“No you are not coming. Don’t give me that puppy face. I am not melting and that’s final.” Markus said in a strict tone, leaving no room for discussion.

“Is this what you promised yesterday and today morning?” Kizy asked, the feeling of being betrayed clear in her voice.

“No, of course it’s not like that. I-” Markus was still explaining when Kizy cut him off.

“Then take me along with you all. You promised to never leave me. Don’t ever break your promise.” Kizy stated.

Markus turned to look around, looking at all their faces while he was getting lectured by his wife.

“But Kizy, you are pregnant right now. Plus the doctor has warned us to let you have proper rest at least for the first three months. Then how can we take you along? The baby needs to be well taken care of and protected.” It was Rose who tried to meddle after Jason gestured to her.

“I will protect my baby. If anything, I will be the one to take bullets instead of the baby.” Kizy said in a firm tone.

‘And I will also be the one to take a bullet instead of Markus whenever the situation arises.’ Kizy completed her statement in mind.

“Kizy, how can I let you or the baby take bullets? I can never let that happen.” Markus said.

“But I am accompanying you.” Kizy said stubbornly.

“No you are not! That place is like walking on a field full of landmines. There are traps and weird poisons everywhere. I will never take you along to such a place.” Markus said, his voice rising a little.

“Fine.” Kizy said and was about to get up when Markus instantly held her hand, and the next moment he had already hugged her tight.

Others looked at each other before leaving one by one, hoping the couple would come up with a solution before this war began.

Unknown to all, there was one person whose eyes were glued to Victor all this time, though Victor was completely unaware of it, and of course didn’t reciprocate the same.

‘Did he forget about the afternoon that fast? Did that really happen?’ Nicole thought to herself while leaving confusedly due to lack of Victor’s attention.

“Kizy, please understand. How can I risk your and our baby’s life for that psycho? So please don’t make it difficult for me as well as yourself and the baby. Please.” Markus requested in a gentle yet pleading tone.

“What about your promise Markus? Didn’t you know you will be leaving yet again for this plan? I had already warned you yesterday to not step ahead if you were planning to leave me? Didn’t I?” Kizy questioned back.

“Yes I did. But that was not in this context but for our lifetime.” Markus said, trying to twist his logic a little as he couldn’t find any other excuse.

Yesterday he was too desperate to meet Kizy, plus the news about their baby had made him ecstatic and he had promised Kizy about this in an emotional state.

But now that he was reminded of his statements yesterday, he felt that he had made a huge mistake. He could obviously not take Kizy along with him to the Imperial Nation. But how in the world was he going to take his words back? Or at least excuse himself from the promise one last time?

“Please don’t give me excuses Markus. If this was how it was supposed to turn out, I wouldn’t have allowed you anywhere near me.” Kizy said while breaking the hug, her eyes glistening.

No, she definitely wasn’t trying to emotionally blackmail Markus to take her along. She just couldn’t imagine her life back to the previous month where every second felt like a year without Markus.

Plus pregnancy had made her rather moody, or more emotional to be appropriate. Hence resulting in this emotional breakdown.

“Kizy, I promise to be back within a week.” Was the only thing Markus could say.

“Don’t give me any of those false promises Markus. And don’t follow me.” Kizy said while finally losing it all and pushing Markus away.

“Kizy-” Markus instantly got up, ready to follow her back when Kizy yelled back.

“Don’t!” Was the only thing she said before climbing up the stairs to their room on the second floor.

Markus kept looking in the same direction even when the door was closed.

Eventually he took a deep breath before heading towards Andrew’s room, feeling utterly helpless.

*9 PM, MARKUS’s HOUSE*

The old chef personally went to Markus’s room with food, carrying her favourites as ordered by Markus.

He knocked on the door twice, but there was no response from inside.

“Young madam, I have bought your dinner.” The old chef said politely.

“I don’t feel like eating. Please go back. Also tell others to not disturb my sleep.” Kizy said from inside, her voice nasal.

The old chef turned around but Markus instantly signalled him not to speak anymore.

“Follow me.” Markus whispered while turning around and climbing down the stairs, followed by a confused old chef.

As if the old chef was less confused, Markus turned towards the main door, walking straight out.

‘Young master, do you want me to follow you on the road with this food tray in my hand?’ The old chef asked himself as he couldn’t dare to ask the same question to Markus, and simply follow him helplessly.

But unexpectedly, Markus didn’t go towards the road and instead turned around the corner, walking towards their backyard and swimming pool.

“Place the food over there and go bring a rope.” Markus said, while walking towards the sofa placed by the pool.

“Yes young master.” The old chef still followed Markus’s order, keeping the tray beside the sofa while walking back inside.

He quickly came back with a rope, hoping he would someday be able to understand his

young master’s thought process.

He passed the rope to Markus, not imagining he would do something like what he did next.

———————–

Starting this March a little simply with lesser twists. Hope you’ll like it. Have a nice day!!

– Kizy