Chapter 17

With her stringy blond hair draped over her face, Elodre was lying on the sterile floor by the adorned high bed, all feverish and frail sobbing uncontrollably.

Oh, Cayden. Has he done this to her? Did he lay hands on her, beating her mercilessly like a thief? Even thieves weren't treated this brashly. It was unbelievable how her loving and tender husband suddenly transformed into a monster. She's turned him against herself! Oh…

She broke down crying again. Trembling, she was broken as the memory of that night evoked in her aching head. What happened that night? Di…did Weston put pills in her drink and have a thing with her for real? Did he? Is Raiden not Cayden's child?

Sniffling, she coughed severally.

***

***

With blue dim lights flickering coupled with a huge multicolored ball swaying over their heads, pop music was booming in the air as a bunch of people were dancing at Greg's. Almost all of them are paired with drinks in their hands.

"Evening Mr. Brooks!!" A tall slender waitress bowed and he raised his head.

"Secret Margarita." He said without any eye contact.

"Mr…Mr. Brooks are…are you alright?" She asked but he rather shot a cold glare at her. Even the dim illumination couldn't hide it. "I… 'm sorry, Mr. Brooks!" She bowed and walked off.

In no time, the lady returned with his order on a tray and cautiously served him.

***

"Oh, there he is!!!" Penelope blushed, sitting with her friends on a set table a few distance away from him.

"Who?!!" The other three girls chorused

"The almighty Mr. Brooks I've been fussing about!" She said excitedly. And at once, they all turned to him and gasped in awe.

"Oh–my God!!" Gwen covered her mouth. ''He's damn cute."

"Aww!" Yvonne and Kayla admired him.

"Girls look!" With a grin, Gwen showed them his Instagram profile.

"I've been following him for ages now," Kayla said with a sad face. "But it appears I'm invisible."

"Likewise." Yvonne shrugged. "Never met him before though."

"I saw him at the president's birthday but couldn't get his attention," Gwen said and stole a glance at him. "His grown-ass guards didn't even gimme a chance."

"That sucks!" Sipping her drink, Yvonne said.

"But, ain't I fashionable enough?" Gwen raised a brow and the girls glanced down at her elegant glittering silver gown.

"Well," Kayla said. "Not when it comes to him. You must beat his wife, Elodre. He seems to love her pretty much."

"Yeah," Gwen agreed. "Damn! I hate that poor bitch. I dunno what's so special about her."

"Heard she's from a poor background," Yvonne said. "But see how he's changed her life completely."

"Look, I just have this weird feeling that their f*ckin' marriage won't last," Penelope said.

"Just say that's what you wish for." Kayla chuckled.

"Definitely." Gwen sipped her drink. "Can't believe he broke up with Heather only to be with that Elodre girl. She ain't even beautiful."

"Nah, she's." Yvonne contradicted. "She might come from a crude background but she's damn gorgeous."

The girls scoffed.

"Look at those muscles!!" Penelope gasped. "The guy so ripped!"

"He ain't even looking at us."

Taking a sip of his margarita, he dropped the rock glass on the table, engulfed in his phone. He's just been scrolling up and down his phone viewing Elodre's stunning pictures. The love of his life. She was so tender and fragile. Those gray eyes glowed with innocence. He sighed.

Once he scrolled down and saw a picture of them both with baby Raiden fury rippled in him. With furrowed brows, he zoomed the picture, glaring deeply at it. Shortly he dropped the phone, letting out a long groan as his hands clenched in a fist.

***

"Ma'am?" Lady Jasmine was standing outside her mistress' room. "Ma'am? I've put Raiden to bed."

"Thank…you…Jasmine," Elodre said faintly. "What would…would I have done without…" She coughed roughly.

"Ma'am?" She leaned closer to the door. "Are…are you alright?"

Coughing violently, she said, "I'm fine…Jasmine…"

"Bu…but it doesn't look like you're fine, ma'am. Sh…should I perhaps call Mr. Brooks?"

"Oh, no, no," Elodre mumbled. "I'm fine…"

"Ma'am…"

"Jasmine, please go away."

Lady Jasmine gazed at the bronze door for a while and hesitantly walked off, and from a distance, she was still hearing how hard Mrs. Brooks was coughing. Where's Mr. Brooks? Since she came she hasn't seen her Mistress. She never even came outta the room. That was quite unusual.

***

"I'm going over there". Gwen said.

" Gwen!!!" They chorused.

"What?!" She said,

***

He wished he'd married Heather. Cayden thought, fumbling with the rock glass. Probably, she wouldn't have hurt him this much.

Gazing into space, he picked up the glass and sipped the drink.

What if he goes back to her? Since the night he jolted her she suddenly disappeared on him. What if she was his wife–the true woman he should have gotten married to? How come he didn't realize?

His eyes blazing blue, he gulped down the Margarita and slammed the glass on the table. Gazing up he noticed a tall elegant lady in a sleeveless silver sexy ball gown walking majestically toward him. Even though the emission of light was dim he could tell how incredibly stunning she was.

Suddenly, his guards were about to block her but he signaled them, "Let her come to me." And they shifted aside immediately with a bow.

"Mr. Brooks!" She smiled down at him. "My pleasure!"

"Gwen?" A slight smile lit up his eyes.

"Cayden." She said sweetly. So he even knew her name. "May I?" She gesticulated at the vacant chair across from him.

"Sure!!" He took her polished rings-infested hand into his as she sat.

Wow! His palm is so damn hard and warm! Her thin lips pulled wider in a smile. She wanted to feel it for as long as she could.

"Do you care for a Margarita…or?" He raised a brow.

"Yeah," She shrugged. "That'll be cool." She blushed. My god!! He was so f*ckin charming. Her eyes trailed down his body and rested on his perfectly curved muscles. He was so big. She could see a silhouette of his broad chest and the vague curves of the firm masculinity of his breasts through his bodysuit t-shirt. And all she was craving for was to touch him.

****

***

Having done all her chores, Lady Jasmine took a glance around the spacious elegant living room. She walked across the living room and wanted to exit. "Mr. Brooks!" Gasping, she paused and bowed before him. Head down, she couldn't help but perceive the alcohol. He was pretty wasted. "I'm so sorry, master."

"Jasmine?" He was gazing down at her.

"Yes, Master." She answered humbly.

"Look at me." He instructed and she obeyed immediately. "What are you doing here?"

"My mistress asked me to come look after Raiden." She didn't look him straight in the eyes for ten seconds.

"Raiden?" He looked puzzled. "Why?"

"Honestly, Mr. Brooks, I have no idea," Jasmine said. "Sh…she's been indoors all through my stay today."

Cayden was just studying her.