CHAPTER 45: MY HEART

’ The nerve of these people

Aaliyah thought to herself as she stabbed every piece of meat and chewed it in anger. Her hands trembled as she ate, suffocated with mixed emotions that were making it to her eyes.

The only thing she felt good about was exposing the people that she grew up with.

"I didn’t prepare dinner so we would be this silent," Theodore’s cold eyes found Kekoa, whom had her eyes buried in her wine. As soon as she felt his gaze on her, she took another sip of her drink, pretending nothing was happening while trying to keep her bearings straight, "Tell us about the troubles you’re having at work. There’s always one or two things happening where you work, hm?"

She hadn’t touched her steak, but swallowed tightly, "Everything is fine this time. There’s nothing to...," A wave of intense goosebumps climbed her skin, and then she laughed like someone that had suddenly had a light switch gone on in their head, "Karina is such a bitch. You know I caught her stealing a staff’s idea about three days ago. Yuan, remember Karina?"

"Yeah." Yuan replied after a few seconds, shaking as the conversation had now been thrown her way, "She’s really annoying. You ought to do something about her," She whispered the last part and went back to her steak.

"That’s why I suspended her. And after investigating, I found out a few other ideas she had come up with in the past were stolen too. So, I demoted her. Any issues from her again in the future, and I’ll fire her immediately!" Kekoa rolled her eyes and ate a piece of steak.

"She must really be a bad person," Theodore piqued in, "Alastair, what about Elizabeth? How is she looking after your Empire?"

Now, that sure pulled Aaliyah’s attention. She stopped chewing for a second, and her gaze shifted to her husband who hadn’t touched anything in front of him the whole while. She didn’t know he had an Empire!

"Just fine," He grumbled in reply.

"I want to hear more. What were her recent achievements this year? Her face has been appearing more on billboards and in magazines. She even went viral again early this year... let’s talk about that,"

Aaliyah clutched her fork hard, "Yeah," She joined in, and everyone turned to look at her in awe, "I didn’t know you had an Empire. Tell me all about it and Elizabeth. I’m sure there’s a lot to share!" She finished and flashed a strained smile that could only be seen as fake.

"I have an Empire. She’s looking after the whole thing, and she’s doing it well,"

"Her achievements?"

"Milestones. New records. Positive impacts. Global reach. And stuff like that,"

"That’s so nice to hear. You must be so proud of her!" She jabbed a fork into a lump of meat, and Yuan was feeling bad for the innocent stake as it was being dragged about the plate, "I’m so happy she’s doing so great,"

Alastair turned to Aaliyah, "What’s wrong?"

"Oh Nothing," She smiled tightly, "Here, have this," She quickly shoved the abused meat into his mouth and flashed him another smile. Alastair could not tell what was wrong with her. There was a big smile on her face, but her eyes were telling a different story.

He chewed on the meat, storming through his head for answers. She was the most confusing person he had ever met.

"And you," Aaliyah faced Yuan, "What do you have to share with us apart from Karen?"

"You mean Karina?"

"Whatever her name is!" Aaliyah rolled her eyes, "I didn’t know your work was related to our supermodel here. How long have you guys known each other?"

Kekoa whom had been silent raised an eye. She thought Alastair and Theodore were the ones keeping her on her toes, but Aaliyah might be taking the lead now. It’s shocking how she’s able to speak up to two men and even eye them openly.

"Just...two years," Yuan softly chewed.

"Hm. How did you guys meet? Are you a model too?"

"I work under her. I’m like...an assistant,"

"An assistant of what?"

"Her assistant,"

"Oh! I see,"

Yuan looked up to see Aaliyah’s big eyes watching her carefully. There was something about those frustrated and demanding big eyes that made her swallow, "W...what is it?"

"I should be asking you that. Why do you look so guilty, huh?"

"I didn’t do anything,"

"I never said you did,"

"Liya," Kekoa called.

Aaliyah’s head sharply faced the woman, eyes trembling with demand, "Yes?"

"I can call you Liya, right?" Kekoa smiled, "I guess Yuan must have told you a few things about me so I don’t need to do much Introduction anymore, but...," The sweet look on her eyes darkened, and her tone changed, "Aren’t you crossing the line a bit?"

"There was never a line. And if any was set, you all crossed the first the night you accompanied Alastair to marry me. So don’t talk about boundaries here!" Aaliyah fired back immediately with a strong voice of her own.

Her little voice wasn’t so little anymore.

"You need to know your place," Kekoa glared at her through her long eyelashes, her brown eyes flickering with an unwelcoming look.

"For someone who moved in here and lives in someone else’s house, you shouldn’t be saying that. You’re only embarrassing yourself,"

"You silly child!" Kekoa banged her fist on the table, making everything jump. The wine spilled over, and Aaliyah would have sworn Kekoa’s eyes turned slightly...red.

"And what are you? The old woman?"

With a low breath, her angered eyes reversed back to its normal gaze and she undid her fist.

"You’re just Jealous that you’re shaking on your feet in the presence of two men and I’m so composed you cannot find a sweat on my body. You think sipping whatever that wine is made from is covering your fear, but I know you cannot wait to...,"

"This is a very enjoyable dinner," Theodore was almost done with his plate.

"Pleasurable," Aaliyah murmured in sarcasm.

.

.

.

After dinner, Aaliyah left for her room. She threw off everything she was wearing and was about to jump into bed when she realized something. Facing the mirror, she reached in and touched the cheek that Ramus had slapped.

She was pretty sure it was swollen before she left the church.

But, it no longer hurt and there was no sign of a swell.

Her face had... healed? No way.

She’s been slapped in the face many times, but never have they healed this fast. The swell usually stays visible for a few days before it starts to go down.

Aaliyah accessed the other cheek to see if she had gotten the side of the face wrong, but her face felt perfect.

Immediately, she looked at the bruises and cuts she had gotten while climbing up the cliff. The Incident happened only yesterday, and yet the injuries were already half healed. Her foot wasn’t aching as much as it did before too, and she had noticed she could move better than before.

Aaliyah was beginning to freak out as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

The door opening behind startled her, only to find Alastair walking in, "I would like to be alone tonight," she grunted and jumped on her bed, tucking herself in.

"I don’t want to leave you alone," He replied and sat down.

"What? Your head tell you that? Priceless!" She set her head on the pillow and pulled up the covers.

"I’m getting a feeling something is bothering you. Let me hug you,"

"Feeling? What exactly do you feel? Is your heart whispering to you that, ’ Hey, your wife has been overly grumpy and sensitive today, We should see what’s wrong with her? ’ Or is your brain like, ’ Hm, what can I do to make her happy so she can see the Maqbath and make me perfect again? ’ Because I’m well aware this is all about that. You Don’t care about me one bit. You are doing this so it’ll be easier to use me when the time comes. I was so stupid to have thought for a second that...!"

Oh no. She was talking too much. She was saying too much.

"Then you must know what I’m going to say next," He replied.

Her eyes were closed already, and she shrugged, "You’re sorry from the bottom of your heart? Damn right you’re not,"

When did she start to say such strong words? All these books were starting to stick to her tongue.

"That was not what I was going to say," He breathed, and touched her feet that were poking through the covers. Aaliyah stifled a gasp, "I was going to say that this is why you’re the strong one in this marriage. I lack the heart to understand anything, but you don’t,"

Her eyes opened and she looked at him. What was he trying to say?

"Be my heart, Aaliyah Manchester,"