"I will go to Cassidy's apartment for now. I'll just stay there until you feel fine." She forced a cold smile.
How dare she threaten him with running away from home? Where did she get the nerve to do that?
There was silence for a moment. Since he was so quiet and chose to not say anything anymore, Miley turned around and went upstairs.
Not long after, she came rushing back downstairs with a bag in her hand, and yet he thought she wasn't serious about staying out of their home for a few days. After all, he didn't believe that she had dared to leave.
But now that she had packed her things up. It made everything real.
Tina had been observing them from afar, right at the back of the walls separating the kitchen and the living room. Upon seeing her walking towards the door, he grabbed her bag to stop her from leaving. "Miss Miley, where are you going?"
"I make Dexter angry now, Aunt Tina," she said, almost catching her breath in anger and haste. "I need to go out for a few days. Please let me out of his sight" Miley took the blame, but she made sure it was loud enough to be heard by Dexter who was watching her.
"What?" Tina asked, glancing at Dexter and back to Miley. "What did you do to make him angry? I'm sure he was just toying with..."
"Aunt Tina, If she wants to leave, then let her. There are plenty of places for her to stay with." He turned around lazily, rolling his eyes, and walked towards the study room, completely ignoring Miley.
No one dared to do that with Dexter. No one was that bull-headed when it came to him. She was the only one who did that to him.
"Miss Miley, if you ever change your mind, please call Dexter and just apologize," she said. "He might be angry but he's easy to coax. This would be over that quickly." A suggestion from Tina.
'Huh. She never wanted to do that!' She ignored his ridiculous suggestion and went ahead.
----
The next morning, Tina and Tristan were standing by the side with their head hanging low, not daring to breathe loudly.
Just as Tina and Tristan felt uneasy, Nellie suddenly rose to her feet. With a darkened expression, she walked toward Dexter, who was standing next to the couch.
She lifted her hand and slapped him hard across the face. The slap was so loud that it startled Tina and Tristan.
"Dexter, I'm very disappointed in you," Nellie said while shaking her head and putting her hand down in a huff. "Take her back right now."
Dexter's expression was still ice-cold, even after being slapped.
"Grandma, Sister is in Hay Blue Villa. Don't worry!" Tristan said carefully.
"Hay blue?" Nellie asked.
"Yesterday I took her to Hay Blue Villa," Tristan replied.
"Miley needs some time. Tina, go and accompany her." Nellie ordered.
------
Miley couldn't sleep, contemplating the bitter conversation she had with Dexter that affected her deeply.
"Outright hideous!"
"He left no choice! Funny!"
Time passes by slowly especially when you are enjoying a nice bath. You tend to experience total relaxation of an escape from reality. Then, a knock at the door interrupted her calm.
"I can hear somebody inside the bathroom. Is that you Miss Miley?" Tina's voice was very loud.
The moment Miley saw her, she felt so aggrieved that she burst into tears. Then she threw herself into Tina's arms.
Always a touch of assurance and comfort came from Tina's loving hands. "Oh, dear Miss Miley."
"Are you staying here?" Miley asked while Tina nodded.
"Thank you." Miley smiled.
"Miss Miley, please do not make Mr. Lombard angry. I'll go and prepare lunch. I would suggest you rest for a while." Tina said.
Don't make Dexter angry?!
She had completely and fully infuriated Dexter, What could she do to rectify that?
Miley decided not to dwell on it further. She changed her clothes and went downstairs. She noticed that the house had not been used for some time. She knew no one had lived there and all the signs that seemed to point in that direction were evident.
"Tristan told me that this house was purchased by Dexter." Miley started the conversation.
"This house was purchased by Mr. Lombard four years ago. No one has lived here since it was decorated. That's all the information that I can provide, so please do not put me in an uncomfortable position, Miss Miley." Tina explained calmly and truthfully.
The house was purchased and decorated five years ago. But why did no one live there? Why did Dexter spend so much money on the house if he had no plans to stay there? What happened? What was the reason behind letting this beautiful house go to waste? Miley has several unanswered
questions going around in her mind.
To not disturb her, Miley turned and quietly walked out of the house, alone.