Layla looked at Eli, her tone dripping with mock sweet enthusiasm.
“Sister-in-law.” Eli nodded in agreement, his expression cold.
“Yes.” Layla let out a sharp, dramatic giggle, adjusting her purse.
“Oh wow.
Awkward.” Sia stared between the two of them, her eyebrows knitting together in total confusion.
“What is happening here, Esme?” Eli chimed in smoothly, acting casually oblivious.
“Oh, hey there, Sia.
I didn’t see you.” Sia looked Eli up and down with disgust before turning her sharp gaze back to Layla.
“What are you doing with Eli?” “You mean my boyfriend, Eli,” Layla replied with a smirk.
She leaned in and planted a kiss right on Eli’s cheek.
Esme lowered her head, the sight hitting her like a physical blow.
Tears immediately started streaming down her face.
Sia gasped in absolute horror.
“What the frick?
What is going on here, Esme?!” Esme abruptly stood up from the table, wiping at her eyes.
“Let’s leave, Sia.
Just leave it.” She turned to walk away, but Eli reached out and grabbed her wrist, stopping her in her tracks.
Layla glared at him, her mouth dropping open as she silently mouthed, “What are you doing?” Esme turned back, staring down at Eli’s hand on her wrist.
With a look of pure fury, she forcefully yanked her arm out of his grip and kept walking toward the exit.
Sia stood up from the booth, calling out desperately, “Esme, wait!” Behind them, Eli let out a harsh, cruel laugh, shouting across the room, “Yeah, run away after you betrayed me for my brother, you pathetic whore!” Esme froze.
She slowly turned back, her tears stopping as a cold rage took over.
She marched right back toward Eli.
He stood his ground, a cocky smirk forming on his face, until Esme brought her hand around with full force, slapping him across the face with a crack that echoed through the entire establishment.
The entire restaurant fell dead silent, every eye turning toward their table.
“Don’t you ever in your life call me a whore, you fucking bastard!” Esme screamed, her chest heaving.
Layla gasped in shock, stepping in front of Eli.
“Why would you do that?!” She turned around, cupping Eli’s red cheek.
“Are you okay, baby?” Esme stared at Layla, her voice cracking with heartbreak.
“Why, Layla?
Why, why, just why?” Layla scoffed, rolling her eyes.
“Why not?
I was jealous, so why not?” “What on earth is wrong with you?” Esme whispered, stunned.
“Why are you so mad?” Layla argued, her voice rising.
“You cheated on him with his brother!
You didn’t even tell me!” “What the fuck are you saying?!” Esme yelled in complete disbelief.
“I cheated on Eli?
You know how much I loved him!
I talked about him to you every single day!
You were supposed to be my best friend.
We’ve been best friends for five years!
So why would you do this to me?” Her voice broke into a desperate scream as tears flooded her eyes again.
“WHY, LAYLA?
TELL ME WHY!” Layla simply crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at Esme’s outburst.
Sia stepped up beside her cousin, placing a protective hand on her shoulder.
“Esme, are you okay?
Please relax, let’s just leave.” Esme violently shook her head, unable to pull her eyes away from the betrayal standing in front of her.
“No!
I need a fucking answer!” Sia looked around nervously as whispering patrons began pulling out their phones.
Esme turned her tear-streaked face toward Eli.
“Didn’t I do everything you asked me to?
We dated for six years, Eli!
Six fucking years, down the drain just like that!
Are you fucking with me?
Why?
You’ve been cheating on me with her?
With this birthed mistake?” Layla snapped, stepping forward.
“Hey, watch your mouth!” Esme glared back at her with deadly intensity.
“Or else what?” Layla bit her tongue, muttering under her breath, “It’s not like I’m the first one anyway.” Esme caught the words immediately, a fresh wave of horror washing over her.
“Ohhhh, so it’s a regular thing for you, Eli?
Wow.
So our entire six years was a lie?
The promises, the hugs, the kisses…
the love was all just a facade?!” Eli rubbed his bruised jaw, looking at Esme with zero remorse.
“Esme, come on.
I’m not trying to defend myself, but six years without sex is evil.
I’m pretty sure you’ve already had sex with my brother anyway, so we’re basically equal.” Sia’s eyes widened in sheer fury.
Without a word, she lunged forward, grabbed Eli by his collar, and forcefully threw him backward onto the floor.
“You piece of shit!” Sia spat, standing over him as he hit the ground.
“You never deserved Esme, and now you’re accusing her of cheating?
She fricking loved you with her whole heart!
If you knew you couldn’t handle waiting, you should have just left!” Sia pointed back at Esme, who was trembling and weeping behind her.
“Look at her!
She’s broken!
She doesn’t deserve any of this, and you sure as hell do not deserve her!” A nervous restaurant worker quickly approached the scene, looking flustered.
“Ma’am, you’ll need to leave right now.
Other customers are complaining.” Sia rolled her eyes at the worker, smoothing down her clothes.
She let go of Eli, turned back to Esme, and took her hand softly.
“Let’s go, Esme.
They aren’t worth a single drop of your tears.” Esme cast one final, painful look at Layla, then at Eli struggling to stand up, before allowing Sia to lead her out of the restaurant while the crowd continued to stare and whisper.
Once they reached the fresh air outside, Sia turned to her cousin with deep concern.
“Esme, are you going to be okay?” Esme wiped her swollen eyes with the back of her sleeve, taking a deep breath.
“Yes, I am.
I just…
I need to get some fresh air and rest.” “I’ll come with you,” Sia offered immediately.
“No, no, you don’t have to,” Esme said quickly, shaking her head.
She took Sia’s hands in hers and squeezed them gently.
“I’ll be fine.
Thank you, Sia…
and I’m so sorry for all the trouble today.” Sia frowned at her warmly.
“Come on, why are you talking like that, Esme?” “I really just have to be alone for a bit,” Esme insisted.
Sia hesitated.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to come?
I could go to your house with you, just so your husband sees me and knows you’ve got someone looking out for you.” Esme managed a weak, grateful smile.
“You don’t have to worry.
He doesn’t do anything to me that warrants protection.
And I’m not going straight back to the house anyway; I just want to walk around and get some air.” Sia finally relented with a sigh.
“Hmm…
okay then.” She wrapped Esme in a warm hug before pulling away.
“Take care of yourself, Esme.
Call me later.” “I will.
Bye, Sia,” Esme replied, watching her cousin walk away.
Esme let out a long, heavy sigh and turned toward the sleek car parked at the curb.
Noticing her approach, Jonas immediately stepped out and opened the rear door.
“Thank you, Jonas,” Esme said softly.
Just as she was stepping into the vehicle, she caught sight of Eli and Layla exiting the restaurant doors, still arguing.
Flustered, Esme slid inside quickly.
Jonas shut the door behind her, walked around to the driver’s side, and pulled out into traffic.
Catching her reflection in the rearview mirror, Jonas asked gently, “Ma’am, are you okay?
You don’t look good.” Esme forced a tiny smile.
“I’m okay, Jonas.” As he turned his focus back to driving, Esme cleared her throat.
“Um, Jonas…
please don’t take me back to the house yet.” Jonas raised his eyebrows in surprise, meeting her eyes in the mirror.
“Then where to, ma’am?” “Take me to the lake,” Esme requested softly.
Jonas nodded.
“Yes, ma’am.” They drove in silence for twenty minutes until the car pulled up along the quiet, scenic edge of the lake.
Esme opened her door and stepped out into the grass, leaning toward the driver’s window.
“You don’t have to wait for me, Jonas,” Esme told him.
Jonas frowned in concern.
“But ma’am, how will you get back?” Esme gave him a reassuring smile.
“I’ll find my way back.” “I really can’t leave you here alone,” Jonas insisted, shaking his head.
“I’ll be completely fine,” Esme said gently.
“I’ll just order a cab when I’m ready.” Jonas gasped, his eyes widening.
“A cab?
No way, ma’am!
Sir would kill me!” Esme kept her tone firm but kind.
“He’ll do no such thing.
Consider this an order.
Please leave.
I plan on staying here for a long time.” Jonas scratched the back of his neck nervously, looking at her before finally giving in.
“Okay, ma’am…
if you insist.” “Thank you, Jonas,” Esme said gratefully.
Jonas slowly drove off, leaving her alone in the quiet landscape.
Esme looked around, taking in the serene surroundings.
The lake reflected the afternoon light, surrounded by a soft breeze, lush green grass, and clear air.
It was peaceful.
She walked over to a quiet spot by the water, sat down on the grass, and pulled a notebook and pen from her bag.
She opened it and began writing her thoughts down, letting the peaceful environment wash over her.
Hours passed peacefully.
As the sun began to set, casting deep orange and purple hues across the sky, the air grew chilly.
Exhausted from the emotional toll of the day, Esme slowly drifted off to sleep right there on the grass, her notebook resting over her face to shield her from the fading light.
As darkness fully settled over the lake, a tall shadow fell across her resting body.
Rowan stood over her, his expression unreadable.
He reached down and gently lifted the notebook off her face.
A faint, gentle smile touched his lips as he looked down at her sleeping features.
“Why do you put yourself in danger, my dear wife?” he whispered softly into the night air.
“It’s not safe out here for you.” He leaned closer, his eyes catching the dark, swollen circles around her eyes and the faint tear tracks still stained on her cheeks.
His smile vanished, replaced by a dark, dangerous shift in his expression.
“Who makes you cry so much?” he murmured, his voice turning icy.
“Is it him?
Should I kill him?” He stared at her for a long moment, watching her chest rise and fall.
“Why do you cry for a loser like him?” He paused, letting out a quiet sigh and shaking his head.
“Foolish thoughts…” Carefully slipping his arms beneath her knees and back, Rowan gently lifted Esme into his arms, holding her close to his chest so as not to wake her.
“I don’t think you’ll ever look at me…” he whispered softly, gazing down at her peaceful face.
“…but at least you’re safe with me.” Carrying her securely, Rowan walked toward a sleek black car waiting down the path.
A man in a suit immediately stepped forward and held the rear door open.
Rowan slid into the backseat with Esme still held securely in his arms, and the car silently pulled away into the night.
like EW!
Also Layla, like girl, you’re so embarrassing.
But my girls’ prince charming is always there to lift her effortlessly, im blushing guys.
We all need a prince charming.
Kissesss, that’s what my prince charming gives me on the cheek.
Hehe