Note: Apologies for being away for such a long time, but now I'm back and that too for good and will be trying to upload as frequently as possible.
P.s by mistake, I uploaded the wrong chapter yesterday. But I've fixed it as soon as it got to my attention (courtesy of my dearest readers). Hope you'll like it. Much love <3
SONG: 'Life after you' by Daughtry
Ten miles from town
And I just broke down
Spitting out smoke on the side of the road
I'm out here alone
Just trying to get home
To tell you I was wrong, but you already know
Believe me, I won't stop at nothing to see you
So I've started running All that I'm after is a life full of laughter
As long as I'm laughing with you
And I think that all that still matters is love ever after
After the life, we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you
.............................................................................................................................
HANNAH'S POV
Chapter 26:
Weeks passed, in fact, 3 weeks to be exact since the last time I saw my husband dearest. I'm here at our â his home and he is God knows where. During all this time we didn't have contact of any sort. And not only him, but I also had little to no contact with anyone else during this period, thankfully though.
But you must be wondering how did that happen when I have a bunch of crazy friends and family on my tail all the freaking time. Well, as you know, Nick and I aren't on talking terms, aunt Claudia has called twice to ask about my whereabouts which I dodged easily. Trust me, it's so easy for me to deceive her sometimes. Though, I have a feeling that she's deliberately choosing to believe me. But as long as it lets my boat ship, I can't give two cents about it.
And now left are Mila and Jay, who are out on their engagement trip for a month. So far, no one knows what's up with me and I intend to keep it that way, but once they are back, I don't know what to do then. Mila will see right through me, how will I hide it all from her?
And dad is dad. Well, let's not talk about him.
But surprisingly that's also not my problem right now. My problem right now is that I haven't had human interaction with anyone in these past few weeks and boy, am I dying from isolation. I mean, how many series a person can watch?
I need to get out, to see what evolution the world went through while I was stuck in the house for no freaking reason. But the question is what will I do out, alone. I mean, since my childhood I've always had one friend or the other out of the three with me. It makes me think that maybe I have no social life if they aren't around.
Well well well, what a sad little life you live, Hannah. Your thoughts are more exciting than your actual life.
Maybe I should go out and explore by myself? Hmm, seems like a good option.
But what does one do out alone?
That's what you're going out to discover, you idiot, my brain answered for me.
Gathering all the courage, I got up and made myself presentable for the world again. By now, I believe you know me enough, so you must have an idea what I must look like. Yeah, that's right, the worst you can imagine. But hey, no human interaction, remember?
"Are we not counting the guards that saw the mistress of the house in all her glory?" shut up brain, SHUT UP!
I took my bag and my stationery with me. Yeah, my exploration consists of me painting in a secluded area. Yippie, you're a badass, Hannah.
All set to take on a world again, I walked towards the main door, only for my steps to halt as the doorbell rang. AFTER WEEKS.
Who could it be? It can't be him. As we learned the lesson last time that he has his own pair of keys.
Shrugging my shoulder, I open the door and saw his uncle Rick standing on the other side.
So just as one gracious host should greet his guest, I did the same. I kept staring at him dumbfounded. Probably he is not dumb so he broke the silence.
"Sorry to disturb you, miss, but is this my son's house? And if I'm not wrong, he has a beautiful wife, too, do you think you might know her?" he said mischievously, a gentle fatherly smile present on his face.
He lean a little closer as if to convey a top-secret, and whispered playfully, "Do you think she likes me enough to invite me inside?"
I can tell my eyes went wide as I can see him laughing.
"I... I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking. Please come in" I said sheepishly but he laughed it off and hugged me as if he's amused by me.
"It's okay, my child. You weren't expecting to see me is all." Putting a hand on my shoulder he led me towards the sitting area.
"Were you going somewhere, I hope I haven't disturbed you?"
"Oh, no -no, it's fine, I was going out just like that, you're more than welcome" If only he knew how thankful I am being right now.
"Well, your reaction said otherwise," ah, when will I live it down.
"Ah, don't be embarrassed, sweetie, I'm just teasing you." I smiled, relaxing a little.
"How are you doing, my dear?" he asked me with utmost sincerity.
"Okay, I guess" and I didn't try to conceal what I'm actually feeling.
"I know what happened wasn't easy for you and I've been meaning to talk to you for some time now." He said all of a sudden in a serious tone, his previous playfulness gone but the warmth in his tone was still there.
"I know it's going take you a lot of time to absorb it. And I don't believe it can happen in any other way. Things didn't go as you would've liked them but life never goes as we like it to proceed. You might think that it's a forced marriage..." Feeling brave all of a sudden, I cut him in between.
"... I don't think so, uncle. It is a forced marriage." My tone was harsher than I intended to be.
"Yeah, you're right. It is and I'm sorry that it had to happen this way but we h..."
I cut him off once again.
"You didn't have a choice? Yes, I've heard it before."
"I know you're angry at your father but trust me, Hannah, he did this for your own good. You might not see it now but he did." We kept quiet for some time and he probably saw that I don't want to indulge in this conversation, so he changed the topic.
"How about we continue the rest of the conversation over a cup of coffee?" I nodded and we headed towards the kitchen. Just as I was to turn on the kettle, he took it from me.
"Uh-huh, I'll make it. Do you think, this old man isn't capable of doing such a small task?"
"No, uncle, I was just..."
"Stop calling me uncle, I told you to call me dad."
"Sure... dad," I said in the smallest voice I could muster. It feels so strange that a few days ago I didn't even know him and now I have to call him dad.
"So, tell me what's up with you, how is it going?"
"Good, everything is good."
"Ahan. And Elijah?"
"He... he's fine, we're both fine, yeah, totally fine," I said fake smiling, or judging by his expression I guess I probably overdid it.
"I see. And where is he now?" He asked raising an eyebrow, daring me to lie again.
And guess who took the challenge? Me, I, myself. The dumbest of all.
But I can't tell him the truth, right? So, I said the first thing that came to my mind.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you, he went outside just before you came!"
"Outside, huh?" I nodded enthusiastically, hoping and praying that he won't prey further. But who am I kidding!
"Outside, where exactly?"
"Umm, he... Ummm, so here's the thing" while I was trying to come up with a plausible lie, he said.
"You don't know, now, do you?" he chose that moment to gently place a cup of coffee in front of me, looking me in the eye, waiting for another failed attempt of hiding the truth.
But this time I didn't say anything, I just held the coffee mug and look down in defeat.
"Hmm, okay, I can't say I didn't expect it" he sighed visibly, "Okay, so, here's the thing you're going to do."
He said it with so much authority that I instantly looked up. He wasn't angry or anything, yet his look wasn't pleasant anymore either.
"Tomorrow morning, I want to see you in my office. Sharp at 9 Am. In fact, be ready by 8:30, I'll be picking you up."
All I could do was a little nod of compliance.