When Love & Hate Collide [Completed]

Chapter 71 - My Adorable Luck!

Having Norberto standing in my living room, suddenly made the room appear too small. Despite his leaner self and the obvious dependence on the cane to walk, he still looked too grand, too dashing for my humble abode. And his words seemed to be driving down that point.

I lost my tongue. Almost literally, for I was in danger of swallowing it along with the acrid taste I gulped down, choking my throat. My eyes flew wide open and the paleness on my face returned with drastic affects. I failed to react either ways to this unpleasant visit and watched in helplessness as Tom stood up and moved towards Norberto.

"Who are you and what are you doing here, I may ask?" Tom asked staring at Norberto, an obvious stranger to him for he had never seen him before in the town.

"I can ask the same," Norberto replied coolly.

"Yes, but this house belongs to Melanie, she is the one who should be asking,"

"Couldn't say I disagree. She is indeed the one who should be asking and since she isn't, I am going to assume she was expecting me," Norberto replied to Tom though his eyes were fixed on me. He took a step further inside the room and I could feel suffocation rise in the small room.

I must stop this. I must stop it now.

Forcing myself to speak, I shuddered as words rumbled across my tongue, "What, what are you d...doing here?" I knew it was impossible for me to act normal, but I had to try. I couldn't lose it in front of Tom, so I forced myself again.

"I mean, this is unexpected. I wasn't-"

"That's a surprise. You do know how to break my heart," he complained, bemusedly.

Tom who had been watching the weird exchange, interrupted, "Melanie, do you know him?"

"Uhmm... ah... I... he-"

"I am Norberto Fritz," Norberto responded to the question when I failed to find the right response. "I am the new owner of Gregorian Castle," he went on to explain.

"Aaah, I see. You are the one who has moved in there. That's why I haven't seen you around here. But you do look faintly familiar, I was wondering where I have seen you before," Tom commented. My eyes automatically grew wider in fear at the implication, did he know? But he didn't see for he was focussed on watching Norberto.

"Dr. Thomas McCarthy, I work at the city hospital," he introduced himself, extending his hand for a handshake. Norberto eyed him while accepting the handshake.

"Oh, you do house visits. Is Raul alright? Is he sick?" Norberto immediately inquired.

"Oh no, no. He's fine. I am here to meet Melanie. And him. We were planning a picnic," Tom replied quickly.

Norberto relaxed, only to get tensed immediately again. He looked pointedly at Tom and me and then back at Tom. I was not sure what was the meaning of that look, but he was definitely not happy. "Looks like I disturbed you guys. Would you like me to come back another time, Melanie?"

"Why?" I couldn't help myself from asking. Why did he want to come back? What is that he wanted? There was nothing I wanted to do with him but in Tom's presence, I knew it came out as too sudden and rude. I tried to cover up.

"I mean, there is nothing to disc-"

"Mr Fritz!" Raul decided to make an entry into the room just then causing me to stop while all eyes turned to him. He immediately went up to Norberto and asked him in surprise, "What are you doing here?"

Though he was surprised, his happiness was quite visible on his face.

"Hi Raul! Didn't we agree to be friends yesterday? Well, friends visit each other, don't they?" Norberto asked taking his small hand in his.