76 Have you seen my wife, Miss Ford?

Alec sat still on his seat as if his body was frozen, he saw El whose eyes were fixed on him, yet she looked like a whole new person now, someone he was unfamiliar with. 

He felt agonising  pain with every breath he took. 

Unwilling to stay any further, he got up. 

Every movement of his felt like an herculean task. Nonetheless, he gathered up strength and walked away with a heavy heart. 

The moment Michelle saw him walk away she ignored everything around her and followed him. 

"Alec" she called out. 

Ignoring her, Alec continued walking.

"Alec, please stop." Her voice quavered. 

Getting closer to him she held his hand with both her hands

 "Alec please." She pleaded. 

He ignored her and tried to free his hand. 

"Alec please, please don't be like this", her cries continued but Alec remained unaffected. 

Snapping his hand free he continued to walk away. 

"Please don't leave Alec, I'm.." she sobbed, finding it hard to speak articulately as she clutched on his hand again.  

He slowly turned to face her, his face was utterly cold.

"Have you seen my wife, Miss Ford? I'm unable to find her." 

There was no anger in his eyes but immense pain.

His cold yet painful words made her heart wrench. Feeling immensely guilty she subconsciously let go of his hand. Having his hands freed again Alec blankly continued walking. 

A few seconds later, 

"Let me go." 

He suddenly heard Michelle's struggling voice. 

"Let go"

 her voice forced him to turn behind. 

He saw Michelle struggling to free her hand from Dwane. Dwane gripped on her wrist, he had an oppressive aura around him. 

Alec was caught off-guard by the sight in front of him. 

The fear of her life overpowered his pain and he hurried towards them. 

"Let go of her Dwane." 

Dwane flashed an evil smile, 

"Leave us alone Alec. She is mine to kill."

Michelle continued struggling to free her hand but Dwane further tightened his grip on her wrist.

"She is my wife Dwane. Let her go." 

"She left me at the altar and you very well know what I intend to do to her, I'd suggest you to leave us be." 

"Alec" she whimpered pleadingly as she wanted to get out of Dwane's clutches. 

Until now Alec was being civil with his friend, but now he was furious. Grabbing her other hand, he said sternly

 "Dwane. Let Go of Her Hand." Dwane was reluctant. 

Suddenly a few heavily armed men gathered around them. "Miss Ford, we have been ordered to escort you back safely." 

Knowing that she had an upper hand in this case Dwane freed her hand and walked out. 

Alec also let go of her hand realising that Daniel Ford is capable enough to keep his daughter safe. 

The pain of betrayal replenished within him and he walked away from her. 

"Alec.." her voice was almost inaudible but her pain was evident in her eyes. 

"Miss Ford, please" the guards escorted her back. 

After a few moments, the first person she spotted was Ricky. 

"Ricky, Alec.." she cried. 

"Hey, stop crying.." Ricky gently wiped off her tears. 

"I'll talk to him Alright. Right now he needs some time." He tried to console her.

 El nodded. "I'll take my leave now and join Alec." Ricky said and left. 

El was slightly relieved that Alec would at least have Ricky by his side to stop him from doing something regretful. 

Shortly after, the event had come to an end. 

"I'll go home." Michelle said to Lyla and Daniel. 

"No, You won't" Daniel replied firmly. 

"He didn't even bother to stay till the event ended. I don't want you to be alone with him. Besides all security arrangements are done in the villa. Come with us." His tone was authoritative, not giving any chance to Michelle to deny. 

Daniel walked ahead while Lyla held her daughter's hand and walked behind him. They were surrounded by many armed guards. 

Meanwhile, 

Dwane's POV

I obviously didn't want to go back to Alwils Villa. Which is why I went to the Old Farehya Villa. 

Resentment overwhelmed me as I kicked the chair with all my strength.

 I was frustrated beyond reason. More importantly, I was annoyed at myself. 

"How could I not see it, how the fuck did I not manage to see it." I kicked my leg again to the wall, hard enough that my leg hurt. 

The memories of her from the day I entered south-hills flooded my mind. She was around me for months. 

The first time I saw her, she had a faint smile and a bright hickey mark on her neck. Now that I know she is Michelle, the memories of her hickey mark only annoyed me more. 

She is mine , Mine to have, Mine to Fuck and Mine to Kill. I gritted my teeth in sheer exasperation. 

Her memories occupied my mind again, the way she was always around with her bright smile. 

How she asked me to address her as Mrs. Wilson instead of Miss. El. 

"Miss El? Michelle." I suddenly had an epiphany.

 "FUCK, how could I not realise it." 

I remembered the way she chuckled and laughed out loud. 

Yes, her laugh, it was her laugh that caught my attention almost 5 years ago. How couldn't I realise that the familiar laugh was her's. 

My self resentment was growing within me  with every passing moment. 

Drowning in her memories again, I remember how I used to find new excuses to see in the kitchen. 

The time I massaged her back for a short while and the way she stiffened when I got closer to her neck.

  I should have strangled her then and there. 

I resented myself for every time I missed the chance to kill her. 

She played me well. 

I smirked and thought about every time I was alone with her. I could vividly picture the evening of Carolyn's birthday, when I was alone with her at the villa she boldly denied coming with me. 

"I'd rather be strangled by you than attend Carolyn Wilson's birthday." Her words reverberated in my head.

 Her audacity and my foolishness started getting on my nerves. 

How foolish of me to be concerned about her being alone with Isobelle Ford.

 I considered her a naive and innocent simple woman while she tricked me all along.