166 Seven Years Ago...

Ella’s eyes became misty as Leon apologize for the fourth time in a row. She didn’t need much convincing to see that he was truly sorry for his actions. She watched as the shower water fell with such a heavy torrent on his head, smoothening out his hair and flowing freely on his face and body. She was drawn to the humid atmosphere in the shower room and the sweet-smelling fragrance of the table soap nearby.

Feeling unperturbed by the previous incident, she threw the bedsheet that she had earlier used to wrap her body, on to bathroom floor and walked into the shower. She slowly slid her hands around Leon’s waist and wrapped them up tightly. Her bare breast glued themselves to Leon’s back as the cold water tickled her body and caused her to tremble lightly.

“I’m here for you, my love,” Ella said in a hushed voice. “You don’t have to carry the burden alone.” She kissed his back and slid her hands from his waist to his chest.

Leon breathed in as Ella’s presence was gradually washing away his stormy rage. He stroked her hand and slowly turned around to face her. Even though her eyes still bore a lot of hurt and sadness, the initial fright was gone. In place of the fright was a deep and unfathomable tenderness that touched the darkest part of his soul.

“I hate myself for what I did to you.” He pulled her close into his arms as he noticed that she was shivering from the cold. “I know words will not be enough to show you how sorry I feel. If I could...”

“Leon, I’m very cold.” Ella’s lips trembled as she spoke. She held him firmly as though she wanted to suck out the remaining heat in his body.

Earlier, she was in a warm, cozy, and peaceful place before Leon’s animalistic attack.

Right now, all she yearned for was warmth and her sane husband by her side.

Leon turned off the cold shower and turned on the warm water. He gradually adjusted the nob until the temperature was just right to warm their bodies. Afterward, he picked up the tablet of soap and slowly washed Ella’s back. When he noticed that she had stop shivering from the cold, he pulled away from her hold and cleaned every part of her body.

.....

Ella’s anger and pain melted away as the soap and warm water made her whole. Her face and ears were red with a thousand emotions as she watched Leon meticulously attend to her body as if he was cleaning up his little female daughter. She smiled as she thought of the perfect father he would make if he gave it a chance.

When he was certain that she was thoroughly cleaned, he washed himself briskly and carried her out of the shower. Using a large-sized towel, he gently dried her hair and body. When he had made her sit down, he gently applied a little lotion on her body, before dressing her in a long and cozy bathrobe.

All the while he was cleaning her, he totally avoided looking into her eyes as he was trying hard to keep his emotions in check. Although he caught a glimpse of her blushing face, he cautioned his enormous desire to make love to her.

Another amazing thing that happened to Leon while he was busy attending to his wife was the fact that his initial monstrous anger had totally melted away. He didn’t feel any shred of hatred or pain at the moment. His body, mind, and soul were consumed in her heavenly beauty and her natural scent.

After covering his nakedness with a matching bathrobe, he was about to go get Ella’s nightwear, when she held him back.

“Leon,” Ella called him softly.

It was at this point that Leon finally focused eye contact with her. Ella stood up and closed up the space between them.

“Thank you,” she softly kissed his lips.

Leon smiled and stroked her cheeks tenderly. He wanted to badly kiss her but he restrained himself and decided to talk to her first.

“I should be the one thanking you for forgiving and loving me back even after what I did to you.”

Ella’s face broke into a smile as happy tears flowed down her cheeks. “I love you, Leon, with all of my beings. I can’t imagine life without you. My body, my soul, and my heart belong to only you. If you are hurting then I’m also hurting. If you’re happy then I’m happy. I want you to know that I’m always here for you. You can tell me anything. You don’t have to carry the whole world on your shoulder. I want to be the shoulder you cry on. I could if you let me to.”

Leon gazed lovingly into Ella’s eyes and smiled. He could see his whole world revolving around her. He wanted to say something but ended up kissing her as his desires were about to erupt due to accumulated compression.

Ella welcome the kiss as she parted her lips, encouraging him to go deeper. When they broke apart from the kiss, Leon lifted Ella in his arms and took her to the bed. He sat her up and took a seat beside her. He took both of her hands into his and looked keenly into her eyes.

“What I’m about to share with you must never live the Treshvire family until the day it becomes public knowledge.”

“Okay!” Ella replied in a puzzled tone. Her mind started racing with different thoughts as she wondered what secret Leon wanted to share with her.

“My dad is critically ill and he’ll be gone in less than two weeks from today.”

“Oh no!”

The information almost caused Ella a heart attack. Her jaws dropped and her widened eyes almost popped out of their sockets. Memories of her late dad’s last few days on Earth came pouring into her mind as though they happened the previous day. All the horror she felt about losing her dad flooded her mind and tears instantly start flowing down her cheeks.

Oh you poor baby,” she pulled Leon into her arms and started stroking his back tenderly. “I totally understand how you feel.”

————–

Seven Years ago...

historical

Ariella Porter, fondly called Ella by all her loved ones was a promising young designer, equipped with a rare talent that marveled her lecturers and professors, back at school. She gave in one hundred percent dedication of her time and life to fashion school as she dreamt of being a prominent fashion designer.

Even though some of her coursemates teased her for her workaholic and always busy schedules, she never wavered in her visions. She kept on pushing herself and winning every mini-fashion contest in her school.

At the end of every semester, she would travel to her hometown for a week’s break and then return early enough to prepare ahead for the new semester.

The only time she took a long break from school was at the end of every school calendar year. During those times, she would plan a one-month vacation with her sister, Olivia; who was studying dentistry in a city not too far from Springchad.

Both sisters would storm their hometown at almost the same time or a day apart.

At the end of a very busy and stressful third academic year in her fashion college, Ella returned to Springchad for her usual one-month break. She was excited to share all her newly acquired knowledge with her dearest father and sister, who have always supported and stood by her all through her journey into the fashion institute.

Her dad, Mr. Terry Porter was a very proud father. He loved his two girls with his whole heart. He supported their dreams and visions, and he made sure that they never lacked anything.

When Ella chose fashion school over law school, which had always been her mother’s dream, Maggie almost ran insane with rage.

Maggie had usually bragged in the past that her beautiful daughter, Ella, would make a great lawyer. Hence, she found it very difficult to accept Ella’s new line of careers. As if Ella’s choice of careers wasn’t enough sore for Maggie to manage, she went ahead and broke up a promising two years relationship with Springchads number one football hero, Richard.

It was at this point that Maggie totally turned against her daughter. The only person that prevented her from frustrating Ella was her husband, Terry.

Terry Porter supported his precious daughter against all odds and most especially, against her enraged mother.

Although Maggie was bitterly against Ella’s choice of career and her refusal to court Richard, she decided to remain mute due to her husband reprimanding. Inwardly she protested against Ella’s choice and outwardly, she made Ella’s short breaks in Springchad a living hell.

Whenever Maggie’s husband wasn’t around, Maggie would always seize the opportunity to torment Ella by reminding her of the loser she had become due to her choice of career. She would show her picture after picture of how successful Richard had become.

Hence, to make her stay bearable, Ella would sometimes leave the house and stay for long hours at Abigail’s house.

On that fateful day, when Ella returned from school, instead of the usual cheerful faces of her father and sister, she was met with the gloomy faces of Olivia and a host of her family relatives.