Chapter 22

Lauren

I flopped down on the bed after Ethan walked away from the hotel room.

Staring at the view from the window, I scowled not interested in watching the view anymore.

Why would he do this to me all the time?

He could've just let me tag along with him.

Fisting my hand, I hit the bed repeatedly imagining Ethan's face.

Maybe he has something important to do. It's not like I'll disturb him or anything like that.

Fine, maybe I like to annoy him sometimes but that doesn't mean he will leave me all alone.

A growl from my stomach brought me out of my 'how to murder Ethan and not go to prison' thoughts.

I didn't eat anything except a single sandwich before the meeting, so I'm obviously hungry.

Taking a deep breath, I tried cleansing myself of all the negative thoughts surrounding me.

I can't let him ruin my pleasant mood since I boarded the plane.

Although my parents were somewhat rich, we only flew business class but never private jets. So, flying in a private plane for the first time was somewhat exciting.

I am in Milan. So, stop sulking and enjoy the things around you. I thought to myself.

Although it didn't completely uplift my sour mood, I felt better.

Deciding against ordering some food to our room, I decided to take a walk and eat out alone.

Eating alone sucks sometimes, but as long as my taste buds are happy, I'm happy.

I took my purse and phone before walking out.

***

After I had my dinner, I sat on the bench on my way back to the hotel and stared at the trees surrounding me.

Few people were walking around and a few people were just sitting on the bench just like me.

The place wasn't completely deserted. It was filled with few people.

"Mrs Kinston." Someone called me from behind and I looked back to see Christian Hudson.

"Mr Hudson," I spoke.

I've met him several times but never talked.

I heard Ryan Ethan and him talking at a business party. I heard they were friends once.

But never had enough guts to ask Ryan or Ethan about their friendship with him.

"Are you alone? Where is your dear husband?" he spoke standing in front of me.

"Are you stalking me, Mr Hudson?" I spoke in a playful tone.

He is a top businessman. He will have thousand of other works rather than stalking a nobody like him.

"Yes Mrs Kingston, and I'm also a serial killer." He spoke rolling his eyes.

My lips pulled up into a smile at his answer.

He came and sat beside me but I didn't complain and also I wasn't annoyed.

I don't get any negative vibes from him.

I don't know if that even makes sense.

"Why don't you just call me Lauren," I said to him and he just nodded his head.

"Why do you hate Ethan?" I asked him when he sat beside me. there was plenty of space between us so I turned toward him.

"Because he is Ethan?" he spoke not exactly answering my answer.

"Yeah. That seems reasonable." I spoke sarcastically and he smirked at my answer.

"Do you hate Ryan too?" I voiced my thoughts.

Because I don't understand why anyone could hate Ryan.

It would be reasonable if someone hates Ethan because he makes it look like he doesn't care about anything or anyone, he let people misunderstand him.

But Ryan is someone who tries to search for his happiness in the people he cares about.

Ryan is a people pleaser.

"I don't hate him like I hate Ethan." He spoke bringing me out of my thoughts.

"I heard you three were friends once?" I asked him.

"Yes. Once. Not anymore." He shrugged his shoulders.

"Mr Hudson, can I ask you a question?" I asked him and he frowned at me.

What happened between you two?" I voiced out my first thought.

He stayed silent for a minute thinking deeply.

"I'm sorry if you feel like I'm prying or something. You don't have to answer me." I apologized.

"Ethan never told you?" he asked me the same question Elena asked me when I asked her what has happened between Ethan and her.

The fact that Ethan never tells me anything stung like a bee.

I try to talk to him all the time but I only get either sarcastic answers or short replies or silence.

I can understand if he would request a bit more time to open up but every time, he only tries to shut me out completely or avoid that topic.

"Ethan never tells me anything, Mr Hudson." I don't even know why I'm talking to Christian but I felt like talking to him.

The conversation didn't feel forced.

It's like I am talking to a person I already know.

"I will answer that question if you answer my question." He stated and now it's my turn to frown.

"What?" I asked dumbfounded.

"Do you like Ethan?" he asked me and my breath stuck in my throat not knowing how to answer that question.

'Why are you asking?" I frowned.

"I just wanted to know."

Do I like him?

I think I do.

"I do." The words left my mouth involuntarily.

The words didn't feel abnormal.

There was no lie detected in my words.

"Will you answer me now," I spoke dying to listen to his response.

"Olivia."

"What?" I voiced out.

"Her name was Olivia. She was Ethan's girlfriend in college. He dated her and she was good friends with Ryan and me." I frowned listening to him.

Olivia?

I suddenly felt a pang of jealousy listening to her name.

Did he like her?

Did he love her?

Is he still in love with her?

I tightened my hold on my purse listening to him.

"What happened then?" I urged him to continue.

"Ethan thought I and Olivia were romantically involved. And what ruined our friendship is he didn't even give me a chance to let me explain. He believed nothing else except his assumptions that I was involved with his girlfriend." He went on with a clenched jaw.

We both stayed in silence not knowing how to respond.

"Were you involved with her for real?" I asked him.

Although I felt like he didn't I just wanted to confirm.

"I would never do that to him," he answered me firmly looking straight at me.

"Why did you never try to sort it with him?" I asked him looking confused.

He stayed silent with his clenched jaw and balled fist.

It's like he is reliving a memory he wanted to forget so badly.

And I somewhat felt guilty that I was the reason he is reminiscing his past right now.

"He wasn't ready to listen to me back then, and now I'm not ready to explain myself anymore." He uttered with a blank face.

I pulled my eyebrows together listening to him.

"Maybe Ethan felt betrayed at that moment?" I tried defending Ethan.

I don't even know why I was defending him.

"If he did, he should've talked to me, Lauren. he should've given me a chance to explain. But he didn't. And Ryan's first instinct was to trust Ethan's words but not me. Ryan eventually came around to talk to me but I felt like his priority would always be Ethan and never me. I felt like a background friend." He gritted his teeth.

"It might feel silly when my feelings are put into words. But my parents were never around me and all my high school friends were around me only because I was rich. When I met Ryan and Ethan in college, I thought I finally found some real people. But one misunderstanding and they didn't think twice before blaming me. Although Ryan eventually came around, he wasn't there when I needed him. that day I felt like I lost the two real people in my life." he spoke.

I placed my hand on his shoulder comforting him.

"Pathetic. Isn't it?" he asked me chucking sadly.

"No. It isn't." I spoke sternly not wanting to make him feel any sadder than he already is.

"I'm so sorry for bringing up this. I didn't know." I spoke guilt dripping in my voice.

"No. It's okay." He spoke and he smiled a little.

"Don't be sad," I spoke.

"Sadness becomes a part when you constantly fail to find reasons to be happy." He spoke and those words somewhat let me take a peek into his life.

At how lonely he is.

I didn't want him to feel that.

"There is a medicine for sadness too," I spoke trying to cheer him up and he frowned at me now completely intrigued.

"Is it?" he said standing up.

"Yes," I spoke pointing toward an ice cream parlour at the end of the street.

"Ice cream?" he scoffed.

"Yes," I said urging him to follow me towards the parlour.

it's actually not the ice cream which is a medicine for sadness.

It's actually an attempt of someone who is trying to cheer you up using ice cream as an excuse.

The effort is what matters.

I ordered ice cream for us and he plainly rejected it.

But at my constant nag, he finally gave in. we both walked towards his car.

We both talked for a while and he looked slightly better, till my eyes landed on the time on my phone.

"It's late. I have to go Mr Hudson." I spoke smiling at him.

"Do you want me to drop you?" he asked me and I shook my head.

"No. the hotel is just around the corner. I can walk." I spoke and he nodded at me.

"Mr Hudson, thanks a lot for opening up," I spoke sincerely and he just nodded my head at me.

After giving him a final glance, I turned back and started walking till I heard his voice again.

I turned back to look at him.

"Lauren, call me Chris." He spoke moving his cheeks muscles awkwardly maybe trying to smile.

I returned his smile and nodded at him.

***

I looked in the bathroom mirror and sighed to myself.

It would be a lie if I say I was disappointed when I found Ethan had not returned yet.

After taking a shower, I dressed in my pyjamas thinking of Chris' words.

Should I say Ethan about my meeting with Chris today?

But do I've to say it?

But what if he gets mad?

The fact that the once three friends shared bad blood between them just because of a misunderstanding didn't settle well with me.

When it comes to Ethan, his biggest negative trait is he never listens when he is angry.

He is a sweet, flirting, sarcastic, wonderful person. But when you end up on his wrong side, he'll unleash hell.

And not to mention, the jealousy and insecurity I felt when I heard Olivia, a girl I'd never met once in my life.

Why is life so complicated?

Or do we complicate life ourselves?

I exhaled getting rid of these thoughts and walked back to our room. I looked around and there is only one bed and a small couch.

As I didn't want to sleep in the same bed with him.

I took the covers from the bed and cuddled myself on the small couch closing my eyes.

***

It was the next morning and my eyes slowly opened when I felt sunlight on my face.

I stretched my eyes feeling the bed below me.

I pulled the sheets to my cheek cuddling trying to go back to sleep when I realised something.

Didn't I go to sleep on the couch last night?

I immediately sat up when I heard the click on a door.

Looking up, I saw Ethan entering the room with our breakfast.

"How did I end up on the bed?" I asked him not forgetting the way he didn't take me out with him. it still hurt me. and I planned to ignore him for the whole day.

"I lifted you in my arms and took you to bed." He spoke smiling but I didn't smile back as I was still pretending to be mad at him.

"When did you return last night?"

He cleared his throat for a second before answering.

"A little late." He answered and I nodded.

I got up to take a fresh up and take shower when he stopped me.

"I brought you breakfast." He spoke excitedly and waited for my answer.

"Okay."

"That's it. No thanks?" he looked offended.

"Thank you," I spoke monotonously and he looked surprised with a tint of sadness and anger.

I moved away from him and went to the bathroom to freshen up for the day.

Once I'm in, I couldn't stop smiling.

It felt good to get a reaction from the cold-blooded Ethan.

I know it is very childish, but he left me all alone in this new city and went out, which was somewhat frustrating for me.

He didn't even text me if he will be late last night.

I looked at my reflection and decided to continue my 'ignore him' game.

***

When we reached the office, I got down and followed Ethan. the ride to the office was silent. I tried so hard to stay silent when all I wanted was to talk about everything I see on the streets.

Ethan asked me different questions but when heard my uninterested answers he stopped asking with a clenched jaw.

We entered the meeting room and saw Chris and some other businessmen already seated.

I smiled when my eyes landed on Chris and he returned my smile. That encounter escaped Ethan as he was busy talking to other men.

As the meeting started, Ethan and Chris presented their companies to the investors.

The clock continued ticking and the whole morning went by in the meeting.

It was almost lunchtime but the meeting continued.

And when it was almost half past three the meeting stopped for a break.

"Do you want to order anything more?" Ethan asked me and I shook my head not opening my mouth.

He gripped the fork hard at my response and started murdering the already dead chicken on his plate.

I ignored him and continued eating even when I felt his eyes on me.

Maybe I'm behaving childish but I want him to feel ignored for once.

As soon as we had our lunch the meeting was about to start again and as it is confidential, assistants are not allowed.

"I'll take a walk while you complete your meeting," I spoke still in my robot voice.

"What has happened to you?" he asked me desperately and I feigned innocent.

"What?"

"Nothing." He spoke turning away from me.

"Where will you go?" he asked me.

"I'll just walk around." I shrugged.

"Fine. but don't you dare go with that Luca," he spoke covering his expression.

Is he jealous of Luca?

I wish he is.

"Fine," I spoke not even giving him eye contact and turned around.

His hand wrapped around mine stopped me in my tracks.

"Come back soon." He spoke running his eyes all over my face all the while tracing his thumb on my knuckles.

He squeezed my hand before leaving me and walking away.

I controlled my fluttering heart which is jumping with a single touch from him before walking out.

***

I was walking aimlessly in the streets watching the sun go down slowly and the busy streets. I flatted a wrinkle on my beige shirt which is matched with black trousers.

Looking around my eyes landed on an elderly woman who is picking up her items which fell on the road from her handbag when someone crashed into her while crossing the road.

I thought of helping her but stopped in my steps when I saw a car speeding in her direction. I tried calling her but she is busy picking up her money in her handbag.

My legs involuntarily ran towards her with my heart beating crazily inside me. just as the car was nearing us, I pulled that woman towards my side from the line of the car. The force of my pull caused me to lose balance and we ended up falling to the ground. I quickly got up ignoring the pain from my hand and pulled that woman up.

"Are you okay?" I asked her worried. I hope she is.

She placed her hand on her heart breathing heavily.

"Oh my god. I thought I almost reserved a seat in hell." She sighed and looked at me.

"Thanks a lot, dear." She said taking my hand.

"Are you okay?" she said checking up on me and I nodded my head at her.

"You should be a bit careful. That could've ended up bad." I spoke and she just nodded at me.

"What is wrong with you mom? You should've waited for me. what will happen to me if something happens to you." I heard a young woman's voice suddenly coming towards us and hugging the woman in front of me.

"I'm alright now, sweetie. Don't worry." She said kissing the young girl's head.

"I'm Isobel, dear and thanks a lot for saving me." the elder woman opened her mouth.

"No, it's alright." For the first time, Isobel's daughter turned towards me.

Her big hazel eyes fell on me and she looked at my height. Her straight brown hair flowed beautifully on her back. Her round hazel eyes were slightly different from my almond brown eyes. she smiled at me and my mind flashed recognising her from somewhere.

Her face somewhat looked familiar. Like I've seen her before, but I'm sure this is the first time I'm meeting her.

Her soft smile looked familiar.

"Thanks a lot." She spoke for the first time and she had a soft but confident tone.

"It's ok. I've to go. Take care." I spoke as my mind felt blurred trying to remember her.

"Wait, you didn't tell me your name." Isobel's daughter spoke stopping me.

"Lauren."

"And I'm Eva," she said shaking my hand.

***

I walked towards the office blowing air on the wound on my left elbow. It will surely leave a bruise.

Not only my elbow even my right knee had a slight scratch on it. I have to treat them as soon I reach my room.

When I entered the office, I saw Ethan waiting for me to return. I hid my hand covering my wound and walked toward him.

"Where were you? I told you to come soon." He growled at me.

"What happened Ethan?" I asked tired already bearing the pain of the wound on my hand.

"Lauren, here you are. I was searching for you." I heard a voice and Ethan's icy stare landed behind me.

"Chris, hi." when he saw me greeting Chris, his shocked expression was worth a picture.

"Bye, and take care." He smiled at me and when I nodded my head, he glared at Ethan retracing his steps.

"Why is he talking to you?" Ethan 's voice turned cold.

"I'll tell you later, Ethan." I spoke feeling somewhat tired from all the events that happened today.

"Tell me Lauren." he gritted his teeth holding my elbow to pull me towards him and I winced in pain shutting my eyes.

He immediately left me and a worried expression painted his face.

"What happened?" he asked me softly and panic rose in his voice.

He ran his eyes at the pained expression and took my hand, seeing the wound which is slightly bleeding right now.

"Lauren," his voice dripped with guilt and anxiousness whereas his face showed his distraught and his panic.

Chris' POV

I walked away after greeting Lauren.

I didn't want to greet or talk to her in front of Ethan because it might cause trouble for Lauren. But still, I went against my better judgement and talked to her.

I hope Ethan will not take his anger for me on her, but I doubt he will ever hurt her.

He seems to take a liking to her.

He maybe even loves her but doesn't know yet.

Although I pretend to hate Ethan and Ryan, I still somewhere care and love them the same way. I never really moved on from them. I left them at a spot and I stayed at the same spot with them not moving on.

Lauren is a good person. I've met her in many business meetings, but always maintained my distance as she is related to Ethan.

But when I saw her alone last night when I was passing by the park an urge raised in me to go and talk to her.

Although she is Ethan's wife, Lauren is different.

She has different compassion from others.

The fact that I told her about the past which I would never open up easily, fascinated even me.

Somewhere I felt like Lauren deserved to know about Ethan. her trying to cheer me up with an ice cream warmed my cold heart.

Because it felt like a long time since someone showed a little care towards me.

Before it was only Ryan and Ethan for me, after the incident I had no one.

For the first time, I felt like Lauren can be a very good friend to me.

And I just want to see how we different pieces would fit together in this life puzzle.

Author's notes

hello again,

Thanks a lot for reading.

I know that last line was a bit *cringe* but that felt good. So I didn't delete it.

Please vote, comment and share.

Bye and take care.