The next day, I had brunch with Monique before returning to the villa.
Being absent- minded as always, I only realized that I had left my bag and phone in Bronzy Condo.
I entered the villa and noticed that the living room was empty. Minnie was most probably out for groceries; while Hendrix, being the workaholic he was, should be at the company.
I changed into my slippers and decided to look up some parenting education books for reading. The moment I opened the door of the study, the air was fetid with stale tobacco smoke.
It was daytime, but the curtains in the study were drawn up. It was dim.
"Hendrix?" I asked in a small voice as I saw cigarette sparks by the window.
Hendrix was the only one who smoked in this villa.
I reached for the switch and turned on the lights. Hendrix's expression was dark as he bellowed, "Turn it off!"
"What's wrong?"
I frowned and walked towards him. "Didn't you sleep well last night?" I flinched at the smell of alcohol, "You're drinking too?"
His lips pressed tightly, and his icy eyes fixed on me. He stubbed out the cigarette in his hand, and finally asked, "Where were you last night?"
"Bronzy Condo," I grumpily answered. "I told you yesterday, didn't I?"
Hendrix scoffed, his voice rough and ruthless, "Arianna, what else are you hiding from me? How much more are there?"
The cigarette smell in the study room was starting to give me a headache, and I grew irritated at his cold attitude. So, annoyed, I refuted, "What can I hide from you? I can count my acquaintances with all my fingers. Just ask me directly if you're curious about anything. You don't have to be like this!"
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Pretty Sweetheart