A knock landed on the door. “You ready, honey? Your dad is waiting downstairs.”
“Yeah, Mom. Just give a minute,” I replied, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
“All right, come soon.”
I ran my palm over the red material clung against my skin. It felt smooth. Everything was perfect. The nude makeup, the simple side-parted long hair, the off-shoulder gown with a sweetheart neckline and a semi-high slit at the side, everything was in place.
“I’m ready,” I whispered.
Grabbing my black clutch, I smoothed my hair once again and sauntered downstairs.
Warner met me at the door. His lips parted, brown eyes looking up and down my body. “Holy shit! You look…” He shook his head. “I have no words.”
I smiled. “Thanks. You don’t look bad yourself.”
He did look good in his three-piece suit and tie. With his brown locks combed neatly, his jaw was clean shaved tonight.
“Shall we?” I asked.
“Sure. God knows, no one can take their eyes off you tonight.” Grinning, he gave me an arm, and I took it.
Once outside, we found Mom adjusting Dad’s tie as he grunted something under his breath. His face turned grim, spotting us together. After Mom gushed about my looks, we all piled in the car.
Though her subtle attempt of asking me if I was feeling good didn’t go unnoticed by me after I left in the middle of dinner last night. Jet lag was my excuse. I knew she wanted to ensure if I was okay, not physically, but emotionally.
Everyone avoided talking about the engagement as much as possible before me. They all had an idea of my heartbreak seven years ago. Not all of it, though. They weren’t aware of what happened that night.
But I wasn’t the fifteen-year-old Emerald anymore.
I was going to face the man who broke my heart years ago and see him announce his engagement with my sister before the world. But I was all right. It’s been years since then. I had a boyfriend. I’d moved on.
After last night, I hadn’t seen her. And honestly, I didn’t want to. Even if I didn’t care anymore, I still felt the anger and betrayal I felt that night. After knowing everything, how could she come and announce her engagement to me as if nothing happened?
How could she…
I shook myself, not wanting to remember the past.
I am stronger now.
The past should remain in the past. And I should be happy for her.
It’s been years, after all. And I had overcome the past.
It doesn’t affect me now. Not at all.
The car screeched to a halt, along with my heart. Mom and Dad got out, and Warner followed behind.
We were here.
“Em?” Warner called out, waiting for me outside.
Deep breaths came out of me, my hands fisted. Heart palpitating down the chest, my mouth turned dry. A drop of sweat trickled down my nape.
It was slipping. The calm façade, it was slipping from my control.
“Honey? Come on, Tessa is waiting for us inside,” Mom probed.
I can do it. Nothing happened. I’ve moved on.
Giving her a tight nod, I gritted my teeth and scrambled out with shaky knees. I caught Warner’s arm in a vice grip as my attention fell on the huge mansion I didn’t remember when I last visited.
“You all right? You look a little pale,” Warner asked as we crossed the threshold.
The line I shouldn’t cross.
“I’m fine.” My nails dug into my palm.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded, clutching him harder. He winced but didn’t ask any further. And I was grateful for that.
I let him drag me across the mass of people dressed in sophisticated and branded clothes. The vast hall was sufficient to gulp the massive crowd alone. Everything was decorated the way a party of one of the most influential families should be. Elegant, yet dazzling.
As we passed the chatting and drinking crowd, we spotted Tess, standing beside some of her friends. Seeing us, she excused herself and rushed to us, the tail of her silvery sparkling gown dragged behind her. Tobias also followed.
If all their friends were here, that meant…
Tugging my hand out of Warner’s arm, I took a step back. Glanced around, my legs urged me to run. Go back to the safety of my room where someone couldn’t reach me. Someone who I buried in the pit of my memories.
“Oh my God. Look at my baby, you’re looking so beautiful!” Mom’s voice croaked as she glanced at Dad. “When did our daughter grew up so much, Wilson? Look at her wearing an engagement ring today.” She sniffled.
I averted my gaze from her ring and took a glass of wine from a passing waiter. My hand shook around it.
Dad rubbed Mom’s back while Tess rolled her eyes. “Mom, we’re just announcing our official engagement date. I’m not getting married tonight.”
“Don’t worry about her, she just got a little emotional. Anyway, where is your fiancé?” Dad asked, looking around.
“Oh, he is over there.” She pointed near the bar. And I froze.
Slowly and steadily, I followed everyone’s gaze. Four men stood together, one of them stood with his back to us.
Is it… him?
Seven years. After seven years, I will come face to face to him. I will have to look into those stormy gray pools…
I let out a shaky breath. I needed air, I needed out.
Just as I was about to slip away, Tess called out for him.
“Caleb?”
My steps halted. Caleb?
I glanced at the direction as that man turned around and a broad grin lightened his face. Striding closer, he kissed Tess’s cheek and greeted Mom and Dad.
They linked arms, gazing at each other’s eyes with full of affection… I blinked. A silent gasp slipped through my lips.
Caleb was the one Tess got engaged to? Achilles’s cousin?
Now that ‘V’ in her ring made sense. ‘V’ for Valencian. Caleb Valencian.
A pressure in my chest suddenly disappeared, filling it with air. They weren’t together.
“Em? Emerald? Is that you?” Caleb asked, recognition flickered in his caramel eyes. “Oh my God. It is the infamous Emerald Hutton who didn’t even give a call to this poor abandoned man all these years?”
I managed a smile. “Hey, Caleb.”
He engulfed me in a bear hug. And I couldn’t help but return his endearment. He was like a big brother to me. But in the process of distancing myself from a certain person, I cut ties with everyone involved with the Valencians.
He pulled away and put his hands on my shoulders. “Did anyone tell you what a beautiful woman you’ve grown up into?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. The grip around my glass remained firm. Any moment now.
“If you’ve stopped flirting with my sister, can I hug her now?” Tess raised her brow at Caleb.
Grinning, he placed a kiss on her temple. “You know I only have eyes for you, right?”
Rolling her eyes, she pushed him away and threw her arms around me. “You’re looking lovely!”
“So are you,” I said. Her gaze locked with mine. Something close to regret flashed in her eyes, and then something else which I couldn’t decipher.
“Emerald, I—”
“It’s time to dance,” Caleb interrupted. He gave Tess a look that didn’t go unnoticed.
What’s going on?
“Shall we?”
Blinking, Tess cleared her throat. She smiled and placed her hand on Caleb’s and together they skipped off to the dance floor. Mom and Dad got busy in conversation with some other couple.
Warner’s phone rang, interrupting him as he went to say something. Excusing himself, he walked away to attend the call.
Tobias noticed my wary glances. My uneasiness.
“Relax, everything will be fine.”
“What? Why did you say that?” I feigned confusion.
He sighed, shaking his head. “Nothing. You need another drink?” He jutted his chin at my empty glass.
I wanted to tell him to stay with me, but decided against it. “Sure.”
Nodding, he went to the bar to get us drinks.
I didn’t need anyone for support. I could deal with it alone. I wasn’t that naïve teenager anymore who would fall at his feet with just his one glance.
The hair at the back of my neck stood up. Goosebumps pricked on my skin.
Turning around, I observed my surroundings. Nothing seemed unusual.Then why did I feel like someone was watching me?
As the colorful lights moved around the mass of chattering people, my gaze went to the first floor and stuck there. At the furthest corner, a figure stood there; his face in the shadow. With his hands in his pockets, he stood unmoving, his body facing mine. Even if I couldn’t see his face, I could tell he was looking at me. And for some reason, it unnerved me. Even then, I couldn’t tear my eyes.
Who is he?
“Em?”
Jumping in fright, I whirled around.
“Whoa! Relax, it’s just me,” Warner said, putting his hands up.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I turned back again. He was gone.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. You just startled me,” I replied, wetting my lips.
“All right. Dance?” he asked, giving me his hand.
I looked for Tobias, who was laughing with some girls with two glasses still in his hands. I shook my head at my brother.
Giving Warner a small smile, I took his hand.
I didn’t want to be alone right now.
Once on the dance floor, we started to sway under the dim lights and slow music. And then I felt it again. That stare, the burning gaze watching me from afar, following my every move.
Warner tucked a strand behind my ear, but my ardent gaze was searching for something in the crowd.
“Em? You sure you’re all right? You look a little disturbed since last night.” He frowned.
“Yeah. Don’t worry. Just the jet lag,” I lied. I didn’t want to. But I couldn’t tell him why my nerves had gone haywire since I heard of this party.
“If you say so. But you know you can tell me anything and everything, I will listen, right?”
This time, my smile was genuine. I nodded. “I know.”
His lips turned up as he took one of my hands and placed a kiss on the back of it.
A throat cleared behind me. “May I have the chance to dance with this beautiful lady?” A deep hard voice asked. Distant Greek accent.
I stiffened.
Warner looked up over my head, and his eyes widened slightly. Recognition flashed into his eyes as a polite smile tugged at his lips. “Sure.” Stepping away, he glanced at me. “I will wait for you at the bar.” Then he disappeared from the dance floor.
I wanted to tell him not to leave, but I couldn’t move or say anything.
I didn’t even turn around. Didn’t dare to. My heart pounded in my chest as I felt his heat behind me. A pair of big, calloused hands covered mine, placing them before me together, with his arms engulfing me. A gasp slipped through my lips at the electricity that ran in waves into my veins.
When I didn’t move, he took control and swayed us both with his enormous frame around me in slow moves. The heady combination of his exotic cologne tangled with smoke filled my senses.
Still the same.
My brain stopped working.
Hot breath tickled my neck, making my knees weak. An uncouth swarm of emotions crashed over me. Something clenched in my chest as a shaky breath left my lips.
We stayed silent as we swayed under the music. All I could hear was the music, my deep breathing, and the pounding of my heart in my ears. My hands trembled under his.
I couldn’t do this. I needed to go away.
Moving his arms, when I tried to pull away, he grasped my hand and swirled me around, pulling me in. My chest collided against him. Gasping, when I looked up at him…
My breath caught in my throat.
Those stormy gray eyes…
After seven years, I was looking into them. And it was what I feared. They held me captive, just as they used to do years ago. Those gray pools peered into my soul, compelling me. His face was inches away from mine.
Breathless, I took in his other features. And I was lost for words.
Strong chiseled jaw, prominent chin, beautiful sharp nose, firm desirable lips, and a wide forehead. Not even a strand of his jet-black hair was out of place. He wore it long, the ends touching his neck. Just like a Greek god.
Gone was that charming boyish look. Everything about him now screamed man. A powerful, rough man.
I was breathless. My gaze couldn’t move from his face. I didn’t know age made people that much beautiful. No, beautiful wasn’t the word. Words couldn’t describe Achilles Valencian.
He was… out of this world.
Raising a hand, he brushed a single strand away from my face, and I didn’t feel the shiver when Warner had done it earlier. His eyes roamed every inch of my face, as if memorizing them. They seemed in some kind of trance. As if he couldn’t help it, he brushed his knuckles against my cheek. A breathy murmur left his lips, which I couldn’t decipher.
Subconsciously, I leaned into his touch, eyes not leaving his face. Skin eager for more, only those strong arms around me didn’t suffice. My heart longed for something as it basked under his scorching gaze. The gaze I used to die for wishing it on me even for a second.
My vision burned at the soaring emotions slamming in my chest.
My Ace…
But then his voice broke my trance, bringing me back to the present, the reality.
“Still won’t talk to me, Rosebud?” Gray eyes locked with my turquoise ones.
Rosebud? So, he still remembered someone of that name existed in his life?
