Innocent she is

"Why?" She stuttered.

"Because you won't be able to eat. Right sweetheart?" Julienne said as she leaned closer and placed a seductive kiss on my cheek, lingering for a bit longer.

"Well, I don't care." She said dryly, looking away.

I was surprised by the tone she was using. She is normally soft-spoken or that's what I think.

"Okay, number four for this lady please," Julienne said with a sweet smile before I could stop her from ordering. The waiter flustered and then noted down.

"So Zuriel how's Brielle as a wife?" Emma asked me ridiculously batting her eyes.

I heard Samuel groan and I don't blame him since all we were doing was talking about her.

"There's a room for improvement," I replied bluntly, it's true though she could improve.

She glared at me and I smirked. I'm sure she is using all kinds of 'sweet' words for me. Before she could say anything the waiters arrived with our meals. They placed in front of us and Samuel told them to refill everyone's flutes. I took a look at her plate and smiled stiffly. Without knowing she ordered the hottest chilies of Italy with an extra hot

She poked the chilies with her fork and made a disgusted face. Nevertheless, she cut into a small piece and we all watched her slowly chewing it. Stacy opened her mouth to stop her but she closed it when she saw Brielle wouldn't listen to anyone at this point. She kept her face straight and took another bite. Only if I could applaud her for that. The others carried on with eating their meals and chatting about the latest trends. However, I kept my eyes on her face, not even touching my meal at all. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Her face and eyes were red and small beads of sweat were forming on her face.

She took another bite and this time the chili was red and when she chewed her face paled instantly. She choked and spat the food out on a tissue immediately. She started coughing loudly grabbing everyone's attention.

"What are you doing? Everyone is looking, Brielle" Sarah hissed at her

"Are you kidding me? My mouth... its burning... so badly." She snapped back with her eyes welling up.

Samuel passed her water and rubbed her back soothing her. Her whole face turned red and she kept coughing.

That's when I remembered her again. How one day accidentally she ate green chillies and she kept hitting me for forcefully feeding her. I felt one of my nerves snap and I clenched my fist as tightly as I could

Suddenly, I heard loud shattering sound around our table, it's Brielle's phone, probably it would have fallen down as she was coughing so badly and her body was shaking

"Well you should have read the menu first." I snapped at her.

"I'm sorry if it wasn't in English." she glared back at me equally.

"Oh my god I thought Zuriel had standards. Clearly he doesn't. Choosing an wife like her." Emma muttered and I felt my body tense.

I really thought you had standards but it looks like you are just daddy's little boy.

"I should have known before bringing a low life like you here." The words were out before I could think about it.

Everyone around the table froze. Her face fell instantly and she got up instantly.

"Thank you for a lovely night but I must go now. It was nice meeting you all." She took long strides toward the exit

'Fuck.'

"Emberly... wait." I ran after her.

We were now outside and I cursed myself for the slip of the tongue. I should have not said that to her.

"Aren't you done humiliating me? Or do you want to continue?" she stopped and turned around.

I was stunned to see her furiously wiping her tears.

"Listen what happened inside..."

I really don't know what I was trying to prove tonight? All I ever wanted was to feel her that she doesn't belong here so she would quit.

"You know maybe I thought if I work hard enough, maybe then you would've given me a chance. I know you don't like to live with me, or seeing my face, but I literally tried my best to change your opinion about me, you know that day, my company was at the edge of bankruptcy, then ingot call from your secretary that you're expecting me in the meeting, but I was stuck in that stupid traffic jam, but then also I wanted to give my best to you, all I wanted was to prove myself that I'm also worth of something, I'm not useless, I don't want to you to think your dad did a mistake investing in my company, that's the reason, I ran off towards your office from all the way, just to be at the meetings at the time, even that car was about to hit me, I almost died that day, but then also I didn't care, all I ever wanted was to prove myself that I'm not opportunist or gold digger but thanks for telling me no matter what I do I will always be some low life to be with your dad forced you,"

From the past few days, that's what I have been doing. Punishing for her mistakes she didn't commit just because she reminds me of her?

By now her whole tuned red with tears streaming down her cheeks continuously. The Brielle I know would not break down, instead she will rise up and fight back. But now, watching her crying I felt an emptiness inside me. Just like how I felt five years ago and it's crazy because I barely know her.

"Maybe I am not rich like you guys are but I did not deserve to be insulted like that." She was furiously sweeping her tears.

That felt like a strong punch, possibly breaking my nose but it didn't. No punch, just that feeling. My tongue was locked, refusing to say any words.

As I watched her retrieving figure disappear in the blackness I realized something in a really hard way.

She is nothing like her. She is innocent.