Eleanor has to say that despite his anger he was still the same foolish man, who does things foolishly when coming to love. She wanted to laugh out loud but she held back by holding her narrowed gaze at him. She could see him gulp once in a while. For the first time, she saw him being nervous. Even when he opposed her, he was not this nervous. What happened now?
Maybe it's the fear of losing. Even she couldn't bear to lose him.
The worst thing in life was losing someone we hold dear. Loving him is a boon to her and losing him is a bane to her. The moment she saw the flowers she forgave him. But she wanted to play hard with him. He made her suffer from the stupid fever. Because of it, she has to eat those yucky medicines which she loathes.
"I got a vaginal tear, got bedridden for a day due to fever. And you…. Shouted at me!" She said as she raised her voice at him.
Cedric didn't expect her to point out his mistakes. He thought she would give him the silent treatment. He knew that whenever she was truly angry she would give others silent treatment. Listening to her speak, he smiled. He understood she forgave him. If she wanted to play hard… then he would let her.
"I will not shout at you ever again," he said to her. Not only to her but also to him. This woman was, is, and would be his woman. His only woman. He would treat her better than now.
"But you did. You left that day being angry. If I didn't come after you, would you return to me? I doubt that. I compromised my self-respect and came to you. I let my dignity down and offered myself to you despite how unwilling I was. I did that just so that you would stay with me.
"But what did you do? You let Myna get hurt. And where were you when I was sleeping in the hospital? You left to do some business.
"I know I shouldn't be angry at you. After all, the company doesn't belong to you but your employees. It is about the future of your employees and the families that depended on you.
"But I hoped to see you the moment I saw you. But Valene was there for me," she said. Eleanor just wanted to make it hard for him but as seconds passed she wanted to tell him what kind of pain she went through because of him.
The fire in her chest is coming out. Without her knowledge, she started venting out. Indeed, she wasn't lying here. She let down her dignity and self-respect for him but what did she get in return? She got his ignorance, anger, and warnings.
Cedric bowed his head down in shame. Indeed, she let down many things. She was a proud person. She always put herself ahead in everything but here she put him at the top of everything just because she loved him. He wronged her and let her suffer injustice.
"I don't know how to make it right. But I will kneel till I get your forgiveness. Because I deserve that," he said.
"Again! Again! You are doing the same thing! Have I ever asked you to kneel? What made you think that I would forgive you when you kneel? Cedric… you know what… What I need is an explanation. But I never asked. I thought you would explain it to me when you are good.
"I gave you time. So that you can open up. All I needed was some time to digest the things.
"Cedric, please tell me. If a man comes into my life after our marriage date is fixed saying that he is my fiance to you. Will you take it? What will you do? You won't leave me like this. You will force yourself on me for the whole night. You would either force me to say something or you would use your connections to know it. Don't you?" she yelled at him.
Cedric knew what she said was true. He suffered too much when she dated Jacob. Now… if some other man comes into her life then he couldn't stay still. He would do something to him.
"What do you want me to do?" he asked.
"I forgive you. But…" she stopped.
He was glad to get her forgiveness. Indeed he couldn't ignore the but. That 'but' can change his life right now.
"Eleanor…" he wanted to argue and ask her not to do that for him. But he knew he wasn't in any position to ask for that.
"Cedric, please. I can understand something happened between you and Nathaira. I never asked you because I trust you. I trust that you won't disappoint me and you love me too much and even I do that," Eleanor said.
Cedric got up from his position, he placed the flowers on the table.
"Eleanor… I know I disappointed you too much. But I will never repeat that again. But don't ask me to stay away from you, please." he said, almost begging.
"Cedric, even I want to be with you. But I am scared. I am scared of you shouting at me, scared that you would get angry at me. I only want love between us, not this anger, secrets, or any other negative feelings between us." she said.
"But it's not safe! Eleanor! I want to give you time too. But I am afraid Nathaira would do something to you," he said.
"More than Nathaira she should be scared of you," a voice resounded from the door. Eleanor shivered at the chilly tone of that person. This wasn't her father's tone but who could come here too to her cabin. A frown danced between her brows. Turning her head, she saw Regan standing there crossing his hands against his chest. Regan looked like the older version of Cedric. And his maturity can be seen on his face. She met Regan before but that version was his cool self, jovial self, and a good father type.
Now… he was looking like a Yama king who was about to punish the sinned souls harshly.
"Dad…" Cedric wanted to say something.
"Child, come and sit with me," he said to Eleanor.
Eleanor said nothing and walked to him. He led her to the couch and sat there.
"I don't force you to say everything to her right now. In the end, I am still your father and you are my son. But it doesn't mean I would let Eleanor suffer," Regan said.
"Dad," Eleanor called Regan. Regan showed his hand to Eleanor asking her to stay silent. Even Cedric wanted to say something but Regan stopped him too.
"I know I shouldn't get involved… but do you think I won't know when your marriage is postponed? When Aiden called me and said about this thing. I was shocked. I thought you would get married finally.
"But… see... What did you do Cedric? Nathaira may be crazy about you. Eleanor is strong enough to defend herself. Or else… I will personally appoint bodyguards for her to protect. But you… you are a ticking bomb beside her. Who knows what you would do when you get angry?
"When I got results of your great deeds, I wished that you never met Eleanor," he said, throwing the vase on the table towards Cedric. Cedric dodged it swiftly.
"Dad… I am fine," Eleanor squeaked out. Eleanor was shocked by Regan's actions. She never thought he would take her side. She was glad that her father-in-law is a good man.
"You don't talk, child. You don't. You know… you have no right to say a word right now. It's a talk between father and son. Also… I am a father to a daughter too. If Aiden gets to know that Cedric did this thing to you, he wouldn't care about his power, money, or anything. He would fight head-on till he is dead. And let's not talk about Martin's reaction, I can see my younger self in him. I am sure… if he was awake, he would have killed Cedric by now. And now… you are ready to forgive him? What made you think… I would let you talk right now?" Regan said as he made his point clear.
"Dad… but he loves me," she said.
"I know, child. Love should give you comfort, relief, and happiness. But here… his love makes you suffocated, insecure, and in tears. You deserve happiness. And I don't fret in disciplining him for you. Since I know you won't or can't punish him," Regan said.
"Cedric, now… don't force her to be with you. Let her take time and digest everything. Now you come with me. I have something for you," Regan said.