A/N: Gosh, it feels like a century since I last updated this story. My apologies to all those faithful readers who keep checking this story and reminding me to update. Well, I was stuck with a bad case of writer's block and decided to work on other projects. But thanks to you, this story is back on track! Hope you'll enjoy reading this chapter as much as I did writing it!

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Chapter 4: The Climax

Antonio slowly opened his eyes to see a crystal chandelier that emitted a light so strong it took a minute for his eyes to adapt to it. With his forearm still partly covering his eyes, he took another look. A crystal chandelier, hanging on a white carved ceiling. No. It couldn't be. This was…

He sat up and was surprised to find his excruciating sore back gone. It had completely disappeared. But how? It had tortured him for far too long to just vanish like that. And then he realized why as he looked around and inhaled. The fresh smell of the soft sheets, the crystal chandelier, the large poster bed,…

He was home.

The thought itself sent a feeling of extreme relief and euphoria across his mind. Then his second thought was to get out of bed and go straight to the balcony to enjoy the morning view of the palace courtyard, just like he always did. Antonio flung the covers off his bed and shifted to the side when suddenly, he felt the gravity of Earth pull him downward.

Startled, he grabbed onto the first thing his hands came into contact with and shut his eyes, panting heavily. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself hanging from a tree.

In a blink of an eye, everything was gone. His room, his bed, his home, everything. It was all a dream. He was still on the island, still suffering from the torturous backache, still having to constantly avoid getting eaten by his wife's reptile friends.

He climbed back on the large branch he had been sleeping on before he almost fell down, and mentally cursed himself. He should have suggested a better place to spend their honeymoon, like visiting Queen Marissa in Paladia before Rosella had a chance to propose this idea, because, frankly, he didn't know how much longer he could stay here without going mad.

"I have to admit," He heard Rosella's voice echoing from under the tree. "You have really quick reflexes."

He snorted.

"I'm glad my near-fatal fall amuses you," He replied as he climbed down from his sleeping place.

She chuckled. "Oh Antonio, don't be such a spoilsport. I was giving you a compliment."

He shot her an annoyed look. He hadn't slept for more than three hours a night, had nothing to eat, had to watch his back for carnivores and overall, had a very lousy honeymoon, and there she was, laughing at him, while the whole time he had been suffering was thanks to her brilliant idea to wander into the wild without any supplies.

"Stop it. I've had enough of this for one day." He bluntly told her.

"Oh, alright," She didn't seem to notice his bad mood and proceeded to skip around him cheerfully. "How about we go rock climbing again? I know it didn't work for you the last time, but I couldn't do it the first time, too, so-"

"No. Please. I just want to be alone." He cut her off, waving a dismissing hand. In fact, he'd felt quite grumpy ever since he woke up, and even if he hadn't, he was in no mood for those kind of activities.

"Oh, alright. We'll figure out something else." Rosella said.

Silence. Just as Antonio thought his wife had finally given up and decided to leave him alone, her happy voice spoke again.

"I know! How about we-"

"NO!"

Silence befell them again as Rosella's eyes widened in horror. She had never seen him like this before. Had she said something wrong? Or-

"Antonio? What's the problem?" She reached out to put a comforting hand on his shoulder, but he removed her hand and turned his back on her. But he knew she would not let go without an answer. She would keep nagging him and then would spend the whole day trying all kinds of methods she had learned from the royal therapist on him. Just the thought itself was enough to increase his anger and annoyance.

And before he even started calculating the consequences of his words, he turned around and threw the most hurtful words in her face.

"What's the problem? You are the problem, princess." He answered curtly.

A look of complete shock, hurt, bewilderment and disbelief spread across her face as she continued to stare at him wide-eyed. "W-Why?"

"It was your idea to come here. It was your idea to throw away our supplies. It was your idea that we did all those 'fun' things that we did. It was your idea that caused me so many sleepless nights. It was your idea that made me a living prey for your friends." He said, his voice raising several octaves, drawing the attention of Tika, Sagi and Azul, who were behind a bush nearby.

"But, Antonio! I thought it would be fun! I thought you were fine with this! I tried to help you!" Rosella continued in a pleading matter, all the while trying to repress her tears. Why did everything turn so bad all of a sudden?

"Then help me by not helping me." He continued. "I swear, this is the last time we're here. I'm not going back to this horrible place."

And with that, he walked off.

Rosella was petrified. Why did he get angry at her? What did she do wrong? She racked through her mind, trying to find a logical explanation, but found nothing. She had tried to help him in every way she could, she really did… He was the one who rejected her help, and now he was mad at her? She felt angry, too. For the first time in her life, she felt angry.

Still, the way he looked at her scared her. He- he wasn't the Antonio she fell in love with. The Antonio she fell in love with would never scold a lady, let alone yell at her and blame her like that. The Antonio she fell in love with would never glare at her as if she were some kind of enemy. The old Antonio would never-

She slumped down on her knees and let her tears win the struggle. She wept like a child. She hadn't wept like this for such a long time, ever since she found herself alone, on the island, with no idea who she was or where she came from. Ten years ago. Her friends had been there for her, had comforted her. Ten years later, the same thing happened, but this time, it stung her much worse. It was like in a moment, her world shattered to pieces. All the hopes and dreams she had put into her marriage burst like a bubble. And this time, there was no one to comfort her. Not like she wanted anyone to, anyway.

"What is going on? What did I do to deserve this? Why did he treat me like this?" She kept repeating those words over and over again to herself. And for the first time, she began to doubt her marriage to Antonio would last.

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"Ro!" Tika whispered as she watched her best friend from a distance. She wanted to run to her, wipe away her tears and tell her everything would be alright, but for some reason, Sagi insisted that they stayed in their place, hidden to Ro's eyes.

"Why don't we reveal ourselves? She obviously needs us! I can't just stay here and watch like this!" She told Sagi, who was still busy watching the girl behind bracken leaves.

"Hm. Wait a bit." He told her, not sparing her a look.

A moment of silence passed before Azul broke the awkward staring contest between him and Tika.

"I knew this was going to happen." He said, shaking his head in an 'I told you so' manner.

"It's just a misunderstanding." Sagi said, ignoring Azul's remark. "With a little effort, I'm sure we'll be able to help them understand their differences and reconcile."

"I think Ro is better off without him," Azul continued with his negative comments. "We all are. He disturbs my beauty sleep, he disrespects me and mocks me, and he's always making a fuss about everything! I do not like him."

"But Your Highness…"

"No buts. Have you noticed the man always brings her heartbreak? First with that princess, now-"

"Enough!" Tika cut him off. She had had enough of fighting. Now all she wanted was to see her best friend happy again, even if it meant trying to get her to make up with the very man who stole Ro away from her. "Who are you to decide her life? They love each other, and I'm going to help them, with or without your help!"

They both looked at the elephant, surprise apparent in their eyes. Then Azul sighed.

"Alright," He reluctantly gave in. "But if this brings more trouble, it's your fault, Tika."

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P/S: The tension reaches its climax! For those who were wondering why Antonio acted to rudely to Ro, please put yourself in his shoes. Being sleep (and food) deprived for four days is no joke. It's taking its toll on him, and Ro happened to 'mess' with him in the most inappropriate moment. Just put yourself in each character's situation and you'll be able to understand their actions. That's it for now. Hope you all enjoyed it, and please leave your thoughts!

Until next time!