Chapter 47: Chapter 47

"It's not w-what you think, Ella," Zed stutters as glints of nervousness hit his eyes. "I can't explain as of now, but one day I'll make you understand."

"How am I going to interpret it? Those numbers of orders you make are enough to fill all the walls of this house. I'm not as stupid as you think. You just have to be honest with me because I can understand," my voice already cracks.

Zed pulls to the side of the road and turns off the engine. He closes his eyes and later rubs his face with his hand.

"When I said I love you, I'm not lying, Ella. There's just something I want to look at in those paintings – I'm searching for something."

Searching for something. Is he also an artist who thinks his works are copied?

I sigh. I'm not in the mood to ask about his hobby. Maybe I can do that later. But for now, I just want to mess up with my jealousy. He looks sincere indeed. And those beautiful eyes of him are begging for my understanding.

"Just please trust me." He reaches for my hand and holds it tight.

I sigh, feeling so helpless. I enter the lion's den without fear, so how can I turn back.

"Okay, Zed. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be demanding for something I can't even give. But just a piece of advice, Yen is already married. Those kids can't grow in a broken home."

He scoffs. "Ella, believe me. I never have intentions to snatch her back."

"Your mind may say so, but your heart doesn't." I roll my eyes but look away. I don't know why I am this angry when I can't even give up on James.

"No. I'm saying this once and for all. It's already over between Yen and me. I'm not planning to get her back. And she's no longer in my heart and mind."

Zed releases his grip on my hand. He then turns the engine on and maneuvers back into the road. Silence dominates between us until we reach home. I step out of the car right away the moment he stops the engine. I can't wait for him to get so romantic and open the door for his beloved. I head directly to my room and change into a set of home clothes.

He also follows a few minutes later. After closing the door, he leans his back on the wall next to the door, watching me. I also steal glances at him and see that there's a sense of fear and worry in his eyes. I only hope it's his fear of losing me, of ruining the beauty of what we currently have.

"Come. I'll show you something," he says. He walks towards me and places an arm around my shoulder, leading me toward his old room.

Since Zed is so gentle as ever, I no longer have the heart to protest. I let him do as he wishes until he stops at the door of his secret room.

"What are we going to do there?" I can't help asking him. That is a forbidden place – his personal space – and his privacy. I don't want to invade his territory just because I flared up on the way.

He continues fumbling on the code, ignoring my question. Then, the door slowly opens wide.

I have imagined this room to be like a museum. Where the portraits of his beloved are beautifully arranged in gold and granite frames. Yet, to my surprise, there's not a single painting hanging on the wall. There are framed paintings, but they lie on a long rectangular table. Even with just a single glance, I can tell that those aren't the works of Mr. D.

On another long table lie the portraits of Yen. It indeed looks like they are laid out for inspection.

"Can you help me interpret?" he says, and my brows furrow.

"Most of the artists use only one logo to represent themselves. But look at these logos." Zed grabs my hand and guides me from the first painting to the fourth.

The first painting has a red heart over his pen name Mr. D. The second one has the same heart but is now pierced with an arrow. The third one is still the same heart but is now lying on the mud. And in the fourth one, the heart is crushed by a rock.

I suddenly recall the painting Mr. D did for me. And my face lights up when I remember his calligraphy at the bottom of his logo. I then recite it loudly.

"You are the arrow that pierces my heart and the stone that crushes my soul."

Zed stares at me, but his eyes sparkle after a while. It looks like he's drowning in amazement because I have read it easily.

"Whoa! How brilliant, "Zed exclaims. "I have been figuring this out for a long time already."

I pull my brows closer. So, it means he is indeed looking for something in those paintings. But why?

As if he reads my mind, Zed suddenly speaks, "I already found Mr. D mysterious a long time ago. He appears wherever I am, may it be during my lectures or even when I am in coffee shops. It looks like he's stalking me."

"And these different logos are mysterious to me as well. Now, help me interpret it."

I feel chills running up and down my spine. He's indeed eccentric – even Miss Yen sees him that way.

"No, he spells it out for me," I tell Zed. "He painted these logos in front of me and wrote that caption below."

Zed's eyes snap wide. "Can you please buy it for me? I'll pay, no matter what the price is."

I nod. Little does he know that I have already bought it. But I don't want to dampen his spirit.

"What can you get from investigating?" I ask. This entire thing seems senseless to me.

Zed turns to me and looks at me in the eyes. "I am a public figure, Ella. I also receive threats. Some people can't accept rejection and failure, especially when their egos are hurt."

"I have no idea how I offended Mr. D, but I just want to be cautious. Thus, I'm buying his works. Who knows those can serve me as clues in the future?"

I find it hilarious, especially when I remember how Mr. D speaks like a robot. For me, he's just like a child who needs attention and acknowledgment. But then, I remember his advice. That I can choose to either be happy or miserable. But stating that I decided to be miserable in his eyes, it looks like he wants to convey a message. A warning?

Just as we go out of the room, the phone in my pocket sings the Phantom of the Opera again. I pull it out and look at the screen. I see the name of my private investigator calling.

"Mr. Banzon?" I turn the speaker on for Zed to hear. Since he's my boyfriend, he has to know my whereabouts. I need to have someone to share my burdens – someone I can trust. Aside from that, it is also for him to get emotionally prepared.

"Miss Sahara, I have talked to Mr. Mori's lawyer twice already. I asked her to persuade him to see you for the sake of your child with him."

My heart hammers loudly in my heart. I hold my breath, waiting for Mr. Banzon's next statement.

"He still doesn't want to see you, Miss Sahara. I'm sorry."

I nod. I don't know if I should be happy or sad. James has set me free. So, I won't be guilty anymore if I start a new life with Zed. But it hurts to know that he doesn't want his child.

Zed leads me to a couch in the hallway. He holds my face between his hands. His eyes are full of tenderness and affection as he looks into my eyes.

"I'll give my name to your child, Ella. From today and onwards, he'll be my son."