Loving The Heartless Man

Chapter 32

Elara Pov

I stood excitedly in the arrival area at the airport, holding onto the metal barrier. My mom called last night and informed me that their flight back to our country is today. I'm excited to see my dad, who my mom said is strong again and has regained his old vigor.

I went to the airport early to pick them up and take them to their house, our old home where I grew up. I only waited for about an hour before I spotted my parents walking towards the arrival area.

"Mama! Papa! Here!" I waved at them with a smile to catch their attention so they could easily see me. My mom heard my voice, so she scanned the people waiting for their loved ones until she saw me. My mom smiled broadly. She pointed me out to my dad, and they both waved at me. Moments later, they were in front of me.

"I miss you, Mama. I miss you, Papa," I sincerely expressed while hugging both of them.

"I miss you more, Elara. I miss you so much," my father replied tearfully. "Thank you so much for saving my life," he added.

"It wasn't me who healed you but the doctors, Papa. They are the ones who saved you," I replied with a smile as I broke free from our tight embrace.

"Of course, not!" he firmly denied. "If you hadn't borrowed a large amount from the bank and given it to your mother, I wouldn't have had money for the operation, so the doctor couldn't have treated me."

My mom and I exchanged secret glances. My dad knows nothing about my marriage to Alexander in exchange for money for his surgery. My mom knows that my dad wouldn't agree to me sacrificing for him, especially if my happiness is at stake. So my dad doesn't know that I'm already married. And he doesn't need to find out because after six months, my civil status will be single again.

"Let's not get dramatic here at the airport. Let's leave because I'm hungry, and then we can go home so you can rest," my mom suddenly interjected to divert my dad's attention from that matter.

"Right. I made a reservation at a restaurant, so let's head there before I take you home."

We walked out of the airport while I pushed the cart carrying my parents' belongings.

Only half an hour had passed and we were already inside the restaurant where I had reserved a table for three people. I chose this restaurant because they serve food that is health-conscious. Their specialty is vegetables and fish, but the dishes are delicious.

"Are you going to live at home again, Elara? Are you no longer angry with your Mama and me?" my Papa asked while we were eating. His face showed hope that I would live with them at home again.

I gently shook my head at him. "No, Papa. I already have my own house which is close to my office. But don't worry because I will always visit you and Mama. And please don't think that I was angry with you because that never happened." All this time my Papa thought I was angry with them because I left home. Maybe I was upset, but angry? Never. They are my parents and that will never change.

"I hope you come back to live at home, Elara. Let us make it up to you for the years we weren't together," my mom tried to convince me.

"You know that's not possible, Mom," I reminded her. It seems my mom forgot that I'm already married, so I can't just move back in with them. "Besides, it's more convenient to live in my house since it's close to where I work."

"Fine. We won't force you to move back into our house, but promise us you'll visit often, okay?" my mom said after understanding what I meant.

"Promise. I'll visit you often," I assured them with a smile.

I'm grateful that my Dad didn't insist on me returning home. Maybe he also understands that I'm grown up now and I need privacy. I'm no longer the child he spoiled before.

After we ate, I immediately took them home. I stayed at the house for a few hours and chatted with them before I said goodbye and left.

"Take care of yourself, Dad," I reminded him as he walked me to my car. "Are you sure you're really feeling better? If you feel any pain, tell Mom right away, okay?"

"Don't worry about me, Elara. I'm really strong now. I can even knock down a buffalo," my Dad joked with a laugh.

"You're always joking, Papa," I said to him with a laugh. "Alright, Pa. I'm leaving now." I kissed my father's cheek and hugged him before getting into my car. I waved at him with a smile before finally driving away.

I felt light-hearted as I drove my car back home. That's how it is when there are no problems. Happy and light-hearted. After a while, I frowned as I glanced at the side mirror. I've been noticing for a while that a red car seems to be following me from behind.

Since I left my parents' house, that red car has been tailing me. At first, I didn't pay attention because it might just be a coincidence that we have the same route. But I've been traveling for more than half an hour, and the red car is still trailing me, so I couldn't help but suddenly feel anxious.

"Is that red car following me?" I asked myself. It seems too much of a coincidence that we're on the same road for half an hour.

When the traffic lights turned green, I quickly drove my car. And here comes the red car again, still tailing me. I thought of testing if the driver of the red car was indeed following me. I pulled my car to the side of the road and slowed down until I stopped. I glanced at the red car behind me to see if it would stop as well. If it did, it would confirm that the driver was indeed tailing me.

I breathed a sigh of relief when the red car just went straight and didn't stop as I had thought. I just shook my head because of my wrong assumption. The anxiety I felt disappeared as I drove my car back onto the road.

I thought I would never see the red car again, but after almost ten minutes, I noticed it following me once more. I remembered its plate number, so I was sure it was the same red car that I thought was following me earlier.

I saw it pass my car earlier, but now it was tailing me again. I didn't notice where it started following me again. My anxiety returned. Is the driver of that red car really following me? Could he have bad intentions towards me?

Out of fear that the red car might indeed be following me, I didn't go home right away; instead, I went straight to the mall. If the driver of the red car is truly following me, it would be scary if he found out where I live. Out of fear, I called Liam and met him at the mall. I needed to lose the driver of that car first before I went home.