Chapter 16 The Flip
Chapter 16 The Flip
Markian
I looked through the crowd, he had to be here somewhere and something smelt fishy as well- you can
call it a businessman's intuition.
I kept thinking about the look on Livy's face and I felt guilty leaving her all by herself, then my mind
flashed back to the young man who had asked her for a dance.
I clenched my fist and fought back the urge to excuse myself from the presence of these business
tycoons and look for my wife, before these predators feed on her.
She had been so quiet all night, and I really hope she doesn't get any funny ideas about what Felicity
said earlier.
Maybe I should've explained to her and clarify that awkward situation Felicity put me in.
But I immediately gave myself a mental slap, what do I care if she misunderstood the situation or not?
Since when has others opinion being a concern of mine?
I cussed silently at the slow fondness that was creeping between Livy and I, and I knew I had to put a
stop to it before it's too late.
Felicity was clearly tipsy. She's amazing at hold her whit when she's high, but tonight, she was losing
her marbles making me wonder how much she had had to drink.
I was about to go look for Livy when Felicity whispered to my ears, "how about we take this party
upstairs for the grand finale, huh?" she asked while wrapping her arms around my waist.
"Hmm, I would have really loved to have a word with Mr Gracía before I leave. After all I came all the
way here just for him, don't you think I at least deserve that little?" I asked, milking my way to my mean
aim for tonight.
Knowing Felicity as much as I do, she would do absolutely anything to get what she wants at the end of
the day. She is smart and bold, but when she's drunk, she can often get...well, easily manipulated.
She nodded and led me upstairs to her husband's chambers.
Mr Gracía took his time to answer the door and I caught a glimpse of why. I had wondered why he
retired to bed so early when his party was far from over, and now I knew the reason.
Felicity was not the least bit bothered that another woman was on her matrimonial bed, in fact she
seemed so indifferent about it.
I couldn't help but wonder what would happen if it was Livy who found me with another woman, open
marriage or not.
At least he was courteous enough to have a word with me, so he led me straight into his study.
We didn't talk long, but he agreed to go into housing and hoteling business with me, if I agreed that
there would be no competition with the offer when the time comes.
I guess for him, the older he gets, the warier competitions becomes.
He appreciated the fact that I considered him in the first place and thanked me for attending his party.
We said our goodbyes and departed.
Felicity who was waiting in the room opposite the study was still fixing herself more drinks regardless of
how high she was already.
I walked up to her to assist her to her room when she informed me that she had stays in her own home
few kilometers from the Gracía's mansion.
I guess that makes sense, maybe it was what was decided based on their open marriage agreement.
I can't imagine how awkward it would be passing Mr Gracía's room every night and hear moaning from
him and his lover and vise versa. I chuckled at my wild imagination.
She confessed she wanted to spend more time with me, but I offered to call her a ride that would take
her home, so she should call it a night and head home.
She was leaning on a table in the room, looking very seductive and hot with her thigh sticking out of her
high slit gown.
She moved her hair from side to side exposing her beautiful enticing neck and cleavage that was
barely fitting into her dress.
Those were her advances that got me every time when we were still together, so she was trying to
seduce me and was doing a great job at it.
Every other hot-blooded male in my position right now would've take her right this instant, but I won't do
that.
I walked up to her and put her arm around my shoulder and held her back in an attempt to help her up
and steady, but she leaned in for a kiss.
I dodged her first attempt but it wasn't her only one, so I was locked in an embrace with her long legs
caging mine as she sat on the table and pressing her body again mine.
I could feel her soft breast crashing into my chest as she started kissing and caressing my shoulder
and advanced to my neck, then she cupped my face and leaned in to kiss me, but I held her hand
stopping her from moving any further.
She looked in surprise as her eyes caught on something. I followed them to my hand with my wedding
band on it.
"You still have your ring on even though she's dead? wow, Markky, I never pictured you as a hopeless
romantic. What did she do to you?" she scoff arrogantly.
"Actually, this is from my second marriage. The lady you saw downstairs is not my assistant, she is my
wife" I confessed leaving her dumbstruck and completely frozen as a smirk creeped on my lips.
PI can't believe I just admitted that Livy was my wife and I'm actually happy about it.
"That can't be true, you're lying. Why would the mighty Markian fall for such a lowly helpless girl? And
it's barely 3 months since your wife passed away, hasn't it?" She questioned wide eyed and beaten.
"Well, things just happened that way, and she is not lowly neither is she helpless. She is in fact the
heiress of Luthel Industries, Mrs Judy Luthel's daughter." I boasted proudly.
Felicity was petrified and I almost felt sorry for her, "come on, I'll call you a ride" I told her as I helped
her stand steadily.
The light seemed to have dimmed on her face and she was now looking pale as I led her out and called
the valet to call her ride.
I put her in it and told her driver to take her straight home before further damages are done.
I couldn't wait to find Livy, so I proudly walked back inside and search all over for her but she was no
where to be found.
In seconds I was overwhelmed with concern and worry, I mean why on earth should I be worried about
her?
I promised myself never to get so worked up about her after what I saw last night, and I bet she's with
him right now. She just wanted me out of the way so she could go be with him.
I clenched my fist so hard -if I had long nails, I would have really hurt myself. My mind went on a
rampage as I stomped off in search of her and I looked everywhere but couldn't find her.
I went outside to see if maybe, just maybe she was tired of waiting for me inside, so she came outside
for some fresh air.
I already called for my car, so once I see her we can leave immediately, and there I saw her in the arms
of another man, her head leaning on his shoulder and she was about to enter his car.
Without thinking, I stomped off towards them and yanked her away from his arms.
If she should be in anybody's arms, then it should be mine, she is my wife after all, my wife! She
winced in pain and muttered something, but when she looked up and saw me, she froze.
Her I will deal with later, but him? He was about to be taught a serious life lesson, I thought as I looked
over Livy to see who this clown was.
Behold it was my cousin, Daniel. I thought something was fishy as I wasn't able to find him anywhere,
and here he was snuggling and being cozy with my wife?
I felt an overwhelming rage fill my chest and I had to let it out unless it might choke me to death.
My car arrived in time and was parked behind Daniel's car.
"Livy, get in the car," I ordered unfeelingly.
I swear to the heavens, if she attempts to disobey me right now, I'll loose my marbles and only God
knows what will happen next, I thought.
"Markian...i" she tried to speak, obstructing my movement as I took a step towards Daniel who stood
behind her looking completely calm.
"Olivia, I said get in the car, goddamit!" I yelled scaring her as she jolted in fear, but didn't move.
I grabbed her hand and attempted to drag her to the car myself but she didn't bulge. When I turned
back, I saw Daniel pulling at her other arm and I flipped.
"Let go of her this instant!" I growled like a wounded animal, because that was what I was at this
moment, but he refused.
"I'll take her back myself, I don't think she wants to go with you and looking at you, it seems you're quite
busy" he said.
Is he seriously joking right now? How dare he dictate what my wife wants to do or doesn't want to do? I
was filled with so much anger at this point and it was blurring my vision of thought.
"Markian...p" she stuttered.
Why the hell was she still standing there stuttering when I clearly just told her to get in the car? Am I
being toiled with right now?
"Olivia! Get in the goddamn car this minute before I do what we all would really regret!" I yelled in pure
wrath.
"Can't you see she doesn't want to? I'll take her ho..." he was about to finish when I swung down on his
face with my fist.
He fell to the ground but finally left her hand as she gasped in terror as though she was the one that
had been hit.
He turned and looked up at me smiling, and there I lost it as I reached down and punched him again
and again.
I grabbed him by the collar and pulled him up while Livy just stood there frozen as she watched in
horror.
"What did you just say, huh?! Go on! Tell me what you think she would like to do or not do! C'mon! Tell
me, you bastard!!!" I yelled and punched him again.
I paced to and fro as I took off my suit and folded my shirt sleeves that were acting as a barrier
between the weight of my punches and his face.
"C'mon, You have a lot to say don't you? Tell me just who the hell you think you are telling me what my
wife wishes to do, huh? She is my wife, mine! Who is she to you? Who the hell do you think you are?!"
I ranted and yelled in anger.
I was about to punch him again when he wouldn't answer me- just stood there cleaning the blood off
his lips and smiling, but I froze in split seconds as I saw Livy jump in between my fist and Daniel.
"Get out of my way before i really hurt you!" I growled angrily though I didn't mean it.
It was even more frustrating seeing her protect him and taking his side. My chest hurt and I've not felt
anything like that in a while.
When she didn't move, I scoffed, "so you're really going to defend him in my presence now, huh?! The
both of you have been sneaking around behind my back, haven't you? Hah, I should have known from
the day of our engagement party that something was up between you two, and even when I saw the
cctv from Castlehill rooftop, I didn't want to believe it because he was my cousin and you were soon to
be my wife. You have no morals or values whatsoever, and I wanted to trust you again, but every single
time I've tried you've only proven to me over and over again that you can't be trusted." I ranted in
anguish and pain as the anger was slowly disappearing.
"Markian...please, please stop. Daniel did nothing wrong...its all my fault, but I can't keep these up any
longer" she sobbed defensively.
"Don't you dare, don't you dare say another word or try to defend him because I'm going to really hurt
him if you do. Just keep quiet and get the hell out of my way!" I ordered, but my words fell on deaf ears.
"I want a divorce..." she cried out, knocking the socks right out of me. I felt a construction in my chest
making it hard for me to breath.
No, I must have heard wrong right? She didn't just say that to me did she? Olivia, wants to divorce me,
why?
I looked over at Daniel and he had an even surprised look on his face than I had, affirming that she
really did say those words to me.
I didn't want to hear it a second time, because it stung the first time and I was barely breathing
normally, but for some unknown reason I still asked.
"What...did you just say?" I questioned with furrowed brows- force of habit that makes me look meaner
than i usually was.
"Markian I...i can't" she stuttered while shaking her head, then I realized that if she says it again, one
more time, I really don't know what I would do in a fit of rage.
So I grabbed her by the hand, unrestrictedly I successfully put her inside the car and shut the door.
I walked up to the front of the car, stopped and told Daniel to see me tomorrow unfailingly- wasn't a
request but a command, and the earlier I know just what he was up to, the better prepared I would be.
I got in the car and drove off, but my head was so heavy and my vision was getting blurry, I needed to
cool off and calm my nerves, so I stopped the car by the road side.
It was dark and dangerous, so I shut all the doors and rested my head on the steering wheel.
My mind was scrambled and my head aches, but I was even more thankful that she didn't say a word,
she just sat there terrified.
Thats when it dawned on me that I might have just succeeded in pushing her further away than I
intended, and I regretted it.
Daniel
I watched as Markian zoomed off with Livy and I chuckled a laughter.
"Why are you laughing? Should you be laughing at a time like these? Your plan failed, plus you go
really bashed up by Markian, and your girl left with him too. So, tell me why you are laughing?" a
feminine voice I knew all too well, spoke out from the shadow.
"My dear Felicity, you just don't get it, do you?" I asked still smiling as I didn't even bother to turn to see
who it was.
"Yes I don't understand, because clearly you forgot to tell me that Markian was married again and that
the girl you told me was yours is actually his wife, the daughter of Mrs Luthel. How could you omit such
important detail? Do you know how embarrassed I was when Markian told me who she was? I felt like
a complete fool" Felicity lamented.
Oh, she wasn't a complete fool, at least she helped me overcome an obstacle tonight.
Her presence irritated Livy so much she wants to end things with Markian because she thinks he is
cheating on her.
Felicity's infatuation with Markian was absolute but she wasn't really someone who would cause a big
problem like an affair with a married man, so I omitted the fact that Markian was actually married again.
"If I had told you, would you have been willing to go on with the plan?" I questioned half heartedly,
cleaning the dirt off my cloth.
"Of course I wouldn't have, especially if I had known she was Olivia Luthel. My status isn't something
that can afford a swaddle with the Luthels right now, I have to clear these misunderstanding." She
confessed.
Like hell I'll let her do that. She just caused a major issue among Livy and Markian and it's a
misunderstanding that benefits me unless it's cleared up, so she dare not say anything that would
jeopardize my efforts.
"You won't do such, ok? You might not want any issues with The Luthels, but do you really want to
have issues with me instead?" I warned sinisterly.
"You are not a nice person, are you? If you are doing all these just to get that girl to leave Markky, then
you are going about it the wrong way. You will only end up bringing them together once these
misunderstanding is cleared up. As it stands now, it seems he has already started developing feeling
for her, so you should give up already." She stated.
"I didn't ask for your opinion now, did I? All you have to do is just shut up and the misunderstanding
would never be cleared. Knowing Markian well, he hates explaining himself because he thinks no one
has the right to question him. And Livy, you have to know that even though she looks frail and helpless,
she's got a very high tolerance level. So for her to ask for a divorce, she must really it. So just keep
your mouth shut and let's watch from the sidelines, who she comes running to, ok?" I concluded with a
smile still plastered on my face.
"You should head home, you don't look too good" I added kissing her cheek, i entered my car I drove
off.
I had planned it all, and it wasn't by coincidence Felicity was at that bar that evening with Markian.
I had told her he was in town and exactly were she could meet him. She was so excited about the plan
because she missed him so much, and that was enough for me.
Perfect timing, her husband's birthday party was the next day so I told her to invite him.
Well, even if that hadn't happened, she would have organized one charity event or the other. Felicity
was wonderful at throwing such parties and having men and women of different calibers attending.
I knew Livy would try to be here with Markian because, during our conversation last night I slipped in a
comment for her not to leave Markian alone on this island.
I included that he used to have a wild time here back in the days with different girls, just something to
steer up her insecurity a little and it produced a healthy fruit tonight.
She looked so adorable and incredibly sexy pulling my shirt in an attempt to kiss me, and to be honest,
it took everything in me to stop her even though I really didn't want to.
I want her to see me as the safest person to be around, the one who won't hurt her, who would listen to
her and be a true friend, while Markian was the exact opposite.
I sealed it with the agitation I incited in Markian few minutes ago, making him lose his marbles and
hitting me right in front of her.
Right now she doesn't feel safe with him at all especially after what she just saw him do.
I mentally patted myself on the head for a job well done, though it took a while but in the end the results
were perfect.
Now on to the next plan. Good thing he invited me over tomorrow, I can't wait to finally complete this
phase of my plan.
Livy
I gasped as air escaped my lungs, as though i was the one who was hit.
I looked at Daniel who was on the floor with blood stained lips.
My body froze and my hands began to shake uncontrollably. I screamed and yelled for Markian to stop
hitting him, but no words or sounds escaped my mouth.
With every punch, I jolted in response staring at the both of them scrambling, as my mind drifted off in
space. I felt a constriction in my chest as I gasped for free air but got nothing. It was happening again,
and the flashes were back.
This time I saw a little girl tied and gagged on a chair, the smell of the place was terrible with mixtures
of tobacco, gasoline and tar. Fresh woods were being burnt and there was smoke everywhere- who
burns wet wood?
The next moment the little girl's head was in a bathe, they kept screaming but I couldn't hear them, I felt
like she was going to die.
Then she was thrown on an old scrappy bed as she winced in pain. A man in a black mask wearing a
gray shirt and black pants was approaching her.
She was terrified and kept screaming but the gag in her mouth wouldn't let the sounds out. I couldn't
see anymore, her eyes were blindfolded and then came the excruciating pain.
I gasped in horror and finally I could breath again, so I looked up and saw Markian about to throw
another punch.
In split seconds, without thinking, I was in between them. He froze as he saw me- I was thankful for
that, but I could still see the fury in his eyes as he growled at me to get out of the way.
Not only did I not want to move, but I couldn't even if I wanted to.
I didn't know what to do or say as he kept on saying words that I was finding hard to understand or
decipher.
He thinks I'm having an affair with Daniel, how dare he think of me as such a tramp? He was the one
sleeping with another man's wife. Oh, so he can do it but I can't?
Now, I could feel the anger flooding back and in a fit of that rage I intentionally defended Daniel.
I knew how it would seem but the poor guy had done nothing wrong except try to comfort me. He even
stopped me from doing further damage to my marriage, and here stood Markian accusing him falsely.
I was so upset the next words that came out from my mouth were not properly thought over or
simulated by my brain.
"I want a divorce" I cried.
Wait, do I really want a divorce? And who requests for a divorce while crying? My mind was a mess
and I needed to calm down. So when he asked me to repeat what I said, I stuttered.
Why on earth did I have to stutter if what I really wanted was a divorce. 'Good job Livy, you just ended
you marriage in a fit of rage and a little alcohol, well done'.
He grabbed my hand and dragged me to the car, well at least that stopped them from fighting, that's a
good thing right?
Markian said something to him before he got in the car- but I didn't hear what it was, and we drove off
leaving him all alone and bloody.
I felt very sorry and guilty that all these happened because of me, why was it always because of me? I
wondered.
I couldn't stop my hands from terribling, so I held them tightly together. I closed my eyes to calm my
nerves, in just a few more minutes we would be back at the hotel, I prayed silently.
But the car stopped and I became overwhelmed with fear and extreme nervousness.
Why did he stop the car? Oh God, what would he do to me now? No one was here, nobody to save
me.
I remembered the look on his face back then, it was the most horrifying looks I've ever seen, and he
was beyond mean to Daniel, hitting and screaming at him unfeelingly, while I just froze in panic.
He locked the doors, turned off the engine and rest his head and hands on the steering wheel.
Why did we stop and why did he shut the doors? I gathered up courage and turned to ask him why he
stopped us here, I mean we were in the middle of nowhere, and the place was dark and dangerous.
But as I was about to ask, my eyes landed on his hand and I saw his knuckles. They were pretty hurt
and stained with blood and my heart sank.
Suddenly, I wasn't scared anymore and my hands slowly stopped shaking as they involuntarily reached
for his own.
He looked at my gesture in disdain, then at me and took his hand back from me, but I grabbed it again.
"Stay still" I ordered, and he obeyed.
I could see it now, behind all the anger and fury was a little boy in pain. I took out my handkerchief and
wrapped it round his knuckles.
Even though he was hitting Daniel, he was also hurting from the pain he was inflicting.
He tries to hide his pain and frustrations by using other negative emotions like anger and hatred, but
when those become unsuccessful, he results to violence.
While he might seem all high and mighty, my husband is just still a little kid who grew up hurting without
love.
I thought I alone was broken, but the truth is, he and I were both broken and need love.
I realized I needed to understand Markian better rather than making him understand me first, so I
entwined his fingers in mine and kissed his hand.
He just stared at me as I placed our entwined hands on his lap and I moved closer, resting my head on
his shoulder and it felt warm and comfortable.