soon the D-day filled out.

“Everything is done,” I asked nervous Alex. 

“Yes,” he said a bit nervously, and he fixed his glasses. He was cute. 

“Don’t be nervous; she will say yes. You don't know how long she has been anticipating this day, so be confident. She loves the confidence,” I said while patting his back. He nodded his head and said yes. Even both parents were present today. All of our friends were invited. I was so happy, but it didn't last long when I saw my family's cold blue eyes on me. I was not expecting him to be here. 

“Who the hell invited him here?"

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