Candice POV:-
I was waiting for Tyler, he said, he’ll take me to Rufus tonight for dinner. To be honest, I don’t want to go there.
“Why do we have to go there?” I muttered.
When I see Elmer, great apprehension evokes in me.
“It gave chills to my bones to think what will happen if Tyler comes to know that I am giving money to Elmer because he blackmailed me.” I told Rufus over the phone.
“It will be okay.”
“And If he asks for the reason, I will be doomed, he will never tolerate someone like me in his life. I am so scared.” I continued to express my tension.
I cannot fathom the dread running in my veins. I shivered and shook my head, trying to let it out of my mind.
“Candice-”
“Leave it. What could change anyways.” I sighed, cutting the call and throwing my phone away.
Soon, Tyler came. I smiled when I saw him and greeted him, “Welcome home.”
I kissed his cheeks.
“Thanks.” He smiled and went to freshen up.
When he came in his casual clothing he asked, “Shall we leave?”
I smiled and nodded. I turned to go but he held my wrist and pulled me to him.
I gasped and pressed my palm at his chest. “Tyler…” I whispered.
He gave me a stern look and moved to my ears murmuring, “I hate lies.”
A shiver went down in anticipation Elmer might have told him something.
“What… are you talking about?” I asked softly.
His eyes slowly made their way to me. I gave him a concerned look and asked, “Are you okay, Tyler?”
My heart began to beat fast under his sharp gaze.
Knowing his unreadable expression was beyond my capabilities, I couldn’t make what’s going on in his mind.
He looked at me for a few seconds and then sighed, “Nothing… Let’s go.”
“If you are tired, it’s okay.” I smiled. ‘I don’t want to go anyways.’
“No.”
“You sure?” I asked. He smiled and nodded, letting me go. I also passed him a smile as we left.
On our way, he called me, “Candice…”
I hummed and he continued, “A partner of mine lied to me and broke my trust.”
I looked at him and asked, “Is that why you are angry?”
He smirked and spared a glance at me, “People around me lie a lot ,Candice. But-”
I opened my mouth to ask who he was talking about but he looked away from me and continued, “-I know my way to reach the truth.”
“That’s good.” I said, trying to compose my posture after listening to his talks.
“Have you ever lied to me, Candice?” He asked.
My heart skipped a beat when I heard it. ‘I don’t want to.’
I looked at him and asked, “Come again?”
“Have you ever lied-”
“We are here.” I smiled, not wanting to lie to him. I avoided his question and we both got out.
We were having dinner in silence but then Tyler asked.
“How are you, Mr Whale? I hope you are doing fine.”
I gave Elmer a glare to speak what he should so I won’t be in trouble but this guy surely knows how to push me into the fire.
“What will happen to me, Son?” He laughed off.
“Candice said you are not well. It’s been a while so I came as well to ask about your health.” Tyler said.
‘Oh my God, no. Please no.’
Have mercy. I don’t want to break his trust, I used his health as an excuse; even though he never asked but I still told him.
“I am perfectly fine. Why did you say I am ill, Candice?”
My heart stopped for a second when Tyler stopped eating and looked at me. “Oh…”
A few seconds he was talking about hating lies and now ‘I’ lied.
I could feel the upheaval under my fingernails which is going to be terrifying.
Tyler looked at me for a few seconds and turned away without showing much emotion but I could feel the terrors giving to my body.
After dinner, Tyler stood up abruptly, “It was a nice evening. We shall take our leave.” He said politely.
“But-” Rufus tried to say but Father stopped him.
“Tyler…” I called him in a whisper. He ignored me and bid goodbye to Elmer and Rufus and we left for home.
My heart was about to leap out of my chest. My hands and feet turned cold, I don’t know what I should say to him.
On our way back, we didn’t say anything. I could feel the fright stirring my mind. My energy is draining from me.
The more I try to think about it, the more it is affecting my mind and sending shivers down my spine.
“T-Tyler?” We stopped, Tyler grabbed my arm and took me inside. This is the first time he was harsh and it made me scared to no extent.
“Shhh.”
I don’t want to see the scary side of his and I know I will because I lied.
He took me to our room, close the door behind me. I stood where he let go of me, on the verge of crying, holding my shirt tightly.
He opened a few buttons of his shirt and ruffled his hair.
After pacing around he turned to me and asked in a low but firm tone, “I have one question for you Candice: Why did you lie?”
My heart pounded against my chest in dread.
I couldn’t take it anymore as my tears began to spill out. “Tyler.. I.. I..”
“Answer Goddamn it!” He yelled at me for the first time.
I began to cry more upon hearing it and replied to him hurriedly, “Someone is blackmailing me.”
I shuddered violently under the ambience of his sapphire fury, looking at me with such intensity that I lost my strength.
“I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to.”
Tyler took steady steps towards me and grabbed my arms harshly, my breath hitched, I didn’t dare to meet his menacing gaze.
“Who? Why?” He hissed.
“I cannot tell you…” I whispered in a croaked voice. His grip on me tightened, I bit my cheek to stop my cries.
“Speak up, Candice… before I force it out of your mouth.” He said in a low threatening tone.
My heart stopped for a second upon hearing it. I looked at him in pure fear, trembling ferociously.
“Please believe me… I-”
“YOU FUCKING LIED!”
I shut my eyes, curled my hands in a fist, shaking endlessly in extreme dread of his anger which I wanted to see at all cost.
“You think I wouldn’t understand or perhaps you don’t trust me enough?” The aura of wrath is enough to deluge me in the deepest depth of frights.
“No, that’s-” My terrors reached their peak. Tyler’s grip over me loosened.
“This is exactly what it is. You don’t have faith in my love.”
He didn’t say anything further as the sound of my cries echoed in the room. I sniffed and raised my gaze as he lowered his head and whispered.
“If you talk to me about it, I would never ask this. I should have helped you without even knowing… only if you trusted me..”
His voice was filled with intense heartbreak which broke my heart.
“I didn’t mean to..”
I couldn’t bear the weight of his words which crushed my heart. I feel resentment for myself for doing this to him.
“I am sorry… I am so sorry..” I whispered, crying.
Tyler took a step back and raised his gaze, giving me an icy cold look which deprived my energy, “Your sorry cannot alter the fact you lied.”
“I-”
He sent a death-glare which immediately shut me up.
“Who is blackmailing you and why?” He asked in a dominant tone.
“Why and how did it happen in the first place?” There was a devoid of emotions in his eyes as the fierce fire emerged from his whole being.
“Is this someone I know or you?” He asked assertively.
“I.. cannot tell you.” Before my mind could register what happened, I was pinned against the wall firmly.
“Why?” My back was pressed against Tyler’s chest.
“Tyler, Please..” My heart thumped at my chest, giving deadly chills to my core.
“I will know one way or another so you better do this yourself.” He growled.
Embedding unnerving horror to my soul along with a lesson to never anger him again.
“Don’t test my patience, Candice. Speak up.”
I winced in pain when he secured my hands behind my back with his one hand.
Losing my breath and senses, I couldn’t make what’s happening due to my blurry vision because of the tears.
“Speak, Candice or else-” His grip tightened on my arms, I let out a shriek of pain, trying to hold my tears back.
He leaned in and whispered in my ear, causing my hairs to stand on their edges, giving quivers to my soul, “-I’ll be very rough if I force you.”