Chapter 3 (Dangerous Solace)

ESTHER WAS SURPRISED TO SEE NATE AT THEIR HOUSE EARLY IN THE MORNING. She clasped her hand behind her back before her hand will land on Nate's face. She smiled, but a fake one. "You're here." She said as she carefully placed the box that contained the Cinnamon Roll she made for her benefactor.

Nate smiled. "Why didn't you tell me that you were back? And I was busy in the company. I should have prepared a welcome party for you."

"Busy with my sister, alright?" she whispered, still smiling, a fake smile.

"Esther, I miss you," Nate said, affectionately, but Esther knew that he was just pretending. Then Nate tried to hug Esther, but she stepped back.

Esther's fake smile remained on her lips. She was disgusted by Nate, remembering that Nate was having sex with her sister. She grimaced at that thought.

"Anyway, for you, Esther," Nate handed a bouquet to Esther. Still smiling, pretending that he was happy to see Esther.

Esther accepted the bouquet. She actually wanted to throw it away. After all, she knew that Nate was only doing this because his parents told him to. Coincidentally, they are both the same. They were doing things that were told by their parents. They were both pretending even if they both wanted to kill each other.

"So, how are you?" Nate asked. "You have never changed." He smiled. "You were as beautiful as you were before. You really maintained your figures for me. I won't be embarrassed when I show you to my friends."

Ester wanted to vomit but didn't show it. She smiled at Nate. "Yeah, I'm back. About our marriage..."

"Don't worry, your parents and my parents are discussing it right now."

'I should think of a way to cancel the engagement.' Esther thought.

As Esther was thinking of breaking the engagement, and Nate was talking, Edelyn descended from the staircase and went immediately to Nate's side, hugging his arm. Nate pried Edelyn's arm but Edelyn didn't remove her hand from Nate's arm.

"Esther, I'm close to Nate. I hope you won't misunderstand us. There's nothing between me and Nate. We are just friends," Edelyn said in a sweet voice. "I hope you won't mind my closeness to him. I was comforting him while you were not here. It's not easy for him to be alone," Edelyn said in a sweet voice.

'Another pretentious person,' Esther thought again. 'So, she seduced Nate with her so-called sweet voice. She's not this sweet when she's talking to me, especially when Nate isn't around.'

"Y-yeah, don't misunderstand us, Esther. You are my fiancé but Edelyn was your sister. So, I have to-" Nate stuttered.

Esther raised her hand. "No need to explain. I won't misunderstand you."

Edelyn smiled. "Thank you, Esther," she said happily.

Esther was not hurt seeing Nate and Edelyn being close in front of her. She was actually hoping that her parents would see this part of her sister's life. Seducing someone's fiancé. But if she hadn't learned the truth about why Nate wanted to marry her, she would have caused commotion, but she's not stupid. She will deal with them slowly and let them take the course of their own medicine.

Esther looked at Nate and Edelyn. They were talking sweetly as if they were really a couple, and she became like thin air. Seeing them close together, Esther took a stolen shot of Nate and Edelyn. Then she took that opportunity to leave. "Since you were entertaining Nate, and I have an important matter to take care of, I should leave now." She waved her hand. "Bye-bye." Then she took the box with Cinnamon Roll with her.

"Esther, where are you going?" Nate was about to follow Esther but Edelyn stopped him and kissed him. Nate kissed back Edelyn.

"Nate, don't follow her," Edelyn said in a begging tone and started to undress in front of Nate. She likes Nate so much and would do everything to snatch him from her sister. "Don't you like this? We were alone. My parents were not home. Let's go to my room and have a quickie."

Nate grinned. "Sure." He immediately carried Edelyn in his arms, and then they went to her room. He's a man and he has his needs. Edelyn offered herself to him willingly. Why should he reject the good opportunity that came to him?

Esther grimaced, seeing Nate and Edelyn in their intimate position. She took pictures of them in case she might need them in the future. "I may need them in the future."

She wanted to catch Nate and Edelyn in the act, but she had important matters to do. She will let her sister and her fiancé enjoy their lives to the fullest first. Meeting her sponsor today is more important than catching those betrayers.

Esther hailed a cab and went to the meeting place.

She went inside the restaurant, and then she occupied the vacant table in the corner. She carefully placed the box in front of her. Waiting for her benefactor, she texted her where she was sitting. But later she realized that her benefactor knew her. Of course, her benefactor knew about her. It was just her who didn't know her benefactor.

Esther looked outside the restaurant. The restaurant's wall was glass so she could see outside. She saw a luxury car parked outside, then she saw the driver step out of the car.

"A handsome guy, huh," she said. Since she and Nate were arranged, she never looked at other men, afraid that Nate would cause trouble or hit her. In this relationship, she was being strangled. But she needed to find a way to get out of her father's control.

Esther was excited to meet her benefactor but nervous at the same time.

Esther stared at the handsome guy. The guy has a good body build that hides under the coat. But she knew that handsome guy had many women clinging to them. Take Nate, for example. He can't even stay loyal to his loveless relationship. Though there isn't love, they should respect each other. Nate has just proven that he is a jerk.

"Hi, Esther."

Esther's attention shifted when someone talked in front of her. She was surprised to see the handsome man who was outside earlier now standing in front of her. "Yes, sir?" She asked.

The man chuckled sexily and sat on the chair opposite to her.

Esther wanted to tell the man that the chair was occupied, but that might be impolite. So, she stood and planned to change to another table, but before she could leave, the man in front of her spoke.

"Russell Zayne Velasquez." Esther looked at the man questioningly. Then the man continued, seeing the confused expression on her face. "RZV."

Esther's eyes widened. "What did you say?"

"RZV." Russell continued. "The initial that your benefactor used, right?"

Esther gaped. But then she composed herself. "It's you. But she's a woman."

Russell shakes his head. "It's a 'he', Esther. And he was me."

Esther couldn't believe it but the man in front of her had said his initials and her name. She was overwhelmed. She always thought that her benefactor was a woman and it was not a man. And he doesn't look old. Probably twenty-eight to thirty years old.

Esther just sat down because she suddenly felt weak because of what she found out. She always calls her benefactor as sister. She didn't expect that she'd call her benefactor the wrong name. "I hope the ground will crack and just bury me."

Russell chuckled. "You're funny, Esther. It's not embarrassing at all. I find you adorable, actually."

Esther covered her face with her hand. "I'm sorry. I didn't know that you were a man, Sir. I thought you were a woman because you never corrected me before." That's right, her benefactor has never corrected her. So, all along she thought her benefactor was a woman. It turns out she was wrong. Imagine she'd been calling her benefactor 'sister' for almost eight years. That was embarrasing.

Russell smiled. "I just want you to focus on your studies. If I told you that I am a man, what would you think?"

Esther showed a lopsided smile. "By the way, I made this for you. Your favorite."

Russell immediately took the box and opened it. "The first time you sent me Cinnamon Rolls was when you were in first-year college. I remembered that you asked for my company's address. After leaving the Cinnamon Roll at the front desk, you left." He took one cinnamon roll and took a bite, savoring the delicious taste, then he let out a sigh and said, "Finally, after two years, I tasted it again."

"Many Cinnamon Rolls are being sold at the café and the coffee shop, Sir," Esther said.

"But your Cinnamon Roll has a unique taste," Russell said, smiling. "I like it."

Esther just smiled. She didn't know what to say. She could feel her face heating up. She wasn't used to being praised. She's feeling shy right at the moment.

Russell smiled. He finished the cinnamon he was eating and then called the waiter. The waiter immediately walked towards them and handed them the menu.

"What do you want to eat?" Russell asked.

"Anything," Esther said. She was a bit afraid to order because every time she and Nate ate outside before, Nate always ordered the food. Nate didn't let her order her own food. In the end, even if she dislikes the food, she will just endure eating it.

Russell smiled. "Esther, I don't know what you like. 'Anything' isn't on the menu. Come on. Order what you want. It's on me."

"No. I mean, let me treat you to this meal."

Russell shakes his head. "How could I let the woman pay for it? I'm the man. I should be the one who will pay for our food."

Esther sighed. "Let me pay, please," she begged. She even pressed her palms together, begging her benefactor to let her pay for the food.

"Fine." Russell finds Esther too cute, so he agreed. "Next time, I will pay. I won't let you."

They both ordered the food they liked and then the waiter left.

"So, what's your plan, right now?" Russell asked while waiting for their order.

"Hmm... work?"

"You're not sure?"

Esther sighed. "Sir, I'm sorry. But I'm not stable right now. Originally, I wanted to build my own café or coffee shop. But right now, I have a personal matter to settle on before I start my pastry chef journey."

Russell nodded. "If you want help, just tell me. I will help you."

Esther smiled and nodded. "Sir, actually, I wanted to thank you personally for helping me. Without you, I may not be able to achieve what I am right now."

"No need to thank me," Russell shakes his head. "I just helped you financially. If you are not enthusiastic about learning and working hard, even if I sponsored you, you won't be able to achieve your goals. This is mainly you, Esther. You are what you've become now because of your hard work and eagerness."

Esther smiled, feeling blessed in her life even though her family didn't support her. "I still wanted to thank you, Sir. To think that I can never repay you in this lifetime."

"Call me Russell. I know what you were thinking. Don't think about what I have done for you. But if you still want to compensate me, then call me by my name, not sir."

'That's simple?' Esther thought.

"Esther?"

Esther took a deep breath. "R-russell."

Russell smiled. "That's more like it."