Chapter 40: Elias Disappeared

Elias quietly petted the cat as if he didn't want to get involved in our war. "Auntie Odd, stop messing around. He doesn't even want to talk to you. Don't you ever look in the mirror? How old are you to flirt with such a young man? Funny." "You are the ones who are funny." I was about to retort when Elias spoke up before me and stopped them from speaking. I was surprised as well as pleased and warmed by the fact that this arrogant man was still on my side. Even though he was angry, he still defended me. "My wife is only twenty-eight years old, and you are about twenty. Is it appropriate for you to call her aunt? Have your teachers not taught you how to address others properly?" "Wi, wife?" The little girl in the white dress was so shocked that she dropped the cat in her hand, "She's your wife?" I wondered, didn't Elias and I look like a couple that much? Besides, he was just three years younger than me. I, on the other hand, was twenty-eight years old, but my body and face were still well maintained. I could be 100% sure I was worthy of Elias. "It's true." I leaned over and looked at the girl in white, "What? Did you want to offer yourself if I wasn't here?" She looked mortified and annoyed. "You can't control him." I gave her a light blow. Knowing that Elias was a married man, the girls soon walked elsewhere to have fun. Elias turned into a loner at once. We faced each other and neither would speak first. Soon after, the cat in his arms broke the silence by meowing. Elias looked down and gently stroked his fluffy head. When I saw it, a flicker of grievance suddenly came over me. He was more patient and gentler with a cat than with me. I started to speak without thinking once I was aggrieved. I had been worried about him all night last night and hadn't slept well, but he was talking to other girls in the cat cafe enthusiastically. "Elias, you're enjoying yourself. Are you happy that you got rid of me?" I said such words against my conscience, but in fact, I just wanted him to comfort me. Hearing my words, Elias's face, which had eased a bit, instantly turned sullen. He actually said firmly, "Yes." "Yes what?" I jumped up and looked at him sternly. "I'd rather talk to them than be with you." Elias said, word for word. This statement completely ignited my anger. In a fit of rage, I said without thinking, "Elias, if you really hate me that much, let's just get a divorce." He stared at me incredulously, seemingly with blood in his eyes, "What did you say? Say it again?" I had always been proud. I had already come to him personally and given in to him, but he did not appreciate it and still gave me that deep freeze. Did he really think I couldn't live without him? "It's the same no matter how many times I say it. Let's get a divorce." After saying that, I left in anger. But as soon as I got back to the car, I regretted it. How could I say the word "divorce" so easily? Distraught, I could only call Iggy, "Iggy, I had a fight with my husband." Iggy understood me very well and asked me out for a talk at a cafe. "You asked him for a divorce?" Iggy wasn't surprised but took a sip of her coffee gently. I nodded in frustration. "Are you serious?" "Of course not." I explained hurriedly, "I just blurted it out in the heat of the moment." "Even a mature and stable woman like you can be impulsive when it comes to relationships." Iggy looked at me half teasingly and half amused. I smiled bitterly. I used to be strong and calm in the face of the treacherous business world. But ever since I met Elias, I had been swayed by consideration of gain and loss from time to time. "What was the reason for your fight?" Iggy asked bluntly. "Ian." "Oh? Your first boyfriend?" I nodded, "Elias saw us together and misunderstood me." "Jacqueline, it's up to you. You keep blaming Elias for not understanding you and not being broad-minded enough. In reality, no one can be very generous when it comes to love. To put it another way, the fact that he was so irritated today is a good indication of how much he cares for you." "Is that... so?" I wasn't sure. "My sister, you are smart, but you were once hurt like me, so you became cautious. All your reactions now are normal." "Really?" "I used to think you were a little emotionless, not in terms of our friendship of course, but you did everything according to the ROI. I have never seen you show your real emotions." "Jacqueline, you're just a woman who needs to be loved despite your status as president, aren't you?" "Quarrels are inevitable in married life. Talk things out and you'll be fine." "If you don't even fight and respect each other as guests, your marriage will really be in name only." Iggy's words enlightened me. I looked inside myself and found my desire to be with him was very strong, so why did I fight with him and stop talking to him? Damn me. When I got out of the cafe, I called Elias. I waited for a long time, but he didn't pick up. I tried again, but still, he didn't answer. I panicked and drove home immediately, but Elias was still not back. Over fifty phone calls and countless text messages went unanswered. I had my heart in my mouth. Elias would have answered me after all these calls and messages, even if he was angry with me. He wasn't that kind of person. He wasn't. Just then, my phone rang and I picked it up without looking at it. But to my dismay, it was Yvette, who reminded me to prepare for the dinner party tonight. I yelled at Yvette for the first time, "What dinner? I can't find Elias!" After the panic, I calmed down and asked Neil to call Elias, thinking he might answer Neil's call. But after waiting for a long time, Neil told me. "Boss, his phone is off." I didn't believe it and tried myself, and yes, it was indeed off. Neil reassured me, "Boss, don't worry. Maybe Elias is just angry and hiding for a while. When he cools down, he will certainly come back to you." I was worried, "Will he be in danger?" "How can it be? Elias is a grownup and as far as I know, he is maturer and stabler than me. He is so smart that he will not put himself in danger. Even if something really happened to him, wouldn't someone in the know inform you first?" I nodded. Neil's analysis had some truth to it. I had been overwhelmed with concern. "Boss, Yvette said you will go to a dinner party tonight and it's important. Let me go with you. And the things about Silvan, do you still want to go on with it?"