LOVER MONSTER!
116. Considerately.

"I'll be waiting for you at the beach."

A small engraved message inside a piece of paper. Jessica read the contents of the message before devouring the paper with the sushi rolls that Lisa handed over for her lunch.

Speaking of Jessica's situation, this is her fourth day locked up in Rhoden Manor. Demian did not see him again after their discussion on the first day. Although Jessica did not know if their last meeting was worth to be said as a discussion.

Putting the matter aside, Jessica starts to get in touch with Gianna. Find a solution to get out of there. Although Jessica is not allowed to meet anyone, even Hestia, Jessica is grateful for the skills of Gianna who knows how to contact her without having to meet face to face. Without getting caught by Demian's side.

'I'm grateful that Oscar didn't take Demian's side and helped me, ' Jessica sat up and looked out the window. To the tyrannical sea that would be his escape.

Oscar said he would help Jessica there. That means Oscar can't help him get out of here. If Jessica wants to be free, she needs to find a way to reach the beach on her own.

"What should I do?" Jessica propped up her chin, her expression turning wistfully. Thinking of a solution to escape was one thing, but thinking that if she really left, everything that happened here would end up making Jessica rather sad. He did not expect the relationship and Demian would run aground.

I mean Jessica, why should her first experience in romance be this dark?

"I should hold fast to my position not to fall in love." Jessica continued her monologue as she moved off the couch.

To be honest, Jessica was very tired of being cooped up in that room. Jessica hates being trapped and can't do anything. The thought that she was in a cage made it difficult for Jessica to breathe. He felt like he was back in the closet where his mother had locked him up in the past.

Back to the stifling restraints.

"Yyyyyy..." Jessica breathed a tired breath. He tried to expel those gloomy memories so as not to appear in his mind. Jessica did not want to be hit by sudden panic and difficulty breathing. Jessica did not want to die suffocated by her own breath. Not in this room, in this cage.

"Calm down, Jesse.., you're okay, everything's gonna be okay." Jessica closed her eyes. He tried to ease the pounding of his crazy heart. Trying to suggest to his subconscious that everything will be fine. He will find his freedom again.

...*...

On the other hand, unlike Jessica who is trying to gather her calm, maintain her sanity, Demian Bellamy who has been the source of Jessica's depression lately seems busy behind her new desk. He did not rest for a moment. He looked like the man Hestia had been craving all along. A hard worker who would devote himself entirely to Bellamy.

At least, that was how Demian looked on the surface. However, as the person who had been watching Demian lately, Hestia was struck by turmoil. Hestia knew this was her dream. He wanted Demian to be the leader of Bellamy because it was the ideal position for his nephew. However, seeing Demian look like a robot made Hestia stricken with anxiety.

The person behind the desk is a time bomb.

Hestia felt.., if one was even a little wrong, the bomb would explode and leave a tremendous impact. Demian Bellamy - his nephew - will end up destroying them all with his fearsome calm.

"Demian, I hear you haven't slept in lately." In the latter sense, then it was the past three days. Hestia gets a report from Demian's new assistant that Demian is already languishing in her study without sleep. He did not eat his food until it ran out and only relied on coffee to stay awake.

"Hestia..," Demian raised his face at a glance.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Do what?"

"You.." punishing yourself is what's stuck on the tip of Hestia's tongue. Although he knew Demian was in a bad condition, he tried his hardest not to acknowledge the reality. Demian should be fine!

"It's not good for you to work too hard, Demian. You just started your job in this position. You should slowly get used to yourself here."

"I'm getting used to myself, so I am." Demian stared at the sheet after sheet of paper before him.

Although he understood the contents of the files, knowing how to handle them, Demian - deep down in his heart - hated what he saw.

"I'm busy, Hestia. If you have any other needs, talk to Rio."

"Demian..," Hestia reluctantly passed from there. He-rather than dragging his feet out-approached Demian's desk and stood before the mahogany's table with his body stiffened. "What are you going to do with Jessica?"

"..."

"You can't keep him locked up for too long. I was thinking, how about giving it back to Vegas? I mean, he's got his own life, and the way I look at it, he won't join us, Demian. How about a-"

"Jessica's not going anywhere!" firmly Demian. He gave Hestia a sharp look that made Hestia speechless.

"I suggest you stop meddling in my business, Hestia. Just because I'm quiet doesn't mean I don't know you've said stupid things to her. I won't compensate you any further."

Hestia gulped her saliva, a feeling of horror mixed with fear encompassing her.

"I'm sorry" said Hestia at last. "I didn't mean to interfere. It's just..., I believe you'd understand better that locking up Jessica would only make your relationship worse, right?"

"..."

Demian, of course, realized that. But what can he do? He didn't know what to say to Jessica, not when Jessica's emerald pair was filled with obvious hatred. Demian has no leads. Demian had no idea where this relationship was going to take her.

Everything became so dark and black.

Demian just wants to be stronger than anyone in order to protect Jessica. He wanted the girl in safe hands. Demian did not want to repeat the events of that night, when he was unable to do anything other than rely on Oscar. Demian did not want to be on the weak side. Therefore, the solution is only one.., become a leader at Bellamy.

Demian knew Jessica would condemn her decision, but Demian thought Jessica would gradually understand. After all, this decision he made so that they could be together in peace and find peace.

Yet...

"At least, meet Jessica for a second." Hestia spoke again. "Rest from your work too. Meet Jessica and try to solve your problems once again. Don't lock her up without clarity, she'll end up stressed alone."

...*...

"For the one who wasn't chosen to be the leader, you seem fine, Erthian." In the Bellamy family library, Erthian was busy reading in front of the fireplace the arrival of a guest. Aaron Rhoden was the guest, his tall cousin with a Hestia-like face.

"Then your mother came here, Aaron?"

"You know my mom's coming, huh. You still seem to have too many antennas in this place."

Erthian closed the book he was reading and put it on the table. "You should pay attention to that woman, she's getting very stressed out because of Demian."

"I'll watch it when I care."

"Delinacious son."

Aaron crossed his legs on the table. "The son of the man of my head. My parents were dead before I could refute anything from him."

"Hestia will cry if she knows you don't care about her whereabouts." Especially if he knows Aaron thinks he's dead.

"Don't turn the conversation over to me" Aaron finally said, he came to see Erthian not to discuss his relationship with Hestia which he had been throwing away for a long time. "What are you gonna do now?"

"I read..." Erthian said calmly. "I have nothing else to do, so I'll just relax and read the books that just released this year."

"I'm empty, I'm talking seriously, you moron. You wouldn't let Demian be the leader just like that, would you? Hasn't that position been your dream since childhood?"

Hearing his dream alluded to, Erthian inevitably became reminded of the past. When he and Demian were still in elementary school and how he so longed for the existence of his father who was very scary and authoritative. Erthian-rather than put an aversion on Christian, was at that moment so amazed at Christian that it could make the parents of the other disciples cower in fear before him.

From then on, Erthian made up his mind that he wanted to be Christian. He declared his dream everywhere, to every friend. At Demian who looked at him like a fool, and at Aaron who scoffed at him and said that position was for Demian.

Erthian remembered all that and his smile was glaring.

"That's an adorable memory, isn't it?" Erthian said in a voice full of nostalgia. "I miss those days so much that I came back. You know, when I was strong enough to hit you and when Demian was still so scared of me. Growing up is annoying."

"Is that what you think?"

"I'm not interested in thinking about anything else."

Aaron took a breath. "I thought you were going to revolt and ask your father for a change. But seeing you so relaxed today, maybe I'm just hoping for something high."

"You are expecting high. I-I-however, will never dispute my father's decision. He is my idol until now. I believe the decision he made was the truth and I will...., let go? Accept?"

"Why are you even questioning me back?"

Erthian chuckles. "I just forgot the right word to express my obedience."

"Anyway...., what is really going on in my house? I mean, why is Demian so fixated on that woman? I heard they met in Vegas and blablabla.., but.., I didn't expect him to be that emotional to her."

"Demian has grown up, his way of falling in love and giving up his heart has also become more mature and more mature than ever before."

"Despite that, I heard from Hestia that you've done something..."

"Is Hestia gossiping about me?"

Aaron's gaze probed the mysterious grin that had been splashed on Erthian's face. "You..., are you crazy?"

"What's wrong with your sudden accusation?"

Aaron took a long breath. "I just feel like you're getting more and more like the devil."

"That's defamation. I go to church every week."

"When was Bellamy's name good?" Aaron scoffs. "You and your family have been dirty for decades. Without being insulted, you've been despised."

"Want my tongue cut off?"

Not afraid at all of Erthian's threats, Aaron continued. "Back to the previous topic, you know, Demian's girlfriend. I saw her that day, I thought their relationship would just end. But, looking at Demian's reaction just now. It doesn't seem like it's gonna happen."

"Hmmm.., it's gonna happen." Erthian replied casually. "I made sure it would happen."

"Ha~ Is that part of your engagement too?"

"I didn't do anything. Stop accusing me so recklessly." Erthian crossed his chest while leaning on the shoulder of the sofa. "I didn't do anything. I'm just a spectator."

"Yayaya, like I'm gonna believe you."

Erthian smelled a smile.

"Where might I do something" Erthian said back. His smile was thin. "I don't have to do anything."

...****************...