The Stolen Heart

Chapter 13: Justin’s POV

“How long has she been in there for?”, I asked a worried Nick, while running my hand through my hair nervously.

Nick bit his fingers worriedly, scrutinizing me as if trying to tread carefully but it was Jen who answered, “Twelve days….She won’t answer our calls….she won’t open the door for us. We even tried staking out at her apartment, but she hasn’t even left to get groceries and stuff. Gosh! I wished she hadn’t taken back my keys to her apartment.”

“Ugh, we have no way of getting in if she insists on not letting us in. Her apartment is on the tenth floor, not really climbable height.”, Nick said and slammed his head onto the wall, frustrated.

I let out a groan. My mom was panicking and I was this close from biting my own head off. Why does she always have it deal with her problems all alone when she has been there for each one of us? She is going to do all the wailing and self-pity by herself, because it hurts her pride to let anyone see her cry. Ever since childhood, she had been like this. Even when, Elma passed away she had locked herself into her room, emerging only on the fifteenth day. Richard had almost gone mad trying to get her to come out and talk, and when she did come out, she looked as if she was okay. She never even cried in front of her own mother, she simply locked herself and cried herself to sleep. It had hurt Richard deeply that she didn’t trust him enough to lean on him and cry.

I let out a sigh and shook my head at Nick and Jen,

“Let’s leave her alone for a while. After three more days she will walk into the office with her head held high as if nothing had happened.”, I said.

Nick looked astonished at my predicament while Jen just bit her lip worriedly. I knew I should be angry at Jen for what she had done when were in school. But I had realized that though she still has feelings for me, she has never made a move and she treated Merina sincerely as a friend even though she knew Merina was the object of my long-lasting affection.

“I hope she does learn to share her worries with someone, to depend on someone. If she keeps all this pent up, it’s going to burst at once one day, and the aftermath could be catastrophic.”, Jen said slowly, not looking me in the eye.

She had a point. Merina was keeping too much to herself. She was used to dealing with her own problems since she was a kid, that it came naturally to her. It’s never going to occur to her to lean on someone.

I was still feeling guilty. Even though I knew that it was an accident, it was me essentially who caused the miscarriage. If only I hadn’t fell on her the second time. Mom had already told me to stop beating myself over it but the truth of the matter was that I was scared as hell, whether she will hold me accountable and hate me even though it was just an accident. 

Out of the corner of my eyes, I could see Jen eyeing me worriedly. She took a step towards me and put a hand on my shoulder and patted me softly as she said in a soothing voice, “It wasn’t your fault. You need to get over it and accept that fact, then only can you support Merina. How can you support her when you are a hot mess yourself? Go Home, Justin. We will call you in case something happens.”

Though her words made sense, I really didn’t want to leave. But she was right, I needed to get on with my grieving myself, otherwise how could I be there for her when she needs me?

I nodded at her and headed back home, rather reluctantly.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

“She is not even letting us in, mom.”, I explained for the hundredth time to my panicking mother.

She started biting her fingers nervously and striding back and forth, breathing in and out.

“She won’t do anything stupid right?”, mom stopped abruptly and asked.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. I knew that this year had been quite tough on her, what with Richard passing away, the promotion being cancelled, the media absolutely roasting her and now the baby. But I don’t even have an ounce of doubt that she will commit suicide or something like that.

I squared out my shoulders and replied indignantly, “Of course not. She is not the kind of woman who gives up when life gets tough. She is the type to come out swinging when cornered into a spot. She is a fighter.”

Her eyes softened and smiled at me.

Just then, I could hear multiple cars arriving outside. I looked at mom confused and asked, “Are we expecting guests?”

She shook her head no, and went outside looking bewildered.

She came back looking pissed off. I tilted my head, wondering what the hell was going on? Mom generally had a very serene and mild temper, and if whatever it was could piss her off, it would surely drive me off the roof!

Mom looked at me apologetically and motioned for me to stay calm.

Oh! This isn’t going to be good. I sucked in a sharp breath, willing myself to calm down when I saw my father enter along with Mr Johnson and Joanna Johnson.

They were here obviously for discussing the details of this so-called arranged marriage alliance, which I don’t recall agreeing to. Could my father be any more insensitive? I mean, he just lost his grand child and yet here he was forming alliances.

Joanna looked all smug when she walked past me whereas her father looked politely disinterested.

Seriously? What do I have to do to make her understand that I don’t have any feelings for her nor am I ever going to?

My father and Mr Johnson went inside the study room which left Joanna and me alone.

She immediately pounced on me, hugging me tightly as she whined, “I missed you so much, honey.”

I pushed her aside violently and glared at her. Enough with all the polite pretenses. I was treating her with respect only because she was a woman but this woman won’t back off until I start treating her roughly.

“This is a new low….even for you”, I spat at her.

She blinked her eyes innocently at me, pretending to be hurt. Oh! I have had enough of her victim attitude.

“Why are you suddenly rushing the marriage? Is it because of Merina?”, I asked her with venom in my voice.

She smirked as she replied, “Oh please! That slut has nothing on me. I would never lose to a freaking nobody.”

I wanted to punch her nose very badly.

“Aren’t you here because you are afraid to lose to a nobody like her? But what are you really afraid of? Loosing me or losing me to a nobody like her?”, I smirked back at her.

Her signature maniacal scowl erupted on her face but she shoved it down quickly and replaced it with a sweet, innocent smile.

“I am here because, I am the only one who sincerely loves you, Honey. Only I can match you in all aspects…Looks, money, heritage”

I let out a laugh and replied dryly, “You don’t want to be the wife of Justin Malcerk, you only desire to possess the position of the daughter in law of the Malcerk Empire.”

With that I walked out of my own house, without even a second glance at her. I have been staying out a lot these days. I need to buy another apartment. Come to think of it, the apartment next to Merina’s is on sale. That would give me a good excuse to be near her and watch over her without being too obvious or being labelled as a stalker.

I took out my phone and called my secretary.

“Rupert, there is an apartment for sale on the Bloomwood road, near our office. I need you to buy it for me. I should be able to move in today itself.”

I could hear him spluttering and knocking out things. He finally composed himself and repeated my order.

“But sir, its 9pm”

“Exactly. Get it done fast. I only have a half an hour drive there. By the time I have finished my packing and reach there, the deal should be settled.”, I said stoically and hung up.

I had full belief in Rupert. I always give him impossible tasks but he was very efficient and almost always manages to pull it off without a hiccup.

Ugh! I just walked out on Joanna. How am I supposed to get to my room and pack? I can’t go back in. That would be humiliating.

Just then I saw our butler, Mr Gerald, come out. I immediately, latched onto him and conveyed me him my orders. He nodded at me and went in, in a haste.

Just then my phone rang…..Nick.

“There is good news and bad news”, Nick shrieked into the phone.

“Okay the good news first. Did she come out of the house? Does she look okay? Did you talk to her?”, I said, ignoring his shrieking.

I waited for his answer with a heavy heart, while praying to all the gods that I knew to let her be okay.

“Good news. She seems fine now. She is smiling even.”

I paused for a second confused, she was smiling?

“What’s the bad news?”, I asked, my voice faltering.

“She is with Daniel.”, Nick replied after a pause.

My hands shook. I couldn’t believe my ears. Whenever she went into her depression state, she never let anyone in….not Richard, not Nick, not me, not even Jen. But she let him in even though it was only a few months they had known each other. A nauseating feeling hit me again. Will history repeat once again? Was I late again? Do I have to watch another man woo and date her again? I had gone through that agony once and I had no intention to do it again. I felt so helpless and so defeated without even trying once to woo her.

“Justin?”, Nick’s panicked voice came through the phone I was tightly clutching.