SUBSTITUTE BRIDE, I WANT YOU BACK LILA

CHAPTER THREE.

ITTERASHAI.

LUCIEN.

'Why did my heart clench tightly when I saw the look of hurt flash over her expression?' I pondered, walking down the hallway, lost in thoughts.

It seems like I was missing something. I should be happy and relieved. I mean, finally, I get to see again and be with the woman I love fully, but why was my heart feeling empty?

"Lucien". I heard Lily squeak and before I could turn around, she already flung herself on my back, clutching me tightly, her hands wrapped around my waist.

"I have missed you so much. It felt like ages when I had to stay away from you". She said, placing a kiss on my neck and I shook.

That wasn't what caused my reaction. It was what she said. Ages? We were barely away from one another even during my surgery. Yes, I had a bandage wrapped around my eyes, but I could always feel her hands holding mine.

"We were continuously together. What do you mean, ages?" I questioned, holding my breath for her response. I noticed her hands holding my waist trembled as she froze.

There was silence for a few minutes, the tension so thick a knife could cut through when she suddenly cracked, laughing like she told a joke or something.

"Come on! I know that. I was referring to the period when I was sent out so your bandage could be removed". She explained and I mouthed an "oh".

You know how I hate leaving you for even just a second". She added and I exhaled, feeling relieved.

She was indeed sent out for some hours so my bandages could be removed.

Her grip around my waist tightened again and I grinned, placing my hand on hers. Somehow I wasn't satisfied.

I felt like there was something she was hiding from me. Something crucial. Like a piece to some puzzle or was I starting to let Lila's words get to me?

Besides, when did she become this scheming? The Lila I knew before I had my accident was the sweetest young sister ever.

Even though nothing she ever did please her mum, Lily always stood up for her, so why was she repaying her good deeds with evil?

Not only did she try to ruin our wedding, but she was also trying to pin her pregnancy on me by making up stories.

My chest burned, disgust running through me as I scrunched my face up unconsciously. I needed to file a restraining order against her.

Who knows, she might attempt something worse, like actually hurting her sister.

But now that I thought about all these. It doesn't seem like her. Lila wasn't a liar and her eyes seemed genuine, also;

I turned around to wrap Lily in my arms as she buried her head in my chest, hugging me like she wanted to merge us, sniffling my cologne.

I stroked her hair gently, placing my head on her neck to sniffle the body wash I so much adore on her, but then my body stiffened.

"Did you change your body wash or something?" I inquired, having this sense of doubt go through me again.

'Damn it' I cursed within, feeling annoyed.

"Of course not. This has always been my body wash.". She answered and I furrowed my brows at her.

My wife and I have been married for a year, and I know she uses subtle floral wash, like rose and Jasmine.

Right here, right now, I was perceiving a mixture of Vanilla, and chocolate instead of the familiar scent of her.

"What is it?" She asked, noticing my twisted expression.

"You always smell like rose petals, but now you smell chocolate". I explained and her expression tightened like I had startled her.

She moved away from my embrace, her eyes immediately leaving mine and drafting around, as she struggled for what to say.

Suspicions arose in me immediately and I inched a step closer to her.

"Lily?" I called out, a warning edge to my tone. All the colors were draining from her face, as she scratched her hair.

Why was she acting weird?

Just then,

"Lily, Lucien". Mother-in-law called while walking to us briskly, distracting me from Lily and my thoughts.

"What is it, mum?" Lily asked, turning away from me immediately and I didn't fail to catch the sigh of relief that escaped from her.

'Hmm'. I thought.

"It's your sister. God knows what her problem is. She is nowhere to be found". Their mother declared panicking, and I arched my eyebrows at her, feeling my heart race for unknown reasons.

"Easy mum. She is probably with Olivia".

"Olivia is nowhere to be found too, and neither of them is picking up their cells. Also, she left a note not to look for her". Mrs Vitale declared and the thin lines of my brows jumped up in surprise.

"Are you suggesting she ran away?" I demanded, but more like screaming, my body growing tense.

Lily arched her eyeballs at me while her mum nodded, biting her lower lips and snapping her fingers like she was thinking.

"But why w....?" I immediately stopped my question, remembering her earlier words.

"The baby is yours". I shut my eyes, clenching my fists together and trying to calm my breathing at the same time.

Could that be the reason why she felt rejected? Could she be telling the truth?

But Lily is my wife. It's not possible she abandoned me and I was with Lila this whole time.

My eye opened, and it fell on Lily, who was whispering something in her mother's ears, beads of sweat gathering on her forehead.

"Excuse me, please". I told them and left, not waiting for their answer.

I entered the men's restroom and immediately brought out my phone to dial Lila's number. I stopped at first, my hand hesitating to press the call button but then changed my mind.

I had no idea why I was doing this, but my guts felt it was the right thing to do.

"Lucien?" She answered, hope obvious in her tone and I let out a groan, loving how soft and pleasant her voice was to the ears.

Just like Lily's. No difference.

"Your mum and sister are looking for you. Why did you run away?" I asked and she mouthed an "oh", making me picture the look of disappointment on her face.

"Why are you doing this to them, they are so worried". I told her and she let out a scoff instead, like I just told the most unbelievable thing in the world.

"Lucien. Trust me, they are just pretending. They plotted to kill our baby".

Now I know Lila was making everything up because how could she be telling me her angel of a sister and birth mother was trying to harm her child?

Perhaps she was ill. This was so unlike her.

"I think you should seek help Lila. Come back to your family. We are all willing to help and please stop saying your baby is mine. It's sounds pathetic". The words flowed out of my mouth before I could stop them.

Silence flowed afterward, and I heard sniffles, knowing immediately she was crying. I felt bad, my conscious pricking at me, pain flowing across my chest.

"Goodbye Lucien". She said after some minutes and my eyes widened from panic.

"No". I tried saying, but her next words made me freeze, my breath hitching in my throat.

"Itterashai". Then there was a loud beep, signifying she ended the call. That was the last thing on my mind as I walked out of the restroom.

'How the hell did she know that word?' I pondered. Only Lily should.

"Baby". Lily dashed to me.

"Are you alright?" She searched my expression with her eyes.

I ignored her question and called out instead.

"Lily. Itterashai". A look of confusion crossed her face.

"What the hell is that?". It was as if I had stopped breathing when she asked me the question.

"You don't remember?" A look of recognition came to her eyes, and then she laughed but not genuinely. I caught her eyes twitching.

"Of course I do. Was just teasing you." She said and hugged me, hiding her face away. An idea came to my head and l decided to use it.

"From the French movie, right?"

"Yes. I so much adore that saying". My body went cold, my mind fuzzy as whatever she was saying drowned out immediately.

My God. What have I done? Lila was telling the truth all along. The word was a Japanese phrase and wasn't from a movie, but an anime.

I immediately pushed Lily away from me and dashed out of the hospital; ignoring her calls, I brought out my phone and tried calling Lila again, but unfortunately, she had blocked me.

I immediately dialed my investigator's number.

"Find me, Lila Vitale, as soon as possible." I barked the orders at him as I got into my car, deciding to go look for her anywhere I could.

I remember five months ago when we just watched the female lead in the anime tell her male lead those words. I couldn't exactly see what was happening, but Lila made sure to translate everything.

"Itterashai means Till we meet again. If you ever leave or doubt me, I will tell you these same words, Lucien". She told me then and she kept to her words.

How could I have been such a fool? My baby was in her belly.

'Lila, please be safe. I promise to make it up to you once you are found. Just wait for me'.