Nick had eventually agreed to the surgery and it went well. Gabriella dealt with the bills and within weeks, Nick's condition was better. He had asked for a break from work and his boss agreed to give it to him after a long hesitation.
The doctors released Nick when he was completely healed. Then Nick went home to Gabriella who suggested that he stays longer. However, Nick said he would have to leave after a day because he had to go back to work.
Ivy was seated on the settee, busy with her phone when the door was knocked. She walked to the door and opened it and was surprised to see Roel at the door. She tried to speak but she could not. Roel looked around as if looking for someone and when he could see no one else in the room, his eyes rested on Ivy. She looked away to avoid eye contact with him.
" Where is Nick?"
" He is at the balcony."
" Well, that sounds nice. I need to talk to you."
" I am a bit busy."
Roel just smiled and let himself into the house. He then sat on the settee and pointed the seat opposite him. Ivy continued standing at the door and he gave her an angry look. She walked to the seat opposite him and sat down.
" Are you sure you want to get married to him?" She gently nodded. He only scoffed and then leaned forward.
" Are you sure Ivy?" She was becoming annoyed with him but she nodded again. She knew better than to annoy him.
He smiled.
" Of all people Ivy, you know what I am capable of. So I'll ask you again, do you want to get married to Nick?" She was becoming worried but still nodded. He seemed angry.
" Okay."
" Excuse me, Roel." She stood up and headed towards the door to the balcony. Roel stood up, his hands in his pocket. He called her and she stopped but did not turn to him. He walked towards her and stopped behind her. She did not want to turn. He took her wrist and turned her around. She looked into his eyes. The eyes she was very familiar with. The eyes that spoke his emotions loudly. The eyes she had always been afraid of.
" You only belong to me. If I cannot have you, then Nick cannot as well." She knew his words meant something. She felt the weight of his words and she was scared. More scared for Nick. She wondered what he meant by his statement. He raised his eyebrows at her, smiling.
" You of all people know what I am capable of."
He pulled her closer and whispered to her ears, " I can go to any extent to acquire what I want."
The door to the balcony went open and Nick was shocked to see Roel holding Ivy while he is too close to her.
" Ivy?" He walked towards her in a hurry and pulled her away from him. Roel turned to Nick, furious. Nick looked at him in an askance manner.
" I was only telling her something."
" She did not seem too comfortable with you close to her." Nick said, clearly upset.
" What do you care?"
" She's my fiancée. So I care about everything that happens to her and you invading her privacy automatically becomes my problem."
Roel took a step forward and smiled at Nick then turned to Ivy.
" I am getting tired of this. I will have to enlighten you, Nick." He said turning to Nick who seemed confused.
" You do not get to snatch something from me and expect me to just watch. "
" Excuse me?" Nick asked confused.
" You snatched..."
" ...that is enough Roel, Nick. Please stop this conversation. I see it going in the wrong direction.
Roel smiled and looked at Ivy. He was so pleased with her sudden confidence. She looked at him with pleading eyes. He nodded and turned to Nick, gave him a disgusted look and walked away.
Ivy turned to Nick who was still staring at the door. She gently took his hand but he pulled it away from hers and sat on the settee. She did not give up. She sank on the settee next to him.
" Nick, are you okay?" He nodded in response. She only rested her head on his shoulder.
Nick wondered what Roel meant when he said he had snatched something from him. He really wished that Roel could have finished his statement and wanted to tell Ivy that she should not have interrupted him.
" Nick, what is on your mind?"
" I am thinking of how you shouldn't have interrupted my brother. I lost the chance to know why my brother does not like me."
" I am sorry Nick."
" Why did you stop him?"
" I would say I kind of knew what he was going to say." Nick turned to her and took her hands into his.
" Please tell me."
" Remember the ex I was telling you about?" Nick nodded. He thought Ivy was only trying to change the topic. Ivy knew he was not interested in her ex now. His focus was Roel's incomplete statement. She wanted to tell him what Roel wanted to say was related with her ex but before she could say anything else, the door opened and Gabriella entered the room. She looked at Nick, smiled and he half smiled. Ivy excused herself and walked away. Gabriella sat opposite Nick.
" Son, I'll miss you when you are gone."
" Mom, I'll obviously miss you too."
" Promise you will call frequently."
" I will, I promise."
***
Roel arrived home angry. He slammed the door and turned to see Trevor almost opening a black bag. He asked Trevor what was In the bag and Trevor shrugged. He then stopped opening it and turned to Roel.
“ They said it's for you.”
Roel quickly snatched it from him and opened it. He smiled at the pistol inside the bag. Trevor moved closer to see what was inside the bag but Roel quickly closed the bag., told Trevor to mind his own business and walked away to his room.
Why is he behaving that way towards me. It is not like I am the one who pissed him off.
***
The following day, Nick and Ivy left the city early in the morning. Gabriella was very sad to watch them leave.
