CHIARA

Ezekiel can be possessive. That's what I learned over the weekend. He doesn't like it when other men talk to me.

But that doesn't mean he is a hypocrite. He literally told me that he would never remarry. That I am the only woman in his life.

It took everything in me to not kiss him at that moment. I never expected him to say that. Even if he was lying it wouldn't have mattered.

And when he asked me the same thing, I didn't even have to think about my answer. I don't think so I can ever find anyone who would be as caring as him.

Besides, my heart frowned at the idea of having anyone but him as my husband.

Our marriage is not even real, we haven't even kissed or slept together or even gone on any dates and neither has he shown any signs of doing that.

I mean I wouldn't mind kissing him because lately I have been wondering how his lips would feel over mine.

I am not counting our wedding kiss because I would hardly call that a kiss.

Maybe he still sees me as a kid that's why he hasn't kissed me or maybe he just doesn't see me in that way which would be ridiculous. I am his wife after all.

But no, he did ogle me when I wore that bikini. Hmm, maybe I can seduce him.

I giggled mischievously at that idea.

On Monday morning, I received a call from Dad. After talking about random things, he came to the main question.

"Is he being good to you?"

"You should have thought about this before marrying me off."

He sighed. "Chiara...I trust him, I know he must be treating you well but I just want to hear it from you."

Is Ezekiel good to me? Yes. Definitely. "Yeah, he treats me well if you minus all the teasing and bickering."

"Your mother and I bicker a lot too but that doesn't mean we don't love each other."

Love. It sounded like Dad was suggesting that we both were in love. As if.

I cleared my throat. "Whatever."

"Promise me that you will give this marriage a chance. Please, Chiara."

"Well, I haven't run away or killed him by now, have I?"

Dad chuckled softly. "Yes, that's a good point. I will talk to you later, hmm? I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too, Dad. Bye."

"Bye."

I placed my phone down on the kitchen countertop and in need of a coffee, I grabbed a mug.

Just then Ezekiel walked down, all dressed up for work and as he walked inside the kitchen, I subtly stared at him.

There is nothing wrong with appreciating how handsome my husband is.

I was so lost in my thoughts that when he snapped his fingers in front of my face, I got startled and the mug slipped from my hand.

The shattering of the glass was loud and we both stepped back as it fell in between us.

Ezekiel grimaced when he saw the mess. He may not agree but he does have an OCD for cleanliness and perfection.

"Shit," I muttered and bent down to pick up the pieces of glass before he could start being anxious about the mess. "Sorry."

"Stop. Don't pick it--"

I let out a cry when a small piece of glass cut my index finger and blood started to ooze out of it.

He grabbed me by my shoulders and pulled me up.

He dragged me to the sink and held my finger under the water.

Thankfully it didn't hurt that much but Ezekiel looked to be in more pain than me.

"Keep it like this", he told me and left my side to grab a first aid kit from one of the drawers.

Removing my hand from the water, he cleaned the cut with some antiseptic, his eyes focused on the task.

All my pain didn't matter as all I could think about was how he cared for me.

He was concentrating so hard on cleaning my cut and wrapping it up that it seemed he was treating something big.

"Thank you", I whispered when he was done.

He kept away all the things inside the first aid kit but didn't leave my hand.

"You have to be more careful, Chiara." He scolded me softly.

His eyes lifted to meet mine and to my surprise, he pulled my hand up and pressed his lips over my wounded finger.

That simple act made me breathless and he must have seen the shocked look on my face for the corner of his lips lifted up into a slight smirk.

I snatched back my hand and pretended to fix my dress.

It was only after we had breakfast and he was about to leave for work did I notice the trolley suitcase by the door.

I frowned. "Are you going somewhere?"

His features hardened and he gave me a nod. "A business trip to LA."

I felt offended. "And you didn't tell me?"

He pretended to adjust his cufflinks. "It was only finalised yesterday evening."

"You had the whole night to inform me of this, Ezekiel. Why didn't you?"

He closed his eyes and his jaw ticked. "I forgot, Chiara. I was very busy yesterday."

I scoffed. "Right. I think I was stupid to think that as your wife I had the right to know about your schedule."

He didn't even look at me which angered me even further.

"At least, you can tell me how long will you be gone?"

"I am not sure. A week most probably."

A week. I was fuming by now.

He finally looked at me. "Just go live with your parents or Marcelo for the time being."

"What if I want to stay here only?" I asked sharply.

"I am merely giving a suggestion. You can stay wherever you want but just be safe, okay?"

Folding my arms, I turned my head away from him, my jaw clenching. I wanted to shout at him and wanted to argue with him about leaving me like this.

My eyes burned with unshed tears. I didn't want him to leave like this. He could have at least told me.

I could feel him staring at me for a long moment. Then he reached out and cupped my cheek, his thumb caressing it for a moment and then he left.

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Just to go against his words, I stayed exactly where I was.

I wanted to stomp my feet like a kid and throw a tantrum. I don't know why him leaving me makes me so angry.

If only he had informed me. How could he be so busy that he forgot that he had a wife whom he should tell about the trip?

The house felt weird without him. I was used to him going to work every day hence somehow I managed to spend those hours.

It was late in the evening when I decided to stop thinking about him and do something productive.

College starts in two months so I grabbed my books and decided to just go through them.

An hour later, I only managed to read five pages so I shut it.

Parker came earlier to cook me lunch. We hardly talked and I told him not to make dinner cause there was enough leftover for me to eat.

Having dinner felt lonely because I was used to having his presence beside me.

I decided to sleep early because I didn't have anything better to do. I stared at the ceiling for a long time, sleep nowhere to be found.

He didn't even message me. Did he reach safely? Did he have dinner? How did his meeting go?

I picked up my phone to text him but then I kept it away. I am angry at him.

Huffing, I tried to sleep but couldn't. I don't think I can live here alone that too for a week. Yeah, no.

I sent a text to Marcelo and told him to pick me up tomorrow morning, assuring him that nothing was wrong and I just wanted to meet them.

Gritting my teeth, I grabbed his pillow and hugged it tightly, a tear rolling down my eye.

I hate him for making me feel like this. So what if he is not here? I am perfectly capable of functioning without him.

He is my husband, not oxygen which I can't live without.

I sniffed his pillow, breathing his warm scent and drifted off to sleep eventually.

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"What's going on?" Marcelo asked when I carried a duffel bag out. He grabbed it from me and put it inside the trunk.

I shrugged, pouting. My eyes were fixed on the ground so that he couldn't see the puffiness around them. "It's scary to live here all alone."

"Alone? Where's Ezekiel?"

He didn't even tell them? "He...has gone on a business trip. He will be gone for a week."

"Okay. C'mon on then."

As he drove us home, I stared out of the window.

"Why were you crying?" He questioned.

"I don't know."

He was silent for a moment, and then he said, "You miss him."

"I don't." I snapped. "I am just angry at him."

"If you say so."

He didn't believe me. Fine. I don't care.

Later, as we reached home, I met Cyrus at the front door who pulled me in a warm hug. "Chiara! I thought you had forgotten me."

I didn't have the energy to say anything to him which he noticed as he pulled back and frowned slightly. "What's wrong?"

"Your brother is an asshole. That's what's wrong." I walked past him and went inside.

He chuckled, following after me. "I see. Did you both have a fight? Do you want me to kick his ass?"

"Yes, once he comes back."

"Has he gone somewhere?"

Wow, he didn't even tell his own brother.

"Some business trip for a week."

"Oh." He came to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Don't worry. Let him go on boring trips, we will have fun here."

Yes. I am not going to let his absence affect me. It's just a week after all. I will have some peace.