Chương 5: FIVE

"What are you doing?"

Michiel came down from his room and saw Avery looking troubled with various stuff in her hands. He immediately took over the items and took them to the back garden.

"I'm going to make a special dinner here with Andrew. Isn't he coming back from Las Vegas today?" said Avery cheerfully as she arranged the many candles on the table.

Michiel swept his gaze across the back garden area which Avery had transformed into a romantic dinner venue. A round table was set up in the middle of the garden, a wooden chair also arranged so that it was face to face for two people who radiated the light of love from their two eyes. Then Avery placed a rose in the middle of the table to sweeten the wooden table that they would use for dinner. Seeing Avery looking carefree like that made Michiel sick. He should be in Andrew's place for that woman. He couldn't pretend to forget his love for her and become a cute brother-in-law.

"Avery... happy birthday."

Avery hugged Michiel happily with a scream of joy. "You remember my birthday? Oh my God... I'm so happy, finally someone remembers my birthday, thanks Michiel."

Avery gave Michiel a light kiss on the cheek as she let go of his hug that nearly choked him.

"I have present for you."

"Seriously? What?"

Suddenly Michiel held out a red velvet box in front of Avery.

"If you weren't my brother's wife, I would like to propose to you. But since you are my sister-in-law, then please accept this as a birthday present from me."

Avery covered her mouth while holding back the tears that almost dripped from her lids. This afternoon Michiel gave him a white gold ring studded with a very beautiful diamond on it.

"Why do you say that? Do you love me?" Avery asked haltingly in a hoarse voice.

A single tear suddenly escaped Avery's eyes because she could no longer stem the tears that had been jostling in her eyes. Now she felt that God had played with her life. How could she marry the older brother of her former lover and have a strange relationship with her former lover without a clear status. Is this the same as cheating behind her husband? But... they have never done anything so far, only physical contact and joking at each other. She already felt comfortable with Michiel, so she felt that everything they had done so far didn't mean anything. Although some who saw it speculated that it wasn't.

"So much. If you ask me if I love you, then the answer is I love you so much, Avery. I know you've been unhappy with Andrew all this time, you're just being used as a puppet to perfect his status as CEO. I've never seen you laugh out loud with Andrew, even though you tried your best to do it. Now be honest with yourself, who do you really love? Who does your heart really want?"

Avery was silent and cried even more heavily in front of Michiel. Why did that man have to ask her a very difficult question, because she did not have the answer to that question. Her heart was too uncertain to decide who the person she needed most to accompany the end of her life. But everything Michiel said was true, so far she felt she had become a complementary doll for Andrew. Her presence by that man was only a symbol of the establishment and perfection of a CEO, but the man's heart was not close to her. In contrast to Michiel, even though he was annoying and often acted like a jerk, he was close. Their hearts were close to each other and she felt empty when Michiel was not there.

But... she couldn't leave Andrew. She must keep the commitment she built on the altar from the start. If she just indulges in her ego, she doesn't know how many hearts will be hurt by her actions. She didn't want to hurt grandpa and split the two brothers just because of her. So for now, allow her to lie in front of that man, Michiel Thompson.

"I… I want Andrew. I'm sorry Michiel, I don't love you. I already think of you as a brother-in-law as well as a friend who always accompanies me when I'm lonely. Once again, forgive me."

Hurt. Michiel's heart really hurt to hear that. But he knew Avery was lying. Lately their relationship had gotten better and he knew that Avery had the same feelings for him. The woman was just afraid that she would mess things up because he and Andrew were brothers.

"You lied Avery, you lied! I know you love me too, you are only afraid of destroying the brotherly relationship between us if you prefer me. But just so you know, Andrew and I don't have any relationship. He is not my mother's biological child. He is just a child my mother adopted from an orphanage. If you're really unhappy, just tell the truth about Andrew, I'm sure he wouldn't mind letting go of you," said Michiel furiously.

Right now her feelings were mixed, angry, sad, tight, and frustrated. The feeling was so hard on her heart that she felt like exploding right now. She hates being in this situation, where she feels helpless by her own feelings.

"I'm telling you the truth, I do need Andrew more than you. You're just over-interpreting my attitude so far. Besides from the begining I already knew that you were not siblings, so if you think I am afraid that I will damage the brotherly relationship between you, you are wrong. This is all I'm saying because I don't have any feelings for you."

"No, you lied, Avery. You don't love Andrew. You're just pretending to maintain your high ideals. If you keep lying to yourself like this, you will only hurt yourself. Until whenever you will never get happiness," said Michiel firmly.

Avery cupped her hands in front of her face, sobbing in front of the man. She didn't know what to do now. She's confused! It felt like she wanted to sink into the ocean right now instead of having to face her confused feelings.

"Avery... look at me, look me in the eyes."

Michiel lowered Avery's two hands which locked the woman's face out of his sight. With tears still dripping from her eyes, Avery tried to stare at Michiel's sad bead who looked even more sad. She knew that the man was currently feeling great pain in his heart, but the pain was better than him causing a lot of pain to others. For this time she really apologized to Michiel because she had to hurt her so deeply.

"My answer hasn't changed a bit, I need Andrew. I love Andrew," said Avery loudly in a trembling voice.

At the same time Michiel dropped Avery's hands that he had previously held with a broken and aching heart. The man then walked away with his head bowed which was very sad. He had just been rejected by the woman he loved so much. And it really hurts more than death. He really hated the feeling of cursing. He hated loving someone!

-00-

At night the cold air blew fiercely over the city of Columbia. The dried leaves that had turned yellow and scattered as the wind gusts against the sturdy trees in the backyard of the Thompson family mansion. In the middle of the garden, a woman in a white knee-length dress seemed to bow her head languidly while holding back tears that almost broke.

She had been waiting for more than four hours for her husband to celebrate her twenty-eighth birthday. But until the seconds have turned into minutes and the minutes have turned into hours, the man did not appear at all the bridge of his nose there. Even just to give her the news where he is now, he's not. Then what should she do now? It felt like she was so angry with herself. In order to make this perfect dinner she would have to sacrifice one person who by now might have hated her so badly that maybe he wouldn't want to see her again. Little by little the guilt began to jostle into her heart and made her heart even more tight now. She wanted to repeat the time and apologize to the man. What she really needed was that man's presence. She doesn't need her husband's presence at all.

"You can get sick if you keep waiting here."

Suddenly her shoulders felt warm and heavy. A thick fur jacket was draped over her shoulders to cover her shoulders which had been shivering all along. And two seconds later the woman immediately turned around and hugged the warm body of the kind-hearted man who had always been there for her.

"Michiel..."

Avery sobbed inside Michiel's broad chest as she hugged the man's body tightly. Meanwhile Michiel looked so sorry for Avery's condition, which looked so chaotic because since the afternoon the woman had been waiting for Andrew, who was actually having fun without thinking about his wife at all.

"Ssshhh... never mind, don't let out your precious tears crying over that bastard." said Michiel soothingly.

"He promised me this afternoon that he would come home today, but in fact he lied to me. I... I have prepared everything. In fact he doesn't even remember my birthday. Michiel... I'm sorry."

"Ssshhh... calm down, don't think too much about the problem earlier. I'm not mad at you, I'm just mad at myself. I was wrong Avery, I'm sorry." said Michiel again to calm Avery down. Actually he wanted to tell Avery where Andrew was right now, but seeing Avery's very fragile like this, he didn't think he could tell her. Avery better not know. Sometimes lying is sweeter than honesty. Even though the sweet taste is just an innocence.

"Michiel... I... I need you, please don't leave my side. Be my brother-in-law who is always there for me. I... I can't leave Andrew. I don't want to ruin the brotherly relationship between you, and I also don't want to make Grandpa sad. You are the only family I have."

"Avery, I can't be your brother-in-law. I love you. Now tell me, do you love me too?"

Avery stared at Michiel's sorrowful bead with a feeling of indecision running through her heart. She was really afraid of her own words because after all words would have a more dangerous effect if they were spoken without thinking.

"I... I..." Avery sighed heavily as she mustered up all the courage she had. This time she should be able to tell Michiel. She will not run away from that man and lie for the umpteenth time because she actually loves Michiel more.

"I love you, Michiel."

Finally, that one sentence escaped Avery's tiny lips and was followed by Michiel's sudden lips. The man immediately kissed Avery's lips deeply and with feeling after one sentence he had been waiting so much for escaped Avery's lips. It feels like there is nothing that is the happiest thing in this world besides the love you have which is also rewarded well by the people you love. And now that's how Michiel feels, he feels so excited and all the burdens that were before clinging to his shoulders suddenly just lifted after Avery said the love sentence he had been waiting for. If that woman didn't have high idealism in her, maybe they wouldn't need to fight with each other until they ended up in tears like that. But life is never easy. And life requires pain.

"I love you Avery Sherlone," whispered Michiel passionately before he again crushed Avery's pink lips which felt like addiction to him.

And that night it all passed away. Michiel and Avery shared their feelings for each other that had been delayed for seven years due to Michiel's past stupidity. But to have a flawless happy ending is not easy. There are still many things they have to do so that they can unite or they just have to be satisfied with their status as brother and sister-in-law.

-00-

"Drew, I want to talk to you."

Early in the morning when the sun was still shyly showing itself in the sky, Michiel had come to the Pentagon Corp office to have a private talk with the man. As a real man, he will discuss everything well with his brother. Even though it felt like it was very lazy for him to do it considering how his bastard brother was out there.

"Mic, it's possible you came so early like this, what's wrong?" Andrew asked casually, adjusting the position of his tie that looked tilted. The well-built man walked over to Michiel with a mint scent that wafted through his body. In addition, his hair was still wet, making Michiel speculate that Andrew had just finished taking a shower.

"I want to talk about Avery's matter."

"Avery? What's up with Avery? Is she all right?"

Andrew asks Michiel with a look of concern printed on his face. He gradually remembered his promise to Avery yesterday afternoon to come home and have dinner at home. However, because he had something urgent, he decided not to come home last night.

"Avery is not well, last night she waited for you until she was shivering in the backyard. Yesterday was her birthday," said Michiel dryly.

Instantly Andrew looked surprised as he patted his forehead lightly. "I forgot. Really I forgot if yesterday was her birthday. Then how are things now? Is she sick?" asked Andrew guiltily.

Seeing how the panicked look Andrew showed in front of him, Michiel was saddened by the disgust while showing a look of disgust at his brother.

"You don't have to pretend you think about Avery when you don't really care about Avery at all. Instead of just making Avery your dummy, you better divorce her. You don't deserve to be Avery's husband." Michiel exclaimed sharply right in front of Andrew's face.

Anger and hatred were clearly burning in Michiel's eyes without being covered. Meanwhile, Andrew himself immediately stared in shock at Michiel's words while trying to read Michiel's expression that looked earnest in front of him. It was obvious that Michiel wasn't joking with him. Then why did his younger brother suddenly ask him to divorce his wife?

"You're asking me to divorce Avery? What do you mean, Mic? I do not understand." Andrew turned his eyes towards Michiel and tried to force Michiel to give him the answer he wanted.

"Avery and I love each other. I want to marry Avery. So you have to divorce Avery now."

Suddenly Andrew throws an unexpected fist to Michiel's face. The man was breathing hard about to hit his brother in the face again, but Michiel swiftly parried him and slammed Andrew's body to the floor.

"You love my wife? ARE YOU CRAZY Huh? She's your sister-in-law, Mic! Avery is my wife. Why do you have the heart to stab me in the back? Do you guys often do things without my knowledge? You're abusing the trust I gave you Mic, I'm disappointed in you," shouted Andrew emotionally, wiping the corners of his bleeding lips. The man then rose from the floor, patting his expensive material pants several times.

"I love Avery. In fact, we've been together since senior high school. But because of my stupidity, I made Avery hurt and left my life. For years I tried to find her, but I always failed to find where Avery was. But fate seems to say something else because I was actually met with Avery through you, who at that time was introducing your future wife to everyone."

Then why didn't you say anything at that time? Why have you been silent all this time?"

"BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO HURT AVERY! I thought that by letting her marry you, she would be happy. But it's not! She is not at all happy after marrying you because you just treat her like a doll that you use to accompany you in every event your business relations company. Now I'm asking, have you ever seen Avery laugh with you, huh? Have you taken care of Avery when she was sick? Have you ever been by her side when she was caught up in a defamation scandal? HAVE YOU EVER RUNNED YOUR ROLE AS A HUSBAND HOW? ANSWER ME!" shouted Michiel fiercely.

But Andrew seemed silent and seemed unable to answer all the questions Michiel asked. Indeed, all this time he had been too busy with the huge Pentagon Corp company that he had abandoned Avery and was never there when she needed him.

"But I'm doing this for the betterment of Pentagon Corp. Every day I handle all office work that should be your responsibility."

"Huh, bullshit!" yelled Michiel badly. He knew that Andrew had not been in charge of his family-owned company. Andrew only used that as an excuse to cover up his rottenness which Avery never noticed.

"I know you've been having an affair with your secretary, Stephanie Hwang. Wasn't she your first love in senior high school? Your decision to marry Avery two years ago was because you wanted to forget your lover. But six months ago you accidentally ran into her again when she applied for a job at your office as a secretary. And last night you didn't come home because you were with your ex, right? You stay in the apartment you gave the woman while you were in Columbia. What a petty! You're disgusting, Drew!" Michiel shouted loudly and looked so angry.

Andrew, who did not think that Michiel would find out about his affair with Tiffanya, panicked. He was afraid that Michiel would report it to Avery and get himself hated by grandpa. However all this time he had always tried to get love from the old man with all the hard work he had worked so hard for.

"Please don't tell Avery about that," said Andrew quietly. But Michiel will clearly tell Avery, it's just not anytime soon. He would say it slowly so that Avery would not be devastated because the woman's sacrifice to maintain her marriage relationship was in vain.

"You better divorce Avery and leave Avery free. She shouldn't sacrifice her life just for a bastard like you. If you haven't divorced Avery within a week, I'm going to bust all your rottenness in front of Avery and Grandpa," threatened Michiel with emotion and immediately walked away from Andrew's room, slamming the door.

When he was outside his brother's room, he saw the secretary was looking at him with a scared face. He was sure that the woman had heard all her conversations with Andrew. But he doesn't care! In fact, this woman must be afraid that she does not continue to be a parasite in other people's household relationships.

"Tell my brother to divorce his wife as soon as possible or I will expose all of your rottenness in front of everyone." threatened Michiel with a terrible, snake-like hissing sound. Tiffany can only nod stiffly with Michiel's very terrible cruel attitude while gripping the folds of her skirt tightly.

"All right, I'll tell Andrew."

bình luận bình luận của 0

Bình chọn

GỬI QUÀ TẶNG

Load failed, please RETRY