Third person's pov
Meera looked at Elijah silently who was applying moisturising cream on her legs. It has become his routine for the past two weeks. Waking up in the morning he would pick up his doe and wash her up in the bathroom. After that, he would bring breakfast for them in their bedroom and feed her with his hands. Spending the whole afternoon cuddling her in bed, he would watch the sunset together with his doe huddled up on the balcony. At night he would make dinner and again feed her with his hands. Before going to bed he would do the nightly skin care for his doe. And the whole night he would hug her tightly to the chest and sleep.
For the whole two weeks, Meera felt like a doll taken care of by its master. Elijah never allowed her to do a single thing. As simple as walking. He would carry her bridal style everywhere. He has not let her out of their bedroom till now nor let anybody meet her. She was in a golden cage, trapped inside with no communication with the outer world. Worse, Elijah himself has not spoken to her a single word since their wedding day and the whole kidnapping fiasco. She has tried to speak to him, hopelessly. Alas, he remained quiet. With eyes having no emotions, he would gaze at her relentlessly. At first, she was filled with guilt that thought nothing of it. But as days proceeded, it weirded her out. Without uttering a word he would only stare at her blankly from morning to night. She was all in his eyes these days and he was all she could see or meet. He cut her out from the world leaving himself that she could have. Simply, he became his world, not metaphorically but instead visibly.
At first, Meera didn't find his behaviour odd. She expected him to lash out, and express his anger and other emotions caused by her betrayal. Instead, he treated her like a princess rather than a traitor. She was flabbergasted. Why was he staying with her after everything? Every kind of question ran into her head. But nothing gave away for him to keep her like a caged bird. Slowly as the days went by, she grew scared by his strange behaviour. Helpless, she tried asking him or evoking any kind of reaction. But he remained stone cold, like a robot that couldn't talk or have emotions.
God, she tried very hard to get information about what happened to her parents or Evelyn but all in vain. She could know nothing except herself being in their bedroom once she got consciousness later that day. She couldn't speak to Elijah that night, her throat closed up with guilt. She was relieved though when Elijah hugged her to the chest and fell asleep. Who knew from that night onwards everything was going to change, including her Eli. He stopped going anywhere and spent every second with her. She was confused too as to how can they still stay in his mansion. What happened to Mark and Angelina? What about everything Elijah owned? Did he get it all back? She was going crazy with everything! She wanted answers. She couldn't take Elijah's strange behaviour anymore.
With the thought being, she resolved her courage. She saw Elijah get up from the bed with a final caress on her leg to put the cream on the dresser table. Immediately, putting her feet on the rug-covered floor, she was about to stand up and confront Elijah but he rushed back to her side. Carrying her bridal style, he took her to the bathroom. Standing there with Meera in his arms, he waited for her silently asking if she wanted to use anything. Meera shook her head. He then came back to bed and gently placed her on the bed. Meera had enough.
"Eli"
"Eli"
"Eli, listen to me! "
Meera relentlessly tried to get his attention when he ignored her. She even tried to get up from bed on her own. And that got his attention. He forcefully laid her down along with himself while hugging tightly, trapping her arms and legs. Thrashing, Meera pushed him.
"Elijah speak to me! I had enough of your silent treatment! "
She couldn't release herself from his tight grasp with all the struggle. Helpless tears filled her eyes when he buried his head on her neck tightening his grip and saying nothing.
"Please Eli, talk to me. I will go mad if this continues! "
He remained silent and unmoving. And that finally burst the dam of her patience. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself away from him will all her strength. Fortunately, she got freed and it took him by surprise. Rushing to a sitting position, she slapped his hands away when he tried to drag her back.
"Elijah Mancini I said talk to me! You can't always stay this way with me trapped inside our room! "
Huffing after shouting, Meera saw Elijah sitting up on the bed with his passive gaze on her. Shuffling to his side, she clasped his face between her palms and caressed his cheeks earnestly.
"Eli please tell me everything that has happened until now. I beg you"
"I know I am in the wrong but give me a chance to redeem my mistakes. Don't shut me out. Please baby"
Meera knew this is her only chance as Elijah still didn't push her away. Trying her luck, she continued in a hopeful voice.
"You know that I love you with all my heart Eli. There is no lie in it. Yes? "
"So please talk to me, tell me everything. What happened with Mark and Angelina and Evelyn and my parents? "
Her heart was in the throat with all the nervousness and anticipation and stomach clenching in anxiety with all the happenings. Gazing in his green orbs, she expressed her love, pain, and regret, silently praying that he would understand.
Once he heard Mark's and Angelina's names, memories flashed before his eyes. Elijah recalled how after capturing the two fuckers he brought them to his basement torture cell. From breaking their every bone one by one, he heard the satisfying pop and screams of agonizing pain. Still not sufficient and satisfied, he gave their loose bodies electric shocks making them almost dead. He disfigured Mark's hand for touching his doe and removed the fuckers upper lip for kissing his princess. All this did nothing to soothe the fire burning in his veins. So when the fuckers gained consciousness, he hurt them where it hurts the most. They were suckers for money and he took it from them.
"Let me tell you something. The money and everything I owned that you think are yours, never became yours"
Gesturing to John who immediately handed him a set of two papers, Elijah showed them to a barely conscious Mark and Angelina sprawled on the floor at an unimaginable angle.
"This one on the right is the original papers with my original signature that states my ownership of the properties. And on the left are your papers with my fake sign. Look carefully, I never expect you to know that since the day I sent you to prison I changed the way I sign. So everything you did was futile and fruitless "
Smirking, Elijah enjoyed how helplessly Mark and Angelina thrashed around, barely moving and unable to speak and cry for the defeat from the excruciating pain.
"You deserve to die like rats fuckers! Daring to cross Elijah Mancini and touching what's his!"
"John tell Mr. Marcus to take these fuckers and charge them to life imprisonment. And give him a copy of all the evidence"
"On it sir"
Feeling a shake on his shoulders, Elijah blinked back to reality. He saw his doe frowning in sadness and pleading him to talk. Talk she wants. His heart refuses to believe a single word coming from the fucker's mouth and still, he hopelessly believes that his doe and princess didn't betray him. But, every time he looks in their eyes, truth shines like daylight blinding him. He doesn't want to believe it or anything. Only wants his doe to be beside him. Every day, every night, every hour, every minute, and every second.
"Eli please. Talk to me"
"There's nothing to talk"
Finally, he said to stop her persistence to know about what he did and what happened. He wants to keep her away from everything and focus only on him so that she can think about nothing other than him.
"There's everything to talk about! "
Elijah looked into her desperate eyes making his heartache in the same way since the day of their so-called wedding. Every time he looks into her eyes, the memories of her regretful eyes flood his head making him go insane. No! He doesn't want that. He wants his heart to flutter in joy whenever when their eyes meet. Feeling her hands softly caressing his cheeks, he forces himself to forget about the awful feelings that come along with her touch instead of the love and warmth.
"Tell me, Eli, where are Evelyn and my parents? "
"Your parents have gone back to India"
Elijah saw how his doe was taken aback. She composed herself and again asked him about the things he wanted to forget.
"Evelyn? Where's she? Is she fine?"
Elijah unconsciously avoided answering Meera. He has avoided Evelyn since that day. She has become a sore topic to him. It hurt him when his princess admitted to her wrongdoings guiltily. He never imagined his innocent and childish sister to take revenge on him. If it would be in his hands, Evelyn would have never met that fucker in this life. At the end of the day, she proved he is no God and not even her brother.
"Stop doe. I am tired let's sleep"
"Eli! Please? Okay. I won't ask about Evelyn for now. Tell me about what happened to Mark and Angelina? "
"Don't speak those fucker's names! "
Elijah gripped Meera's forearms in a deathly grip with eyes blazing in anger. Meera gasped, startled. Blinking, she nodded meekly, hiding the pain she felt by his tight hold.
"Those fuckers are as good as dead. That's all you need to know"
Releasing her with a jerk, Elijah got up from bed. Running his hand through the hairs, he paced before the bed.
Meera rubbed unnoticeably the sore area on the forearms. She understood that Elijah couldn't tolerate two things; her speaking and thinking about anybody except him and talking about the people who took his possessions. Gulping, Meera saw Elijah pacing the bed in frustration. She knew that the cause was her questions but the curiosity was killing her. And they have to talk about the elephant in the room one day or another. So she doesn't want to delay it anymore. Elijah can't avoid her anymore.
"Eli, I know you don't want to talk about Evelyn. But please at least tell me if is she okay? "
Elijah ignored her question. Meera knew she can't hold her throat anymore and blurted out that was weighing on her shoulders.
"I am sorry Eli, for everything"
Momentarily Elijah stopped turning around to face her. Meera expected to see the same stone-cold face from days before. But surprising her, his face held sorrow contorted in sadness with eyes dripping with pain. Her throat was clogged with guilt seeing him. Clenching her fists on the bedsheets, she looked down.
"I know what--"
"Did you plan along with Evelyn? "
Gasping Meera felt Elijah lifting her chin when he bent down on the bed. Gaping she stared at his questioning eyes, the first time filled with uncertainty and agony. Biting her lips, she nodded.
"Words! Answer yes or no! "
"Yes! "
She squeaked out in surprise when he roared in anger tightening his grip on her chin. Her heart was throbbing in pain knowing very well that this confrontation may result in her losing everything.
"Were you part of those fucker's plan? "
"It's not like tha--"
"Yes or no?! "
"Yes! "
Meera answered clenching her eyes shut, unable to face Elijah. Silence fell in the room and she can hear Elijah breathing heavily. Her heart was screaming at her to console him and apologize until he forgives for the sins she committed.
"Eli I didn't mean to betr--"
"Why? "
Meera halted when Elijah's broken voice asked her. His voice, which always carried power was filled with pain and defeat. It broke her. She was blaming herself relentlessly for hurting her Eli. Where should she begin? Was she even worthy of his love after everything? One thing she knows is she can't lose her Eli. She would do anything to gain his forgiveness.
"Why?!!!! "
He shouted finally on her face. Meera looked frighteningly at him. He never raised his voice on her. And when he did, she was the cause. She knew hearing her would break his heart and hurt like crazy. Did she dare to hide the truth after everything now? No, she doesn't deserve choices. If it will break her Eli into pieces, she would mend him back. So, with final strength, she confessed everything to him hiding nothing.
"I wanted you to suffer for what you did to me. I hated you for forcing me into your life as your wife dragging my parents and loved ones and hurting them. I wanted revenge for everything you did to me. I couldn't forget a single thing you put me through"
Meera dared to chance a glance at Elijah who was leaning on the bed with his head down. She couldn't see his face but by looking at how hard he was clenching his fists, it was clear he was hurt and angry. Gulping, she continued in between sobs.
"At first I planned to pretend to be in love with you and propose to you to marry me. And on the day of the wedding, I would run away leaving you behind to feel the pain you put me through. On the day you confronted me, I acted to be innocent. You believed me though"
"Evelyn heard us and from there we planned together. She agreed to help in my original plan with the addition of her revenge. Later she introduced me to Mark and Angelina. And together we planned that I would run away from our wedding and they would demand you to apologize"
"But in between all the planning and plotting, I fell in love with you and wanted to spend my life with you. I swear Eli I left the plan and tried to stop Evelyn. I was going to tell you everything the night after rehearsal dinner. But Evelyn kidnapped my parents and blackmailed me"
"Please Eli, believe me when I say that I love yo--"
"Aaaaahhhhh!!! "
Meera jumped up in surprise when Elijah shouted turning around. Meera gasped covering her ears when Elijah picked up the bedside lamp and threw it on the glass table between the couches in front of the balcony breaking it into hundreds of pieces. He didn't stop there. Meera shouted in fear when he kicked and threw the couches, vases, and their photo frames howling in pain. She saw him leaning against the dresser huffing. His reflection in the mirror scared her to the wits. His eyes were filled with tears and looked red around the rim. The next second he punched the mirror breaking it and injuring his hand. Meera shouted in pain and surprise at Elijah sitting straight on the bed.
"Eli!! "
She couldn't move her body which froze when he turned around to meet her eyes. Angrily he marched towards her making her breathe hitch in the throat. Her heart leaped out of the chest when he gripped her shoulders, shaking. He didn't say anything. Only gazed at her with agony in his eyes, heartbreak etched on the face. It broke her heart into million pieces. With gut in utter despair, she forwarded her hand to touch his face and apologize million times for hurting him. But she stopped when he clenched his eyes shut gritting his teeth with shoulders trembling in silent cries. Then she saw it which made her heart drop to an endless pit of despair. Streams of tears ran down his eyes and lips trembling. She sobbed miserably seeing him heartbroken and in pain.
"Eli, I am sorry. I am so sorry. Please believe that I regret everything that I did"
"Please forgive me, Eli. I am sorry"
Silence fell in the room with Meera continuously apologizing to unmoving Elijah still gripping her shoulders. Opening his eyes, he saw Meera crying through the blurry vision profusely apologizing for hurting and betraying him. Finally, he spoke up, his voice unfamiliar to both their ears.
"You wanted to leave me? Today I, Elijah Mancini, break every relation with you, Meera"
"No, no, no, Eli! Please no! "
"From this very moment, I release you. You will never see my face again"
Meera placed a hand above her heart which was clenching in agony with every word leaving her Eli's mouth. She felt her heart literally breaking into pieces. Shaking her head in denial, she cried terribly. She felt Elijah pushing her away and standing up, leaving which frightened her like never before. It felt like she was losing her life. Immediately scrambling out of the bed, she ran after Elijah. Moving in front of him, she fell to her knees and begged in between sobs.
"E-Eli I-I a-am s-sorry. S-sorry. Please don't l-leave m-me. I-I can't live with-without y-you"
Elijah didn't even look at her and instead kept looking forward. He felt if he stayed in her presence he might do something to regret later. The betrayal cut deep through him. It left him lifeless. He felt his heart being ripped out of his chest from how much it hurt him. He was afraid he can never forgive Meera for everything. She lost his love as well as his trust in her. For the first time, he saw her in a light other than possession and love. And it was of despise. He felt her hug his waist clinging like a koala. Her tears soaked his black t-shirt. And his heart died because it didn't ache anymore seeing her tears. His tears fell uncontrollably. He allowed it. Today was the last time he was crying because of Meera. He wouldn't let it happen again. He trusted her with his darkest and deepest secrets and vulnerability and what did she do? Betrayed him ruthlessly, stomping on his heart and love mercilessly. Closing his eyes, he exhaled through the pain in his chest.
"Eli, please d-don't l-leave me. I would d-die w-without you. I a-am s-sorry E-Eli"
"I-I love you E-Eli. I l-love y-you. I beg you. S-stay w-with me"
Meera felt hands on her arms tightly wrapped around her Eli's waist, removing them. Desperately, she clung tighter, afraid she would lose him forever. Shaking her head she pleaded with him restlessly even when her voice muffled into the guilt-ridden voice and throat hurt. And with a final jerk, she felt her body pushed away from his. It felt like her soul was sucked out of the body. With a thud, she fell to the floor. Through the blurry vision, she saw Elijah walking away with body sprawled on the floor. Her life was leaving her. With the left energy, she called out to him in utter desperation.
"Eli, come back to me! "
"Please Eli!
" Eli!!!!!!!!! "
And her Eli never looked or turned back leaving behind a mess of broken heart.
The End