"What are you doing at Aldrich's apartment, Elena? You're not seducing him like last time, are you?" Monica asked with a probing gaze, as if judging something that was not yet certain.
This is why I don't want to meet either of them, because I'll still be the one who's wrong in my family's eyes.
It started when my mother died and my jerk of a father brought a woman and her illegitimate child into the house. I've been considered a parasite in their lives ever since.
Some things that I've been avoiding all this time can't be run away from forever. Sooner or later, I have to face them, whatever the consequences.
Like this time, time seemed to be against me. In fact, Monica, who said she was busy filming, suddenly returned to the apartment.
I looked back at Monica with a dismissive smile, "I knew you would say that. Don't you have any other, more varied accusations? Even short dramas don't use boring lines like that. It's so corny," I said, waving my right hand in front of my nose. Not forgetting the disgusted expression that added to Monica's annoyance.
"Elena, watch your mouth. Is this how you talk to your sister?"
Monica looked furious. Standing right in front of me, she entered the house with slow steps. Her intimidating gaze made me unconsciously take a step back.
"Sister!? Since when did my mother, who is already six feet under, have another child? Are you kidding?"
"Watch your mouth, Elena!"
Monica's anger peaked. Her right hand rose into the air, ready to deliver a hard slap, but it stopped suddenly. I don't know when Aldrich had appeared in front of me and grabbed Monica's hand.
"Monica, you've gone too far!" Aldrich snapped at Monica, startling her.
"Aldrich, you dare snap at me for Elena's sake?" Monica roughly pulled her hand away. She couldn't believe that her husband would snap at her for another woman.
"Why shouldn't I? Monica, you've gone too far. She's your sister, but you think she's a nuisance? Do you still have a conscience?"
I blocked out the sound and didn't want to listen to their argument any further.
Even though I was surprised and stunned when Aldrich defended her in front of Monica, it didn't erase Aldrich's mistake of dumping me for no reason and choosing Monica.
While the two of them were arguing, I took the opportunity to leave. There was no point in listening to their argument.
"You two continue your conversation. Next time you want to fight, make sure I'm not there, so that other people don't blame and accuse me of being the cause."
I gave a slight smile as I walked lightly out of the apartment. From this incident, I knew that their marriage wasn't entirely smooth.
'Actually, what made them get married? At first glance, I knew that the look Aldrich gave her wasn't a loving one. So, what was Aldrich's reason for marrying Monica and abandoning me?'
As I walked down the hallway, my mind was chaotic, questioning Aldrich's reason for leaving me.
Even though I had decided to let them both go. I even disappeared for three years, but when I saw how desperate Aldrich looked when he saw me, even shedding tears. Was it true that the marriage was based on his love for Monica? Not because of something else?
Elena End's POV
After Elena left the apartment, Aldrich Dixon and Monica Wilson were still standing face to face, arguing.
But at one point, Monica said something that sounded like a demand.
"Aldrich, you haven't forgotten your promise, have you?"
"I won't forget it as long as you don't make things difficult for Elena."
"Elena, Elena, Elena... it's always Elena. Have you forgotten that I'm your wife?"
Monica pouted. Her blue eyes fluttered coquettishly as she held Aldrich's right hand with both of hers. Not stopping there, she even leaned in and wrapped herself around Aldrich's arm, then gave sensual touches to her husband's chest.
Aldrich, who didn't like that, released Monica's embrace and grabbed her jaw.
"Stop clinging to me like a leech. You disgust me! And don't call yourself my wife, because I never even considered you as such since you decided to marry me three years ago."
Aldrich released his grip roughly, causing Monica's body to sway and fall ignominiously.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
Monica raised her head and stared at Aldrich defiantly. "You bastard, Aldrich! What do you see in Elena that's better than me? Do you think I'll just take your abuse?"
Monica tried to stand up, even though it was difficult. Her ankle was slightly swollen from hitting the floor when she fell earlier.
Aldrich, seeing Monica's condition, didn't want to help at all. In fact, not satisfied with that, he knelt down in front of Monica and gently stroked her red cheeks.
"Monica, you know I hate being threatened,"
His caress turned into a grip, forcing Monica to look him straight in the eye.
His emotions were currently out of control because Monica had ruined his precious meeting with Elena. And that made Aldrich show another side of himself that no one had ever seen in front of Monica.
"Listen carefully, Monica. You can never compare to Elena. And I'm warning you for the last time, stop bothering Elena. If I find out you're bothering her behind my back, I'll make sure you're finished, Monica. You know I never joke around with my words!"
Aldrich released his grip, and Monica didn't say a word.
Monica's body collapsed, sitting helplessly on the floor. She didn't expect Aldrich to show his cruel side.
After Aldrich warned Monica, he pulled her arm and dragged her frail body out of his apartment.
"Get out! You better not come back if you just want to cause trouble here."
The door was slammed shut, making a loud noise.
"You bastard, Aldrich. Watch out, I will not let you and Elena get away!"
Monica screamed so loudly that her voice echoed throughout the hallway and was even heard by the people around her.
Inside the apartment, Aldrich threw himself onto the sofa and sighed to calm himself down after a long argument with Monica.
Shortly thereafter, his smartphone, which was lying next to him, rang. He swiped the screen with his thumb and saw that the call was from his father-in-law.
"What did you do to my daughter? Why did she call me crying?
"I didn't do anything to your daughter, Mr. Wilson. We just had a little misunderstanding. There's no need for Mr. Wilson to intervene."
"Are you sure? Why did Monica say she caught you alone with Elena?
"Ah... about that, Monica misunderstood what she saw. Elena was drunk last night and entered the wrong apartment. I just gave her permission to rest so she could recover from her drunkenness. After all, Elena is also a woman, and your daughter, Mr. Wilson. You can't possibly favor one over the other, can you?"
"Of course not. I love both my daughters. If it's true what you say, then I won't make an issue of it. Also, next time, treat Monica more gently. She is my precious daughter. If I find out that Monica is crying because of you, believe me, I won't let you go!"
"Are you threatening me again, Mr. Wilson?"
"How could that be possible? You are my beloved son-in-law. I'm just warning you to be more careful in your behavior. Remember, that important item is still with me. There's no way you could have forgotten that, right?"
Hearing this, Aldrich became emotional as he remembered that the important item was still with old man Wilson. He angrily slammed his smartphone onto the floor, cracking it.
"Shit you, old man!"
Aldrich bowed his head. For a moment, he reflected on everything that had happened over the past five years.
He wiped his tired face. "I'm sorry, Elena. I hope you're still willing to be patient and wait a little longer. I will definitely come back to you."