Chapter 115: Chapter 115

JUNE

Fucking hell.

How many times would I have to wake up with a pounding headache? Doesn't this get old? Like, I'm seriously tired of it and—

My eyes snapped open when I recalled the incident of a few… whatever. I don't even know how long I have been out.

Mark! Damn that guy.

I opened my eyes and scanned around the place, knitting my eyebrows, puzzled when I saw where I was. I guessed I might either find myself at home or the hospital — like always — but I was dismayed to find myself in a vacant room.

There was no furniture in sight aside from an armchair next to the door, and the only window in the room seemed farther than an ordinary window. The limited light coming from it was just sufficient to shed light on the apartment.

Where the freaking hell am I?

I tried to rise from the armchair I was sitting on, only to notice that they had shackled me to the said chair.

What the hell??

Did Mark tie me up here? Why? Is this a joke? Or a surprise?

But that's not right. He drugged my drink and brought me… No, it can't be possible. There is no way Mark could have kidnapped me. This is a joke. Yes, a fucking joke. Perhaps Kristen wants to surprise me, and they need me confined until they are through with the decorations. Yes, that's it. Mark will never...

The door to the room opened, and the last person I expected to see walked in.

“Oh, you are awake?” she inquired with a smile as she closed the door.

Standing in front of me was the same woman I urged Kristen to get rid of. Edith, with that whimsical smile and annoying voice of hers.

I narrowed my eyes, wondering what she was doing here when Mark should have been the one here. Is this part of the surprise?

“Where is Mark?”

“Mark?” she snickered, sounding like the evil octopus in The Little Mermaid. I have never despised someone as much as I did that instant. “Funny how he was the one you asked for. Tell me, June, why do you think he brought you here?” She closed the distance between us.

“For a surprise? What else?” I tried to ignore my guts, dreading the truth.

“A surprise? Indeed, we have a surprise arranged for you.” She laughed once more, her face looking extremely appalling as the cackling laughter escaped her throat. “You are so gullible. Little wonder Mark had no difficulty getting you here.”

“What do you mean by that? Where is Mark? I demand to speak with him!”

“Speak with him?” She strode over to where the other armchair in the room was and took it. She dragged it closer, and rested on it, still grinning. “I guess he's on his way to the office to tell Kristen about your kidnap and —”

“That's impossible! He brought me here! How can he….”

She smirked, looking pleased when she noticed I had finally figured out what was going on.

“It's a pity he had to love someone as dumb as you are. Tsk. What a waste of affection,” she spat out, resounding more and more like the villain in movies.

“Love? Who the hell are you talking about? Kristen?”

“Kristen?” She snorted, crossing her right leg over her left. She placed her joined palms on her thighs and concentrated on me. “It's a shame he wasted his years on you. You see, Mark has always been in love with you. He —”

“Mark? In love with me? You've got to be kidding me.”

I know he cares for me. But for love, I don't think it's conceivable. He hasn't even told me about it.

“Like I said, you are a twit. The poor fellow has been in love with you since middle school. Ever wondered why he never got a girlfriend and always seemed to stick to you like glue?”

“Because he doesn't have a girl he fancies?”

That was what he told me. But now, hearing Edith's words, I can't help but think back to everything he has done for me. Sincerely, I previously had this hunch, but waved it off as a superfluous notion.

“Oh my,” she cackled. “What a pity. If he were to have been here, he would have been heartbroken to hear you say such words.”

“Even if it's true, it doesn't explain what I'm doing here and why I'm confined to this lousy armchair!”

She grinned, worrying her bottom lip as she gave me a once-over. “I perceive you are not too dumb to know why you are here.”

“Looks like I'm the dumbest woman in the entire world, then,” I responded with my eyebrows furrowed.

“Well, let's not waste any more time.” She checked the time on her wristwatch. “I'm expected to return to the office in 30 minutes. So we need to get everything done.”

“Which is?”

She uncrossed her legs and rose from the armchair she was resting on. She took three steps towards me and stopped in front of me before she leaned close.

“You have something of mine that I want back, June,” she finally said after a lengthy minute of silence and glaring.

“Something of yours? You've got to be kidding me. We are not friends. So what is it of yours that I took?” I stared into her eyes.

“Kristen,” she responded without breaking eye contact.

“Kristen? My fiancé? You've got to be fucking joking with me!”

Seems like I'm dealing with a crazy woman without even knowing it. How else will she call my fiancé hers?

“You seem to get something wrong, June. I'm not asking you to give him to me. It doesn't matter if you consent to it. Kristen is mine and will always be!”

Her words caused me to snicker. It was amusing hearing something like this from a woman who didn't succeed in snagging him up.

“If you want that, you have to be perfect in bed!” I spat in her face.

A dangerous move because I got a slap in return.