Caged By The Devil [18+]

Chapter 12

Elena's POV:

Anthony remained to look at me. I can easily read his eyes and say that how much I hurt him. Maybe he wasn't expecting that I'm going to reject to marry him instantly otherwise he won't look so sad. But I wasn't feeling guilty because what else I do other than reject him when I can't even think to marry him or any other man except Stefan. Besides, the marriage proposal was also given by my dad when I haven't a single idea about that, so I don't think that I'm obliged to marry him all of a sudden.

I also started feeling bad after realizing that I hurt Anthony who was being so sweet with me. I can understand that he isn't willing to marry me just because my dad asked him rather I think he wants the same as he mustn't want me to stay alone at this time. And any good man in his place will try to do the same.

I'm also grateful to him as he is concerned about me when there is no one left in my pathetic life to do that. But again I don't want him to feel concern and pity for me as I'm an orphan, and I have no one.

"I didn't mean to make you sad, Anthony. I just wanted to be straight forward, so that you don't keep hope to marry me as.....", I stopped as I become out of words because I didn't want to mention about Stefan to him or told him that I'm not willing to marry anyone except Stefan whom I love.

Although I thought to tell him about Stefan but next I changed my mind as I didn't have the courage to talk about Stefan with a person who was acquainted with my dad. But at that time no suitable reason was coming in my mind which I can give him for not willing to marry him because I know that he must except a fruitful reason for the rejection.

"As you don't know me yet properly, and we meet a while ago", I feel relief when Anthony gave a reason by himself and I nodded my head in agreement. But making me surprised, Anthony smiled again when I thought that he is going to be upset.

"So... I think now you understand why I don't want to marry you", I said nervously while forcing a smile on my face. I was still confused as I couldn't figure out the reason for his sudden smile, and I was willing to know that.

"I can understand you, Elena. It's absolutely fine if you don't want to marry me right now. Besides, I'm not telling you to accept me as your husband right at the moment. Rather, you can take as much time as you want. I will happily wait for you and I have no problems to marry you whenever you want. Even I'm ready to wait for you my whole life", I realized how foolish it was to agree with the reason he guessed. It was like I gave him another reason to hope that I will marry him when I was wanting him not to have any hope for me or marry me because it's never going to happen.

"No, Anthony... It's not like that. I mean my decision never going to change as long as you wait for me. I really can't marry you..... I just can't and I'm sorry", Lastly I apologized because I was sounding really rude and I don't think that he deserves to treat like this by me but I had no choice other than being rude to him because I really want to make him understand that I never can marry him whether he waits for me his whole life or not. And I was really wishing that I could be honest with him and told him the real reason, but I was helpless in this case.

"I don't know what are you thinking but please don't think that I'm wanting to marry you as I'm feeling pity for you. Honestly, I started feeling a sudden urge to care for you not because you have no one rather I think you need someone to be beside you as you must have no idea about the danger of the outside world which can cause you harm any moment", Anthony said, and he was seeming very worried about me.

But after hearing him, I smiled sadistically because he was saying that as he doesn't know about my life, and he doesn't have any idea that danger is very familiar with my life.

Besides, there can't be more danger in my life than the danger, I already faced which nearly destroy my life and my will, of living anymore. But the danger of my life which was my father, had already died, so I don't think that there will be danger, misery, or suffering in my life anymore. And I finally become free from all of these by the death of my dad.

"Am I wrong, Elena?", Anthony questioned which bring me back into reality from my deep thought as I was lost on the thought of my past.

"Your assumption is absolutely valid and it's the truth as any danger come into my lonely life anytime, but I don't think that the danger will be as great as I already faced", I replied, and he becomes confused which is obvious because I'm sure that he doesn't know anything what my dad did.

"Don't be so confused. I'm just saying that I'm very experienced to deal with danger as I'm familiar with it", I said sarcastically so that he doesn't take my words seriously or try to figure out what happened in my life, which I considered as dangerous.

"Okay then... But whatever happened it's already happened but you have to think about what can happen", He said, and I was thankful that he didn't ask what happened otherwise I don't know what should I reply to him.

"As you're so worried about me then we can be friends... Right", Although I wasn't supposed to ask this but it slipped out without my will. I don't know the reason, but I think that I asked him to be my friend because I never have one, and I was really getting a friendly vibe from him although I met him just today.

Even I was never so comfortable to talk with any unknown person like I'm with Anthony. And I didn't even think before that I was going to have such a long conversation without being bored. To be honest, I was feeling like finally I find someone with whom I can talk my heart out and feel free although I was hiding everything about my life as it was hard for me to trust on him instantly. But being with Anthony, I was really feeling better after a long period.

"I will consider myself one of the luckiest people if I have a friend like you, but I don't think I can be with you and care of you as a friend like I can as a husband. I really want you to be happy again, Elena", I laughed in my mind as he wants me to be happy when I forget what is happiness for the last 15 years.

I know that he must be thinking I lost my happiness as I lost my father. But only I know that I won't find my happiness back until I find back my Stefan which is my only happiness left in my life and I can't wait for the day when I will find Stefan back, and finally become happy.

"I'm not a child that I need a permanent guardian to take care of me. Besides, I'm used to living my life alone as my dad existence wasn't that much appreciated when he was alive because he always remained busy in his business. So, I don't think that I need someone to look after me", Maybe I was sounding rude, but I don't want him or anyone to take care of me or be my side as a replacement of my dad. Although Anthony didn't mean that way, and he also seems to worry about me in real but again I have to deny because I can't even imagine in my dream to marry some other man.

"So... Don't you want me to be with you if you need someone?", He asked me curiously.

"Why should I need someone? And I don't want to be with you nor I want to be with anyone else", I can't stop myself from being angry all of a sudden which I regret next second as Anthony become upset. I really feeling bad while realizing that I was hurting someone who is being so sweet with me and worrying about me. But what I was doing is making him upset. I really don't know what he is thinking about me but I'm sure of one thing that he must be regretting about meeting with me.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't want to sound furious. I just....", Anthony interrupt me before completing my apology.

"It's okay... I understand, Elena. It must be difficult for you to accept things recently. And I hear I'm requesting you to marry me although I know that it's not a good time to talk about this but I can't help myself because I just don't want you to leave alone and feel pain every second about your loss", I become wondered about the fact that, as much I was being rude with him, he was being more sweet and understandable with me when he must need to feel regret about our encounter.

I wish I really would accept his request and don't make him feel rejected as he was seeming so kind, gentle, and charming which every girl wishes for. And I surely can say that the girl will be the luckiest girl in the world whom he will love but I don't want to be that girl because I don't want him to feel guilty later for loving me and care for me.

"What are you thinking so deeply, Elena?", Anthony asked when I was looking at him and thinking how kind, and generous he is. I simply shook my head as a reply because I wasn't like to tell him what I was thinking about him.

"Do you lo... love someone, Elena?", He asked me out of the blue and I really become wordless as I wasn't expecting this question.

"I don't know whether I have the right to ask it or not but I believe that there is a valid reason for which you're rejecting me and you must be hiding from me... Right", He said, smiling sadistically and I can understand the reason behind his sad smile as it must because when he realized that I love someone else.

I was confused about telling him the reason which already guessed but I wasn't sure whether it's a good idea to say it or not. So, I again denied to tell him but my long silence already give him the reply which he was expecting to hear.

"Who is the lucky guy?", I feel my heartbeat stopped after hearing his question. Although he was smiling but his eyes saying something else as his eyes filled in sadness. I just remain to look at him for a few more seconds and start saying again.

"No....No....There is no one. I ye...yet not fall in lo... love", I lied, but it was really hard for me to lie about my love for Stefan, and I was really feeling guilty.

"Although it's difficult to believe but I do. And I think I can wait for you. Honestly, I.....", I interrupt him as I realized how stupid it was to lie him again. So, I decided to stop this matter here without dragging it more.

"I want to go home. It's already night, and I don't want to be outside anymore", I said although I was spending way more good time here while talking with him when at home, I will be all alone and have no one to talk to. But I don't think that it will be a good idea to spend more time with him and lie to him continuously which only making him decide to wait for me.

Anthony become paused for a few seconds then he also agreed to leave. When came out of the coffee shop, the cold breeze of outside start making me shiver as I forgot my coat in my car. But to my utter surprise, Anthony took off his coat and draped it over my shoulder.

"It's not necessary, Anthony. I'm okay", saying that I started taking off the coat although I was feeling warm, but I don't want him to start freezing like me.

"No, it's not okay. You may catch cold", he said while stopping me to take off his coat.

"So do you", I said, smiling in his common sense.

"Yeah... But I have my parents, my brother to take care of me but you have no one, Elena. And I really don't want you to suffer while being alone", I glanced away as my eyes filled with tears after feeling the care in his voice because it's really hard for me to remember when the last time someone cared for me this much in the last 15 years. And I was really grateful for the care, I was getting from an unknown person within this short time.

After that, I become silent as I left nothing to say. We get inside his car and headed to my home.

Until we reach my home, there was no conversation between us as I was silent all the way and surprisingly Anthony wasn't uttering a word. But he was looking at me frequently while I was looking outside all the time. It was clear that he is willing to say or ask something, but he can't. Besides, I wasn't willing to ask him what he wants to say as I may make him feel hurt again.

When we arrived near the entrance of the mansion, I asked him to come inside. Although he admires the house, but he denied to come inside. So, I don't force him anymore. I give his coat back and saying goodbye, I start getting out of the car. But surprisingly he stopped me.

"Can I get your nu...number if you don't mind?", I realized that this is what he was trying to ask all the way, but I think he didn't gather courage at that time.

"Please...Don't get me wrong. It's because I want to make sure you're okay by hearing it from you and I want to be there whenever you need someone", he said, and the next second he asks me to say my number.

"Sorry..... I can't", Although I started telling him but in the middle, I stopped without completing it as I remembered that I don't want him to wait for me.

"I know that you will wait for me and you want to hear my decision, but it always will be the same, Anthony. So, it will be better if you don't wait for me", I request him although it was sounding like another rejection, and this time I must make him feel insulted.

"Anthony.... please don't be sad. I don't want to be with you or anyone else because.....", I stopped as I was literally going to say again that I love Stefan but I'm sure Anthony already understands which I left unfinished.

"Because you love someone else, don't you?", I looked down feeling like I caught red-handed and I decided not to lie anymore.

"It's okay, Elena. I don't want to force you to say who is it. But I'm glad that you already have someone who can be with you and I wish you both will be happy as you are seeming very loyal to him", Although he was trying to pretend happy, but I'm sure he wasn't.

"I'm really sorry for rejecting you but I have no choice", I said, feeling sad but Anthony remains silent as I don't think there is anything left for him to say.

"You seem a very good man, Anthony and it was really nice to meet with you. Although it was a short encounter but I will remember you all time. I hope one day we will meet again", I said, and the next second he smiled.

"Yeah... I hope so. I can't wait to meet with you once again", he said, giving me his charming smile, and my heart filled with happiness although I don't know the reason.

"Goodbye, Anthony", I said again after getting out of the car. But all of a sudden I started feeling heaviness in my heart and honestly that moment I didn't want him to leave me alone although it was my decision.

But I don't think Anthony figured out that as he left after saying goodbye by leaving me alone.