Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19
Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19
ANDREA
“The audacity of you both,” Michelle hissed, standing up from my side.
Shit. I didn’t realize I had blurted Emilia's name.
“I didn’t mean to, it’s… the thought of her flashed in my mind,” I admitted partially.
“Should I clap for you?” Her voice was clipped. “Technically she’s more important than I am.”
I sighed, holding my head, the aching pain returning. “I thought we settled this yesterday?”
She chuckled lightly. “I thought so too, until now.”
“Aren’t you even bothered as to why I returned drunk last night?”
She was silent now, her hands crossed. “It was Emilia. She caused it… I just feel like disposing of her right now.”
“Then do it,” she replied back.
I walked up to her, my hands on her shoulders. “Amore… you know I can’t do that… Believe me, I was only upset, that was why she came to my mind. It’s nothing more.”
“So how was Emilia the cause of you getting drunk?”
I bit my tongue, trying to find the right answer. Michelle was smart, and I knew she wouldn’t just buy anything I said. “It’s just the speculations of the public. My brother. Business suffering… everything. It’s just getting to me.”
I stared into her eyes, and she stared into mine. It was as if we were in a staring competition, but I didn’t relent. Shortly, she averted her gaze, returning to my bed.
“That’s why I’m your girlfriend, Andrea,” she let out softly, pushing her ginger hair backwards as her weight settled on the bed. “If you can’t share things with me or talk to me… who else can you talk to?”
I returned back. It was either Michelle had no strength for argument or was just playing pretend. “I want to talk to you, to share with you, but I’m afraid I might burden—”
“No buts, Andrea. If there’s something I need to know, you let me know,” she said, tugging onto my shirt.
I gave her a soft smile. “I will. And thank you.”
“You said you made this tea for me,” I said, picking back the cup of liquid that was now turning cold.
“Yeah,” her lips curled into a smile. “Like it?” she asked, her brows arched.
“It’s perfect, Amore… thank you.”
I took a cold sip, swallowing its content immediately so I wouldn’t puke. I hate cold drinks that aren’t meant to be cold.
After taking the second sip, I noticed a frown on her face. The mug settled on the table beside me, half empty.
“What is it, Amore? You don’t look too good,” I asked, pulling her closer.
“Nothing,” she said, with an obvious fake smile.
Nothing, when used by Michelle, means something. In fact, it meant way worse.
“Come on,” I tugged on her. “Don't you like any of the pieces you got yesterday? Was the dinner not to your taste?”
“Not that, Andrea… I am fine.”
“No, you are not,” I snapped. “If you want me to open up to you, then you have to do the same with me.”
She sighed, running her red-painted nails over the hem of the short black nightgown she had on.
“I don’t want to come off as desperate or jealous…” she started. “And that was why I said nothing.”
“Tell me,” I asked, already anticipating the worst.
She leaned closer into me, stroking the visible veins on my face.
“I’m serious, Andrea… I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Its about Emilia, right?”
Her eyes widened. “H… how di… did you know?”
“Well, she seems to carry bad luck… so I just guessed.”
She nodded thoughtfully at that. “You are right.”
“So what’s wrong?”
She exhaled deeply before starting. “I want to see the marriage documents,” she smiled.
My eyes widened as my hand let loose on her shoulder, pushing my hair backwards. “Amore… you know that’s impossible.”
She stepped in, with a glare on her face. “Or you just don’t want me to?”
I exhaled deeply. “First of all, tell me why you want to see it?”
She laughed softly. “So I have to have a reason to go through that?”
My breath hitched in my throat. “Doesn’t it seem reasonable to you?”
She scoffed, her arms folding into themselves. I bet there were a thousand and one things going through Michelle’s head, but she said nothing.
“Will seeing the document make you happy?” My voice was sharp, yet came out softly.
“I just want to see it,” she answered harshly.
“Fine!”
I had never seen Michelle this serious, not even when she was practicing a script. Her gaze was so focused on the document that lay in her hands, and she took everything in, word after word, letting out a lazy huff beneath her breath or just a nod.
I tried to think about something else before she was done, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Emilia and how those stupid men’s words got to me. And it was no hidden secret. They were right… and I?
I had married one who wasn’t meant to be kept.
“Uhm…” Michelle cleared her throat, snapping me back to the present. “This won’t do, I need something added,” she said, handing me back the document.
My brows knitted together. Now she was going too far. I had let her see the document because of the feelings I was still trusting to be there... these days it felt as if I was trying to uphold an image of me that was no longer alive.
“What?”
“Emilia should also be answerable to me.”
I laughed out loud, so hard I almost felt my ribs crack, but Michelle maintained her stern expression.
“You are joking, right?” I asked, amused. She had lost it for sure.
She shrugged her shoulders, using that tone of hers that had been constant all morning. “I don’t remember being a comedian, or am I?”
My smile flattened. Shit. She was serious.
And I was responsible. I had let her get too comfortable in her demands.
“So what did you say?” The question ripped out of her throat.