Paper Rings (English)

Chapter 15

“Is Cecil not enough? You had to do this to Primrose too?”

“What? Why are you bringing up that woman’s name again?” Sandra looked down at the broken wine bottle scattered on the floor. She gripped the side of her head to contain her surprise. “And what’s wrong with giving my daughter-in-law some wine to celebrate her marriage? Is that such a bad thing for you to act up like this?”

Those words were the signal to the last thread of patience Sander has been trying hard not to cut. Since their last squabble back when he was eighteen, he learned to accept that he couldn’t change his mother’s ways. However, thinking about the state Primrose was in and what could’ve happened against her will still infuriated him.

He ran a hand through the strands of his hair and almost spouted a curse. The more his flinty eyes stared at his mother, the more he felt every muscle in his body quivering.

“Did you think you can fool me again?” he couldn’t help but snarl at her. His pounding heartbeat was roaring in both his ears. “You’re very despicable and shameless. Do you know that?”

“Sander, that’s not a way to talk to your mother.” Her eyes narrowed along with the gathering of her eyebrows. She folded her arms across her chest and heaved a long sigh. “So you're accusing me of putting something in that wine? Is that what you think?”

“You know very well that it's not just something that I think. It’s a fact.”

He clamped his teeth to contain the following bitter words itching to jump out of his throat. His nails were biting into his palms as he fights the urge to grab something and throw it in the air to put his anger on full-blown display.

“Let’s talk about this tomorrow after you’ve calmed down. I can’t talk to you in that state.”

“You’re not even trying to be careful anymore. Now you’re even doing it all right in my face.” His bitter words halted Sandra from stepping toward the direction of the door. When their gaze met again, the Mortel Malls President was darting her an intense, fevered stare. “Is it because you knew you couldn’t control her? Unlike the way you controlled Cecilia before?”

He was aware of how that statement would heighten the current tension between him and Sandra. So when he saw her palm traveling the air across his face, he decided not to evade it. The slap left his cheek swollen and throbbing in pain, but that didn’t seem to faze him.

He continued to welcome her fiery glare with his scornful eyes, no sign of backing down like how he used to do in the past.

“I told you long before to stop mentioning that witch’s name in front of me, didn’t I?”

He gaped at Sandra in disbelief, “You hate being reminded of the time your ridiculous scheme failed, don't you?”

“Messi Sander Mortel,” she carefully enunciated his name in a controlled tone. Her hand reached for the back of her head as she drew slow and steady breaths to supress her anger. “I don’t have any business hearing your pathetic whims about the past again. This conversation is over. ”

“Is it? But I’m not done yet.” In his eyes flashed a hint of disgust. He wanted to stop too, but this was more than he could tolerate. “You’re the one who invited Nicolas Mendez to the wedding, right?”

Sandra scoffed and placed a hand on her chest. “Is that what we’re doing now? Throwing senseless accusations? You should hear yourself, Sander.”

“My security team wouldn’t let anyone in without an invitation, and you’re the only one who needlessly asked people to come.”

“Of course I’ll invite people to come, son. Your wedding guest list wouldn’t be able to fill that small venue, for heaven’s sake!”

Both hands fluttered to his sides in apparent resignation. He tried to hide the state of dismay he was currently in, but a bitter smile crept into his lips. His gaze shifted away from her aggravating visage as he swallowed all the pain down his chest.

“This is a warning,” he said in a firm tone instead to dispellingher obvious lie. “You know me more than anyone else, Ma. If you do anything again to harm my wife, I won’t sit by and watch. You won’t see me again.”

Upon turning his back, he saw his father standing at the doorstep. From the look on Merlin’s face, he could tell that the business tycoon heard their entire conversation. He didn’t need to explain. His father gave him a knowing look and nodded his head.

“Take a rest. You and your wife have a flight tomorrow.” Merlin lightly tapped his shoulder when he walked past him. His lips curved a small reassuring smile. “I’ll handle this.”

He marched out of the house without looking back. Although Patricia kept bugging him to talk because of all the yelling they did in the study, he dispelled her queries with a single nod before bidding goodbye.

Being too distraught with the encounter with his mother, he decided to let his security team drive him back to the hotel. Upon entering the lobby, he quickly recognized Wednesday and Lowell from afar. As soon as their eyes connected, the couple stood up from the waiting area and walked up to him.

“How’s Rosey? Is she fine?”

Worry was apparent in Wednesday’s tone. Seeing that the two of them are still wearing what they wore during the wedding, he guessed that she was referring to the incident with Nicolas. He almost got confused because a lot has happened today.

“She’s fine, probably asleep in our room,” he managed to answer briefly. "How did you two find out that we're staying here?"

"I have my ways," Lowell Sebastian kept it brief.

“I’m sorry for intruding like this, I just—” She bit her lip, hesitating to continue speaking. When Lowell patted her back, she took a deep breath. “That Nicolas, he did a terrible thing to Rosey back then. I’m sure she’s devastated about seeing him again, especially in that manner.”

Sander pressed his lips tightly. Hearing this now only confirmed his hunch further about her mother inviting that guy.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure he’ll never get the chance to get close with Primrose again.”

“Were you able to get a hold of that guy?” Unlike their usual hostile treatment toward one another, the SMU Publishing CEO sounded genuinely concerned about the situation.

He shook his head and sighed. “No, Primrose doesn’t want me to deal with him directly. I don’t want to do something about it without her permission.”

“Please,”—Wednesday grabbed his hand all of a sudden that made his eyes widened— “take care of Rosey no matter what. I know I don’t have to ask you this, but I don’t want her to get hurt ever again.”

“I’ll make sure to do that,” he reassured her.

"I'm sorry if I can't tell you anything else," she said dejectedly as her shoulders hunched. "I'm sure she'll tell you about it if she's ready."

After talking to Wednesday and Lowell, he felt a strange feeling of relief in his chest. It was as if he was reassured that there were still people besides him who’d willingly protect his wife. That thought alone was comforting for him, especially because he could forsee what kind of torment Sandra would bring to her.

His tracks stopped in front of the hotel room door, where he left Primrose and Elisha earlier. He was about to tap the room card when it clicked open from the inside.

“Sir,” his assistant was breathless. “Thank goodness you’re already here.”

“Why are you panting? Did something happen?” His gaze automatically shifted to the direction of the bed. “Is she alright?”

“Yes, sir. I managed to bathe her and get her to bed, but—”

“But what?”

He didn’t wait for his assistant’s answer and walked inside to grasp the current situation better. He quickly averted his gaze with the sight of his asleep wife half-naked on the bed. She was murmuring some inaudible words, and her hands kept swinging in the air like she was fighting someone in her dreams.

“I couldn’t get her dressed because she kept moving,” Elisha immediately covered the snoozing lady with a blanket. “I’ll try to dress her up if you can give me a few more minutes—”

“No, it’s fine. Just cover her up like that, and I’ll turn down the AC.” He shook his head while staring at his wife before shifting to Elisha. “Thank you, Elisha. Good job today. It’s already late, so you should go home now.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“And Elisha,” he glanced back at his assistant, who was already striding to the door. “Can you ask the security team for information about Nicolas Mendez? Everything about him, head to toe. Send it to me within the week.”

“Got it, sir. Have a good night.”

“Good night.”

His gaze shifted to the bed where Primrose lay as soon as he heard the door clicked into a close. He tucked the blanket tighter to ensure that it was covering her entire body. After that, sat on the chair at her bedside and ran a palm to his face.

Her entrancing visage seemed so peaceful as she continued on with her deep slumber. Before he knew it, he found himself reaching for her cheek. He only halted midway upon realizing what he was about to do.

"Why do you always look so vulnerable and fierce at the same time, Primrose Dia?"