While going back to the villa, I couldn't help but continue to adore the chain, and the urge to wear it increased. Looking at myself in the car mirror, I held it against my throat to see how good it would look on me.
Even though it was not any big necklace but an ordinary one with a simple pendant on it, my heart squealed with joy when I found myself looking beautiful after wearing it.
My fingers continued to play with the pendant, and even though I wanted to take it off and secure it until the AcadM opening, I didn't remove it.
I reached the villa and found Mr. Wolfe on the sofa, reading his book. He had been spending so much time in the villa that it made me wonder if his house was sold already. I only prayed he wouldn't make the villa his home.
"Hello there!" He closed the book he was reading and kept his total focus on me.
"I thought you went to your office."
"Why? Are you sad and tired of seeing me here?" He raised his eyebrows.
I let out a sigh. "I didn't mean that."
He kept quiet. Ignoring him, I increased my pace to quickly reach my bedroom to escape from him.
When I was about to pass the sofa, his words halted me. "Met your so-called ONLY ONE?"
I simply looked at him, as I didn't understand what to reply to him.
"You didn't violate anything today." Even though he said it in a normal tone, I could still feel the anger lying beneath it.
It was not a surprise that his guards reported everything to him, including the coffee I had ordered. If only there was no contract between us, I would've mistaken it as his obsession for me.
He then looked at me from top to toe as if he was scanning me in detail. He tilted his head as his eyes fell on my neck.
Standing straight, he let out a frustrated sigh. Then he stood before me and held the chain, mumbling, "Such a cheap one."
Anger flooded my veins at his comment. Just because he came from a wealthy family didn't give him the right to pass comments on people like us.
"Mr. Wolfe! Cheap or expensive, a gift is something one should love with their whole heart." I took a step back and held the chain, saying, "And I love it. For me, it's the most valuable thing."
"A gift?" He scoffed. "You can't take gifts from me but can accept anything from him, including the cheap invisible necklace."
If only I had the courage to slap him!
He again stepped towards me, and in his serious tone, he ordered, "Remove it."
I narrowed my eyebrows, hearing his command. It was true that he owned everything about me, but I didn't want him to take away everything that I loved.
"You know that I loathe cheap ones. How dare you wear it and stand in front of me?" His eyes darkened. "Throw it away."
A lump formed in my throat while I slowly stepped back, shaking my head negatively. "Don't do this. Please."
"You remove it. Or I break it."
Sadness consumed me as just the thought of him breaking Matthew's gift entered my head. "We are not going anywhere for me to look presentable. You won't ask me to set my messy hair or take my pajamas off when I am at the villa. You let me be cheap and messy when I am here. Now, why are you asking me to remove the only thing that I am loving?"
Tears rolled down my cheeks, scared and saddened. If he decided to break it, I'd have no choice but to look at him doing it.
I should've removed it and worn it when he was not there, but at that moment, I didn't think much. I was wearing a precious thing, and I didn't want its warmth to go away from me.
"Mr. Wolfe…" I shook my head, begging him with my eyes.
"Don't cry for him and the things he gave you." His loud voice echoed in the room, which made me flinch.
A disappointed look appeared on his face in an instant, and he walked away, irritated. As soon as he left, I ran to my room and bolted the door to protect myself and Matthew's gift from the monster.
In a blink, a week had passed, and the day that shattered our lives arrived. My parents' death anniversary.
I reached their graves with the flowers my mother used to love. Mira also wanted to visit, but the doctor advised her not to leave the hospital, as she had some tests to undergo.
Placing the flowers on their graves, I knelt before them, smiling despite the sadness that consumed me. They never loved to see me sad.
"Mira is a lot better now. Don't worry about her anymore and chill with the angels above." I let out a laugh.
Then I fell silent, unable to pretend anymore. Like a partner, misery had always stood beside me, but a hope of sunlight beaming after the dark clouds kept me going. However, over the past few months, all the hope I held onto kept disappearing. I could only see the dark clouds surrounding me with no single ray of light.
With my teary eyes, I looked at their graves. It was not just any loneliness that I felt, but something more. Like a part of me was missing, leaving me to rot all alone.
"Mom! Dad! I am tired. I don't want any of this. People my age are going out, studying, partying, and doing all kinds of youth shit, but for me even a genuine smile feels like a big thing. I also want to live like a normal woman in her twenties. I wish you were here."
Only to mock me, the clouds turned dark as if to remind me I could not hope for anything. To worsen my situation, it started to rain. There was no sunlight to take me out of the situation, but an umbrella protected me from it.
There he stood.
Calmly and protectively. Beside me. Like a misery or comfort, I couldn't understand.