A WEEK LATER.

SHE SAT BY THE BEACH, her eyes fixed on the sky. The beach has been her only companion ever since the fight she had with Rory. And Rory...he was just Rory. He seldom came home and when he did, he barely talked to her. Since the past one week, she's been telling herself that her sole purpose of being here was to help Rory get his property and that couldn't work out in this situation. She's concluded that she was no longer needed. To Rory, she was just a tool, he could use and dump. She didn't know why he was upset and didn't care to know why because it hurts her deeply.
Rory's voice whispered in her mind: You whore!

Oh, that word hurts like hell.

After staring at the sky for a little while more, she found herself staring at the beach house. Looking at the house made her heart ache even more.
She blinked away her tears.

Once in the bedroom, she looked around briefly, then hauled her luggage out. She wanted to leave without setting her eyes on Rory. If she did set her eyes on him, she doubted whether or not she would be able to leave.

The door opened, and there stood Rory with a grim expression on his face.

*

RORY PAUSED AT THE ENTRANCE, the house was still and silence making him wonder if Matilda was in. He knew she was inside, probably having a nap. He still hasn't forgiven her, but he wanted to see her. How he missed her.
He had successfully distanced himself from her for a week yet it affected him so deeply. This feeling of loneliness, it was killing him softly. He regretted calling her a whore that day but there was nothing he could do to mend the situation. There's no need for amendment though, it was how it should have been from the onset. Plus, the realization that another man was in love with Matilda, it irked him.

He pushed open the door, slowly walked in.  His face registered bewilderment when he saw his wife. She was dressed in a green clingy mid thigh dress and a fancy trenchcoat. Her nails were polished red and her hair, she's unlocked her dreadlocks and was now wearing a stylish wig.
He spotted her luggage beside her, the sight didn't meet his approval.

She's leaving?

His heart raced at the thought. It angered and frightened him to death.

Narrowing his eyes at her, he said " What are you doing?!"

Her gaze suddenly wavered but she managed to look him in the eyes " What does it look like I'm doing?"

He swore " You are leaving!?"

" Obviously" She replied.

" What the hell do you mean? Without my permission? You're kidding right?"

" It's obvious that I'm not needed anymore, I've overstayed my welcome. You treated me like garbage and you expect me to stay? Like seriously? Mr Brown."

He was taken aback. Matilda was really upset with him and it irked him to know that she was upset.

Rubbing his hair vigorously, he frowned. How could she do this to him?

"Anyways, I'm leaving because I can't stand this bullshit any longer!! My flight is by 12pm and that's roughly two hours from now." She said

" No, wait!...you are seriously leaving? After all you've done to me? he shouted sarcastically.

" I don't know what you are talking about Rory." Matilda said forcefully dragging her suitcase as she walked past him. " And I don't care to know." She said not looking into his eyes instead focusing on dragging her suitcase.

" Goooooooo!!!!" He screamed "why won't you, after cheating on me."

Matilda turned suddenly shocked at his remark. " Woah! I cheated on you? Mr Brown, make sure you confirm before attacking me." She hissed " it's so easy to say, lol, so easy... You are the cheat here, you do what you like, hang out with  girls of different sort and you expect me to sit down quietly and watch...do I look like a possession to you?! You don't trust me, you don't want me, you don't need me. Damn it! Just when I thought things could go smoothly between us, you messed things up, you stopped me from working, you don't let me socialize, when you see me with a guy, the next thing is I'm cheating but never for once have I doubted you. Why couldn't you just give me little of your trust? Is that too much to ask?"

At this point, she was almost tearing apart, her eyes became misty and tears threatened to fall down her cheeks " Do you know what I badly regret? Falling in love and giving myself to you. If I could rewind time, I'd go back to before I met you, Mr Rory Brown. I'm filling a divorce, have you good life!"

With that, she walked out on him, just like that.

Rory stood transfixed as though he got hit in the head. Faintly, he heard the door close and then, he knew he had lost her...for real.

No matter how hard he thought of it, he knew she was right. He didn't trust her, he was always too protective towards her and never for once had she judged, even though she got angry.

" Damn!!!" He said slamming his fist against the wall.

Matilda left and it felt as though a part of him has been violently chopped off. His heart was like a trip- hammer in his chest. He has never felt this way before. His hands dropped away and he brought to his head, which was pounding along with his heart.

He wanted to go after her but he couldn't take the chance because the outcome wasn't certain.

His phone chose this moment to ring.

He stared wearily at the caller's ID, Gray's name popped up.

" Hey Rory!"

" I messed up, big time, Gray. She's leaving and I can't anything about it because I don't want to take a chance...

Gray cut him short " What do you mean?"

Rory narrated to Gray.

" You're a fool Rory! A big one. Have you forgotten that you deflowered her? Oh my God!! What have you done!? There's no way she would have cheated on you because you were with her a day after you made love. She loves you, Rory and I think you love her too. Do what's right, don't mess this up...

" I don't know, I don't really know...I...I

" You're about to lose something big, man. Chase after her and don't let her go. That's my advice"

***

Tears rolled down her cheeks but she courageously sniffed it back. It was over!

Her heart ached and kept aching. She love him, she knew, but why did it hurt this much? The pain she felt in her heart was so paralyzing and engulfing
She had tried to tell him that she loved him and has never felt so connected to anyone in her entire life, but what's love when there's no trust?.
She took out her phone from her bag and texted Cassandra.

*Hey, I'm coming home*

Cassandra replied immediately.
* oh really? So soon? Are you coming with Rory?*

* I'm afraid I'm coming alone*
She didn't wait to read Cassandra's response, instead she switched off her phone and put it back in her bag. She looked out of the window, the traffic was already building up. Letting out a sigh, she couldn't wait to get outta here.

She recalled her words to him " Do you know what I badly regret? Falling in love and giving myself to you

She knew that wasn't true, deep down, she felt different. All she regretted was the fact he didn't love her. Marriage and love is not for everybody, she just hope her sisters would understand that it didn't work out.

" Fuck!" The driver exclaimed as he applied his brake.

Puzzled, Matilda looked ahead and saw the driver just bumped into an approaching taxi.

Then, she saw Rory alight from the passenger seat of the taxi. He heart skipped. Did he forget something?

She alighted with a surprised look on her face. " Rory Brown, what on earth are you doing? "

Drivers were horning, some were even yelling but he cared less because he could see was Matilda's angelic face and her misty eyes.

He took a slow stride towards her, with every step he took, he shivered.

" I love you." He replied plainly.

" What?"

" I love you" This time he shouted loud enough to be heard above the yelling from drivers. " Matilda, I fucking love you"

She stared speechlessly at him as he went on his knees. For a split seconds, she thought she was imagining things, Rory Brown was groveling?

" I've hurt you so much, really I have and I realized it. I called you whore because I read your message, someone sent you a love message and I lost my mind, I don't know what I was doing...I just flared up and I didn't ask you about  it, I assumed you were cheating on me. I'm sorry, I can't live without you, Tilda and I have no idea of what I'll do without you by my side" He reached out to hold her hands. " Damn the inheritance and marriage proposal, I don't need any of those as long as you're with me. Let's start over again, you and I? Together and forever? I promise to trust you and love you with all my heart, I promise. Like seriously...I don't see myself being with anyone but you..."

He pressed a kiss to her palm and gave her a dazzling smile while awaiting her response.

" Rory get up. You're embarrassing me" She chuckled with tears in her eyes.

He grinned at her as he stood.

" I didn't mean to call you a whore...I was just so greedy and angry, seeing that text message drove me nuts and I couldn't think straight...

" I wanted to talk about it...he was my ex, he wanted us to get back together and all"

" For real, Matilda, I love you,  I love you so much" . He shouted above the blaring of car horns and the yelling from drivers.

" I love you, Rory ". She cried.

They didn't even realize that they've drawn attention of some Mainers to themselves. Some were taking pictures while some were taking pictures.

" Get a bed!!" Someone yelled earning a hearty laughter from the couple.

He drank her laughter from her lips as she wrapped her hand around his nape. He focused on on her lower lips and heard her groan before she held his face and he slipped his tongue inside her mouth.

The noises in the background disappeared as they were lost in each other's kisses.