Chapter 3 The incidence

Early on a Friday morning, Zein walked past me as if nothing had happened yesterday. As if he hadn't clenched his fist right towards me and almost hit me. His nonchalant stride past me felt like he was deliberately ignoring the shared history we had just the day before. He did not endeavour to even apologise for what he did or to thank me for what I did for him yesterday. I barely left the house and being inside all the time got me feeling homesick.

Mum and Dad didn't even bother to contact me and I think they wouldn't be doing that anytime soon, they felt so embarrassed for what they had done to me. I missed Jane so much and I wished she had come back home for all this to be over.

Zein appeared all of a sudden, "We'll be heading out today at 11 am, My Dad thinks it's a good idea we visit the family house in Indiana and try to blend in even once" he said in a very authoritative manner. Enough excuses had been already fed to so many people since we didn't even have a wedding reception and decided to skip all the dinners we were invited to. " I think it's a good idea" I nodded and replied more bluntly. After all, I needed some time

for my mind to heal. "Make sure you pack up all kinds of stuff you're going to need, I don't know how long we're going to stay there, oh and take this take I got you a new one." He had gotten me a new phone with a SIM card as well just like he said he would. As if he cared but then something must have made him change his mind. I was about to protest but conformity caught the best of me.

The maidens and the rest of the help surrounded me and helped me pack. Their hands meticulously folded my clothes and packed every other essential thing I was going to need. I had no idea what to pack since Mom has always been around to do it for me. I was told Zein was having breakfast downstairs but I didn't want to join him ever again, not after what happened the other time. "Kindly bring my breakfast to me here, I'll be a lot more comfortable eating here," I calmly asked one of the maidens.

I hoped that leaving the city would also mean that something between the both of us would also change. Maybe we could get along more and get to know more about each other till we got the situation we were in figured out.

Zein was waiting for me downstairs, it was time to go and I wasn't even done dressing up. There were so many clothes to choose from. It felt like standing in front of a vast canvas of colours. I'd always been used to seeing a single dress in my closet but I managed to choose one. Walking down I saw Zein leaning against the doorframe and tapping his foot restlessly. " What took you so long? Do you think we have all day?" he said angrily. I quickly turned my face away from him and sat in the car. The rest of the journey passed in silence, our eyes were so skilled at dodging each other's gazes. At that moment I'd figured out that Jane had been lying to me all this while. She pretended to be the happiest person on earth when she found out she would be marrying Zein meanwhile she had the plan to disappear right before the wedding. I still had the plan to figure out why she did that.

We have arrived at the place now. The mansion was so beautiful and very perfect for a couple who wanted to hide from the rest of the world. Every corner of the mansion exuded so much luxury and extravagance. All the rooms were filled with plush velvet sofas, ornate gilded mirrors and priceless artworks on the walls. The garden was full of roses and lavender. We both had separate rooms just like we had in the Crawford's mansion. I only saw Zein during meals when we would cook for us both. Oh yeah, it turns out he's a good cook. He'd cook the most delicious khanas, creamy Balsamic Skillet Chicken was one of his métier. I'd eat everything and lick the plate clean. During these times were the moments his eyes would light up and I'd see a smile on his face. There was a suspended bed in the garden and that was where I spent most of my time. The place was very cosy and it felt like living in a fairytale. Zein also had his spot, I'd normally see him lounging beside the swimming pool.

On the next day, Zein left very early saying he needed to go to town for some business meeting, meaning I had the whole house to myself. After having breakfast I quickly changed

into my bikini, getting ready to dive into the swimming pool. I enjoyed seeing the sun glistening on the water's surface. As I glided through the water, each stroke felt amazing. I felt like the old Kayla I used to be, the one who would have smiles on her face all the time. Whenever I closed my eyes I'd have flashbacks of the time Nash and I spent together. His touch, his eyes, even his breath. Tears began to blend with the gentle ripples around me. I found myself sinking deeper in the water with the weight of every emotion pulling me deeper down. The once comforting embrace of the water was now suffocating me, I started gasping for air, and everything around me became so blurred. I began losing more precious air.

I felt a sudden presence beside me. A strong hand began pulling me up towards the light. As he pulled me through the surface of the water, his eyes were filled with so much concern. His touch felt like Nash's.

" Kayla, Kayla, talk to me! Can you hear me?" I heard a distant voice calling my name but I was too unconscious to even respond. A lifeline was pulling me back from the brink.

"Nash, Nash is that you" I managed to muster a very weak response before slipping back into being unconscious again.