Esme stood frozen in her room, her back pressed hard against the heavy wooden door as she clutched her chest, her breathing fast and shallow.
“Why am I feeling this way?” she whispered to the empty room.
She patted her chest, trying to steady her erratic pulse.
“Relax…
Rowan wouldn’t let him stay.
It makes no sense.” She closed her eyes, a sharp wave of dread washing over her.
“Why wouldn’t he?
Eli is his brother.
And Rowan has no idea I ever dated him.” The sudden, sharp chime of her phone broke the silence.
Esme snapped her eyes open, walking quickly over to the bedside table.
She picked it up and saw the screen flashing.
“Oh, Sia wants to video call.” She set the phone down for a second, walking over to her vanity mirror to wipe the frantic look and lingering paleness from her face.
Catching her breath, she walked back to the bed, sat down on the edge, and accepted the call.
Sia’s face filled the screen, her eyebrows immediately drawn together in concern.
“Hey, Esme!
Why didn’t you pick up sooner?
I was starting to get worried.” Esme forced a small, reassuring smile.
“Sorry, Sia.
I was just in the bathroom.” Sia let out a long breath, relaxing slightly.
“I’m just happy to see your face.” “I’m happy to see yours too, Sia,” Esme replied, though her forced smile faltered almost immediately.
Sia leaned closer to her camera, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Esme’s expression.
“Wait…
what’s wrong?” “What do you mean?” Esme stammered, pulling back slightly.
“I’m fine.” “You’ve been crying,” Sia said flatly, her voice leaving no room for denial.
“What happened?” Esme tried to chuckle it off.
“Don’t be silly, Sia.
You’re not a detective.” “I don’t need to be a detective to know when my cousin isn’t doing well,” Sia replied, her tone softening with genuine worry.
“Tell me what’s wrong.
Please.” Esme looked down at her hands, and the moment she broke eye contact, the dam burst.
Fresh tears spilled over her lashes, streaming down her cheeks as she began to cry silently.
Panic flashed across Sia’s face.
“Esme, what is it?
Please tell me!” She paused, a sudden, horrifying thought striking her.
“Wait…
does he hit you?
Is he abusing you, Esme?” Esme jerked her head up, her eyes wide as she shook her head frantically.
“No!
No, Sia, not at all!
He doesn’t do that.” “You don’t have to be scared, Esme, you can tell me,” Sia insisted, her voice tight with protective anger.
“I’ll come right there if I have to.
He needs to know you have people backing you up.” Esme let out a soft, raspy chuckle through her tears.
“He doesn’t hit me, Sia.
He wouldn’t dare.” “Then tell me what’s actually going on,” Sia pleaded.
Esme lowered her gaze again, her voice dropping to a fragile whisper.
“It’s Eli.” Sia raised an eyebrow, confused.
“Okay…
what about him?” “He’s here,” Esme said.
Sia’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief.
“What?!
What is that good-for-nothing bastard doing there?” “He says he doesn’t have a place to stay,” Esme explained, her voice trembling.
“He asked if he could stay here for a while.” “Oh, hell no!” Sia blurted out, shaking her head aggressively at the camera.
“You cannot let him stay there, Esme!” “But he says he has nowhere else to go…” Esme murmured, looking down helplessly.
“So what?!” Sia snapped, her frustration boiling over.
“He has his parents, his friends…
heck, he has Layla!
This is obviously a setup.
He just wants to come in and ruin your life even more.” Anxiety clouded Esme’s eyes as she hesitated.
“But what if it isn’t a game?
What if he’s really in trouble and actually has nowhere to go?” Sia stopped, staring intensely at Esme through the screen as the silence stretched between them.
“Why are you so worried about him, Esme?” When Esme kept her head down, Sia’s breath caught in her throat.
“Wait…
are you still in love with him?” Esme remained dead silent.
Sia gasped softly.
“You still are…
Are you crazy, Esme?
This guy cheated on you!
He called you horrible names, and you’re still sitting there feeling sorry for him?” Esme looked up, her face flushed and streaked with tears.
“We dated for six years, Sia!
He was my first boyfriend.
I can’t just switch off my feelings and stop loving him out of nowhere!” “That doesn’t mean you invite him into your personal space!” Sia argued passionately.
“That’s not going to help you move on!” “I don’t have a say in it anyway,” Esme said quietly, dropping her eyes.
“It’s all Rowan’s decision.” “You’re his wife!
I’m sure if you tell him no, he’d listen to you,” Sia urged.
Esme stayed silent, staring at the bedsheet beneath her.
Sia’s expression darkened with sudden concern.
“Do you want him to stay there?” When Esme didn’t answer, Sia pushed further.
“You’re married, Esme.
Don’t tell me you’re thinking about trying something with Eli if he moves in.” “Of course not!” Esme snapped, looking straight at the camera.
“I’m not like him.
I know I’m married to Rowan.
Even if I was forced into this marriage, I am loyal to him by my duty as his wife.
But…
sometimes…
my heart still thinks of Eli.” Silence fell heavy between them over the line.
Sia blew out a long, exhausted sigh, her expression softening into sympathy.
“I know it’s hard to forget someone you were with for so long,” Sia said gently.
“But Esme, please think about how this is going to affect you if he moves in.
You’re going to regret this if you let it happen.” Before Esme could reply, a deep male voice echoed from Sia’s background: “Babe, I’m home!” “Victor’s back,” Sia said, glancing off-screen.
A tall man with blonde hair walked up behind Sia, leaning over the couch to plant a quick kiss on her cheek.
“Hey, babe.” He glanced at the phone screen and smiled warmly.
“Hey, Esme!” Esme quickly wiped her cheeks and offered a faint smile.
“Hi, Victor.” Victor paused, tilting his head as he noticed her tear-stained face.
“Are you okay?” Esme sniffed, nodding as she forced a broader smile.
“Yes, I’m okay.” “Everything’s going to be fine,” Victor said reassuringly, tilting his head with a lighthearted smirk.
“If that guy ever messes with you, just make sure you tell me.
I’ll be sure to teach him a lesson.” Esme managed a small laugh despite herself.
Sia rolled her eyes, scoffing jokingly at her boyfriend.
“And what exactly are you going to do to a mafia boss?” Victor playfully flexed his biceps.
“I’ve got these amazing guns right here!
Besides, without his guards, he’s totally harmless.
Am I right, Esme?” Esme nodded along, playing into the distraction.
“Yes, you’re right.” “Alright, I’m gonna go freshen up and sleep,” Victor said, giving Sia’s shoulder a gentle pat before walking away.
“Okay, darling,” Sia called after him.
She turned back to the screen, offering an apologetic look.
“He just worked a night shift, so sorry about him being silly.” “It’s okay,” Esme said softly, shaking her head.
Sia’s expression turned tender.
“No matter what happens, just remember—I’m always just one phone call away.
I’ll always be by your side.” “Thank you, Sia,” Esme replied, feeling a genuine touch of warmth in her chest.
“Oh, that reminds me,” Sia added, her tone shifting slightly.
“Your parents have been bothering me non-stop.
They said you blocked their numbers.” Esme instantly rolled her eyes, her posture stiffening.
“I don’t want to talk to them.” “At some point, you’ll have to, Esme,” Sia said gently.
“When that ‘some point’ comes, then I will,” Esme replied dismissively.
Sia sighed, knowing better than to push it right now.
“Alright, then.
I have to get off here—my boss has been blowing up my phone all morning asking for those documents.” Esme let out a genuine chuckle.
“Alright, go.” “Love you, cuz,” Sia said warmly.
“Love you too,” Esme smiled softly.
“Take care of yourself.” “You too.” As soon as the call disconnected, Esme dropped the phone face-down onto the mattress.
The brave face she had put on completely collapsed.
She threw herself onto the bed, burying her face deep into the pillows, and let out the bitter, heavy sobs she had been holding back all morning.
Thank youuuu