A Beautiful Misunderstanding

It was already three o'clock in the morning. Soon, it would be dawn and light would crack through her window.

But Essie couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned in bed, unable to put either her mind or body to rest.

Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled. Rain was pouring heavily outside. 'The weather matches my current mood,' she thought with some annoyance.

Her heart ached every second. Something in it expanded, consuming her completely. Nothing she did would reduce the ache.

Her imagination started to run wild. She could vividly imagine Zac with his beloved woman, cozily wrapped in his arms.

Damn it, why did she always have to think about him!

She cursed her thoughts for always running back to him. He was allowed to love whoever he wanted. And what he did with his lover was none of her business. She had no right to dwell on his thoughts.

After taking a deep breath, she forced herself to think about Hanson. After all, today he had confessed his love for her. She was supposed to think about him and the happy future he had promised her.

"Essie, think about Hanson. Think about his gorgeous face," Essie spoke to herself in this empty room. But her attempts went in vain. Zac's face kept flashing on her mind. The way he had taken care of her when she feigned a cramp. "Someone help me!" she screamed, feeling miserable. She tried to convince herself that Zac didn't even think about her.

Suddenly, her mind took a different turn. She couldn't think about another man. Perhaps it was because she was Zac's wife, even if this marriage was only an accident. In the eyes of law, they were a couple. 'Was it appropriate to cheat on him? And most importantly, is it appropriate for him to be with another woman right now?'

The answer was no. Instantly, she got down the bed, grabbed the darkest lipstick from the dresser and rushed into Zac's room.

drew open the curtain and sketched two bloody

to play some mobile games.

lightning flashed

seemed unperturbed by the horrible

number, he waited expectantly for an answer. But when he realized it was still switched off, a gloom would befall his face and he would

of the bar, he stretched out his hand for another phone. William quickly

there was a ring! It wasn't switched off anymore.

you doing?" Essie barked from the other side of

the caller ID. A part of her wanted to reject the call, but her curiosity compelled her to pick it

to keep his voice steady. If it was possible, he would have crawled out of the phone and reached

I am home. I was sleeping but your call woke

'At home?' thought Zac.

heart finally relaxed. The anxiety

and William started the engine

time that William had seen his boss lose his calm. Normally, he was like a cheetah, powerful and always in control. Nobody ever got to see his

the world

remained a mystery to William. Even though his actions seemed to indicate he loved Essie, he never confessed

and cold. One could never tell what was going on in his

the sound of