Chapter 31: Chapter 31
A slight knock on the door summons my mind out of the pond of thoughts that I have been swimming in since I slammed on this bed. Dragging myself up, I realize that there is not even a tincture of light. Only darkness. That is how much I was engrossed in the baffles of this incubus we are in, to the point that I did not realize the fall of darkness. And worst of all, even after hours of banging my head, trying to figure out how or when we will break free from this tangle, I still have zero answers to my zillion baffles.
I tap my feet on the raw floor, tensing at the nail-biting ripple caused by the iciness of the floor. I press the switch button before getting to the door, my eyes flickering countless times as they adjust to the light.
Opening the door, I was starting to flare with a grin as I anticipated seeing Liam because I honestly miss him. He hasn’t returned to my room since he left hours ago. I am eager to know what he has planned for us. My urge for him is rising at the mere thought of him. But contrary to my desires, I am greeted by the face of Serah, the gross housekeeper.
Mental eyes-roll! Joy-killer!
“Greetings, Miss Lynda!” She greets me with a cheeselike voice, her head facing the floor, and her gesture leaves me wondering whether she is the same nemesis that almost insulted me this morning.
As if she had any rights. She was all bold and bitchy, almost acting as if she were the queen of this place. And now she is all down to earth’?
“Yes, Serah? What can I do for you?” I respond flatly, disregarding her greetings. I am not always a rude person, but when I am pushed to the wall, I have no choice, and neither am I apologetic. I still do not think her actions right now can move me a great deal. She might still be acting on orders from her boss.
“Madam asked me to get you so that you can have dinner!” She says this, still with her head hunched down, and I join her too.
My head plops for a sec, and my mouth opens, but no words are coming out. I think my ears have developed a malfunction or something. I obviously could not have heard that right.
“Sorry. What did you say again?” I query, banking all my curiosity on her to substantiate my thoughts. To prove my ears damn wrong. Mitch, are you sending for me? That would be something worth even the heavens celebrating about.
“The madam sent me to call you for dinner, Miss Lynda. She said you should hurry before the food gets cold. They are waiting for you.” Serah responds, proving my ears right and my sentiments wrong.
“They?” I ask, getting more nervous. Is Liam with her?
“Yes. Sir Liam is at the dining table too.” She confirms my curiosity.
Now I know. It is beyond doubt that it was Liam who insisted she call me. There is no way in hell that that witch would care whether I starved to death or not. Actually, I can bet my life that that is what she is wishing for. For me to die and disappear from her life.
Deep sigh!
All the same, my Liam is there, and I am honestly starving.
“Okay. I will be down in a minute.” I dismiss Serah.
I actually needed this one minute to try and put myself in order—my emotions and thoughts. I cannot trust myself when I am around Liam. The fact that we are going to be perched around the table for the first time with his nuisance of a wife is more nerving. The fact that she will use every given opportunity to insult me and accuse me of all sorts of things is a crowning worry. But then again, maybe this is the best way to start learning how to live with that woman. I cannot avoid her forever. And in a sixth sense, I know I am the catalyst for peace between those two nemeses. I hope they are not at each other’s throats and strangling each other to death as we speak.
That thought fuels my legs, and I slam the door shut with a bang as I hike outside. I cannot even explain the supersonic gear I used to sprint down from the third floor to the ground floor, but it felt like ten seconds.
And as I stroll to the dining area, I can say for a fact that I wasn't so wrong about these two antagonistic beings. The only difference is that they are in a mental third-world war, not a physical one. Given the way their eyes are scorching through each other, only God can tell how many times they have mentally killed each other. And only God knows how the story of these two bitter souls will end. No, actually, I am on board too. So, correction. Only God knows how the tangle of these three souls will end.
Like their situation, they are positioned antagonistically to each other: Liam is perched on one side, while Mitch’s wrath cannot even allow her to sit down on the other end. The table is all set, and the aroma is mouthwatering, but given the mood, I doubt whether this food will make it to our mouths, let alone stomachs. Men, can there be a much harder life than what we have here?
All the same, I decide to take a seat far from Liam, against my desire, just to avoid stroking the demons of this fuming lioness beside me. She is seething inside; anyone can tell that without much effort, and I cannot afford to tickle her rage. God knows what sort of wrath she will bleed on me this time around.
“Not so fast, you bitch!”
Shit!
I was on my way to plant myself on the seat and try to make myself as comfortable as I could, but I found myself leaping at her outbursts. I take a safe distance from her, unable to even breathe, especially when our eyes meet and I see the scorn, the loathing, the disgust, and everything that evil depicts in her murderous gazes.
What did I do this time around? I am losing my cool with this woman, you know! Is this the dinner she was calling me for?
“What is this, Mitch? Don’t you get tired of...”
“You too, son-a-bitch! Get the fuck up!” She howled, cutting Liam off, and he had to shut his eyes for a minute in shame from that insolence.
God of peace, please come and reign here, even just for a second! Goodness! Wasn’t this bitch taught how to respect people? And herself too, because she wouldn't be such a freaking disrespectful, annoying pain in the ass if she had even an ounce of respect for herself. Whoever brought her up failed a great deal.
Liam raises his head, shooting his death-screaming gaze at Mitch, who trades back the same kind of glare.
“Didn’t you fucking hear me?” She howls again when Liam does not show any intent to obey her orders.
Liam drags himself up, looking like a real ticking bomb that scares even myself, who has no idea what is going on here. He is brimming with redness, and I stand at a safe distance as he makes his way to Mitch. Again, they tower before each other, glaring at each other.
“I heard you loud and clear, but I doubt you heard me this morning when I said I would not tolerate your insolence ever again. I have heard enough from you, Mitch!” Liam says it calmly and coldly, and I feel a cold chill running down my spine as if he were addressing me. ”My patience with you has run out, so do not provoke me because you won’t like it!” Liam roars again calmly, suppressing his wrath.
She smirks for the entire world, like she heard the most rip-cracking hoax of her life. Then she faces Liam with top-notch bravery.
“You can do absolutely nothing, Liam. Remember, I am so very well protected, and if you still have something close to a brain in your head, you’ll know better than to mess with me!” She says it with so much boldness, feeling invincible.
“Really?” Liam roars calmly, wiggling his head up and down, and I swear, that gives me a nerve-wrecking feeling. “You are protected, huh?”
“Yes, and you fucking know it!” She again parades her untouchability.
“And that gives you the right, the audacity, and the fucking guts to insult me the way you want, huh? You think that just because of what this fucking shit of marriage is all about, you will go all bitchy on me and I will just have to stand watch, huh?”
If hell does not break loose today, it most definitely will never!
“Tell me. What possibly can you do, Liam? Tell me, huh? Besides, you are the root cause of all this. You deserve much worse, so quit whining and swallow the bitter pill. I haven't even started with you and your whore, you son of...”
A resonant slap across her left cheek shuts her up and sends her almost to the floor, while I remain thunderstruck. I am beyond awe! My head is spinning, like I am the one who received that slap. Did he just hit her?
I said it! Hell just broke loose.
“You bastard!” This bitch doesn't know what losing or staying on the ground means, huh? She was launching a slap, but Liam caught her wrist. “Ouch! You are hurting me, you filthy jerk!” She squeals as Liam slams her back on the wall with just one push, which did not require much of his effort, while I am shifting behind Liam with divided minds.
What should I do? Should I intervene? Should I just let them kill each other?
“I will kill you, jerk! Get your filthy hands... o.f.m.ee!” Mitch’s battle to free herself is hitting a hard rock. I would try another way of approaching it if I were her, because never in hell is she winning this way.
Actually, if anyone is bound to die right now, it is this unbelievable woman. I cannot believe she still has the audacity to throw insults and act all tough and rough given her situation.
Does she have a death wish? Because Liam does not seem to be aware that he is killing her with the way he is pressing her to the wall. Her left cheek is all red, with the imprints of her finder marks well inscribed on it. Tears are beginning to roll out of her eyes as more insults roll out of her mouth, and that is aggravating Liam to the core. Doesn’t she know when to stop? The best she can do is try and soothe his demons before he kills her, for heaven’s sake!