Chapter 14: Chapter 14

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All Clinton needed to do was to discourage Agnes from ever getting Ethan's love.

"Listen to what I am about to say carefully," he voiced out, looking a bit sad.

Agnes nodded her head in agreement.

"I know my cousin. I have always known him. Trust me, the day you will not expect, he will throw a divorce paper at your front and force you to sign it. Then he will slowly take everything he gave to you, back. I can even my life on this," Eric snarled ferociously.

"Why would Ethan do a thing like that to me?" She asked him, with so much boldly written in her eyes.

"It's because he had never loved you. He only wants to have you as his pawn," Eric paused. "I guess I should stop here," he considerately said to her, after seeing the sorrowful expression on her face. "Let's go out and have lunch," Ethan added.

Agnes accepted his offer, this was what she needed more, "I will go through my schedules, if it's free, I will come with you to lunch."

Eric nodded, "alright, if there is anything I can do for you, do not hesitate to call me.

"I will not trust me," she said, smiling at him.

She put in about to to three calls, just to find out how her schedule was.

"My schedule is free, so we can go out together for lunch," she replied with a full smile.

(Finally they both left)

Agnes and Eric entered the 'Corporate Fast Food restaurant.'

" I have never been to this fast food before," she said amazed. " This place is such a fine place and It looks really expensive. Why don't we go to a cheaper place? I know a lot of fast foods that are cheap. Debest fast food, New Era fast food, Madam All fast food, Over all fast food..."

" I know you know a lot of fast and I know you mentioned that continue listing them, if I do not cut you short. Now listen to me, you are expensive and expensive people like you should fit into this place. If you feel that this place is expensive, then you should also feel that you are more expensive than this restaurant. Come on I have got enough money for both of us. You are my cousin's wife, so you are my responsibility," Eric said as though he was giving a speech." As my responsibility, nothing is above you."

" It seems I am also a burden to you and to your cousin, Ethan," Agnes said flurried.

Eric turned to her. " What do you mean?"

" Can I confide in you?" Agnes's voice was pitched low.

" Yeah. Why not? It seems you do not trust me," Eric said.

" Of course I do. It's just that it's about Ethan," she paused, looking at him worriedly.

"What about him? I am becoming a nuisance to him," Agnes said angrily

" You can never be a nui__

She interrupted him. "Before I got married to Ethan, he used to treat me as if I was his whole world, life and golden egg. He used to call me sweet names, tell me sweet things and even do sweet things for me. He spoiled me a lot of love and care. He would take me out, buy things for me and make me laugh. Sometimes he would propose to sleep at my door or not to end the phone call for as long as I want. He bought me the highest position in my work place. He hosted my birthday party in a grand way and when he proposed, it made me fall in love with him over and over again," she smiled as she remembered those sweet moments. "I used to think of him as a grumpy, I'll mannered, arrogant and proud rich brat. I can remember how we met. It was in my workplace. I served him and he talked to me rudely and I equally put him in his place. I was in the ladies when he came to me and kissed me and the next day he apologized. He went further to buy me the position of the CEO at the bar where I worked. Slowly he began to earn my trust and respect. In the process, he also earned my love."

Eric was a good listener. It was in his nature to listen and instead of cheating a speaker. He drew out necessary key points from speeches and he had always used the key points to gain physically.

"But ever since we got married," Agnes continued, "he has changed. We sleep in the same room but yet as stranger. He seldomly eats my food, drinks what I serve or even let me touch a piece of his cloth. He behaves different from the Ethan I knew before. It seems he does not respect or love me anymore. He downgrades me and insults my background. Sometimes I wonder if this was the Ethan who used to sing my praise and treat me specially. I feel so bad about everything."

Eric frowned. "Agnes dear, life isn't a bed of roses. It gives and takes. Ethan does not deserve you or your love. Listen to me Agnes, I would not speak ill of my cousin but when it concerns a lady, I can not be able to remain mute. You are a lady for crying out loud. It's okay if he does not love you anymore but he should at least respect the love you have for him," he paused and Drew out a seat. "Have a seat dear Agnes," he said.

Agnes smiled at him, "thanks," she said shyly.

Eric sat down too. "Listen Agnes, I do not know if I have said this to you before but Daniel does not deserve you. He should not feel too rich and proud and overlook your situation."

"Sorry to interrupt. What do you mean by my situation?" Agnes asked.

"Well Ethan has told me a lot of infuriating things about you. He had once said that he cleaned your mess and your background was one of them. He also said that you had no background, you are an outcast but believe me, he later admitted that he was joking and I also feel he was joking. Ethan usually says things without thinking but they usually are hurtful," Eric said tentatively. "Do not mind Ethan, he will come around and apologize to you. And in order for there not to be two bad man, I would suggest you forgive him and patch things up."

Agnes rolled her eyes, "I wish he could learn tips from you."

Eric laughed erotically. "Here is the menu," he said passing to her menu book. "Pick out something and I will order for it."

"I am not used to this kind of things. Why don't you order for something," Agnes said gravely.

"If I really wanted to order for something, I would have done that in your hotel besides it has a bar and a restaurant but I did not. We are here because I do not want you to have a new atmosphere. You looked pretty over worked and it got me startled," Eric voiced out.

She pouted. "Thanks. You are such a nice man Eric. You always make my day whenever we meet. How do you do all of this?"

"All of what?" Eric asked in awe.

"How do you manage to show up whenever it seems like I'm having a bad day or I had a rough day?" Agnes asked , feeling thoughtful.

Eric nodded. "I can't tell, maybe the maker is trying join us together, as close friends I mean. I want you to always remember this, I am not like my cousin. No matter what happens, I will always stand by you, even when the world doesn't," Eric assured her, bringing his hand to hers.

"You are a very good friend to me and you are so special to me. For your sake, I am going to put up a fight with my cousin and I will make him apologise to you for all he has done to you."

"I don't think that is a good idea, you both are not in good terms," Agnes said to him considerately.

"Do not bother about that. I do not mind jumping off a flying aeroplane for your sake," Eric lied to her, his innocent smiles deceiving her.

She blushed, she was beginning to feel so shy, "enough of your flatters, you better order for something because I am so hungry."

"Your wish is my command," Eric said viciously.

x x x x x x x x x x

Agnes was sitting in front of the mirror. She was tidying her hair before Ethan came in..

She did not say anything to him.

"Agnes!" He called out to her.

He walked to her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Please take your hands away from me," she said to him.

"Agnes!" He called her again.

"Do not touch me again Ethan," she said and stood up.

"I am so...

"It doesn't matter what you say to me now, Ethan, I will never forgive you for what you did to me earlier today," she said, walking away.

He held out her hand. "I do not know what came over me."

She frowned. "I do not care to know. Let go off me Dan," Agnes said, pulling her hand with force from his grip. Ethan let go of her hand, he left the room and went downstairs, straight to the bar cabinet right beside the sitting room.

He brought out a bottle of rum and poured it into a glass. He drank up the first glass and filled the glass up again. He kept on drinking and drinking.

"Ethan?" Nanny Mia called out to him. "What are you doing to yourself? Why have you been acting so strangely?" She asked him, feeling so concerned.

"That's none of your business, learn to stop meddling in my business. My dad paid you to assist me when I was still little, so I advise that you go and rest, I am all grown now. I do not want to disrespect you in any way, so you better leave from here." Ethan said to her, still sipping his plenty bottles of alcohol.

"Calm down Ethan, I am very much aware that you are just acting under the influence of the alcohol. The Ethan that I nurtured so well could never speak to me in this manner. Talk to me son, "what is bothering you?" Nanny Mia said amidst tears.

Ethan dropped his glass of rum"tidy up this mess," he said and left for his room.

Nanny Mia nodded her head in disagreement and disappointment to his behavior. "I know that you are troubled my boy. You have always been this quick to over react and I have always overlooked this character of yours, not because I am being paid by your father but because I understand every bit of pain you go through. You are more like a don to me," she soliloquized.

x x x x x x x x x x x

Ethan banged his room door in frustration, the door flew open and he staggered into it. Whitney was putting on a transparent night gown. Ethan shut the door and walked to Whitney, who was staring at him in fright. He held her hand and dragged her up from the bed.

Agnes felt scared, "you have no right to touch me Ethan," she stammered, her voice a total whisper. "I do not need your annoying cries right now,.so you better stop with your pretence," Ethan roughly pulled her close to his body.

She closed her eyes, she çould smell alcohol in his mouth. "You have been drinking right?" She asked, trying so hard to free herself from him.

Ethan cupped her face, "yes I have been drinking and it is all because of you wifey," he answered in a rough tone.

"Let go of me, you are drunk," she said, still trying her best to free herself.

He held onto her shoulders, "I am not drink Agnes."

"You are drunk Ethan. You are really out of your mind. Infact you are starting to turn into a psycho," she shouted to him, on top of her voice.

He looked at angrily. He immediately bent his face to her and smashed his lips on hers. She tightened her lips together, not wanting his lips to penetrate through hers. Ethan did not let her go, he forced his way into her mouth. His tongue pried open her lips. She backed out of the kiss immediately.

"Ethan what has really come over you," she asked in tears.

"Nothing. I am your husband and I have every right over you," he reminded her.

"You are not in your right state of mind, once you become sober, I am so sure you will regret all of your dirty actions," she notified him and turned to leave.

Ethan wrapped his hands around her waist immediately, stopping her from leaving. He could feel her contours through the transparent, night gown she was wearing. His hands slowly moved down her body. "You are making me go crazy, do you have any idea about that?"

"What do you think you are doing to me?" Whitney asked, her chest panting up and down. Both Eric's words and hands were doing something to her. "Trust me Agnes, the day you will not expect, he will throw a divorce paper at your front and force you to sign on them. Then he will slowly take everything he had given to you back," she quickly remembered Eric's words to her. She panicked at this thought.

Agnes turned to Ethan. "Do you still love me?"

Ethan's expression changed as soon as he had her question. He moved back from her, "excuse me, I will be right back," he said and staggered towards the bathroom, after a few minutes, he came back. Whitney was sitting on the bed, patiently waiting for him. He approached her and knelt down in front of her.

"I am so sorry Agnes, I am aware of the fact that I have been acting so wickedly and unfairly towards you. Please forgive me," he apologized with one of his hand on hers.

Agnes stared at him in surprise, having him talk to her in this manner made her have a bit of hope that what Eric said to her was never going to happen.

"Why did you maltreat me so much, this part few days?" Agnes asked him, praying to herself that the answer he would give, was going to be a reasonable one.

"I had been so stressed out lately, that is the reason I nearly injured you. I am so sorry Agnes. I love so much," he said to me in such a romantic way.

"Please be sincere with me Ethan, do you still love me, just like you used to before we got married?" She asked him.

"I still love you a lot Agnes," he answered, making me feel so happy.