THE RETURN Of the LEGENDARY KING of WAR

A Near Fate

It has been a long night, but soon, it was over… the overwhelming night that left her on her toes, already she had agreed to her staying.

One thing is factual. If there is anyone that can help the situation, it is not this so strange morning.

Lizzy groans as she opens the fridge. “What, we are out of milk?!" She calls out without looking back, her groan growing deeper.

The mirror by the side of the refrigerator suddenly catches her attention, and she takes a quick glance at her reflection as she runs her fingers over the dark circle around her eyes. She has lost a quarter of her usual glow, and even her hair has lost its shine.

Groaning, she leaves where she is standing, and makes her way back to her room.

While walking back out, she bumps into her guest who immediately looks away shyly.

"Good morning, and…and thanks for last night.” She mutters.

All Lizzy did was shrug, and walked past her before stopping. "Do you want to go outside?”

It is merely a suggestion that brings a smile to the other woman's lips.

Thirty minutes later, they are making their way into the mall with a list of things that were needed.

"You can go check the other section,we'd meet in twenty minutes." She turns to instruct the other woman with her who makes way away.

Lost in thoughts, Lizzy continues wandering the lane past tall shelves till she catches a whiff that prompts her to look up.

“That cologne…What the hell?” she whispers in a low, skeptical tone.

The last person she would want to bump into is her ex husband, not after what has happened the previous time they met.

Because he is standing just meters away, he is yet to see her, but already, she has her sight on him. Lizzy’s eyes darken and her pulse raced.

Her mind is still flickering all around how awkward the situation is going to be. In a way, she wished she could just get away without making a scene.

There is no way in hell she is going to let him humiliate her. Not when they are no longer together.

Andrew, for some reason, raises his head and there she is, the same woman who has made this world a hell for him.

Like it burned her, Lizzy averts her gaze almost immediately their eyes meet!

She hopes to herself that the images would just leave, and left behind would just be the flicker of this scene, but who is she kidding?!

‘What was he freaking doing on this side of town?’ He hardly came down here.’ she thinks. So when she had seen him, she had felt rather annoyed at the entire scenario—

“Hello?" His deep yet calm voice sends a wave of distraction her way.

Her eyes are filled with malice as she looks up at him.

"Now, what is it again!" She let out a sound of frustration, eyes glowering daggers at Andrew. "Don't you have a home?”

The same eyes widens again, hands flying to her mouth as she dramatically gasps with feigned realization. “Oh, I have forgotten how broke and miserable you are." She spat out mockingly.

Andrew, unfazed, shrugs nonchalantly. "It is not my fault you run into me everywhere."

She tries to walk away, but he remains there, tall, imposing and suddenly intimidating, blocking her path and stopping her from getting any closer.

"What are you doing,” Lizzy stutters, suddenly aware of him. “Get out of my way!" she grimaces.

A guard makes way towards them. "Hello, is anything the problem?”

She gives a fake smile. “I am fine, I'd just have to put this man in his place."

As he walks away leaving them, Andrew asks. “So how have you been, not that I care but…”

"That is none of your business! Just get out of my path—"

"I am just being cool.“

She knows how stubborn he can get, and she isn't ready for that, so she asks, "What do you want?"

“I am just trying to be civil here."

"There is no way I am doing that with you, we are not cordial by any means.”

Andrew snorts. "Is it because of him?"

"Like I said, it is none of your business!" She clenches her fist.

"Okay then, it is none of my business as you have said." He repeats as he watches her walk in another direction.

If Andrew hadn't turned around so quickly, he could have seen who Lizzy just walked up to… Katrina!

A few minutes later…

“I’m not sure I can deal with him! The sight of him alone makes me feel a feeling of being stupid and angry. I have a bad feeling about this,” Lizzy says calmly, seated at the back of the car.

She had been telling Karina about her ex husband. Lizzy didn't want to go into the details, but she is left with no choice as she has to explain why she left so early without getting the rest of the things.

Katrina, on the other hand, can't still bring herself to understand what could have made Lizzy bear such hatred. Fine, she had no idea who it was, neither had she seen him, but honestly…

“Why? What’s wrong with you?” Lizzy pauses to ask, after noticing her quiet.

“Nothing much, I am just worried about all you said. You know, was he that bad?”

“Truth be told, he was! I don't trust him at all, and I don’t want to end up doing something I’ll regret. That was why I left. That's how bad he was to me.”

“I don’t know why there is this feeling, but I think you need to hear what he has to say at least—”

“Well it is none of your business and I don't want you bringing it up!" Lizzy ruthlessly cuts her off, her countenance doesn't seem like she is convinced at all.

“Sorry I will just shut up, it is not my business anyway.” Beatrice retorts.

Lizzy rolls her eyes. “That’s not the point. The point is, you’re not doing anything wrong, trust me. I understand you are curious and all, and there’s nothing wrong in you asking. I just didn't like how you were being a bit nosy. You get it?” So stop overthinking it.” She reprimands her.

Lizzy's voice is slightly harsh and her words are so blunt that Katrina feels as her heart skips a beat.

“If you say so, I am sorry if that made you uncomfortable though.”

“Yes, it's…it's fine.” She says,and looks away.

Soon, the car stopped at the apartment. Katrina got down first, taking quick steps to the door.

Letting out a deep sigh, she steps out of the car and walks in on her own. The moment she enters, her eyes land on her mother—seated gracefully in the corner of the room, dressed with effortless elegance.

Liliana stands up to see her daughter as she walks over to her, taking her languid but measured steps.

“You were late, almost thought you missed your way or something.” Liliana says, pulling her into a warm embrace, but Lizzy pushes her off gently.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” She lies. “I just had a little trouble.”

"Trouble?” Lillian asks, frowning.

"Yeah, guess who I ran into today.” She says, taking her seat and narrowing her eyes through the wine placed on the table.

Lilliana pours herself a cup and stares blankly at her.

“You’re coming from somewhere and you expect me to guess who you met? Come on, you know I am bad at guessing.” Lilliana retorts, rolling her eyes.

"Well, it was Andrew!” She exclaims, rattled. The encounter has somehow left Lizzy restless.

"Oh, that…” she snickers, letting the rest of the words hang.

She didn't need to complete it. Liliana still views Andrew as trash, and a leech that can only be beneath them.

"I am sure he looks worse than you left him… Oh darling, how do you feel?”

“I said I’m fine mom” Lizzy sighs again.

"Do you want anything?” Lillian asks.

"I said everything is fine!” She snaps.

“Okay would you at least have more wine?” she says, stretching forth a wine cup to her but she didn’t collect it.

“No, thank you. I don’t want anything.” She rejects it with a calm countenance plastered on her face.

“What’s wrong with you, Lizzy? Did he do or say something to you? I don’t like how stiff you’re acting.”

“Please excuse me, I want to make use of the restroom.” Without allowing her mother to say anything more, she stands up from her seat and walks out of the room.

She doesn't return, however, and she doesn't care how much alone her mother feels at that moment.

She sees a message from Thompson, asking where she is, but she ignores it, and goes into her room, shutting the door behind her.

Lizzy collapses into the bed, wiping away the last traces of makeup from her face. She drags herself into the shower after stripping, letting the cool water wash over her.

But when she looks up at the mirror, her breath catches, because staring back at her is a pale ghostly version of herself.

While she is in the shower, she keeps thinking about all the incidents that have happened. Something about him felt unusual today, and she can't help the questions that haunts her mind.

What might he be doing there?

Was he watching her? The thought of him watching her should have excited her, but not today… not when it gave her the chills.

As soon as she is done, Lizzy wipes her face and body with a towel, walks out of the bathroom and falls into her bed.

She picks up her phone, and she sees another message.

This time, it was different. She sits up quickly as she stares wide-eyed at the content.

“Well, well, well… Guess you can't hide forever!”