Chapter 23 Mad

<Mia>

"Excuse me! Knock on the door one more time, and I'll have you fired!" I shouted at the person outside the door.

"Well, ma'am, it was Sir Ethan who told us to check on you," she responded back to me. The audacity of this woman!

"What do you want now?!" I asked angrily.

"The food you ordered for delivery has arrived, and sir called. He wants to talk to you to confirm if you're really at home," she explained.

What is this man's problem again? They are so irritating! Him and the maids he hired!

"Tell him I don't want to talk to him!" I yelled. I heard her relay my message.

"Ma'am, Sir wants to open the door and speak to you," Rose said as she opened my room door without my permission. The audacity of this old woman.

She held the cellphone to her other ear. I clenched my fists tightly.

"For goodness' sake! I said no! And can you give me some peace in my life!" I shouted. I'm already stressed, and this woman is making me angry. Why haven't they left the house yet? They have already cooked and cleaned.

I'm not even in the mood to leave the house. Ethan is also one of the reasons. He referred a new photographer to my clients and told them that I can no longer do my job because I'm pregnant, and we're supposed to go to another country for me to give birth. I found out about it from Jarold, who called me right after Ethan left, and the gay guy screamed. He actually believed that I'm pregnant.

"I've been irritated since yesterday! I just want to be left alone! This woman standing in front of me will be the first one to test my patience."

"Madam, Sir wants to talk to you," she said, offering me the phone, but I didn't take it.

"I'm not in the mood, and why can't he understand that I don't want to talk to him!" I snapped back, and Rose immediately relayed my message to Ethan on the other line.

"If you won't talk to him, he said he'll come home. He's angry," Rose threatened me.

In my annoyance with Rose's face, I couldn't help but take the phone from her.

"Get out of here!" I shouted angrily, and she quickly ran away.

"Ethan, can't you replace the household helpers here? Especially Rose! She's so persistent, and they're all irritating! And by the way, why are they still here?!" I yelled on the other line.

I heard him sigh, and I could tell his forehead was furrowed.

"I miss you, wife," he said tenderly. His voice sounded tired.

"Have you eaten your snack? I had it delivered," he calmly said, still with a gentle tone.

"I don't want to eat!" I said sternly.

"Babe, what's your problem? Are you on your period? Do you want me to come home?" he asked with concern, and I rolled my eyes.

"Ethan, I need to go somewhere, accompany me to a site," I heard Nathan say on the other line.

Are they together?

"Babe, please eat. You barely ate anything earlier," he said softly.

"I'm going to sleep, and don't disturb me. Also, tell Rose not to barge into the room without permission!" I said angrily and ended the call.

I’m acting like a bitch.

They still haven't seen and discovered my true personality.

I'm incredibly stressed right now.

I called someone whom I knew could calm me down.

It took him a while to answer my call.

"I need some release!" I demanded, frustrated.

I heard him laugh, "Sure. Come here," he replied, and I ended the call. That's where I'll let out the pain I'm feeling. I need a physical pleasure to forget all of these difficult things happening in my life.

"Ma'am, where are you going?!" Pina asked, making me look at her, and I rolled my eyes. These irritating household helpers. After Rose, it's her turn again.

"Sir strictly instructed us not to let you leave," she said nervously. It's good that this child is afraid of me.

"I just need to buy something. I saw my favorite brand released a new pair of shoes," I lied to her, trying to make my voice sound kind.

"Ma'am, we'll be scolded by Sir if he finds out you left the house," she said fearfully.

Why are they afraid of that man? And they still haven't left the house. I've been waiting for them to leave since yesterday, but it seems like that ape has made them stay.

"He won't know unless you tell him," I replied snarkily. I'm really stressed, and I need a quick escape.

"Ma'am, please don't leave. Have mercy on us, we'll be in trouble with Sir," she pleaded.

"I'll take care of all of you, and I won't be long. I'll be back before he comes home," I assured her. She has a lot to do, and she's with her twin. I'm sure they won't be home for a while. I overheard them earlier saying they're going to a site, and considering the traffic in the Philippines, they won't be home early.

"Ma'am!" she called out to me as I stepped out of the door.

"Ma'am, I'll call Sir!" she threatened me. I ignored her and used one of Ethan's cars.

"Ma'am, we'll call Sir and report that you've left!"

And here comes Rose again.

"Ma'am!" they called after me. I paid no attention to them; this is the first time I'm leaving the house.

~

<Third Person>

"Etheus! Careful!" Ethan shouted as the child ran towards him.

"My daddies!" the child happily greeted them and asked Ethan to carry them.

Nathan playfully teased the child. They picked her up because she missed them.

"Should we bring her to the site?" Ethan asked the twin.

"Ethan, Nathan, come inside first."

The twins looked up as Joy suddenly emerged from the house, welcoming them with a sweet smile.

"No, we're going to visit a site," Ethan firmly declined the woman.

"My mom baked cookies!" the child proudly exclaimed.

"Ethan, can you join us on Sunday? Before we leave, Etheus would like to spend time with you," Joy pleaded as they were about to leave.

"I'll start and reverse the car," Nathan said, giving them some privacy.

"Dada! I'll go with you!" the child shouted and hopped down from Ethan's arms, running towards Nathan.

"No, that's my time with my wife."

Etheus went with Nathan into the car.

Joy bit her lower lip.

"B-but your child wants to spend time with you before we leave, even if it's just for one last opportunity," Joy pleaded.

"A no is a no," Ethan responded firmly.

"My weekends are for my wife," he added rudely.

"How about weekdays? Even for a brief moment," she persisted, "or on your day off."

"You decided to take my son away from us. Don't ask for time from me, Joy; you're not my wife."

"But Etheus will miss you," she reasoned again.

"Or you could just bring him along so you can have bonding time." She hoped for a positive response.

"I'm spending time with Etheus," he said firmly, "and I can't bring him with me. My wife doesn't know about him yet."

"If you want, you can stay here-"

Joy felt a pang in her heart as Ethan simply turned away from her, unwilling to engage in further conversation. She clenched her fists tightly, watching him walk away.

He's Etheus's father too, won't he miss his own child? Especially since they might not see each other anymore.

~

<Mia>

"MIA, Mia, Mia."

"Stop calling my name repeatedly!" I said, annoyed.

He just laughed at me.

"Can you please get me a tissue?" I irritably asked him.

He quietly followed me and handed me what I asked for.

I wiped the white substance off my leg.

"Disgusting!" I commented as I cleaned up the white liquid.

He just smirked, watching me in amusement.

"Are you okay?" he suddenly asked me.

I stood up from the bed to throw away the tissue I used. I felt like I stink.

"What do you think?" I asked him sarcastically and returned to the bed, leaning against the headboard.

He just laughed.

"Where's the payment?" He extended his hand to me, wearing a wide grin.

My body tensed up.

"You asshole! Because of you, my savings will be depleted!" I angrily cursed at him.

That money was meant for me and Yunnie.

"Do you want me to-" I didn't let him finish his sentence.

"Fine!" I reluctantly said to him.

"I'll give it to you later, before I go home." I said weakly.

He sat on the sofa, far away from me.

"You should be grateful I didn't tell your husband." He added with a snide remark. I just looked at him with disdain.

You have nothing to say to him, and he wouldn't believe you anyway. I had the audacity to believe that only Ethan would trust me.

"Is that so?" he provocatively asked with a demonic grin.

I didn't dignify him with a response.

"I'll call you again when I need you, alright? And by the way, aren't you going home yet? Your husband might be looking for you."

I glanced at the clock. It's still early, and I know he hasn't returned home yet. I turned off my phone. Those nosy household helpers might search for my number on Google and try to call me.

"Mia, did you fart?" he asked, covering his nose.

I sniffed the air in the room.

"No, I didn't!" I denied.

"Damn it! Your fart smells terrible! It's like spoiled eggs!" he complained, holding his nose tightly.

"We have the air conditioning on!" He stood up, opened the door, and turned off the air conditioner.

"Hey! I wasn't the one who farted! It could be you!" I denied, and it actually smelled good.

"Oh, my goodness! It's just the two of us here, and I'm certain I wasn't the one who fart! I don't even eat eggs!" He exclaimed from outside the door. He stepped out, unable to tolerate the odor.

This was the fault of the household helpers who had been cooking eggs for a week. He found the smell repulsive. What a fuss!

"Why? Is there such a thing as a pleasant fart?!" I shouted back at him, rolling my eyes.

"Yes! Mine! Yours, on the other hand, smells like spoiled eggs!" He yelled in frustration.

"Just give me my money, and I'll leave! You even farted on me!" He shouted with a frown.

It wasn't actually that bad. It smelled nice, in fact. Eggs are delicious, after all.

We had a heated argument before parting ways.

As I approached the door of the house, I heard Ethan's voice.

"What the heck?! Didn't I tell you not to let her go out?!" I peeked through the door as I heard Ethan's furious voice, clenching his fists tightly while seething with anger.

The household helpers stood in front of him, trembling in fear, all bowing their heads as if they were about to cry.

"And now, where is she?! You're all useless!" I gasped at Ethan's words. I didn't realize he had such a temper.

"S-sir, she tried to escape, and we tried to stop her," Pina said, her voice trembling with tears.

"Find my wife!" He shouted, veins popping out on his forehead.

"You should have called me! I explicitly told all of you to inform and update me about her! She went out, and none of you bothered to tell me!" He continued shouting, his angry gaze piercing through the household helpers, who were trembling in fear.