Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Russell POV.

I sat down on a bench in the garden as I watched Malinda water the flowers in the garden. She was wearing a pale green top and black trousers. It was a simple dressing but she still looks so pretty in them. I just ogled at her, but my eyes were sad.

She had decided to ignore me and not talk to me. I had gone to help her, but she told me not to, even when I insisted, I knew she still loved me but was doing all this because of my father. Even now he is not at home, she still won't talk to me.

Why does love always have to come with so many obstacles and pain? Many things will always stop a sincere feeling.

Too sad, but too true!

"Is she the one?" I heard an angry voice from behind me and turned around to see Yvonne glaring at Malinda who was far off. "Is she the person you love?" Her brow furrowed and her eyes settled on me.

I touched the line between my brows and wiped off the little tears from my eyes. I knew she must have seen me staring at Malinda to figure it all out. What I don't understand is why she was here, at this mansion without being invited.

Ladies!

"Why are you here?" I asked her the moment I looked at her, the last time she had called me, she had threatened to make me regret leaving her, but I had been sincere with her from the start, that I didn't love her.

"You were ignoring my calls and messages, so I have to come here to talk to you in person." She said in a soft voice this time, truly she thought she loved me, but I knew what ladies like her want from a person like me.

Fame and wealth!

I was already having a headache trying to find a way to make Malinda understand and also my father, I was not ready for any chit chat with her so I stood up from the bench and looked at her with my hands in my pocket.

"I am not ready to hear anything from you, so leave," I told her and turned my eyes to glance at Malinda again. She was far from us and I was sure she couldn't hear a thing, neither did she see Yvonne.

Yvonne scoffed and I looked at her as she spoke. "So, she is the reason why you don't love me?" she had asked this question before, if she knew then she should just leave and stop pestering me. "You love your maid?"

"She is not a maid!" I said icily and she flinched. I ran my hands through my hair and squinted. "Just leave before I lose my temper on you," I said dryly and walked out.

I heard angry footsteps and turned around to see if I was being followed by Yvonne, but I saw her walking over to Malinda, I stood to listen.

"Hey, you!" Yvonne shouted at her with a furrowed brow, I was getting angry as it was, but withholding myself.

I watched Malinda face her, she made a slow bow like she was greeting a great guest, I closed my eyes momentarily. If only she was not a maid of my father.

"Save your greetings!" I heard Yvonne's loud voice and looked up at them again. "Have you lost your mind, or don't know where you belong!" She yells again.

I could see the confused look on Malinda's face, she opened her lips and said something, but I couldn't hear what she said since her voice was low.

She talks like a person from a noble home, while Yvonne, who came from one, was talking like someone on the street. I knew this was what comes when you get angry.

"You don't!" Yvonne shouted and took the bucket of water close to her and poured it on Malinda. "You don't know!" She shouted again. "You are a maid and I am trying to show you your place, stay away from Russeli because he is my fiance!

I was pissed as I started walking over to them. I saw Malinda's wide eyes and parted lips as she voiced out a little word that I heard as I approached them. "Fiance.."

"Yvonne what damage have you done!" I shouted in anger and looked at Malinda's body, drops of water were falling down her body and her dress was soaked as she looked down at her feet, clenching to her wet dress.

I took Malinda's hands. "Let's go, otherwise you would catch a cold if you don't change into these wet dresses." I turn to leave, ignoring Yvonne who seems shocked that I was even holding Malinda's hands in her presence.

"What the heck! She will surely regret it! You two." I heard Yvonne barking, but what else was there to say to a woman I have no feelings for.

I took Malinda to my room even when she struggled to free herself, I even had to drag her along, she still didn't want to talk to me and she was ready to avoid me, but this time I was ready to make her stay close to me.

I locked the door and picked and wrapped her with a warm towel. "Why would you stay still and let her do this to you?" I was angry that she had to act like a maid even when she was not serving Yvonne.

"Why not?" There were tears in her eyes and her voice was cracked as she looked down at her feet.

I lift her chin with my fingers to make her look me in the face, my forehead furrowed since I was not even happy with her attitude out there, she should at least throw some water back at Yvonne and make it even.

"When then would you stop receiving such insults!" I yelled at her as I ran my hands through my hair. "I hate seeing you so helpless, I hate it when you cry." I pointed at her face. "I hate it when you can't live freely, I hate when you avoid me." My hands held her shoulder this time as my eyes also became wet.

"You have a fiance, then why are you still holding onto me?" She asked with a soft hoarse voice as her eyes searched for mine, more tears rolled down her cheek.

"Malinda, she is not my fiancee..."

"Then tell me." She demanded.

This was the first time Malinda have met Yvonne, for a month now I kept this away from her, when Yvonne lied to her about being my fiance, I could see the shocked expression on her face, and right now I knew I owe Malinda an explanation, but it wasn't what I want to talk about.

"It's a long story, Malinda, she is not important and I have nothing to do with her, believe me at my word, the only person in my heart right now is you and it hurts me to see you like this." I looked from her head to her toe.

She was getting cold, her toes were together and she held the towel on her shoulder, her lips were quivering and drops of water kept dropping down from her body and dress.

"I can't be with you." She told me softly as she pressed her lips together, her eyes boring into mine.

I was so sad and crushed to hear her say it so simply like this. "You promised me you won't hide from me, even if you were told to do so."

I have known my father, I knew this was the first step to every separation, they make the lovers split and hide away from each other, then finally they disappear into thin air.

"I can't keep that promise, sir..."

"F**k!" I hit the desk next to me with my hands and I saw her flinched and looked at her. "Stop it!" My eyes bored into hers. "Call me by my name, you are making me feel so distant from you."

I closed my eyes with my two hands on my hair, my heart was already aching to see her avoid me all these days, and now she was even doing it again by calling me formally.

"Malinda." I opened my eyes and looked at her with a tender gaze as I walked over and held her hands in mine. The room sounded so quiet and the air was warm, but my heart was cold and lonely, it was not like the usual warmth I experienced just a few weeks ago.

"Let's not get this far," I begged her with tears in my eyes. "Even if I am from a wealthy home, I still love you, even if you aren't wealthy, I still love you, even if you are nothing and I am popular, I still love you."

I stared into her eyes, it was blurred with tears too, but I could still see my reflection in her eyes. "You can't ruin me." I lift her hands to my chest. "So come back to my side," I begged.

This was the first time I have been the one begging a woman, this was the second time I have known love and the first time I won't let this love go away from me, I won't let her disappear just like my mother, it was the first time I felt warmth after a long time, I won't let go.

"Your father would disagree a million times." She told me in a sob, but I shook my head and focused my eyes on her.

"Who cares! He is only interested in his business and his name, that's his reason, I don't care if he disagrees or not." I said in a rush and squeezed her hands gently.

"Malinda," I said softly as I came closer to her. "I have an idea." I searched her eyes. "Let's flee together, both of us," I whispered and she looked up at me with wide eyes and her lips parted. "Let's leave this place, Malinda."