El walked outside the door and she saw Ben waiting beside Alec's car.
She got in and asked the driver to take her home.
Alec quickly got in after her and they drove off.
Her face was visibly swollen making Alec feel immensely guilty.
Even though his mind was flooded with many doubts about her behaviour today, He could not gather the courage to talk to her.
The thought of her leaving him made him restless. He slowly placed his hand on hers. She only clenched her hand into a fist without pulling it away.
"I'm sorry, El."
His words made her cry again.
"I don't ever want to go there again."
She was always reluctant to visit Carolyn yet Alec insisted everytime.
The events that transpired today had crossed all limits making Alec agree to her words.
He didn't let go of her hand throughout their journey.
When they reached, she pulled her hand away and walked inside. Alec caught up with her.
"I want to be alone for sometime."
"El please don't distance yourself from me."
He held her hand again and walked with her.
Dwane saw them walking together, El's appearance made him suspicious.
'What happened to her?.' he thought with concern.
Alec made El sit on the bed and took out the ointment tube.
He slowly applied it on her swollen cheek. Both of them were silent for long,
"If you don't want to attend the charity auction this evening we can stay back." Alec said, breaking the silence.
"I'll decide later, I want to take a nap." She plainly said and laid down.
Alec laid beside her softly placing his hand around her waist.
Hours later, they heard a knock on their door.
Alec woke up and opened and found Ricky on the other side. He was all dressed up wearing a spotless white shirt, jet black pants and black suspenders.
His glasses rendered him a boyish look.
"Why aren't you ready yet?" Ricky asked.
"We won't be coming." Alec said.
"Why?"
"She isn't keeping well." Alec said, looking at El who was still lying on the bed.
"Let me see" Ricky barged in without caring for their privacy.
He sat on the chair beside the bed and softly touched her forehead,
"El" he called her.
It was still a bright day outside and El wasn't in deep sleep, she woke up when she felt someone touching her forehead.
"Ricky," she said in a sleepy voice.
She slowly raised her upper body to sit, her swollen cheek was now visible to Ricky.
It was clearly a slap mark,
"Who did this?" He slowly moved his hand to her cheek as his eyes darkened.
He always felt protective towards her and seeing a slap mark on her cheek enraged him. He looked at Alec with apprehension.
"No one." El said and pushed away his hand.
"Why are you so dressed up?" Her voice was still sleepy.
"For the charity auction, remember? We decided to go. Are you unwell?" He asked with concern.
Alec simply stood at a corner listening to their conversation, although he was getting envious of the bond that Ricky and El shared, but right now, he knew he shouldn't react or might end up hurting El more.
"Umm, no I'm fine."
"Why don't you come, it won't be fun without you."
Letting out a small chuckle, El replied, "Yeah fine, it would be a good change of atmosphere."
"I'll be waiting." Ricky flashed a bright smile and left.
Alec and El both dressed in silence, Daniel's words about El leaving him continuously played on his mind which was then followed by Ricky's recent scrutinising gaze when he saw El's swollen face.
All of this made Alec extremely uncomfortable and he couldn't bring himself to say anything.
They soon got dressed and went downstairs. El was wearing a white a-line dress with black floral print on it. Her jewellery was simple and her soft curls fell free.
Her simple attire rendered her a childlike appearance.
"Oh, our clothes are matching." Ricky said.
Along with the same colours of clothes they adorned, they also had the same shade of brown eyes.
"Let's go." Alec said with a cold voice.
They drove to the charity auction in complete silence. When they reached, Alec didn't feel like socialising and stood beside El.
However she didn't react much to his company and the constant smile she used to have on her face faded. Clearly, Alec could make out that today's incident had deeply affected her.
"El." He called her, she looked at him absentmindedly.
Her emotionless gaze made his heart wrench.
"Do you like anything? I'll buy them for you." His voice was anxious.
"No," she replied coldly again.
Soon they heard the announcement of the auction starting.
El, Alec and Ricky took their seats. Several exquisite and different types of precious items were displayed but El didn't express her interest in any of them.
Both Alec and Ricky tried to cheer her up, everytime Ricky said something funny, she would only cast a faint smile.
Although she didn't express interest in any of the exhibited items,
Alec had bid on a bunch of them and bought them for her hoping she would like them.
Everytime Alec would bid on something for El, Kaitlyn Miller would raise the bid against him.
She was accompanied by her father Kyle Miller. The heated bidding war between Alec and Mr. Miller would end up being a thrilling experience for the crowd around them.
Both of the competent men ended up winning and losing the bids against each other.
After a while, They assumed the auction had come to an end, when they heard the host announce,
"The auction isn't over yet, we still have our most precious and mysterious item to exhibit."
"Please hold your breath for 'Mi Amor'"
the host announced, as the silk cloth was taken away unveiling the dazzling necklace.
The lights were dimmed and a single spotlight was lit on the bright necklace.
It shimmered under the light bright enough to make everyone momentarily blind around it.
The necklace adorned a pure blue diamond in the centre.
Alec saw El eyes were fixed on it as they twinkled under its light.