Chapter 52: Chapter 50

A milestone achieved!

We’re 50 chapters into the story and as per the ancient jubilee fact, things go back to where they started from.

And we’re doing exactly that.

Going back to where it all started and caught your attention.

You guessed it right, it’s “THE PREVIEW” chapter.

Jubilee also means it’s a new beginning after restoration.

And it’ll be the same for Hannah and Elijah, too.

A lot more to happen, a lot more to come.

Can’t wait for you all to explore what this ‘insane’ duo has in store.

Happy reading, lovelies!

…………………………………………………………

Song ‘New Memories’ by Dubvision & Afrojack

Cause we can be silhouettes fading in the dark

Oh

Stepping into the light, make our escape tonight

Ohh

Believe your eyes

Watch the nightfall coming down on us

These are the new memories

We are the new memories

No compromise

We will see how far we go tonight

These are the new memories

We are the new memories

We watch the sun

The skies up above

And we light up the night

It's written in the stars

Our hearts align

We unite, just you and I

………………………………………………………………………

HANNAH’S POV

I sat on the sofa with a pack of crisps in my hand as I watched TV.

Or you can say I just sat on a sofa as some random movie ran on the television in the background. As for the crisps, they’re also hardly eaten.

Well, that's new.

For some absurd reason, I can’t seem to concentrate on anything at present. A reason I’m too aware of but too embarrassed to admit.

Today has to be the first time I was unable to concentrate on my work as certain images from the day kept popping up in my mind and disrupting my focus.

The way they had their hands wrapped around each other, in rather compromising positions, is tugging the wrong beats at my heart.

Also, to realize that Eva was the same girl from our wedding night that he was cheating on me with didn’t make it any better. This doesn’t mean it would’ve made the difference if it was anyone else.

Wait, did I say cheating?

Yes, Hannah, you did say cheating. This is what you’ve been considering it all along.

The realization hit me hard. I mean, I can’t hold him accountable for it as it’s not like we’re in a relationship and don't share the dynamic that we agreed upon. Well, he decided and I agreed with it, so I shouldn’t feel bad.

But, can I comfort myself by thinking that he cheated on me back then because even though we got married for the sake of the contract, still it’s a legit marriage and until then we didn’t have an agreement which we have now. It’s basically, to each his own now.

Then why am I being affected now and overthinking? Why am I making it ‘to not each his own’?

Urgh, this is not good, not good, Hannah. You’re not a regular emotional girl, right?

You’re a badass who stomps on her emotions and not let other people’s behavior affect you.

Be yourself, bitch.

HE IS NOT YOUR HUSBAND, HE IS YOUR ON PAPER HUSBAND.

Besides, you don’t even like him in the first place, remember?

The bell rang and without paying heed to think who it was, I walked over to open the door. Now, I’ve stopped panicking over every bell ring.

“Hello, my dear,” it’s dad. Not mine, his.

“Hey,” I answered as I invited him in.

“How are you, sweetie, I’m sorry to come uninvited,” he gave me a warm hug and entered.

“No, it’s okay, I don’t mind.” I really didn’t, in fact, a little company would help to keep my mind off of certain ‘things’.

“Perfect. And you know what the good thing is? I didn’t come here bare-handed” he showed me the paper bag he was carrying, it looked like food, “I’ve got us pasta!” he confirmed.

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to,” I took the bag from him and moved towards the kitchen to plate it.

“Oh, it’s no problem. Besides this is the new pasta dish that we’ll be adding to our restaurant’s menu, so basically you’re first of the few to taste it. Now, I can tell you’re a good food critic.” Generally, if this had happened, I would’ve been so excited but not today. If you can’t tell my mood is a little gloomy today.

We sat in the TV lounge rather than in the kitchen or dining area just to make it more casual and comfortable.

The pasta was to die for, I mean the way it melts into your mouth and reaches your soul has to be a piece of art. The chef really knew what he was doing while creating this.

But for the first time, I wasn’t enjoying good food or eating itself in general. Food is my first love and so will it be my last.

And my attachment style is savory!

What I can’t understand is why am I letting a third person come into a love story that’s for forever.

How can you not feel hungry, Hannah?

Or are you so full of thoughts that you have no space left?

“You’re not eating, did you not like it?” he asked when he saw me playing with the fork.

I realized not once did he ask me about his son. So, as exhausting as it seemed at the moment I decided to address his absence. After all, I’m his loving wife. And as husband and wife, how can you not mention your spouse in the presence of their family, right?

“Oh, no, it’s really good, dad. It’s just, I wish Elijah was here but he’s occupied at work.” I tried my level best to seem like a love-struck wife who’s missing her husband at a meal but also understands his work commitments.

All the movies I’ve watched to date are now finally paying off.

“He won’t come,” he said with a deadpan face without looking away from his plate.

Huh?

“I’m sorry, what do you mean?” I asked with genuine confusion.

“It means, that he having dinner with Ms. Eva Reynold at her house. I’m sure you knew that?” he still did make eye contact and continued eating.

I felt my heart drop at what he said, it once again exposed the reality of our relationship, or better the lack of it. But I can’t let him know regardless of what my face must be telling him.

“Ah, yes, he did tell me about it, they have some business to discuss. But I forgot, silly me!” I tried recovering from the blow I just received on my ego.

“Yeah, silly you, you also forgot that why would he come here if he doesn’t live here?” he chose that moment to look up from his plate and at me.

To say I was at loss of words would be an understatement.

“You might think that we’re old, don’t know anything so it’s easier to fool us but not really.” He wiped his mouth with the napkin as I kept looking at him with shock all over my face.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I tried to salvage what I could.

“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about.” I stayed quiet as I didn’t know what to say.

Elijah looks a lot like his dad but today I really saw the uncanny resemblance in their personalities. His eyes and the no-nonsense intensity are so alike that it’s hard to doubt their relationship even for a second.

“Come on, Hannah, tell me, how long are you both planning to fool the rest of us?”

I just kept looking at his face dumbfounded as I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“You think, I wouldn’t know what goes on in my office or in here? He doesn’t come here at all except for a few times, you both share no real relationship whatsoever, you don’t work together and neither do you try to work things out for yourself. You just bluff to keep us quiet.” he paused to pierce me with his questions, “I might be old but I still am in control. Nothing hides away from me,” he said with authority.

I thought of making up another excuse but there’s no point now, is there? Now, everything is out in the open.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t be in control, at least in your kids’ lives.” I called out without holding back, “And you know what? It’s not his fault, you know.” I called out, “And neither is it mine. It’s yours,” I accused without holding back, “and Dad’s. We didn’t want this. You both decided and without thinking of the consequences thought it was a good idea to do so. And now, when things are not going according to plan, you’re here to ask what went wrong. It wasn’t such a good idea to begin with, don’t you think?”

“How would it work out if you won’t give it a chance, sweetie?” he reasoned.

“That’s what you refused to accept then and even now you are doing the same, we don’t want to make it work!” I almost yelled in frustration.

“I understand that but you’re both too good for each other, if only you’ll give it a chance.”

“How does that matter? The purpose of this marriage was the merger between both companies. Why do we need to make it work and complicate things when have to go our separate ways anyways?” he looked at me with surprise.

“What do you mean?”

“It means that as per the contract we need to be together for only 2 years and that’s exactly what we can do for you,”

“No, it means you have to be together ‘at least’ for two years, and since the companies will already be merged in the coming few months it won’t be easy to split it again, in fact, you can’t do it again for quite a while. And if you can’t make your marriage work for two years, what makes you think you can run a company together after?”

“We’ll figure something out then,” I said nonchalantly as I couldn’t think of any more logical arguments.

“You can’t, your best bet is to make it work somehow. Also, it’s the beginning of your relationship, you have a long way ahead. You’re both so different yet so alike, you’re made for each other, but you’re both just too stubborn to see it,” he patted my shoulder, “you might be unable to see it now but your dad and I meant well.”

“How’s dad?” I asked him out of the blue, amidst a conversation.

“Umm, he is… he’s good, doing well,” he hesitated with his words, “Just busy with his work, you know,”

“I don’t,” he didn’t answer, “but then again, I never did. But I hope he knows how well things are for me,” I answered without making the effort to hide my disappointment and his absence in my life.

They need to know what they did wrong.

He decided not to talk about it further.

“I have to go now, it’s late already, but can I request something from you?”

“Yeah.”

“No one knows that I came here, can I trust you to keep this between us and act like we didn’t have this conversation?”

“You can, but I don’t see the point of it. I mean, what’s the point of pretending now when everyone knows already?” I questioned his demand for secrecy.

“Trust me, I have my reasons. Also, no one knows except me so I’d appreciate it if it stays like that. I guess, I’m trying to say… continue doing what you’re doing.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“But why?” I don’t understand.

“You won’t get it now, but soon you will.”

What’s that supposed to mean?

……………………………………………………………………...

ELIJAH’S POV

I just can’t believe her.

I didn’t think she’d be that stupid.

Is that her way to take revenge for what happened in that parking lot?

I mean, I guess I went a little over board that day but what she has done is beyond imagination.

There was only one rule to this association and she broke that today.

No one can know what happens behind closed doors.

But she dared to go to Dad and tell him everything.

She also told him about Eva and me when I specifically told her it would be neither of our concerns if we wished to see other people.

I mean how insecure can she be? She's so conniving.

She’s seeing Daniel but I didn’t say anything. Dammit, he gets paid too, and what for, to sleep with my wife?

Woah, woah, woah, look who’s being possessive... For his wife!

And did you say she’s insecure when that little act of PDA was nothing else but retaliation and on purpose for her to see?

Rebuking and ignoring all the thoughts that went against me, I once again went back to dwelling on what a childish thing she had done and caused problems for both of us.

Dad was so angry when he made me cancel a very important meeting I had today.

And when he reached here, he broke all hell loose.

He now knows that we’ve been deceiving everyone all this while.

And now I’ll constantly have him on my back.

He also brought the contract along which states that we have to ‘live’ together this whole time otherwise it’ll be a breach of contract. Fuck!

This little minx ruined everything just for the sake of her satisfaction.

Just when I think that she might not be too stupid, she goes ahead and does something even more disastrous.

How do I subside the urge to squeeze the life out of her with my bare hands?

You know what? I don’t have to. I might actually do it today.

Picking up my car keys I left the office earlier than I usually do.

Hannah Evans, you’ll be dead today!

Reaching home, I opened the front door and didn’t see her in the TV lounge where she usually is. Must be in her room for a change, unaware that this is her last day on earth.

Just as I was to go upstairs, I heard a little noise coming up from the kitchen. I followed the sound and went to the kitchen.

As I stood on the kitchen door I saw her warming up her dinner as she hummed and swayed her hips perfectly. There’s no music playing yet her body moves in perfect rhythm and harmony enticing me in the process. I kept looking at her with fascination as I looked at her dancing with a free spirit.

She doesn’t know I’m here.

I’ve never seen her in so much ease and comfort as she is now.

Around me, she’s always so reserved and uptight, but now, as I see her, she looks so innocent and pure that it’s hard to look away and not admire her.

Wait a minute, what the fuck am I thinking?

There’s nothing admirable in her, she is only abominable. Get back to your senses, Elijah, you’re here for murder.

She moved towards the fridge and took a water bottle out to drink.  That’s when I decided to make my presence known.

“Rejoicing your victory?” my voice startled her and she choked a little on her water.

“You scared me,” she put one hand on her chest and wiped the dripping water from her mouth with the other, “what are you doing here?” she finally noticed me standing near the door.

“Came here to congratulate you,” I folded my arms as I leaned against the wall, “didn’t know there was a party going on.”

“What are you talking about?” she pretended to look confused.

“Oh, I think you know exactly what I’m talking about, in fact, now others know too. Mission accomplished.”

“Can you just come to the point already, I don’t have time for this, and my food’s getting cold,” just look at her, staying true to her character of deception.

“What were you thinking would happen by your little act of rebellion, huh, what precisely did you achieve?” I questioned to see how long she will not drop her act.

“You know what, you keep up with your riddles but I’m genuinely not interested.”

“You act so innocent and naïve whereas you’re anything but that,” I felt my blood pressure boiling at her antics of oblivion, “why did you tell Dad, what did you get from it?” I reached straight to the point.

Her eyes went wide, I guess with realization. She tried to recover from it was too late already.

“You’re delusional, you don’t know what you’re talking about,” she looked everywhere but at me.

“We had a fucking deal! I warned you not to fucking cross me.” I said through my clenched teeth.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she repeated, "I haven't said anything to anyone," is she for real? If it was anyone else, the might have believed her.

"Stop lying to me, I know you told him otherwise there's no way for him to know." I hissed loudly, standing a few feet away from her.

"I'm not lying, I didn't have to say anything. He knew everything already," she spat out finally, "you want to know why?" she continued, "Because apparently, you're not discreet enough about your affairs and it's not my fault that you can't keep it in your pants," How dare she? Is she accusing me of her mess-up? What a hypocrite.

"You better watch your tone, no one ever talks to me like that," the urge to kill her increased tenfold.

"There's always a first time for everything, you should be open to new ideas," she said with a smirk, she’s pushing all my buttons all at once, oblivious to the fact of what could happen to her, "besides, it's not my fault that everyone can see right through this fake marriage despite, your such 'affectionate' behavior," she said sarcastically but I can sense her nervousness. Is she opening up about how she feels?

I think it’s me who’s making her nervous. As I stared at me she refused to look at me.

I started walking towards her knowing that she was getting vulnerable by my gaze. I ensured she was aware that I was noticing every breath she took.

I wanted to make her conscious about herself and I succeeded, she tucked a stray strand of her wet hair behind her ear anxiously.

In this process of a few seconds, I don’t know what happened to me that I started losing myself in her sight, my icy eyes beholding her defenseless being.

She looks like a deer caught in the headlight having no idea where to go.

As I moved towards her, I noticed once again how petite she was. But at that moment, I noticed something else too.

My own reaction was not something I planned for, it was all happening on its own, I don’t know why I was going near her but I knew that I needed to be near her. She’s not doing anything to pull me towards her yet my feet have a mind of their own.

After a long time, I’ve lost control of my senses and my body but as of now, I don’t mind it. I finally reached where she was standing.

"So, you want me to show you affection, huh?" I asked as my voice became husky on its own like breath knocked out of my body seeing her so up close. She seems scared and sensual all together, something I never thought she would. And she's not even trying, it's I who's seeing it for the first time.

I guess she sensed me looking at her with an unaware passion that’s hard to avoid. Her heartbeat was a little erratic when she finally looked up at me.

As cold as my eyes are, I know they can be too intense all at once and she witnessed it too. Unable to let go of my fervent gaze and proximity, she leaned back on the fridge for support unknowingly. A sensual surprised gasp left her body drawing me more towards her, so much so that the gap between us started bothering me,

In that moment I wanted nothing more but to fill that space and never leave it empty.

I guess she can see my intentions clearly and I didn’t try to hide them either. Her face is so transparent at the moment with all the emotions that it’s obvious she’s looking for an escape as the moment is heating up with every past second and so are our bodies.

Reading her motives to evade, I encaged her with my hands on both sides of the fridge. I resisted the urge to touch her but I don’t know how long I can.

She again tried to look away but failed as my eyes held her captive, his heartbeats at moments were so loud that I could hear them clearly.

Just like me, she’s also going through a dilemma, I can tell she also wants to get drowned in the moment but is somehow trying to swim.

"ANSWER ME," I said a little sternly making her flinch. She blinked her eyes a few times to break free from the trance we were in.

"N... no," her usually blunt and confident voice came just as a whisper this time.

Breaking free of the resistance and sanity of holding back, I let go of the hesitation and put my hands on her waist. A shiver went down her spine as I pulled her closer leaving no room even for air between us. Our bodies molded perfectly together as if made only for this moment. We have a significant height gap but somehow it only added to our benefit.

At this moment I felt like it was the beginning of something that’ll be forever.

I have never felt like this before the way I’m feeling now. Every inch of my body feels fulfilled and complete having her so close to my body. I am feeling relaxed and adrenaline rush together. And the way her body is reacting to my touch I can say the same about her. The mild fragrance of her shampoo and body wash was so powerful that was intoxicating me and pulling me more and more towards her.

I don’t know if such a moment can ever come again but I feel if I miss it I’ll regret it for life.

And I’m not the one to miss out on opportunities and regret later.

I’m the one who makes most of them, seal the deal, and make them work out for me.

And right now I’m going to do just that.

So without thinking further and leaving behind all the hesitations, I closed my eyes and smacked my lips onto hers.

Her lips were bare but sweet like honey, soft as a rose petal and so full that mine melted right into them. My lips had a flow of their own as they tasted the bliss of her closeness. I didn’t realize hers weren’t moving until now.

But when they did, I lost all control. I guess we both did.

I let go of her waist and caressed her cheek with one hand and the other one intertwined with her hand while I pressed her further into the fridge. The sparks fired up as neither of us stopped to breath but just replenished into each other’s existence.

The more we kissed the more we craved for it.

In that moment I forgot why I came here or how angry I was at her. Everything was erased from my memory, all my senses wanted just one thing and one thing only, to cherish what we have now, in this moment.

“Hannah…” I whispered her name as I bit her lip which made her moan and take a hold on my shirt for stability with the same hand that held the bottle and spilled some water while doing so, arousing the things in me I had no idea existed.

I guess, this is now my favorite sound.

We continued devouring each other like we’ve been starved for a very long time.

I’ve kissed many women before but this… this is something else. This I’ve never felt before.

I don’t know how long it’s been that we’ve been kissing or how long we would’ve continued if she hadn't pressed a button on the fridge by mistake that made the sound.

We got back to our senses.

We broke our lips apart while still embracing each other as before, our heavy breathings were mixing together as we tried to get air back in our lungs.

We stayed like that trying to recollect ourselves. I took my time to look at her and saw how pink she has gotten, her lips were swollen while they still tingled from the passionate kiss we just shared.

Trembling in my arms a little, she tried catching my breath back but I kept looking at how beautiful she was in that moment. It felt like I'm seeing her for the first time. She looks all the same yet so different.

A good different.

She saw me taking in every inch of her body and got embarrassed and looked down but didn’t try to get away this time.

It made me laugh, the way she blushed and tried to hide it, the effect of the kiss we shared was very evident for both of us but she looked more flushed than me, like it was her first kiss, her first touch.

I don’t know what this brought out in me but I knew I had to make the most of it. It’s not every day that I get to see her so quiet and disoriented, otherwise, she’s always on her high horses.

"Good," I leaned back once again, making sure my lips brushed her ear when I whispered, her body stiffened from the sensation, her reactions made me smirk at the impact I was having on her. And before she could comprehend what was going on, I teased as intended, "Because, you're never going to get it from me… EVER."  I said in my normal unfazed voice like nothing happened at all.

I pulled away for good this time and couldn’t help but be amused at her because she looked surprised and confused all together questioning her sanity probably. I took the bottle from her hand that neither of us remembered and gulped down all the water making sure all the while to never break eye contact with her.

Leaving her in a state of shock, I put the bottle back on the kitchen counter and left the kitchen.

A smile broke down on my face as I could still feel the sensation of her lips on mine. Did this really happen?

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Author's note:

This has to be the longest chapter I've ever written. Hope it'll satiate all your reading needs for a while.

It was particularly the hardest chapter to write because a lot happened and progressed.

Also, this has to be the first time I've written something as romantic and steamy as this.

I really hope it'll tug at your heartstrings and you'll fall more and more into the story.

I also apologize for the late updates but trust me I try my hardest to give this passion project the time it deserves but fail more than often.

It'll mean the world to me if you all could drop your feedback generously for this chapter as I'm nervous whether it was up to the mark or not.

If I have failed to deliver, I'm open to constructive criticism.

And I have succeeded, then request you to shower as much love as you possibly can.

Please, share this story with your loved ones, and don't forget to like and comment.

Much Love! ❤️❤️