THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 43: DOUBTS

Chapter 43: DOUBTS

"Everything that happened between me and your aunt?" She repeated in a completely dazed state.

How could she begin to explain, when he didn’t look like he was willing to give her the benefit of doubt? Of course she wanted to tell him everything, but she had a weird feeling he wouldn’t believe her. And if he really didn’t believe her, what then was the point of all of this?

"Don’t play pretend, Fay. You know exactly what I’m talking about. Or do you need me to run it down for you?"

"I could explain, but I don’t know if you’ll believe me." She averted her gaze, preferring to stare at the blue sheets, softer than furs on the skin.

At least one thing wasn’t being hard on her. Six if you consider Marilyn, Alice, Alexander, Leighton, the Chief, and surprisingly, his best friend Landon.

"You’re trying to slither your way through this by acting innocent. I’m not with the act. You’re going to tell me what happened, and if I even so much as detect a stutter in your voice, I would be forced to take whatever you say with a grain of salt."

She wished she was stunned by how heavy his words hit. But when you grow up with a woman like her Aunt who was quick to call you the devil, you sorta get used to not being believed, and being called names.

"Your Aunt came in here with your grandmother," she started, and paused. He didn’t want to hear her voice shake, which meant she had to stop at intervals to muster up new strengths that’d help her carry on. But when her eyes unfortunately lifted up, and stumbled on his cold dark one’s, she shuddered, and lowered it back to the bed. "Marilyn, and Alice were in here too."

"I didn’t ask for throwaway additions, Fay. Tell me exactly what was said," he interrupted impatiently.

She swallowed hard, and curled a piece of sheet around her finger. Anything to keep her distracted from him.

"Your grandmother wanted to know if it’s true you hit me—" she couldn’t help the shakiness in the last word she said. Picturing that scene again in her head, was much too vivid, and just as destabilizing as it had been in real time.

"And what did you say?" He inhaled sharply.

"I told her you didn’t. Your aunt insisted you did. I tried to challenge her and double-down on the fact that you didn’t, but she shut me off. I looked at your grandma, hoping she’d see how sincere I’m being. She didn’t have that glow in her eyes I saw at the wedding everytime your name was mentioned. Her eyes were empty and full of regrets. My heart broke, because I know how much she means to you. She left with a promise to investigate all that was said." she didn’t know her eyes were shut, until she finished speaking. She opened her eyes, feeling life a heavy burden had been lifted.

However, when she looked up, and found Ace staring at her with arms folded, legs crossed, while leaning against the wall, she couldn’t tell if she had done enough to convince him.

"So you just conveniently couldn’t come to my defense? You let Aunt Celine toy with my name, and just sat there watching?" He scoffed bitterly. "Why am I surprised? Your Aunt was being an ass, but you let everyone think she was saying the truth. Maybe she was saying the truth about you," he spat coldly.

Her heart sank. She moved her mouth to further explain herself, but no words came out.

"You have to speak, Fay. To tell him you’re really not at fault," one of her ever bickering voices appeared and said.

"To what end? He’s obviously not going to believe her. That’s a narcissist right there. You don’t deal with them by exchanging words, no! You deal with them by ignoring them."

"But he’s going to take it out on Fay. Look at his eyes. They scare me."

"That’s what he wants, for her to be scared. Pay him no mind, Fay."

She reached for her ears with both hands, and covered them with her palms. "Leave me alone," she muttered, as tears began to drop from her eyes.

His eyes narrowed pointedly at her. When he saw the glistening silver falling down, he kissed his teeth.

"Now you’re going to start crying, and make everything about you? Don’t you even have the common decency to feel sorry for your actions and disengage from the pity party? I’m disgusted."

He swiftly turned around, his face scrunched all the way up, and walked out of the room.

"Sir Ace?" Both women standing by the door, whirled around and faced him.

"You two, I’m going to ask a question, and you better answer sincerely."

"Yes sir!" They nodded in sync.

"Did my aunt and grandmother come into Fay’s room today?"

"They did," Marilyn said.

"What conversation transpired between them?"

"I’ll explain," Alice said.

Marilyn gave her the nod to go ahead.

"We were in the room with Mrs Fay—"

"Go straight to the point, Alice." He seethed.

"Sorry sir. Your grandmother asked Mrs Fay if you hit her, and if you’re the reason she’s in the hospital. She told her no, but your aunt interrupted and insisted she’s scared of you, that’s why she won’t say the truth. Mrs Fay did everything she could to defend you, but got stuck when she was reminded by the traumatic experience. She started to cry, unable to defend you any further." she stopped, and Marilyn continued.

"Before she left, we continued from where Mrs Fay stopped. We told your grandmother you did nothing like was suggested. Mrs Celine made it look like because we work for you, we’re covering you. But before your grandmother left, she said she was going to investigate the allegations."

"Bravo!" He suddenly clapped.

"Sir? I don’t understand." Marilyn looked to Alice for help. The latter responded with a shoulder and hand shrug.

"You’ve prepared the perfect story. What? Fay told you two what to say to me? Do I look like a fool?"

"No, but you’re sure acting like one right now," Marilyn desperately wanted to say, but she loved the stability of her job.

"That’s the truth, Sir Ace. We’ve never lied to you, and we wouldn’t start now. All we did was protect your wife, and your name. You needed to see Fay too. As sick as she felt, she mustered enough courage to speak up for you," Marilyn said, and Alice nodded in agreement.

"I wish I could believe you both. Trust me, I really wish I can. Unfortunately, ever since Fay arrived at my house, it’d seem alliances have shifted. Take heed—" he wanted to say more, but instead, pointed between the both of them.

Bobbing his head maniacally, he walked out.

They watched him leave with pity in their eyes. It should have been easier to convince him. That’s what they thought would happen. Stupid of them to forget how strongly Ace felt about his Aunt. She had to have said something to have him in so much disbelief.

Shaking their heads, they returned to the room.

Marilyn dashed forward when she saw Fay crying. She wasn’t wailing like before. It was the silent kind of tears. Those were more painful, because you know it was borne from true hurt.

"Mrs Fay?" She carefully called.

"He doesn’t believe me," she said through tears.

"We forgot he can be that way," Alice said. "But he’s going to come around. That’s one assurance I can give you."

"I feel so tired, Alice. It’s one thing after another. Why can’t it just be peaceful? Everything’s so—" she picked a tissue from the box Leighton left her, and blew into it.

"Do you think you can eat some more? Or would you like to rest?" She asked.

"I don’t know what I want to do. I just want silence."

And that’s exactly what they gave her. Silence.

They were okay with just standing, and watching her.

She didn’t immediately stop crying. They would have been more surprised if she did.

Marilyn’s eyes went to the sunsetting. It was sad that a day that started with so much hope, and wishes, would end this bitterly.

A tale of a man who couldn’t see the woman he had by his side could only be an Angel, God sent him, Alice thought in her head.

For Fay, she tried to search for a time in her life where nothing hurt. But every memory she came up with was marred by an ending her aunt made sure to ruin. Still to date, she could never bring herself to hate the woman, or anyone that caused her pain.

"I wish I could give them the same energy they give me. Maybe things would be better," she muttered bitterly to herself.

The door suddenly opened, and heavy footsteps strode in.

They lifted their heads in sync to see Ace return. Except for Fay, who was still nursing her wounds.

He didn’t move from the door, but just kept his eyes on her, and his fist folded into a ball.