Alone in Marriage

Chapter Twenty One

Cover picture by @kd3moon

Thanks for the hard work.

I got it months ago, but I only remember to put it in now. ))_((

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The following day, the rest of the family showed up. Everyone was smiling from ear to ear, though she still need sometime to recuperate, at the very least she had waken up. That's a good thing, they just need her to wait for her to recover and everyone would finally be relieved.

Alfred reassured everyone that as long as she did what was instructed, she would recover in no time.

After passed noon, everyone got back to where they supposed to be. Arnold and Erica was left alone. She looked down at her fidgeting fingers on her lap. He sat on her bed and grabbed her hand. She didn't look up, but stared at his hand which held hers, instead. His other hand reached out to hold her face, his index finger was put under her chin to lift her head. Two pairs of eyes stared at each other from three inch distance. His eyes was so intense that she held her breath, Erica was the first one who averted her gaze. He continued to stare at her lovingly, since he acknowledged he was in love with her, he couldn't help but wanted to dote on her, however it was hard since she was a person without much need.

"Y-y-yo-you..." she stammered.

"Hmm? What is it?" he asked with a smile.

"You didn't go back to the office?" She finally returned her gaze on him.

"Why do I have to?" he asked back with a teasing smile.

She widened her eyes, a workaholic like him asked this kind of question, she was baffled. "B-bu-but, don't you have to go back to take a look at how was thing going?"

"What's the point to hire those employees if they couldn't handle any work! I think they are doing quite well for these few days. I believe they will call me if any problem come up."

"I am fine now. The other can look after me, or even the nurse is all right. You don't have to.."

"But, I want to!" He cut her off.

She continued to look at him with disbelief, how did he change this much when she was unconscious for three days.

"I will go take a look once a month."

"A month?" she exclaimed. Even I visit my shops once a week.

"Can you honestly tell me what had happened to you?"

"You will know later." He smiled at her with a gentle gaze. He put his index finger on her lips. "It's enough! You won't be able to kick me out of here. I will be by your side for the rest of our life." He stood up and said, "Let me peel some apple for you!" totally didn't give her any chance to bring up the topic again..

Erica sighed in defeat. All right then, look like he was determined to stay no matter what, there is nothing I could do and actually... I would like to have him taking care of me.She smiled while

Then she was reminded of something, "Arnold!" she called out softly.

"Hmm?" he replied without raising his head to look at her, still focusing in peeling the apple.

"Do you have my bag?"

"Ah. Yes. Arthur sent it over, one of the employee picked it up."

"Can you get my phone for me!"

"Ok, wait a minute!" He put down the apple and knife in his hands, and walk across the room to where he put her bag. He opened it and saw her phone was clapped in a small notepad. He took the book out and opened it to take the phone. The first word shocked him, that he was frozen on spot. Divorce, that was the word. He finally felt the crisis in their relationship.

"Arnold! What's wrong?" Erica asked him from the bed.

Her voice snapped him out of his trance, he kept the tiny notepad in his pant pocket. He took a few deep breaths to calm his chaotic heart and walked over to Erica. His eyes were full of sorrow.

"Arnold, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Erica asked with anxiety when she saw his expression.

"It's nothing! Here you go!" He refused to confront her right now, so he just handed over her phone and sat down to continue peeling the apple.

His refusal pained her. She should have know he would never share his deepest emotion with her. However, she still worried about him, but since he didn't want to talk about it, she couldn't force him to do so. She decided to just let it go and focused on calling her shop's managers. Once everything had settled down, she would talk to him about ending this marriage.

Days after days passed and Erica's body finally recovered. It's finally the day for her to be released from the hospital. It was only Arnold who had come to bring her back. Along the way, it was silent in the car. Arnold was so quiet, like he was holding his emotion back. Erica looked at him occasionally in worry.

As they arrived at home, while Arnold brought her bag to up stair, she took a look at the house. nothing had changed since she went out, and things surprisingly clean without dust. Had someone come to clean up, she thought. Did he hire a housekeeper, or it's their family who did these?

He eyes fell on her collection of key chains. Her eyes went wide when she noticed there was new additions in there. There were few crystal balls with different things in them.

Arnold came down from and saw her by the cupboard, his heart tightened, he really didn't know what he should do to make her stay by his side, to convince her that he love her was a hard task. She won't believe him that easily.

"Erica!"

She turned around to face him. When she saw him expression, she was shocked. He looked sad and like he was in so much pain. The atmosphere was so heavy that she was afraid if she said any word, thing would turn to the worst.

"Can we talk?" He said with determination in his eyes and face.

Looked like a very serious conversation was going to take place. Probably this talk would change things between them from here on.