Chapter 5 5

Markus' pov:

I was about to open the library door when I heard a sob. I didn't bother to find out who was behind the sobs; it was just the two of us here. No matter what she tried, I couldn't feel even a hint of pity for her.

I opened the door and saw her-a pathetic brat sitting, head bowed, crying next to the door. It seemed she hadn't even noticed my presence.

"Another drama again, my wife?" I said in a sarcastic tone. She looked up, surprised.

I clenched my fist seeing tears running down her face. "What are those tears for? Did I say something wrong?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Are you really that numb? How can you do this to me? I'm your wife, after all! Why do you hurt me like this?" she shouted, full of resentment.

"Oh? How did I hurt you? I didn't even lay a finger on you," I replied with sarcasm.

"Maybe you're not hurting me physically, but you are hurting me emotionally!" she sobbed, still clinging to her knees.

"Ah, so you're overly sensitive. Why weren't you sensitive when my mother and sister were losing their lives?" I taunted.

I hate dramas. "By the way, from now on, you'll sleep in the stockroom. It suits your personality... trash."

I continued downstairs, ignoring her. My time was wasted on her.

Serina's pov:

I was stunned by Markus' words. Sleep in the stockroom? I felt my tears welling up again but wiped them away before they fell.

I decided to get up and go to the kitchen. I needed water; it felt like I was running out of breath.

Early the next morning, I woke up fearing that Markus might pour hot water on me again. I'm uncomfortable in the stockroom-it's clean, with piled-up cardboard boxes, but it's too hot and dark without windows.

I went to the guest room where I used to keep my things, only to find it empty. Maybe Markus moved them; I'll ask him later.

I went downstairs to cook for him; he used to say my cooking was his favorite. As I was cooking, someone called. Seeing the name on the screen, I furrowed my brow.

"Hello, Travis."

[Hello Serina, I need to talk to you.]

"What for? If it's not about my sister, we have nothing to discuss."

[Please! Selina told me what your husband is doing to you, and I'm damn worried. I know what really happened to Sapphire Filan, and I'll tell you. So, please, let's meet.]

I felt the truth in his words and the anxiety built up. What connection does he have to Sapphire's death?

Rule number one: I'm not allowed to go outside unless he allows it.

Mark's words echoed in my mind. Even if I ask for permission, he won't allow it.

I sighed; I need to talk to Travis. How do I manage this?

"Whatever you have to tell me, just say it now. We don't need to meet," I insisted.

[Please, even just this once. I promise to make things right.]

"Travis, please!" I was struggling. Markus would be furious if he found out.

[Please.]

I closed my eyes tightly. Whatever. Maybe Markus won't find out; he'll be in the office.

"Fine. I'll try. Where do we meet?"

Markus' POV.

I went downstairs and headed straight to the kitchen to drink orange juice while fixing my shirt. But I stopped when I heard Serina talking on the phone. "Travis, really!" My eyes widened as I eavesdropped on her conversation with her ex-brother-in-law. I decided to listen without revealing my presence. "I'll try... where will we meet?" she replied. I clenched my fist upon hearing this. You stupid brat! "Ahem," I faked a cough to get her attention, causing her to quickly lower the phone. "Markus, I'm almost done... just wait a minute, and I'll prepare it," she stammered. I smiled at her, pretending not to mind. "No need, I'll have breakfast at the office. Just continue, don't mind me," I replied with a smile. Fully enjoy it, Serina, while I can still smile. As I was about to leave, she spoke again. "By the way, my things are no longer in the guest room." She couldn't look me in the eyes. "You mean the bags? Oh, I'm so sorry; I thought those were trash. I burned them already," I smirked, relishing her widened eyes. "What?" "Hm? Are you deaf, my wife? Do you want me to repeat all I've said?" I taunted. She looked dumbfounded, so I turned away. "I'll be late coming home; don't wait for me," I said seriously as I left the dining area.

Serina's POV.

I was stunned by what he said. He burned all my things? Just a while ago, he was smiling while talking to me. When it sank in, I wiped away my tears and finished my tasks. Maybe he didn't hear my conversation with Travis? I hurriedly cooked and decided to go to the cafe Travis mentioned. After eating breakfast, I bathed and put on the clothes I laundered yesterday. It seems I only have two sets of clothes left. I quickly went out and hailed a taxi. I wasn't in a rush to see my brother-in-law, but I was afraid Markus might come home early, and I wouldn't be there. Despite him saying he'd be late, I felt safer being at home. I arrived at the cafe and saw Travis at a corner table. He stood up when he saw me approaching. "What is it?" I asked immediately. "Let's take the order first," he said, signaling a waiter. Now talk, what will you say about Sapphire?" I asked.

Travis' POV.

saw eagerness in her eyes to know the truth. "It was all my fault, not yours," I saw her eyes slightly widen. "What do you mean?" she asked. Flashback. "What else do we need to talk about?" I felt the pain in her heart. "Serina, please forgive me. You're the only woman I love. I love you so much, and I can't bear to lose you!" Tears streamed down my face as I tightly held her hand. She tried to pull away, making it even more painful. "I hope you thought about that before you touched my sister. I hope you thought about that before she got pregnant. And I hope you thought about that before you cheated on me!" She replied firmly. I knew it. It's because of me. What I did to the siblings may be unforgivable, but I'll do everything to win her back. "What do you want me to do? I'll do it, just forgive me," I pleaded. "Marry my sister and be a father to the child in her womb. And forget about us because that's what I'm going to do." That's the last thing she said before she lost consciousness. "Ahem," I faked a cough as I got her attention, causing her to quickly put down the phone. "Markus, I'm almost done. Just wait a minute, and I'll prepare it," she stammered. I smiled at her, pretending not to mind. "No need, I'll have breakfast at the office. Just continue, don't mind me," I replied with a smile. Fully enjoy it, Serina, while I can still smile. As I was about to leave, she spoke again. "By the way, my things are no longer in the guest room." She couldn't look me in the eyes. "You mean the bags? Oh, I'm so sorry; I thought those were trash. I burned them already," I smirked, relishing her widened eyes. "What?" "Hm? Are you deaf, my wife? Do you want me to repeat all I've said?" I taunted. She looked dumbfounded, so I turned away. "I'll be late coming home; don't wait for me," I said seriously as I left the dining area.

Serina's POV.

I was stunned by what he said. He burned all my things? Just a while ago, he was smiling while talking to me. When it sank in, I wiped away my tears and finished my tasks. Maybe he didn't hear my conversation with Travis? I hurriedly cooked and decided to go to the cafe Travis mentioned. After eating breakfast, I bathed and put on the clothes I laundered yesterday. It seems I only have two sets of clothes left. I quickly went out and hailed a taxi. I wasn't in a rush to see my brother-in-law, but I was afraid Markus might come home early, and I wouldn't be there. Despite him saying he'd be late, I felt safer being at home. I arrived at the cafe and saw Travis at a corner table. He stood up when he saw me approaching. "What is it?" I asked immediately. "Let's take the order first," he said, signaling a waiter. Now talk, what will you say about Sapphire?" I asked.

Travis' POV.

I saw eagerness in her eyes to know the truth. "It was all my fault, not yours," I saw her eyes slightly widen. "What do you mean?" she asked. Flashback. "What else do we need to talk about?" I felt the pain in her heart. "Serina, please forgive me. You're the only woman I love. I love you so much, and I can't bear to lose you!" Tears streamed down my face as I tightly held her hand. She tried to pull away, making it even more painful. "I hope you thought about that before you touched my sister. I hope you thought about that before she got pregnant. And I hope you thought about that before you cheated on me!" She replied firmly. I knew it. It's because of me. What I did to the siblings may be unforgivable, but I'll do everything to win her back. "What do you want me to do? I'll do it, just forgive me," I pleaded. "Marry my sister and be a father to the child in her womb. And forget about us because that's what I'm going to do." That's the last thing she said before she lost consciousness. "Ahem," I faked a cough as I got her attention, causing her to quickly put down the phone. "Markus, I'm almost done