Chapter Twenty One

"You enjoy it." We are on our third cup of ice cream, and I feel completely inebriated. With the first taste, my mind was so chilled. Who created this earthly paradise?

"I adore it." He gives me a nod and a bite."Hey!"

"What? I'd like to try it." I shake my head and use my finger to push his spoon away.

"Nah, I own it. You own yours." He conveys melancholy.

"Ronald and you are a match made in heaven. He despises doing what he loves most: sharing." Certainly, I detest him for sharing, but I have no control over it.

"You can tell me your story." When I'm still eating, my spoon stops. A slap inside and a chilly night. Sharing my story with anyone would be futile, or I would assume that anyone who listened would be hurt.

"Why do you think a tale exists?"

"You halt your eating." I shrug and resume eating.

"That's not evidence of anything." After finishing his meal, he asks for the bill.

"I recognize your emotions. We just met, and it's hard to believe anybody. Nonetheless, I am here for you."

"Perhaps another day." While eating quietly, we both looked out at the gorgeous white clouds that were blanketing the night sky.

"You must tell him. He'll protect you."

"What if he's the one I need to be protected from?"

"Then nobody will intervene to save you. He's a beast if you're attractive."

"Who is going to save him from Laura?" I know no one is going to save me from him. Simply having him by my side is all I need.

In my lungs

In my life

"I believe we should leave."

We returned after an hour. Due to snowfall, the roads are blocked by heavy traffic. It was already quite late when we got to the motel.

"Mr. Brooks, good evening." Because it was freezing outside, I gave him the coat he had offered me back.

"Wait!"

"W.. what?" He stopped me right away and had a very alert expression, as if something was wrong with us.

"Your front door is open." It's open, yes. I swung around and glanced behind me.

"But I can still recall the last time it was locked." He walks inside while pulling me behind him like a protector. When I initially reach inside, I'm completely baffled. Ronald is seen sitting on the bed with his arms over his knees and his fingers interlocked. His face appeared to be flushed with rage, and his hair was so unkempt.

"Why are you in this place?" His swollen eyes widened and he looked at me. My body began to tremble. Something is not right, God.

"So you return. Miss Rose, tell me how your night is going. He had enough for you, right? Was he able to satisfy you?" How could he?

"Ronald! You're overstepping boundaries." He chuckles and gets up.

"You smell like him." I say. He leans up close and smells me, but he really stinks worse than I do. He smells like whisky and anger.

"Sure, I am with him, so. He makes me happy. One day, he makes me happy, and you know he's not you." Brooks hit him hard in the face before letting his rage touch me with his hand. This was not anticipated.

"How could you possibly touch her?" Not just Brooks, either. The second blow is delivered by Ronald's side. Punch after punch after that. Both have the appearance of raging lions in the wild. They must quit right away.

"Ronald, stop."

"How come they are fighting?"

Nothing.

"Brooks! Don't. Stop it at all." Theo isn't present. Who will hinder them?

"Ronald." When my arms encircle Ronald's body, his body stops punching and begins to lose momentum. When he turns, I move backward. Ronald is not him. Monsters arrived in one location in large numbers. He's wailing now. I can feel his fierce, heavy breath through my arms. He pressed for another hit, and I dropped to the bed.

"Ronald." But he was quickly stopped by my scream. He's not Ronald. I've never seen him that enraged.

"Ronald, what the heck are you doing?"

"Not with me. Not for me. You exact retaliation." What are they discussing? Which Retribution?

"Ronald's still blind. Rose was the one you loved the most, yet you never trusted her." He gave me a quick look before casting. We were divided by a wall that did not quickly enclose us.

"So you don't even believe in her. How stupid are you, man?" They approach once more, but I stop them.

"Please Brooks., Ronald."

"Start remembering my promise, Rose." No. He is unable to recreate that period in my life. He cannot once more show me the abyss. He is unable to.

"Please, Ronald." He walks away after ignoring my words. Embarrassing memory resurfacing like a picture.

"Rose.."

"Please leave, Brooks. Please wash your face, and I want some privacy." My air abruptly and completely left my entire body in a blink as the door closed, and it tumbled to the ground. I require all things black.

My tired eyes open as I take in the bright surroundings. Who am I? I had a blanket, a mattress, or something soft covering me. My lips are parched like a desert, and my head is heaving with misery. I'm in my room, lying in bed.

Who made me jump into bed? Who cares if I exist? There is nobody in this place. I'm still wearing yesterday's clothes. When Brooks entered, I then heard a distinct voice.

"Good morning. How are you right now?" With a swallowed cheek and black eyes, he appears so awful. In shock, I blinked quickly.

"I'm good, but how's your face?" He joined me on the chair.

"Well, your macho dude is more powerful than I am. He manages his loss for your benefit." Where is he? Why is he absent?

"You put me on the bed."

"Yes." After not learning about him, my face lowered. Why is he upset with me?

"Ronald.."

"I have something I want to show you. It concerns Jessie." Jessie? What? My drowsy eyes suddenly opened.

"What? She's okay? Where's Ronald?"

"Wait! Check out these." He showed me the news about Jessie that was posted on social media. She is assaulted. That appears to be a robbery. My body grew chilly. Someone assaulted...

I must visit Ronald right away. I shiver as I get out of bed and head for the door.

He is not present. After hearing the news, he left. My finger came to rest on the doorknob. He left me here alone. He is aware of my attachment to Jessie, and...

"Go change; my plane is waiting for us." I completely lost my strength after he left. To me, Jessie is in danger. Nobody is aware of how I'm feeling. Laura is the brains behind all of this. Ronald left me in the dark while she was playing her game. How could he?

I panicked, stumbled into the bathroom, and fell to the ground. What if she were to die? No. I can't risk anything. My top priorities are Jessie and Ronald.

"Dad, please let me know what I can do. The whole thing disperses like the piece. Ronald merely provided me some strength if I chose Jessie." After getting ready, I try to call Ronald, but he is not available, and then I try to call Jessie, but she is not available.

"Shit."

Brooks flies me to my destination. My thoughts wander to Jessie and Ronald throughout the flight that Brooks takes me on in his aircraft. Nevertheless, I must first meet Laura. She will respond to all of my inquiries today. Brooks tried to calm me down, but it didn't work. As soon as he put me down in front of Jessie's building, the paparazzi blocked it off. Security personnel are in charge of the media and paparazzi.

"I'm Mr. Ronald's secretary; please excuse me. My name is Rose; you can call me Mr. Ronald."

"Ms. Rose, you are not permitted here. Mr. Ronald has given a severe order."

What?

"No, I believe that to be an error. Theo! Hey! Look here." Theo is in charge of everything as he stands over there. As he heard me calling to him, he came over.

"Theo, I want to enter. Let me in, please."

"Unfortunately, Mr. Ronald gave us the order not to let anyone in, especially you, Miss Rose." What? How could he?

Why?

"But why?"

"Sorry, but it's a command."