CHAPTER 32: CHAPTER-32. (MY MARRIED MAN).

Now, here I was, back on a set where she was part of the "trusted cast."

What a plot twist! The Man, his wife, and his lover. All present here.

Perfect.

I did not want to face her. Not now, when I was even struggling to keep my face composed.

I kept biting my lips trying to calm myself, but nothing seemed to calm my racing mind.

Becka, on the other hand, wore that same confident smile she always did as if life was just a runway, and she owned every inch of it.

Her hair was perfectly styled, and her makeup was flawless.

Something sparked inside me. Why does she have to be so...perfect?

It was not like she was the only beautiful woman on this freaking planet, but the way she carried herself made her different from every one of them. Even me.

I gulped down the lump formed in my throat. It seemed to accept, but seeing her now standing beside him made overwhelmed for some stupid reason.

They looked like a power couple, as if they were meant to stand beside each other.

While I somehow deserved to stand far away from them because that’s where my place was. The thought made my heart sink in the depths of pain and grief.

With each passing second, it felt harder to breathe.

I wanted to just turn my heel and walk out of this place, but can I?

At that moment, the promise made to Granda Albert seemed to weigh down in priority as compared to the overwhelming sink I felt in my chest.

I almost convinced myself to walk out of here when Dave’s clear-cut voice fell into my ear.

"Elena." Holy Jesus, now what does he want from me?

I swear in that moment, I felt an urge to smack him hard. Very hard.

The reasoning side of my brain started to glitch urgently wanted to forget that he was a patient who needed to be treated with kindness and patience.

Clenching my jaw, I turned to look in his direction, not forgetting to school my emotions first. Putting on a fake smile, I walked towards them.

I tried to stay calm and composed, looking straight at Dave’s face because I knew myself.

If my gaze even for a moment met with Becka, before I would have known, I would have pulled out every hair from her head.

Screaming at her and making a scene, that’s what a woman she was, having an affair with a married man.

My married man. Mine.

But could I do it?

No, because I knew myself...too well. It was all in my thoughts. In reality, I would have stood there like an idiot.

Even if she had held him by his hand, I would not have been able to do anything.

Somewhere, I knew I could not do anything, but there was also another reason for that. Dave.

That night, he stood there, not feeling even an ounce of guilt. The ridiculous excuse he gave to me was evidence of how low he thought of me.

For him, I was an idiot who always tried to get to know him. Get near to him.

My overthinking mind even created the whole scenario where he would make fun of me for how stupid I was.

How low self-respect I had for myself to push myself into his life.

While I walked in their direction, Becka whispered something to him.

I could not figure out what she said as I was still far from them.

She had a worrysome expression on her face as her eyes glanced at me. Though it was for a moment, I noticed.

My spine straightened as my brain started making speculation, but I jerked all of it, not wanting to have a mental breakdown.

Dave stared at her as she finished with a scowl on his face, which he wiped off the next second.

His head turned towards me as he stepped in my direction.

Holding out his hand to me. I stiffened and struggled to extend my hand in return, but then I finally took a deep breath, letting out my hand to him.

Gently gripping my hand, the coolness of his hands seeps into my skin almost calming my hot nerves. When he took me by his side as he walked towards them.

His hand slowly snaked onto my waist.

It felt too smooth, felt like butter, as if it was nothing new for him. The shock was too evident, but schooling my emotions, I just threw him a glance with ’I-will-want-an-explanation-for-this’ look.

He ignored my look as always, and as we reached them, he started introducing the team, including the directors, producers, and other co-stars.

Most of them greeted me back with positivity, including Becka.

One of the producers extended his hand, and I also tried to extend it for a handshake when Dave interrupted, taking my hand instead.

The producer seemed surprised, and not just him, but others too, which made me bite my lips in nervousness.

I did not like to be in the limelight, and it used to make me a nervous wreck. I was still looking down when Dave’s low yet firm voice fell into my ear, " Don’t do that."

His tone was so sharp it made me blink. I froze mid-bite, my teeth barely grazing my lip, as his lips almost touched the shell of my ear, making me shiver to my core.

I could not pinpoint whether it was done accidentally or was a deliberate act.

Unsure what I had done wrong this time, I glanced up at him, my brows knitting in confusion.

But he was already looking away, greeting someone else, perfectly composed, like that warning hadn’t just dropped into my ear.

What was that even about? I’d bitten my lip out of nerves. Was that suddenly a crime?

Still, the firmness in his voice lingered in my head, gnawing at me. It wasn’t irritation. It wasn’t an annoyance. It was... something else.

Possessive.

It didn’t fit him.

At least, not towards me. Yet here he was, stepping beside his grip tightening over my waist, closing the space which did not even exist.

I straightened, forcing my hands to stay at my sides, feeling strangely... watched.

Every time I moved, I caught his gaze flicking to me, quick and sharp, like he was making sure I didn’t do it again.

And the worst part? I had no idea why.