#LOVE_OVER_BLOOD
© Sir Zach
EPISODE 36
*Not fully edited*
“Brother, someone saw Stacy with Mr. Katana a few days ago. Also, she received an invitation for the masquerade party from Mr. Salemander.” Robert reported.
The mysterious man was sitting silently as he rocks the chair back and forth.
“Does she know anything about our plan?”
“I don’t think so. There’s no way she would know that.”
“I’m not sure though. She doesn’t have any reason to talk to these people as well. Something is not right here.” The mysterious man was trying to comprehend everything.
“What are you thinking?” asked Robert. The man stood up as he approached the window. He opened it wide to welcome the cool breeze. The apple green curtain danced beautifully.
“She’s clearly not dumb after all. Let’s find out what she’s planning. She might be a threat after all.” The guy exhaled a silent sm-irk. “Make a way for me to attend the masquerade party.” He ordered.
“Okay. I’ll secure an invitation for you then.” Robert pick up his phone and dialed a number.
***
After Lisa called Eli and Ethan to let them know that she will be going home together with Stacy, she immediately went back to where the car was parked.
“Done sending the money?” Aisha asked.
“Uhm, yes!” she lied, again.
“Okay, let’s go!” Then Aisha drove home. It’s already six in the evening when they arrived at the Williams residence. Aisha finds it odd to see Lights-out at the first floor. Wait! The bounty hunters couldn’t be inside since she saw some gatekeepers on their way in, so she shrugs that thought.
Lisa can see her hesitation to get inside so she held her hands. Aisha smiled at her then they both went inside. Maybe they are all in bed by now.
“SURPRISE!!!” different voices echoed in the house when Aisha turned on the lights. She was shocked to see the house decorated as if there was a birthday party. She can see genuine smiles all around. Almost all the house staffs are present. She turned around to look at Lisa but Lisa shrugged her shoulders.
“Happy birthday!” once again, she heard everyone in unison. Wait! Birthday? What is the date today? is it her birthday? she looked at her phone to check what day is it today. she grasped when she realizes that it’s the 20th of May. It is indeed her birthday.
“Mom! Happy birthday!” Eli excitedly ran towards her. Aisha kneeled to hold Eli in her arms. Ethan smiled as he walks near her.
“Happy birthday.” he ki-ssed her li-ps.
“Thank you!” Aisha murmured, she was tou-ched by their surprise. “I didn’t know it was my birthday,” she chuckled as she ki-ssed Eli’s cheeks.
“It was Eli’s idea!” Lisa said when she reached the three, “Happy birthday!” She greeted her.
“I guess everyone’s hungry. Let’s chow!” Lisa shouted in excitement. Everyone went to the kitchen and the three followed.
The dinner was full of chitchats and laughter. Everyone seems to be happy. It was just a simple dinner but it was full of giggles and music. Aisha was enjoying herself especially that Eli never left her side..
The housemaids joined the party too. Their driver, Larry and Yohann as well. All the household helpers enjoyed themselves as Aisha’s request.
Eli only left Aisha’s side when Yohann came and invited Eli to dance. Eli loves to dance! Ethan and Aisha were left at the table as they watch their son danced with Yohann and the others.
“Ethan, Thank you.” Aisha faced him, they are one chair away from each other.
“You should be thanking Eli, it was all his idea.” He answered her but still looking at Eli. Why won’t he look at her? Aisha didn’t know why so she shifted her eyes back to Eli with a trace of sadness in her eyes. she tried to smile though.
Why is she affected with Ethan’s sudden change of behavior? He’s somehow aloof. She can’t un-derstand. But she was wishing it to be that way before. Maybe it’s for their own good too since she will be leaving soon. Her heart itches a bit.
After some more minutes of watching the people dancing and singing happily, her phone rang so she excuse herself from Ethan. She went out near the pool as she answered the phone.
“Caleb, what’s up?” She asked.
“Well I just want to greet my friend a happy birthday before the day ends.” Aisha heard him chuckled
“Thank you. So how are you doing right now? when will you be discharge from the hospital?”
“I don’t know’, I guess the day after tomorrow?” he was not sure.
“Don’t rush, you must take your time to rest for the meantime.”
“No I can’t! I’m so bored in here. I’m itching for an adventure now.” he was complaining. Aisha laughs at his silliness. Guess he is still Caleb after all.
“Sissy! Happy birthday!” Aisha heard a y voice on the other line.
“Is that you Sophie?” Aisha yelled with enthusiasm.
“Yes sissy! It’s me! Good to hear your voice again.”
“whoa, since when did you arrive in here? Why didn’t you call me?” Aisha acted as if she was annoyed. She pouted.
“I just came yesterday. Dad called me to watch over this dumbas-s brother of ours!” Sophie irritatingly said when she spoke of Caleb. Aisha laughed.
“Oh, good to have you then Sophie. I’ll come see you tomorrow then.” Aisha ured her.
“Okay! see you!” then the call ended. Aisha is about to go back to the dining area when her phone rings again. She halted to answer the call.
“Dad! She exclaimed as soon as she answered the call.
“Don’t you really have no plans of visiting your father even on this very day!” It was actually more of a scold than a question from Demetrius. “Am I going to eat the feast I prepared alone? Am I celebr@ting a birth or a death?” he continued. Aisha chuckled.
“Dad, I’m sorry I’m a little bit busy here. But I appreciate you calling me.” She said in a mocking way.
“Just so you know, I’m not calling to greet you a happy birthday since this is not even a happy day!” He yelled. Aisha chuckled at her father’s action. He still didn’t know how to express his feeling. No wonder he didn’t even bothered to look for a second wife.
“Okay, Okay Dad. Just so you know I won’t say I love you because I totally don’t love you!” she was teasing Demetrius.
“This ungrateful child really!” then Demetrius hung up. Aisha smiled as she looked at the starry night. “Thanks for giving me a wonderful family!” she whispered.
“Everything’s okay?” She heard a man’s voice from behind. She was startled at first but when she turns to see Ethan, she calmed down.
“Ethan! O-of course, everything is okay.” she smiled at him. “where you standing there since earlier?” She’s a little bit nervous.
“I just came.” Said Ethan, “Everyone’s looking for you.”
“Oh I’m sorry, I’m coming!” then she rushes inside.
Ethan definitely heard her talk to some people . He didn’t want to show up yet since he doesn’t want to interrupt their conversation.
“are there things that I still don’t know about?” he whispered to himself.
_____
“Send my gift to her as soon as tomorrow morning.” The guy on the other line instructed a bald guy in his mid-30’s, perhaps.
“Yes Sir. Do you have any specific instructions as how to cover the present?” the man asked.
“Just make sure it is presentable. Don’t make it suspicious.”
“Ai Ai Sir.” The man who just disconnected the line once again called a different number.
“Send it tomorrow. Make sure she will receive it. Don’t give it to anyone aside from her.” he continued.
“Yes sir!” he heard the person on the other line ured him.
***
At the Williams residence, Eli run towards a secret drawer where he placed his gifts.
“Mom, I have something for you!” Eli went back to her with gladness in his face.
“What is it sweetheart?” she asked sweetly. Eli handed her two boxes wrapped up in a very good way.
“What is this?” Aisha showed him an excited face.
“Open it Mom, open it!” Eli is more excited more than anyone else.
When Aisha opened the first box, she held her breath at the breathtaking piece of jewelry in front of her.
“It’s beautiful!” she exclaimed. Eli grinned from ear to ear. Then Eli took the ne-cklace in her hand then he tried to put it at her mother’s ne-ckline. Aisha kneeled so Eli could reach her.
“Mom, don’t ever take this off. I will really get mad at you.” Aisha didn’t know if Eli was ordering her or threatening her but she finds it cute.
“Of course I won’t ever take this out since it was from you.” She ki-ssed his forehead.
“There’s one more box, open it mom!” Eli was jumping in excitement. He was more excited than the birthday girl. Aisha looked at Ethan with a questioning face but Ethan only smiled at her.
Aisha immediately opened it and found a phoenix haircli-p. It’s even beautiful!
“You gave me a gold infinity ne-cklace and a gold phoenix hairpin?” Aisha can’t believe her eyes. Eli nods while grinning from ear to ear.
“Thank you sweetheart, I like it very much!” She embr@ced him then ki-ss his forehead.
Fulfillment was written all over Eli’s face. After a while, Lisa also handed her a box too.
“Thank you Lisa. You don’t have to do this.” She taps her shoulders..
“Of course I won’t lose to Eli.” Then she winks at Eli. They chuckled. Then one by one, the housemaids gave their presents for her. she was surprised! She was not expecting that at all.
“Thank you everyone!” she was speechless.
After some more hours of singing, dancing and playing, they decided to end the party since Eli and Yohann looks sleepy all of a sudden. They must have exhausted their selves. Aisha demanded Yohann and his father to sleep in the mansion since it’s too late for them to go home already.
After everyone settled in their rooms, Ethan and Aisha headed to their own room.
“Did you enjoyed your birthday celebr@tion?” Ethan asked all of a sudden.
“Of course I did. It was pretty amazing! Thank you.” Then Aisha laid her back on the bed.
“You don’t usually celebr@te your birthday with us before so we don’t know what you specifically want. Looks like Eli got it right.” Ethan said as he headed towards his drawer. Aisha’s eyes followed Ethan as he approached the drawer.
“What? Stacy never celebr@ted her birthdays too?” She silently thought. “Weird.”
Aisha was de-ep in her thoughts so she didn’t noticed Ethan standing in front of her as he handed a small box.
“Happy birthday.” Ethan smiled. Aisha suddenly came back to reality.
“You don’t have to do this; you know?” Aisha accepted the box that Ethan gave. Her eyes grew when she saw what’s in it. She was speechless. She picks it up as she held it closer, she inspected it. This is it. Her mom’s erfly br@celet! she tears up. It was the only memory she had for her late mother.
But why is he giving it back?
“But why are you giving it back?” Aisha questioned.
“Because I already fulfilled my promise.” He smiled.
Yes! the promise! She remembers it clearly. So Ethan really fulfilled his promised. But how could destiny be so cruel to her that instead of the real Erika, he found Emily instead? Aisha heaved a heavy sigh.
Ethan didn’t know about her twin sister because before Ethan came to the orphanage, Emily was already taken by an unknown person. Also, she didn’t bother to tell Ethan about her sister. He didn’t ask about her family background anyway so why bother to tell him?
“Y-Your Anklet, I —-”
“It’s okay, don’t be sorry. You already told me before that you lost it, right?” Aisha was interrupted by Ethan.
“No I didn’t. It was with me all along!” she whispered to herself. She droops her shoulders as she looks away. Ethan was able to catch that.
After their small chitchat, Ethan took a quick shower, but Aisha seems to lose her energy all of a sudden. She laid her body sideways. Her thoughts were from a far. After some minutes, Ethan came out from the shower. After drying his hair, he laid on the bed. Aisha’s back was facing him. he’s about to turn off the lampstand when he heard her called his name.
“Ethan..” Aisha called still facing her back to Ethan.
“Ehm?” Ethan halted.
“What if one day you will wake up and find out that everything is a lie? Like everything you know is a lie?” unconsciously, she asks.
“What do you mean?”
“Would you be able to forgive someone who deceived you? Someone who’s been lying to you ever since?” Ethan didn’t response quickly. He himself was thinking.
“What if she didn’t want to do it in the first place?” Still no response from Ethan.
“What if she already fell in love with the people around her? what if she was afraid to lose them?”
“But they we’re not hers in the first place.” She mumbles.
“If it is I then I prefer to know the truth from the person’s own mouth. Maybe telling the truth early prevents more damage to both parties.” Ethan suddenly answered.
“But that was just my own opinion though.” Ethan continued when he didn’t receive an answer from her. “Why’d you ask that anyway?”
“Ehm, nothing. I must have been watching too much dramas lately.” She reasoned out.
“Oh, okay.” there is a trace of disappointment in Ethan’s voice. Then he totally turned off the light.
“Ethan, Sorry. I’m very sorry for everything.” Aisha murmured but it’s enough for Ethan to hear her. Ethan immediately hu-g her from behind.
“I think you should stop watching dramas from now. your becoming too sentimental.” He whispered in her ears. Aisha turned around as she inches closer. She leans her head on Ethan’s .
“Ehm. I should definitely stop it.” Then Aisha dozed off to sleep.
“Should I tell her first? Should I tell her I knew everything in the first place?” Ethan was in de-ep thought as well. She still wishes for this woman to speak up first.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 37