Chapter 32: Chapter 32

<Third Person>

"What the fuck are you doing to my company, huh!" Nick yelled at his cousin. He deliberately went to his cousin's office to confront him.

"And why the fuck are you here?" Nick asked, giving his cousin a menacing look. "When did you start working in my company?" He had no idea that his cousin was working in his company.

His cousin grinned at him while looking at his neck. Nick noticed and checked his attire. He saw that his cousin's long-sleeve polo was not properly arranged. His clothes were wrinkled, and his neck was red. He wasn't wearing a necktie either. His hair was a mess, and his lips were red and glistening from Azaria's saliva. In short, he looked disheveled.

"You smell after sex," his cousin commented as he approached. But Nick ignored what his cousin said.

Lanvin shook his head, "I've been working here for almost a month, and you didn't even notice. Too busy tampering with the evidence, aren't we?" He asked with a mischievous smile.

Nick clenched his fist in annoyance.

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Nick asked with an irritated expression.

"Hmm, let's say I know your secret," Lanvin said, laughing playfully.

Lanvin is the Chief Executive Officer. He replaced the previous CFO of the company. Since they are cousins, it was easy for him to get into the company, and he needed enough experience because his father wouldn't give him control over their businesses. So he ended up in Nick's company. He couldn't believe that Nick had no idea about his entry into the company.

"My dear cousin, it seems you've forgotten the saying that no secret remains hidden forever."

"I don't know what the fuck you're saying!" Nick tried to remain calm, but his cousin's presence was annoying him.

Lanvin stood up from the swivel chair and sat on the table, playing with the ballpen he was holding.

"You think you can get away with your secret from me? I am your opponent in business, so I will uncover all your secrets. And oops! It's a deep secret," Lanvin whispered angrily to Nick.

"Fuck! I'm so lucky because I didn't discover your business secret, but -"

Nick couldn't hold back and pulled his cousin's collar, giving him a fiery look.

"What the fuck! You know, huh! I can kill you in silence. I can make you disappear in silence," Nick threatened with frustration.

Lanvin didn't seem affected and appeared to enjoy his cousin's reaction. "Let go of me if you don't want Azaria to know that you're responsible for her memory loss due to an accident. You're paying the people around her to pretend as friends, family, and her grandfather. It's so heartbreaking, right? Azaria thought she was the reason for the death of her fake grandfather, Henry, but she didn't know that you intentionally killed the old man because he was of no use to you anymore."

Nick aggressively released his cousin's collar.

"What do you want?" Nick straightforwardly asked, which made his cousin burst into laughter.

"Oh, Nick," he said while shaking his head.

"Fuck! Look at your expression," he said with a chuckle, "your weakness is just women," he mocked.

"If I knew that Azaria was your weakness, I would have brought you down a long time ago."

There's a dispute between Lanvin and Nick.

Their parents are close, which is why they have the same name.

"Even if you kill me, Nick, Azaria will still find out the truth. Your fake wife will know about her identity and her deleted memories," Lanvin said when he saw his cousin reaching for the gun hidden in his back pocket.

"Try to fucking mention anything to my wife, and I wouldn't think twice to kill you. I don't fucking care if we're cousins. Fuck you!" Nick angrily cursed at his cousin and left the office in a rage.

<Azaria>

I looked around the silent office, and I was all alone. I didn't know why I felt scared being the only one in this office. I hugged myself and started to cry, my hands trembling, and I felt like I could hear voices. Am I going crazy? It feels like I'm trapped in this office. I was cold and sweaty, staring at the closed door.

It was so quiet, I couldn't hear anything. But it felt like there were voices in my head. I squeezed onto the sofa out of fear. Suddenly, I felt terrified, as if something bad had happened to me.

My heart felt suffocated, and I couldn't breathe; it felt like something was choking me at this moment. This must be the result of watching too many movies.

I couldn't help but sob and cry. I hugged my knees to protect myself. I was experiencing anxiety. Am I going crazy? Maybe I'm already crazy.

After Nick got what he wanted, after he entered me, he just left me like that. I feel even more hurt with the thoughts and emotions that I'm experiencing. I know he was only after sex. He never forced me, even though I felt like he wanted to touch me every night.

Why am I so scared? What is this sudden feeling and emotion I'm experiencing now? I must be going crazy, huhu. It's all Nick's fault.

The door suddenly opened, and Nick stormed in, looking angry and disheveled. His messy hair added to his appeal, and his thin, red lips looked inviting, as if they were meant to be kissed at this moment.

"Wife? Why are you crying?" His anger disappeared, replaced by a furrowed brow. His question made me cry even more.

I stood up and ran to him. I hugged him tightly and buried my face in his broad and solid chest. While I clung to him, I felt my breathing calm down, and I felt safe and protected. I hugged him tighter as if I feared he would slip away from me.

"H-hubby..." I called out through my tears. I felt him become still.

"Azaria, wife, why are you crying, huh?" He asked with concern in his gentle voice, trying to release himself from the embrace, but I held onto him even tighter, pressing my face to his chest. I wanted to touch his chest, but I held myself back.

"Hubby..." I said again, still sobbing.

"Fuck! Who hurt you?!" He asked angrily.

I shook my head as my face remained buried in his chest.

"Wife, please look at me," he pleaded. He tried to break free from the hug once more, but I didn't let him. He sighed.

"Damn.. baby, I'm damn worried. Who hurt you, huh? I'll make him pay for it," he said, clenching his fists.

"I'm scared... Hubby," I said tearfully.

"Please, look at me," he pleaded, finding it difficult to get my attention. I looked up at him with a wet face, and he quickly cupped both of my cheeks, holding my face gently. His palm felt warm, and his expression was filled with concern and pain, as if seeing me cry was hurting him.

"Please tell me why you're crying," he urged in a deep voice, looking at me with love. The way he held me made me feel like he was protecting me fiercely. I held onto his other hand.

"Hubby, I'm scared. I don't know why... I'm having a familiar feeling. Why did you leave me? Where did you go? After you got what you wanted, you just left me!" I expressed my anger while still crying.

"Hush... hush now, baby. Hhmm," he cooed softly, trying to calm me down as he gently wiped away each tear that fell from my eyes.

"Hush now, baby... I'm sorry if I left you. I just needed to fix something. I thought you'd wake up later, so I left you for a while," he explained.

He pulled me towards the sofa and sat down, pulling me to sit on his lap. I wrapped my arms around his neck, embracing him tightly.

"Hush now. I'm here... Hmm, I'm here, okay? Stop crying, please," he continued to soothe me. I felt weak, surrendering to the tenderness in his voice.

"Next time you leave me, I'll strangle you!" I said angrily, giving him a light hit on his arm to get back at him.

"I'm sorry. Forgive me, please?"

I didn't reply and just hugged him tightly, and he hugged me back just as tightly.

"Fuck! If I had known you'd cry like this, I wouldn't have left, and I would've waited for you to wake up," he said frustratedly, "I'm sorry, baby, I'll make it up to you. Huh? Do you want to go to the amusement park? Or do you want to travel to another country? How about shopping? Hmm?" he asked, trying to coax me while gently stroking my hair.

I tightened my embrace around him and nuzzled closer.

"How was your sleep?" he changed the subject.

"Not good," I replied coldly.

"I'm sorry, wife," he apologized again.

He groaned when I bit him on the neck.

"Don't be mad, please? What do you want? I'll give you whatever you want. Do you want to go somewhere else? Or do you want to eat something? I'm sorry," I felt him kiss the top of my head.

That's how he is when he's trying to be sweet and make up after an argument. Whenever I give him attitude and pick fights with no reason, he'd try to woo me and ask what I want. One of my husband's love languages is giving gifts and acts of service. His main love language is physical touch, which is why his hands always seem to wander.

"Baby, I'm sorry," he repeated, and "aww!" was his reaction when I suddenly pinched him. I faced him with a frown.

"Please, forgive me," he said, quickly stealing a kiss from me, "I love you," he stated shamelessly and kissed me again on my lips, seemingly satisfied.

*

"I WANT that bear," I said softly, pointing to the large panda in front of me. We were at Moa seaside. I was already tired from the journey.

"What else do you want?" he asked and kissed my forehead again.

I rested my head on his shoulder while we stood in front of the many hanging bears. I needed to play to get the panda bear. I held onto his arm. I didn't want him to leave because I was afraid to be alone. It was only a while ago that I felt scared of being alone.

"Hubby, how about we go home?" I asked him. I was getting nervous, as if something bad was going to happen. It felt like someone was watching us. I think I've had too much coffee.

"Are you okay, wife? Is something hurting you, huh?" he asked, placing his palm on my forehead to check my temperature.

"What's hurting you? Tell me," concern was evident on his face.

"I'm feeling anxious. I feel like someone might suddenly shoot here," I said worriedly.

He let out a sigh and turned me to face him.

"I'm here. You have nothing to worry about when you're with me. Do you understand?"

Nick wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close to him. Our bodies were pressed together. I was about to respond when a group of teenagers passed by us.

"No such thing as forever!" shouted a gay teenager while holding hands with his female friend. He was wearing a crop top, lipstick, and had a mouse headband on his head. His shorts were even shorter than Dora's bangs.

Nick didn't care about our surroundings and kissed me on the lips.

"Oh, damn, PDA!" the teenager exclaimed.

I was the one who ended the kiss with Nick because I knew he would take it further even in public. I felt uncomfortable with the people around us because they seemed bitter. Tsk! That's how it is when they don't have a loving and caring spouse.

"I wish I had that too!"

I heard someone shout that.

"Hubby, get that bear, please? Then let's go home."

I hugged him again and ignored the people around us. Most of the people here were teenagers and couples on a date with no money.

"Don't you want to eat first before going home?"

I just glared at him in response, and he didn't bother me anymore.

Nick played the game and got the bear. Easy peasy, baby.