Chapter 48: Chapter 48

If you can change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

<Azaria>

“Wife, the doctor needs to check your wounds,” Lanvin persisted in convincing me.

I covered my ears so I wouldn't hear him. He's been trying to persuade me to go to the hospital since earlier. He also threw away the knife he used earlier.

We were in the living room, and I was watching TV.

"No!" I shouted while shaking my head.

"Just take a picture of my wound and show it to the doctor," I suggested to him.

He let out a sigh and set aside the first aid kit he used. My husband treated my wound, but he wanted to make sure that I didn't get any infection from the knife and the broken glass.

He sat next to me.

"My little stubborn wife. How is it? Does it hurt?" He asked with concern while holding my injured hand.

"You're overacting," I told him, giving him a stern look.

I leaned against his shoulder.

"I'm hungry," I complained sadly.

"I want a white Toblerone," I added while still focused on the TV.

"You can't have chocolate," he reminded me.

I slumped my shoulders in disappointment. I just hugged him tightly.

"I want you," I softly said.

"I want ten cotton fruits!" I whined.

"Tomorrow," he said, causing me to pout.

"Now," I insisted with annoyance and pinched his side.

"Such a spoiled brat. Give me a minute; I'll call the driver to buy you ten cotton fruits."

As he was about to reach for his iPhone on the center table, I stopped him.

"Let's do it later."

He noticed that I was already comfortably lying on him.

He sighed.

The next day.

Surprisingly, I woke up early.

"Hubby, you should go to work," I said with a frown as I tugged on his left hand.

He was lying face down on the bed, burying his face in the pillow. He wasn't wearing any shirt.

"Come on, please?" I pleaded, pouting my lips.

"I won't go to work. I want to spend time with my wife," he said sweetly.

"Let's go to work, please, hubby?" I begged him.

"You didn't buy me the cotton fruits last night," I added. I couldn't remember what happened as I fell asleep.

"Your ten cotton fruits basket are in the kitchen," he said, pinching my nose playfully.

"Why don't you want to go to work, huh? Be careful; you won't earn much," I warned him.

"I have passive income, wife. Even if I don't work and travel for ten years straight, I won't become poor; money is working for me," he said smugly.

"Let's lock ourselves in our room."

I lifted my head to see him, and he had a mischievous grin on his face.

"It's always about sex with you!" I complained.

Men feel loved when they have sex with their wives all the time, while women feel loved when they receive affection from their husbands. Affection includes security, protection, and love.

For me, it's natural to desire sex, and men can't live without it.

Men can have sex with women without any emotional attachment, while women have sex with men with feelings involved.

Don't expect a man with whom you've had sex to love you. It's just pure sex with no emotions attached.

Men are like children; they act like children. On the other hand, women are complicated creatures; what they wanted five minutes ago, they might not want after ten minutes.

"That's making love, baby," he corrected me, so I rolled my eyes at him.

"You're so lazy," I complained to him.

He sighed.

"I won't go to work. You've been so moody these past few weeks, so I'll just impregnate you to have a reason for your mood swings," he said with a raised eyebrow.

I smacked his arm hard.

"Let's make love," he said and leaned towards me, so I screamed.

"Pervert! Pervert! Get away from me!" I yelled, trying to push him off.

"Shh, Manang and the neighbors might hear you at the back of the house," he warned, placing his finger on my lips.

"You beast! Get away from me! You're so ugly, hubby!" I complained.

He buried his head on my chest.

"Lanvin!" I gasped as he pinched my right breast.

"You're such a pervert!"

"You're my wife. What's wrong with that? I'm your husband. We're legally married. And besides, your body and what you have are mine," he said possessively, his jaws clenched.

"You're crazy. Hubby, please go to work. I want to see Florence, and I'm bored here at home. I also want to be with Ysabelle," I pleaded with him.

"We'll spend time together. No work," he insisted.

I used to fight with him because he was always busy with work, but now I'm annoyed because he wants to be around me all day. I'm getting fed up with him. His over-acting is irritating too.

"Hubby, please," I begged with tears in my voice.

"You start a fight whenever I'm working. Now I won't work, and you don't want to either. What should I do, wife?" he asked with concern.

"Who wouldn't get annoyed with what you're doing? We're on vacation, and yet you're all about work. It's like I'm talking to thin air!"

"Sorry, I had emergency meetings," he offered as an excuse, but I just glared at him.

Once again, he buried his head on my chest.

This man's lust is too much.

"Let's spend time together, please? Wife?" he pleaded, his head still buried.

"I missed you," he said, trying to be affectionate.

"We're always together, we're always together. Aren't you tired of me already?"

"Why would I be? Fuck! I want you beside me all day long."

He carefully lifted his head.

"Are you tired of me?" he asked back.

I didn't answer.

"Because you're always with me. You stick to me like a leech. You might as well paste yourself to me."

He looked offended.

He didn't say anything and removed himself from being on top of me.

He lay down on the bed.

"I'll go to work later. I'll go to sleep," he said coldly.

What happened? Did he get mad? I didn't mean it that way. I didn't know he would take my words to heart.

He didn't have a big chest, so why did he take it to heart?

"Hubby," I called him and poked him, but he ignored me.

He ignored me. He's ignoring me.

I felt like crying because he ignored me. I feel hurt.

Fine, let him be dramatic!

I wanted to go with him to work to talk to Florence. I really can't be at ease with what he revealed to me. I also plan to go to the doctor to find out if I have amnesia. The problem is how to leave because Lanvin is stuck to me.

I stared at his back.

Lanvin, are you hiding something from me? If you're hiding something, I promise I won't get mad.

I thought of seeking help from Florence.

He brought me to Lanvin's office. I still followed him, but I could feel that Lanvin was still upset with me.

Big men are really touchy, tsk!

Until we reached the company, he remained quiet and didn't pay attention to me. Despite being angry, he still opened the door for me.

"Where are you going?" he asked coldly and furrowed his eyebrows when I didn't head straight to his office. His face looked serious and annoyed.

"I'll take a walk," I gave him a short answer.

“Tsk!”

“Come back to me, wife,” he said before I disappear. I ignore him.

He entered his office, and I jumped when he slammed the door shut.

Why is that guy so dramatic? He's making my blood boil.

If he's annoyed, then I'm even more annoyed! I've been fed up with him since this morning. If he doesn't want to talk to me, then I won't talk to him either! He's not made of gold! But he has gold.

I lost my mood because of him. He even threw away the soup!

Am I worthless? This company is his, and everything else is his! I don't care anymore! What I want to know is who Russell is in my life. And what Lanvin is hiding from me.

"Hello, may I know where Florence is?" I asked Florence's friend, whom she introduced to me.

"Azaria!" She called my name with joy.

"Sorry, I don't know where Florence is. I've been trying to call her, but she doesn't answer. She's been missing for a week," she said sadly.

"What? What happened?" I asked, puzzled.

"The police are looking for Florence because she's been missing for a week. The entire department knows about it, and she can't be reached," she said with concern.

I'm getting sleepy, but I'm trying to stay awake.

"I wonder what happened to her?" I asked out of the blue.

"Her whole family is worried, and so am I," she added.

I also got lost in my thoughts from what she said.

"Do you know if she has any enemies?" I asked them.

I suddenly felt nervous. Could this be related to what I found out?

"No, she's friendly," said Florence's friend.

"It's just strange that the company doesn't seem to care about her," the bespectacled woman who joined our conversation added.

"Let's just pray that she's safe and sound," I said sadly.

"It's also strange that on the first day she didn't come to work, there was already someone who took her place," said another employee who was also their friend.

How will I find out the truth if Florence is already dead? Lord, please don't let her be dead yet.

I was about to leave when someone suddenly called my name.

"Azaria?" A man called, holding a Starbucks cup.

"Wow! It's you! You disappeared just like that," he blurted.

"I miss you, sis!" he said in a high-pitched voice and kissed me on the cheek.

He knew me.

"H-hello," I said shyly to him.

"Oh, I don't remember you," he said playfully.

"Am I the reason you met your husband and then forget about me?" he teased.

"Uhmm," I played with my fingers.

"You mean, you're the reason why I married my husband Lanvin?"

He furrowed his brows.

"Huh? It's Russell, right?" he asked in surprise.

"Sorry, I don't remember. I have amnesia."

I stuck to my story of not knowing anything.

"We actually know each other," the girl with glasses interjected.

"What happened? I can't make a mistake. You're Azaria," he said for sure.

I looked at both women.

"If you don't mind, can we talk in private?" I asked him.

He seemed puzzled, but he agreed.

We went to the garden and talked there. The company had a mini garden outside. Lanvin must be a plant enthusiast.

"Uhmm, I don't know how to start this. Florence told me that I am married to a man named Russell, and she showed me a wedding picture with her in it. But I don't remember anything about the event. I want to ask what you know," I said, seeking answers.

"I know Florence! I got promoted before her. She was about to get promoted and transferred to another branch, but she declined. We worked together, including Russell. You and Russell met here in the company. We were in the same department. Until the two of you got married, and after a few months, both of you suddenly stopped coming to work. We didn't hear from you anymore. Then the whole department lost their jobs, resigned, and some were promoted," he said at length.

"I just can't remember who Russell is in my life. My husband is the owner of this company; he's my grandfather's adopted son. It's confusing to find out I'm married to someone else. I remember my entire childhood up to my present life. I even asked professionals if the pictures Florence showed me were edited, but they weren't. I'm really confused. I hope you can help me find answers," I pleaded, holding his hand.

He pondered for a long time.

“I remember your house. You have small house in Marikina!”

I felt encouraged by what he said.

"Can you accompany me to the house?" I asked.

"Yes, but I'll just take my early out later, sis."

"Can't you take an early out for a bit? My husband will look for me," I said, fear visible in my eyes.

"Alright, since I'm the manager anyway!" He laughed playfully.

"Let's go!"

He stood up playfully, and I followed him.

"I thought you and Russell had resigned from work to have your own life. It turns out you've had amnesia all these years. Oh my, you're the boss's wife! Maybe you can tell your husband to give me a raise!" he joked.

I just smiled at him, feeling nervous.

"Do I love Russell?" I changed the topic.

"Yes! You both love each other very much. The whole department was invited to your wedding!" he energetically replied.

We were on our way.

I turned off my phone so Lanvin couldn't track me.

"Do you have other pictures of us? Me and the event?" I asked.

"They're in my bag. Get it, the pink one," he instructed me, using a more feminine tone of voice.

"Oh, just show it to me later. No need to look for it now," he said as I handed back his pink iPhone and put it back in his bag.

It took a while before we reached the house he mentioned.

"We're here," he said, parking by the side of the road.