“This is not a way to dance. No one dances like this,” I huffed.
“I’m not anyone, Rosebud. I’m Achilles Valencian. I don’t follow rules, I make them.” He pulled me deeper into his arms.
Sighing, I gave up.
While the others moved around the dance floor, he didn’t let even an inch of distance between us. When his one hand should be in one of mine and the other on my waist, both of his strong arms were firmly wrapped around me, keeping me against his chest. And mine were locked around his neck. He wouldn’t even move freely, just slow sways. As if no one in the world was watching us. But the glares of both single and taken women were unignorable.
When my neck started to hurt, craning to look at him all the time, I rested my cheek on his chest. Closing my eyes, I let him move us around in slow waves. His scent with every intake of breath lulled me to peace.
I remained silent as he played with my hair. “Don’t cut your hair ever again.”
My eyes opened, but I didn’t move my head from his warmth. He was talking about that time when I’d cut it short, assuming he liked it that way.
“Why?” I whispered. I didn’t have any plans to do something I’d done years ago out of my naivety. I was my own person now.
“Because it looks beautiful on you. And this is the real you. I don’t want you to change for someone else.”
I froze. He noticed my change for him? He noticed how I turned into someone else just to catch his eye? His words touched something deep inside me. He didn’t want me to change for anyone, even for him?
Not that I was going to do anything for him.
His fingers brushed against the fabric of my dress after he was done playing with my hair. Even if he minded I didn’t wear the red gown, he didn’t show it. Though the appreciation in his eyes for my appearance was clear.
I hated to admit it, but I liked it. I liked the way he looked at me every time we met. I hated to love it all. His gaze on me, his touch, his warmth, his scent, his dominance, everything single thing. And I had no idea how to stop myself from adoring these feelings.
My hand snaked to his left shoulder. “Does it hurt?”
“No. Just a little sore, that’s it.”
I nodded, still roaming my hand from his shoulder to his chest. The sharp inhale of his pulled me out of my trance. Pulling away from his chest, I once again tried to maintain some distance. And this time, he let me. But only a few inches.
It was better than nothing. I could at least breathe.
Glancing over his shoulder, I caught Caleb and Tess moving with the rhythm of the music. Love and adoration shone in their eyes as they whispered and laughed, lost in their own world.
Some unsought memories again crawled back into my mind.
I moved away from his grasp, making him narrow his eyes.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“I need to use the washroom,” I mumbled, already walking away, not waiting for his response. He didn’t follow, but his gaze did until I was out of sight.
Dodging the strolling people and rushing kids, I kept moving. I didn’t know where I was going. But I didn’t want to be near him anymore.
Why do I always forget what pain he can cause me again? His unintentional act occurred irreparable damage to my heart.
No, I can’t live through another heartbreak.
Gulping the pressure in my throat as I turned the corner, a hand grabbed my elbow, turning me around.
“Stop running away from him, Em. You’re hurting yourself by doing so.”
I shook my head. “I’m protecting myself, Cassie. If I don’t run away, I will definitely get hurt. And this time, I don’t know if I can handle it.”
When I turned to leave, she stopped me again.“You can’t know what’ll happen until you give it a chance. And for that, you’ll have to stay. Stay and see where your heart takes you this time,” she said, her amber eyes were serious.
“I can’t!” I snapped. Why didn’t she understand my point? Didn’t she know how much I suffered?
“Yes, you can. Just because something bad happened in the past doesn’t mean it will happen again. You don’t even know the whole truth of what exactly happened that night and why. You’re having this doubt that something is missing here, don’t you? Then why all of this?” She exhaled a long breath, her features softening. “Look, Em. You know very well what your heart desires. Even after all these years, you couldn’t move on from him. And now that your life is giving you another chance, don’t let it go.”
I clutched the bracelet and blinked away the tears that threatened to well up.
She placed a hand on my shoulder. “He already took his steps towards you. It’s your turn now. Don’t let your fears steal the one thing that will be worth it in the future.”
I looked at her. “When did you become so sensible?”
The side of the lips twitched as she lifted her shoulders, her honey blonde locks bouncing along. “I was born sensible. Now don’t change the subject. You’re getting what I’m trying to say?”
I sighed. “I don’t know what to do, Cassie. I’m confused.”
“Then clear your every confusion. Go talk to him. And if you can’t, then talk to Tess. I think other than Achilles, only she can answer your questions.”
After I was done in the washroom, I rechecked my appearance and decided to join the party again.
I’d taken extra moments than I needed, considering the advice Cassie provided. I didn’t know what fate would bring out of Ace and my relationship, if there was something, but I wanted to know everything that happened in the past. Because hearing Tess’s confession that night on the terrace,observing Ace’s behavior, and his hints of knowing about my feelings years ago, forced me to think beyond. There was definitely something I didn’t know.
Even if whatever I saw was true, maybe they… had something between them. Or maybe it was just a heat of a moment. Whatever it was, I wanted to know everything. Because until I knew the truth, I would continue to suffer thinking of the possibilities.
Maybe I should talk to Tess.
Walking down the hallway, I stopped in my tracks.
While everyone was enjoying the night, he stood there before the floor to ceiling window, alone. With his hands in his pockets, he stared out at the dark sky. His expression was unreadable, eyes held anemptiness… loneliness.
My heart tugged. I wanted to reach out and wash away the emptiness in him, bring back the light in those gray pools.
A long sigh caught my attention. Caleb and Tess stood beside the pillar near the staircase. Tess put a hand on Caleb’s shoulder as a sadness washed over his face, his gaze fixed on his cousin.
“It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have been forcing him again and again to come here. Even after knowing how much this place gives him pain, how much he hates this mansion.”
She rubbed his back. “Don’t blame yourself, Cal. You just wanted your brother to stand beside you in your happiness, that’s all. And see, even after everything, he came. Maybe he’s finally ready to move on from his past? He can’t always live in that darkness, can he?”
A light chuckle left him. “We both know why he came here, both at the celebration night and this evening.”
Her lips turned up into a smile. “Yeah. For his Rosebud.”
My heart stopped in my chest. F-for me? And they knew about it?
When I glanced back at him, he was gone. Where did he go?
My eyes roamed the vast mansion he grew up in. How could the place he spent most of his life give him pain? And what past they were talking about?
Then I remembered.
His father’s suicide. His father killed himself when he was just eighteen. Though he was never that close to his dad, I remembered how he looked up to him as his hero, an inspiration. And after his sudden demise, his life changed. He changed. I still remembered how he grew distant with everyone, even with Tobias and Tess, after the incident.
Maybe that’s why he chose to leave this mansion when Caleb decided to stay back. He didn’t want the memories of his father to haunt him.
Something squeezed in my chest again. I couldn’t even understand how much he must have gotten hurt coming back here. But he did. For me.
My legs moved even before I knew, searching for a glimpse of him. I wouldn’t give any explanation why, but I wanted to be there for him right now. Maybe I could give him some comfort?
But where was he? He wasn’t anywhere at the party.
Looking up, I caught a fleeting shadow of his disappearing into the first floor. Not wasting any more time, I followed. Climbing up the stairs, I strode to the way he went. But all I found was an empty hallway.
I just saw him come here. Where did he go now?
My eyes searched for him, but there was no trace of him. Then the east wing came into my view.
Maybe he went that way?
I entered the east wing, even the shadowed corridors didn’t stop me. Though it did look eerie. I didn’t know how Tess and Caleb stayed here alone in this huge palace.
From what I remembered from my last visit years ago, everything has changed. From the antique furniture to the colors of the walls, everything was replaced with a modern contemporary interior. Gone was the old house they got from their ancestors.
I halted in my steps as something caught my peripheral vision. Stepping back, I stood at the head of the hallway. And there he was.
What was he doing in front of that door?
His hands remained in his pockets as he stood there, immobile. But this time, his frame was rigid, eyes darker than I ever encountered. The hatred his gaze held as he stared at the door sent shivers down my spine.
But other than hatred, there was… pain and something else that I couldn’t decipher.
Another tug in my chest urged me to go near him. But I stayed still. Something about his tense demeanor warned me to stay away. But I couldn’t just stay back and watch him like that. So I moved. But as soon as I started to approach, he turned around and stormed away.
“Ace!” I called out for him, running ahead. But he was already gone.
I glanced at the door he was staring at with such hatred. While all the other doors were replaced and new, this one remained the same, old crafted dark wood door. And… it was locked.
Whose room it was? And why was it locked, unlike every other room around here? This couldn’t be a storeroom because those were in the basement.
Touching the lock, I tried to budge it, knowing it was useless.
“I’m afraid Achilles wouldn’t like it very much if he finds out you’re snooping around in a place where you shouldn’t.”
