Chapter 331

Elena “So, where were you today?”

I looked at Marvin with wide eyes. After spending our day together at the house, he surprised me with a homemade dinner and ended our evening in the kitchen. Who would’ve thought all of this was to interrogate me?

“I was at this hotel with this guy from my work.” I teased him, avoiding an answer. Other than these stupid, obvious jokes-I couldn’t keep lying to him.

“No, seriously.” Marvin raised his brow.

“You nosy pig.” I punched his shoulder. “Did I ask what you were doing today, hm?”

Marvin rubbed the back of his neck and smiled shyly. “You’re right.” He spoke. “It’s not really my business. I just thought maybe you met up with your dad-”

“Well, I didn’t.”

With a look of pity, Marvin propped his chin on his hand, observing the look on my face. One thing was sure. I would not be the first one to reach out to my family.

“What are you staring at?”

“That green thing between your teeth.” Marvin pulled a disgusted face, moving his finger to my incisors to remove it. “Right there!”

I smacked my hand over my mouth as he pulled away from his hand and lowered my head, embarrassed. “You should’ve told me sooner!” I cleaned my teeth with my tongue. Talk about embarrassing.

“And miss out on the opportunity to make fun of you?” Marvin cackled. “Never.”

“That’s it. I’m breaking up with you!”

“Is that what our marriage will be like in the future?” Marvin asked. “You threatening to divorce me any second.”

“M-marriage?”

Just the thought made my heart beat out of my chest, and it was not because I felt flattered. It was because I had no idea what the future had in store.

Marvin cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I’m sorry, I-I just thought…”

“No, don’t be!” I stopped him. “It’s just that we’ve never discussed something serious like that before.”

It’s true. We didn’t. Other than the day Anya died, our friendship and relationship had mainly been laughs and giggles.

“Would you like to be my wife one day?”

I blushed. “That depends. Is that a proposal?”

Marvin opened his mouth but was unable to speak. I hit his shoulder and threw my head back in laughter to ease the tension. “I’m just kidding!”

“I know that.” Marvin breathed.

He started the conversation, but he was not able to finish it.

“How do you feel about children?” I wondered. We were already on the subject, so it would’ve been a pity to drop it.

“They’re small and dangerous…if that’s what you mean Marvin shrugged, ignoring the true intentions of my question.

“Do you want children?” He asked carefully.

“At some point in my life, yes,” I admitted. Becoming a better parent than my dad, who kicked me out of the house, and my mom, who didn’t hesitate to abandon us, had become a life goal. I would do what they couldn’t and show them how it’s done.

“Definitely.”

“That’s great,” Marvin spoke, bothered. Did he even want children, and would I still be around if that was the case?

“How about you?”

“It’s complicated.” Marvin spoke immediately.” But if you want them…I want them as well.”

Putting it like that almost made it seem as if I had forced him to give me that answer.

“How do you feel about leaving San Diego?” He changed the subject.

“Bad,” I spoke, thinking this would be something we would both agree on. “I’ll remain here until the day I’ll die!”

“I see.” Marvin shifted his legs uncomfortably. Was he not pleased to hear my answer?

“How about you?”

A soft smile appeared on his lips. “It has always been my dream to start a ranch, live someplace quiet, away from all my duties.” He spoke. “I’ll still lead the business, of course-but from a distance.”

“Oh, really?” I gasped, trying to sound interested. I would rather jump off a cliff than settle down on a remote ranch.

“But I want to see you happy, so if you plan on dying here, I’ll die here with you!” Marvin compromised.

He deserved better.

He was willing to give up on his dreams to make me happy, and all I could do was lie to him.

It had never occurred to me just how different we were, I didn’t have many friends-but I liked company.

I enjoyed being around people. Marvin did have friends, but he liked his peace and quiet.

“Do my answers make you uncomfortable?” Marvin questioned.

THE “Think of it like this.” Marvin took in a deep breath. “I’m not telling you all of this to please you. I just really can’t stand being apart from the woman I love, which is why I’m able to give up on certain things if that means seeing her happy.”

“Yes, but not everything.” I made myself feel better. “I strongly doubt that.”

Marvin squinted his eyes. “You shouldn’t be doubting me.” He spoke, determined. “I would drop everything to be with you if you’d ask me to.”

He sounded so sincere that I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if I would just tell him the truth-the truth about my family, Panther-everything.

Maybe he would understand my reasons and forgive me for my immaturity. Or perhaps he would handle it as a Castillo since he was raised as one and cut me into tiny pieces before disposing of my body.

“Have you ever killed someone for lying?” I blurted, feeling chills racing down my spine.

Marvin seemed confused. “W-what?” He chuckled.

“Have you ever killed s-”

“Yes, I heard your question the first time.”

“So have you?”

There was a long pause before Marvin coughed to break the silence. “Elena…”

“Do you enjoy killing people? Do you like it?” I asked without a single thought. His words scared me because I had hoped for him to confess to pitying liars. I had hoped for him to say that he spared their lives and gave them second chances.

“I do enjoy it.” Marvin leaned forward, staring at me with a dark expression. Frightened, I held back my breath.

“There’s nothing better than someone you despise pleading for mercy, begging you to spare their lives as you cock the gun and stare into their hopeful pathetic eyes to hear their last request to spare their families, and then…” Marvin made a gun with his hand and pushed his finger to my forehead.

“Boom.” He laughed before pulling me into a tight and comforting hug. I took a relieved breath and pulled away to smack him on the shoulder.

“I can’t stand you-did you know that?”

For a second, I actually believed him.

Marvin, who couldn’t stop laughing at his weird sense of humor, wrapped his arms around my waist and relaxed his head on my shoulder, giving me a back hug. “I’m sorry, but you asked for it.” He kissed my cheek. “If you’re going to ask me stupid questions, you should expect stupid answers.”

I hit him with my infamous urge of mimicking his kid-like behavior and pulled away, ashamed.

Marvin scoffed. “Am I the bad guy now?”

“Yes, I’m glad you’re self-aware.”

“There you guys are!” A dark presence entered the kitchen, ruining our fun.

It was Panther.

He raised the plastic bag in his hands and appeared in a good mood while I had to force myself to breathe. I couldn’t stand being in the same room as him.

“What’s up.” Marvin greeted him. Panther gave him a nod and searched for my eyes.

“Elena.”

I gulped. “P-Pedro.”

“Pedro?” He tittered. “Since when are you calling me Pedro?”

Yes, Elena-this behavior is entirely not suspicious whatsoever.

“I mean….Panther.” I smiled forcefully.

“That’s more like it.” Panther threw the bag on the table and pulled out a drink. “Care for an after-

party?”

“Well…” Marvin looked at me, awaiting my answer.

I caressed his shoulder, shaking my head. “Maybe some other time. I’ve got work in the morning.” I declined the offer. “But you can stay if you want to.”

Truth to be fair, I didn’t want him anywhere near Panther-but I could not behave too suspiciously.

“Ah right, that ridiculous bar that opens in the morning.” Panther mocked me. In the past, I could laugh at his jokes, but now that I knew what kind of monster he was-it bothered the living hell out of me.

“Are you okay?” Marvin whispered. I stepped back before he could reach out his hand to me. “I’m fine-I’ll see you later, okay?” I spoke before walking away.

“Elena-”

“I need a drink. I almost died today. “I heard the voice I despised so much from a distance.

“You what?” Marvin asked, buying the Panther show as I made my way upstairs. Back then, I was too stupid to realize it, but it was all so clear now.

Everything always revolved around Panther, his feelings, and whatever he wanted. We were all just living in his world, even Marvin, who was supposed to be controlling him. Panther pulled the strings and was okay with me being here as long as I didn’t get in his way.

The hardest thing was not being able to do anything about it, at least not for now. I wanted to get rid of him, but I couldn’t accuse him without solid evidence.

Marvin would never believe me.

The stick was my only hope.