The Gilded Cage

chapter 7

What exactly is his problem?

I held my breath, and we headed towards the house. It was a relatively large house, but its appearance was simple and beautiful, painted white and dark red...

Chris stepped forward to ring the bell, and we waited for seconds, but we got no response!

After minutes of continuous attempts, I asked him in bewilderment: "Are you sure it's the house?"

He ruffled his hair in astonishment: "Yes! I'm sure of that, but..."

He added, staring at the windows: "This is strange!"

I said, thinking: "The address might be wrong! Maybe we actually lost it..."

He furrowed his eyebrows: "No, it's the house! I'm sure of this..."

I sighed deeply, whispering: "What's happening?"

We waited, and the attempts continued until we were about to ask a neighbor, but we didn't succeed in this opportunity because the neighbors also didn't answer...

We returned to the apartment disappointed. I couldn't understand what was happening! Mr. Edward disappeared, and now there's no one at his house...

I threw the bag and looked at him impatiently: "Listen, you won't stay here; I can't bear you anymore. Find yourself a place now..."

He raised his eyebrows, then soon said boredly: "I paid the money and barely found a suitable apartment, and if it doesn't please you, it's not my problem, Miss Charlotte!"

I impulsively asked him with dislike: "What are you made of? Don't you feel a little responsible?"

He asked me without understanding: "Do you doubt that I'm not normal?!"

My eyes sharpened: "You're deranged!"

He smiled cheerfully as he sat down: "Frankly, I've never been insulted this much, but it doesn't bother me! And by the way..."

He added, feigning displeasure: "I regret to refuse, because I don't intend to bear responsibility for mistakes others commit!"

I found myself throwing the pillow at him angrily, so he laughed, enjoying it, and I roared like a raging beast that escaped its lair: "Can't you do anything but laugh and mock... you foolish womanizer?!"

I added in annoyance after his features softened and he smiled: "I will get a job. Let's say I already got it two days ago, but..."

I continued angrily: "I don't want to lose it when they find out that the nurse working with them lives with a single, perverted stranger under one roof! It's a large hospital with a good reputation, and I can't..."

But he cut off my talk with a murmur of understanding and confusion: "So you're a nurse!"

D...damn it! I didn't mean to tell him; I don't want him to know anything concerning me...

If I knew my mouth would utter information about me in front of him, I would have closed it completely and hidden the key in the depths of the largest ocean in the world...

I turned my face away in annoyance while he approached a little, so I looked at him again. He was staring at me with a strange look, but it wasn't cheerful at all, so my features relaxed in bewilderment!

He approached more and surprised me by placing his hands on my shoulders, muttering calmly: "So... you might be able to treat me and help me get rid of my illness?!"

I furrowed my brow and repeated: "T...treat you! From what?"

He bowed his head for seconds, then answered, staring at me: "I had check-ups, and the doctor said I suffer from..."

He added hesitantly: "A disease that has accompanied me since childhood, even since birth... and its symptoms are clear day after day! And I don't think treatment would even help me. It's the reason I rented this apartment... I wanted to seclude myself for some time!"

I felt a pang in my heart and was overcome with a feeling of pity, and I looked at him with distress and calm, saying: "But... maybe the doctor's diagnosis is wrong! Or maybe..."

— "Or maybe a joke?"

I stared at him without understanding, so he emitted a faint sarcastic sound, but he soon burst out laughing, turning his face away!

Muttering amid his laughter: "This is very amusing... oh my God!"

I processed the matter, so I said impatiently and indignantly: "You're silly! Do you think you're funny? It's not cute as you think."

I added, pushing him away: "Liar..."

— "That's true. Everyone tells me I lie a lot..."

— "One day you won't find anyone to believe you... you'll spend your life like the foolish shepherd boy who fell into the pit of lies and met his demise after everyone abandoned him... so die..."

I said it with intense annoyance, but I soon stopped talking, staring at the phone that suddenly rang!!