IN THE CAGE

62. DENIAL

...INDIRA...

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I was standing in front of the window frame, eyes staring at the lush trees that were lined up far outside the fence. Her bright green color thickened black as far away my gaze infiltrated into the shadows. The wind was blowing finely, making the green grove like waving its leaves at me. This sight-the view of the forest is something that has accompanied me ever since I was locked up in this house. I'm still a prisoner with Evan Caspian's wife.

My life would probably go well if I was a person who loved to relax at home and hated socializing with humanity, unfortunately - I'm not that kind of person.

I love meeting and having small talk with my friends. I love seeing the world and what is going on in it. I love the smell of toast that I breathe when I take a leisurely stroll in the crowd. I love the pop music that comes from the store radio, I love all the little things I experience of my own free will.

I don't like it when my world is limited to Evan Caspian's palace, which even in some areas is still off-limits to me.

This place is annoying and for God's sake, the people inside don't help my aggravation shrink at all.

Like today again...

"Miss Indira, Evan's boss is calling you to his study." Aidan made a report from the front door.

"I'll be here any minute" I said before taking a deep breath.

I already know at least the topic that Evan will reveal at this meeting. Thanks to Ace, I don't feel nervous at all. I've prepared the answers that will make me saved.

All right, let's play a role!

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A familiar eavesdropping device in my eyes was located on Evan's desk. When I came, the thing that caught my attention was the bugging device. Completely without further ado, did Evan plan to confront me head-on without any intention of offering me a cup of coffee?

"Welcome, Indira." Evan looked at me intensely until I sat down in front of him. I-with shamelessness widened my plain grin.

"Why did you suddenly call me?"

What kind of husband meets his wife through an intermediary? Evan, you really let me down. Even if this was just a business relationship, couldn't he be a little rational? I was his wife, but he treated me worse than his workers.

"I thought you forgot I lived here..."

"Just because I'm busy doesn't mean I'm forgetting you." Evan did not deny that he had abandoned his own wife. At least he knows himself, motherfucker.

"I'm worried about you, Indira. Very worried about you."

"Is that so? Thank you." Thank you."

"I'm worried about you but you don't seem to understand why I'm trying to protect you here."

"Evan, tell me what you want to say. Don't be convoluted."

"I just want to talk good, Indi. You understand what I'm saying is this, don't you? You must be familiar with this tool!" Evan pushed the bugging device in front of me. If I wasn't his wife, I thought he might throw that thing in my face considering how harsh his expression was right now.

"This.., I know." I crossed my arms around my chest, acting like an unconscious creature had done something wrong. Because that's my goal now. "Then what's the problem?"

Evan was dumbfounded and I looked at him with my chin raised defiantly. "I.., I'm doing this because you've been acting suspicious lately."

"Me?"

"What do you think is the reason I installed a wiretap in your study, huh?" he must have thought I was after information about his personal matters. Of course, that's the truth. But I will twist his assumptions into something childish and disgusting.

"Indira, what do you mean play around with this thing? Do you have any idea how important the thing I did was in my study?"

"Because this place is so important, that's why I'm trying to tap it."

Evan kicked the table.

"What can't you ask me to the point that you're doing something so borderline like this?"

"Isn't it clear...?" I hit the table back. It's just that, unlike me having as much energy as Evan's, my punch sounded like a light bluff.

"I..., I...., I'm mad at you!!!" Saying that, I spontaneously stood up until the bench I was sitting on was pushed far back. I propped my hands up on the table while my eyes stared at Evan's stunned pair of eyeballs.

"Even though we are married in the name of business, you should not involve other women in our relationship!!!"

"Who's the other woman?"

"Do you think I'm stupid? You and your music friends are big news everywhere. I'm locked up here to know how miserable you are to the point that people question if I'm the right person for you!!!"

"I'm not-" Evan was at a loss for words. Of course, this accusation would not appear in his mind because he did not know the feelings of women. He didn't know at all that his actions would hurt me. Also, he won't know if Ace asked me to use this excuse to hide my original intentions.

"Evan, did I marry you just as a barter?"

"Where might I be..." Evan took a deep breath. He seemed to be in such shock over my accusation that he needed some time to process my words in his mind.

"All of you, get out!" Evan ordered his bodyguards and assistants to wait outside. Wh why? Is he ashamed to be an impish husband?

"Indira, your accusation just now was outrageous. Do you think I would do that to my best friend's sister?"

"That's the problem, Evan! You don't see me as me. You see me as an object you can keep when you don't need it anymore. Even now, I am Anggara's sister in your eyes. I'm a nobody. I understand you don't love me and I've stopped expecting your love too. But..."

I stopped talking and adjusted my excited breath because of the emotion. Damn, this was supposed to be just acting, but why am I getting carried away with my own feelings?

"At least you see me as Indira, Evan. I live and have my own personality. I.., I'm not just Anggara's sister, not just the wife you married in the name of business..., I live and breathe in another corner of this building while you humiliate me by holding another woman in public!"

"Before, I'm sorry for making you think I didn't see you as you, Indira. But..., if it's about Norah, haven't we talked about this?"

"Talk? Look.., you're defending him, right!" I shook my head inexhaustibly. "The only thing you talked about at the time was you, Evan. You're the only one who thinks in this relationship, you don't even care what I think."

"Did you think I wouldn't get hurt when people in my social circle called me, asking who was the girl with my husband that night? Do you think I didn't feel insulted when my cousin sent me a photo of a piece of the article discussing you and your best friend? Saying you're more compatible because you both have a brilliant career while Indira only wins with face?"

"Indira..."

"I know you don't think at all, Evan." My voice weakened when I was done spewing out my teeth. My eyes were a little watery as I looked at Evan. Damn, this is embarrassing and painful. "You know what I've been thinking lately, I. Not because you're stupid, but just because you don't care. I'm just one of the medals you've won. That's all, right?"

"Indira, I understand you're lonely and all this is new to you. All these thoughts, everything you say comes just because you're not used to marriage. You need to adapt to my life, Indi...,"

"YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO ME AT ALL!!!" really, did I waste all my energy talking just to hear that response?

"Evan," I said firmly. "If adapting to be your wife means getting used to all your cold treatments, then I'd rather not adapt at all."

"Please watch your words, Indira."

"Why? No one's listening here."

"I listened to you and I really didn't like what you said just now." Evan responded to me with a terrifying calmness. He passed his desk and approached me who was still standing. "I hear your every complaint and I know what you feel isn't wrong at all, but there's a limit you shouldn't step on."

"Limit again? Are you fed up with all the limits you've created, Evan. I'm sick of being locked up here like your property."

"Indira..," something I had not expected at all was Evan who suddenly grabbed my arm tightly and jerked me towards her. Instantly, I was pushed forward and smashed into his chest. My eyes and his gray-green eyes meet. It was like staring into the depths of a terrifying forest.

"If I told you you were my property, would that make you stop whining in front of me?"

"Tell me that and I'll divorce you right now." I'm Indira Rashid, I won't accept any humiliation from anyone.

"I'm surprised to see you think you have a right in this relationship, Indira." Evan grinned and for God's sake, his grin made my ribs tighten.

Evan's curly mane that fell finely on his pale forehead often made me anxious for Evan, but now-no adorable impression of him, I just felt intimidation. Like facing the devil.

"I forgive your lassiness today, but if you repeat an act like this again in the future, I will keep you in my bed until you know how far I can limit your every move."

"..." - ".Is this the same Evan I've met? My lips are open, but I can't say anything.

"Oh, regarding Ace..., have you finished complaining about the file you found on my desk to her?"

"Snitch what?" Don't lose Indira. Keep pretending to be stupid.

"You know what I'm saying. You saw him, right? Or Joseph saw it and brought it to you..."

Ugh, he's sharp.

"All right, all right." I raised one of my hands as a surrender gesture while the other hand was still firmly attached in Evan's grip.

"I didn't say anything to him." I lied.

"I'm not so stupid as to lead my family into ruin."

Evan's view of me changed. I stole the opportunity by adding more lies.

"Ace is my best friend, but Anggara is the most important person in my life. I don't know what you and Angga are doing to Ace, but I do know it's not my money to interfere or worse-fuss."

"Then, what's Ace doing here? There's no way that bastard's wasting his time here just to have tea with you."

Did Evan underestimate the bond of my friendship with Ace?

"Me and Ace are just drinking tea." I said slightly offended.

"Liar, what did you tell him until he was willing to waste his time here?"

"Damn..., why are you so curious? I didn't even ask when you were hanging around with your dark lover in this house?"

"Who's a lover-I have no mistress at all, Indira!"

"Uhuh? No need to fool me." I said. Let's raise this topic again so he forgets Ace. Hehehe. I must be very smart.

"Indira...., do you like me?"

"No."

"Then am I misunderstanding or are you jealous of me?"

Eh?

Me?

Of jealousy?

That..., what the fuck?

"Where is possible!!!" I responded to Evan with a fierce voice. Either getting the power from nowhere as well, I suddenly managed to remove the grip of Evan's hand from my hand.

"I'm not jealous, damn it. Don't get big heads!!!" I spit on those words with keki before running and hiding myself.

Damn, why am I so scared?

What did Evan say?

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