Chapter 31
Marlie brushed off the fears a few seconds later.
"No, I'm not afraid of him. He can go to hell with his petty threats, I don't give a damn and won't let it affect me. What a joke!"
After gaining her composure again, Marlie tried recalling the fruit of her actions earlier.
She now cared little about Chad's actions and the damn effect he had on her a moment ago. Now, her attention was on how the mistress reacted; she just had a reason to celebrate her victory over Angelina.
Grabbing her phone, she headed to the kitchen to fetch herself food and then took it to her room to eat. She was grateful she didn't see any annoying pest downstairs.
Taking her food to her room quietly, she ate to her full and decided to sleep. After all, it was late and her body was exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster of the day.
However, It was better to sleep in her room than return to the lion's den. It's better to safe than sorry.
*********
The following day, Marlie woke up later than usual. Due to having eaten a late meal, she couldn't sleep early and had to stay awake until her food was properly digested. Or perhaps she was planning something new. Her mind never ceased to cook up many mischievous plans to overturn the Baristanas.
Being fully aware that her actions would not lead to a favorable outcome, Marlie decided to anticipate whatever challenges lay ahead of her. She would just wait and ambush them to have the last victory.
She walked near Charlie's ashes and caressed them with kisses as if it were some kind of worship
After that, Marlie went to the washroom and had her shower before heading out of her room to the hall. She positioned herself on the couch, comfortably in the living room, awaiting them. She could have breakfast later.
Before coming out of her room, Marlie was certain that Chad was not present, as he typically left for the office earlier. So she can be her true self in his absence and deal with whatever comes her way until he returns.
Settling onto the couch, she picked up a magazine to pass the time though it was starting to bore her.
"Let's wait for you dear princesses and your graceful arrival,"
Marlie said sarcastically flipping through the magazine.
******
Meanwhile, in Chad's office, Angelina entered and placed some legal documents on Chad's desk without uttering a single word to him. Chad also didn't deem it fit to say anything. Shouldn't she at least greet? Bitch!!
Frustrated by his lack of acknowledgment, Angelina folded her arms, demanding an explanation,
"Don't you think I deserve an explanation?"
Angelina said waiting with folded arms for Chad's explanation. She felt hurt not only by what happened the day before but also by Chad's lack of acknowledging her presence. At least the least he can do is to explain what happened between him and Charlie(Marlie) the day before.
However, Chad paid no attention to her. He knew she deserved a tangible explanation, not only that, even an apology for foiling their arrangements for the previous night but with that attitude of hers, she gets nothing.
Besides, why should he even explain his intimate affairs with his wife to her? They are nothing but childhood friends. Even if something supposedly happened between them before, it doesn't serve as a platform for her to act that way. So what gave her the right to demand an explanation? Who cares what she thinks or how she feels?
In an outburst of frustration, Angelina forcefully slammed her hand down on Chad's desk, shouting his name.
"Chad! Shouldn't I at least get an explanation?" She inquired, her arms folding back again, and waited for his response.
However, Chad remained calm and engrossed in reading some documents in front of him. It was as if no one was there shouting at him. His indifference infuriated her even more.
"Chad?!" Angelina screamed his name again.
Chad finally raised his head from the document and shifted in his chair, his gaze fixed upon her with a cold and indifferent stare.
That icy cold glare of his was directed keenly at Angelina who went shocked and pale at the frightening sight of him. She had never faced such a stare from him before and had thought she was forever exempted from it. Who could have thought that a day would come when she would finally meet such a cold stare from him?
This unexpected reaction startled Angelina, causing her arms to unfold and hang loosely at her sides. But she persisted stubbornly.
"I won't leave until you provide the explanation I deserve," Angelina stated firmly, determined to have things her way. But her actions and words were not gaining the attention she wanted.
Still receiving no response from Chad, she shouted his name, again or even louder, out of frustration and anger hoping to get a reaction from Chad. So he responded this time around.
Chad rose from his chair, in response, and firmly grasped Angelina's hand, forcefully turning her towards him. His grip was so tight that it caused Angelina pain, prompting her to release a painful cry.
"Are you tired of living?"
Chad questioned, tightening his grip even further.
"If you have a death wish try this again! I haven't even settled the score of rushing to my bedroom and interrupting me yet. How dare you demand an explanation from me? Who do you think you are!" Chad said menacingly to her ears.
The pain was unbearable, causing tears to well up in Angelina's eyes. Chad had been good to her all these years but that didn't give her the right to question him and that too in such a manner. Moreover, she demanded an explanation for having some intimacy with his wife was over the boundaries.
She had known him for a long time and therefore should know he hated being questioned about his actions. Maybe she thought that the supposed intimacy between them two years ago gave her the right to do so. What a silly thing who couldn't differentiate between fiction and reality.
"Chad, you're hurting me," Angelina stated in a trembling voice.
Swiftly, Chad twirled her around and abruptly released his grip, causing her to stumble towards the door as if he had pushed her.
It was the first time Chad had acted that way towards her and it scared the hell out of her. He was usually gentle and good to her ever since they were kids or perhaps more gentle after the supposed one-night stand he had with her on his wedding night.
"Now, leave!" Chad ordered sternly. He didn't even glance at her for a mere second before ordering coldly to her to leave his office.
The marks from his grip were visible on Angelina's hands, and she held them as she fought back tears. Without another word, she hastily exited the room while tears streamed dish her face.
After Chad heard the door close, he closed his eyes, thinking back at what happened between him and Marlie, and how it affected Angelina. He was feeling exhausted already.
Returning to his senses, Chad found Gideon sitting there, gazing at him with a look of confusion. When did he get here?
"How did you get in? What are you doing here?"
Chad questioned Gideon, perplexed. He didn't hear him coming in because he was deep in thought.
"Did you have to treat her that way?" Gideon questioned back instead of answering. Having seen the state Angelina was in rushing out of his office. He stared at Chad for an answer but got none. He was confused as to why Chad would make Angelina cry that way.
"She was in tears and bad state, you know," Gideon persisted, but Chad remained unresponsive.
Recognizing Chad's reluctance to talk, Gideon heaved a sigh and decided to change the subject and inquired about Marlie.
"Alright then, let's discuss your wife," he proposed.
"How is she doing now?" Gideon asked, sitting upright, awaiting Chad's response.
And that succeeded in stimulating Chad's willingness to share.
"She's doing fine. But..." Chad said and didn't know how to put his words together. Something just seemed odd with his wife Charlie, yet he couldn't pinpoint what it was.