Chapter 40: Chapter 40

Who are the heroes in your life?

<Third Person>

Ysabelle frowned even more at her cousins' words. She had been crying over Nick just the other day, and he got angry at her without even knowing the reason. Now, he wasn't talking to her or acknowledging her presence.

"Men are hunters - that's our nature. It's boring when a woman gives us everything we want. We're looking for a thrill," Kuya Lanvin said suddenly, standing by the glass wall with a glass of wine in hand, occasionally glancing at his pink iPhone.

"Yeah, I agree. Even if we set up an arranged marriage for you, Ysabelle, it won't work out. Trust us. We are your cousins, and we're men too. We know Arken better than you do. Has he ever asked you to date him?" Xyriel said playfully, laughing while sitting on the swivel chair with his feet up on the table.

"Because Ysabelle was the one who invited him on a date," he joked, followed by laughter. "Just come with me to Monaco," he added.

"You're so boring to be with! You're always surrounded by girls - left and right!" Ysabelle retorted.

"He will hate you if you cage him in marriage. Arken is not yet done with his bachelor days, and men don't like to be caged; we like to be free," Nikolai said as he took a sip of his wine.

"Don't even try to beg me for your stupid idea because I will never help you," Keith added firmly.

Two of her cousins had refused to support her plan. What should she do now?

"Why is it that when you men like a woman, you pursue her? But when a woman tries to pursue it, it's not allowed? We all have feelings too. Who said that only men can court?" Ysabelle challenged.

"Ysabelle, have you eaten? You don't understand," Charles blocked her.

"Why did you ask that fucking asshole for a date? Huh! He will think that you're asking all the men for a date," Nikolai said angrily.

Ysabelle had asked Arken for a date, but he rejected her.

"Well, he finds it attractive when a woman is confident in herself. Besides, he didn't ask me out, so I took the initiative," Ysabelle defended herself.

"You don't understand. Men think differently. That's something most women don't know. We love differently; we won't love the way you do," Nikolai explained.

"Please, this will be my last wish," Ysabelle pleaded with her cousins.

"I'm ready to settle for him," she insisted.

"Men want to achieve certain things in their lives before they think about settling down. They think about their goals, dreams, and how much money they can make. Even if you marry him and talk about your family and future kids, his mind will be preoccupied with his unfulfilled dreams and how he can provide for you," Nikolai advised.

"I'll take care of him. I have a lot of money, and my income is stable. I'll be responsible for him," Ysabelle insisted.

"We men have our pride," Keith said loudly.

"Just bring him with you to Monaco, Keith, so he'll shut up," Charles suggested.

"We have egos, and it's in our nature to provide for our families. Wait for someone who truly wants you," Xyrile advised.

"Come with me to Monaco instead. There are plenty of billionaires there, and I'm not a womanizer. I don't have women, guys. I don't do that," Xyrile said meaningfully, looking at Nick, who raised an eyebrow in response.

"Why the fuck are you looking at me?" Nick asked in a snappy tone.

"I'm wondering why you tied the knot with that woman - no offence bro. You're a womanizer and don't want to commit. You're a fucking fuck boy. I'm still in shock that you sent me an invitation to your wedding. Like, what the fuck, dude! We didn't even know that woman! You never introduced her to us!" Xyrile exclaimed.

"I agree, wasn't your wedding kind of sudden? No one even knew the woman you married. Did you marry her because of business? Is it because of your father?" Keith asked curiously.

Ysabelle remained silent, intrigued by the topic herself.

All of Nick's cousins were puzzled by his sudden marriage. They had no idea about his love life, and suddenly they found out he was getting married. What the fuck, right?

Meanwhile, Charles just shook his head and refrained from making any side comments.

"I love her," Nick said shortly, prompting reactions from all his cousins.

"Damn! Don't be harsh to Nick. He loves that woman," Charles informed their cousins.

"If you wait long enough, you'll find out I'm married and have kids. I prefer to keep things lowkey," Keith remarked.

"Just curious, where did you meet that woman? Did she put a love spell on you that's why you're so crazy about her?" Xyriel asked while flipping through a magazine.

Nick gave Xyriel a stern look and chose not to comment further. He preferred to keep his private life private and didn't share everything with his cousins; they knew him to be a quiet person.

"Maybe he met her in a bar," Charles commented.

"What the fuck! My wife doesn't drink and doesn't go to that kind of place. Tsk!" Nick replied irritably, furrowing his brow.

"Is it because only you can go to bars?" Xyriel asked with a mischievous smile, earning a stern look from Nick.

Ysabelle couldn't relate to her cousins' conversation anymore as they started teasing each other about their past antics.

"In fairness, you've been behaving since you got married. Keith, maybe it's time for you to get married too so you can straighten up," Xyriel teased.

"Hell no! I'm not ready to die yet. I still love my life! Eww!" Keith reacted like a drama queen.

"Nick's still a jerk, you know," Charles chimed in with a grin. Nick shot him a meaningful glance.

"if you have any idea," Charles continued while smirking. Nick looked at him with a knowing expression.

Ysabelle watched her cousins banter, feeling a mix of amusement and bewilderment at their playful antics. It was clear that they were a close-knit and lively bunch.

~

<Azaria>

“Bebe,” I call out to Nick who seemed busy with his laptop, his forehead creased in concentration. What should I do? Count the hairs on my body or count the women in Nick's life?

"Hey, babe!" I call out to Nick again when he still doesn't pay attention to me.

I'm lying on the bed while he's sitting at the coffee table.

"I feel like I forgot something," I say as I gaze at the ceiling.

"I tend to forget things easily. By the way, Heidi's acting strangely," I share with him.

"Have you noticed her behaviour?" I ask him, glancing over to where he is, and suddenly, he's right in front of me, looking at me seriously.

"Nick!" I exclaimed, startled by his sudden appearance.

"Do you have plans to give me a heart attack!?" I blurt out.

"Did I scare you?" he asks with concern.

"No. You made me fall in love with you," I reply sarcastically.

"Why are you calling me babe?" he asks, and then he kisses me on the lips.

I'm left stunned by his action. If only he weren't such a heartbreaker and a fuck boy, I would be deeply in love with him.

I'm confused about my feelings. I don't know if I should seek revenge or let my heart love him. But what he did to me hurt so much.

"Hey, why are you crying?" he asks with worry when he sees my tears. He's about to wipe them away when I slap his hand, taking him by surprise.

“Wife,” He said in a low voice, "Stay away from me!" I told him and pushed him away. His face showed pain and confusion from my actions.

I don't want to love him anymore because he has so many women, he's a player, and he can hurt people. I don't want to fall for his charms.

"Wife," he pulled me closer to him and wiped my tears, but I just pushed him away.

"I hate you to fucking death!" I screamed at him, tears streaming down my face.

"Damn. What did I do?" He said, his eyes filled with tears. There's confusion in his expression.

Who wouldn't be confused when I suddenly get angry and cry in front of him for no apparent reason?

I'm suddenly attacked by my anxiety now. I'm afraid he'll hurt me again, that we'll break up if I fall for him. I can't get rid of the thoughts of his past women, the women he loved before me.

I feel like a fool, crying in front of him while he's scared. He can't touch me because I keep moving away from him.

“Wife…” He said, "I'm finding it hard, let me touch you, please," pleading with me.

"Don't you fucking touch me! I'll leave you if you come near me!" I threatened him while tears covered my whole face.

"What?!" He seemed flustered and then suddenly hugged me tightly as if he was afraid.

"Fuck! I won't let you leave me!" He said with a determined expression.

He cupped my face and turned it towards him.

"Don't you dare touch me!" I shouted at him, but he didn't care.

"Why are you crying all of a sudden? I can't read your mind, please tell me, wife," he pleaded. He seemed to be struggling to understand me. I always act like this with him, but he has been incredibly patient with me.

"I'm your husband. Please tell me what's bothering you," he said in a pained voice.

I hugged him tightly and cried.