Edie looked at Donald as she silently prayed for help and guidance. ’Dear God, how can I say no? Help ! I don’t know what to do.’ He looked so fragile, and her heart went out to him. He seed like such a lonely man, and she couldn’t refuse him. "Okay, call whenever you need soone to talk to," Edie said. Then she turned and walked away.
Once the cab pulled into the Villa, Edie looked at the ti, "Is that the right ti?" Edie asked the driver.
"Sure is," he replied. Edie paid the cabbie and opened the door. Getting out, she shuts the door without a backward glance. She took the keys out of her purse, unlocked the front door with her key. "The house is so quiet," she whispers. Edie crept slowly towards the living room and noticed the light was still on. She enters and sees Stuart sitting on the sofa, sound asleep. Edie glanced at the television. "Why is Stuart watching the entertainnt news? He never watches the news," she said in a low voice. She walked over to the TV, and her own reflected image was on the screen. It was a picture of Clyde holding her in his arms. ’Oh my God!’ Edie thought.
Two reporters were drawing their own conclusions about the possible relationship between Clyde and Edie. "Look at how he looks at her. It’s definitely a secret romance," One of the reporters said.
The other reporter made a comnt, "Clyde Jackson could have any woman he wants. Why would he choose Edie Lara?"
Edie couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She shook her head. "Will they ever let this go?" she muttered. She quickly picked up the remote, and suddenly her hand was held back. Startled, she said, "Stuart, you scared ."
"Do you realize how late it is? Where have you been all night?" he asked. His voice sounded deep but sohow sharper.
Before Edie can say anything further, she thinks about the promise she made to Donald. "I’m sorry," she apologizes in a fluster. She blinked quickly, trying to hide her nervousness.
Stuart’s frowning at her. "Well, where have you been?" he asks again.
Edie opens her mouth, closes it again. She has no ready-made answer to this question. She has to think fast. She takes a deep breath and says, "Rhonda, my assistant, was upset and asked out for dinner."
Stuart ca face-to-face with Edie and glared into her eyes. "I tried calling you. Why didn’t you answer your phone?" Stuart asked.
"I’m so sorry, Stuart. I dropped my phone and shattered the screen," Edie answered.
Stuart’s questioning eyes were fixated on her lips as if waiting for another answer. "Is there anything else you have to tell ?" he said.
Edie felt guilty about lying and fearful that things would co crashing down again. ’I don’t know what to do? I made a promise, but is it worth it lying to my husband,’ Edie wondered.
"Did I commit a cri?" she asked. Edie felt a little sick and struggled to remain relaxed. The last thing she wanted to do was to lie to him. ’Please, God, help ,’ she prayed. Hoping Stuart wouldn’t ask her any more questions.
Then he asked her another question." Who is Clyde Jackson?"
Edie was stunned and stood to stare at him with a blank expression on her face. "He’s a...." She didn’t know what to say. ’Should I tell him he’s my supposed fiancée? Lies after lies, I can’t keep doing this," she thought.
"I wasn’t inford that my wife was dating soone else," he said. His eyes were cold, and she knew that his accusation was only based on what he’d seen on the TV.
"Of course not," Edie said, trying to reassure him. "We never dated. Rember I told you about him. I work with him."
"If you only work with him, then why was he holding you at the hospital, and why is he making excuses for you on Twitter?" Stuart asked, his voice getting louder by the minute. "Now, everyone’s calling you, Mrs. Jackson."
Edie was a little confused. She had no idea they were calling her Clyde’s wife. "We work together. It’s a misunderstanding," she said.
Stuart stared deep into Edie’s eyes. "Why won’t you tell the truth?" he said. His voice was deep with anger.
Edie shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears. "I.....I." She couldn’t speak the words, and she wanted to speak. How she longed to tell Stuart the truth, but how could she?
Stuart heard the hesitation in her voice and could see the tears of remorse in her eyes. He knew she didn’t want to tell him the truth, but he didn’t understand why. The expression on his face revealed his disappointnt, and Edie could see his mind swirling. He could see how exhausted she was and said, "You need to get so rest. You work tomorrow."
In a low voice, Edie says, "Good night." As she walks up to the stairs, she bites her lower lip as the intensity of emotion washed over her. Stuart watched her as she disappeared from his sight. Then Stuart thought of what Mr. Bates told him when he arrived at the Villa. "Donald was sent to the hospital several days ago. He’s taken a turn for the worse. I think Mrs. Yates may have gone to visit him."
When Stuart found out, he was concerned about Edie’s safety and tried to contact her. He couldn’t understand why she wasn’t answering her phone and left without letting him know where she was going.
Then earlier in the day, Hicks and her agent paid an unexpected visit to Stuart. She was informing Stuart about the well-known actor Clyde Jackson and all the speculation about their relationship. In the past, Edie would have explained, but now she’s keeping secrets. "What else is she keeping from ?" Stuart said out loud.
That night Edie awoke several tis, drenched in an icy sweat.
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