Chapter 18: CHAPTER 17

“Where’s Daddy?” I asked the housemaid the moment we stepped inside the house.

“Your daddy hasn’t come home yet, Ma’am.”

A small sigh escaped my lips. “Okay. I’ll just call him.”

I went straight to my room, closing the door behind me as though I could shut out the quiet loneliness of the house. I changed into something comfortable, let myself fall onto the bed for a few minutes, and forced down a light snack. Only then did I reach for my phone and dial his number.

“Dad, where are you?”

“I’m at an event right now,” he answered, his voice distant, as if he were miles farther than he truly was.

“What time are you coming home?”

“I won’t. I’ll be home tomorrow.”

My fingers tightened around the phone. “Tomorrow? Can’t you come home later tonight?”

“I’ll be sleeping at the hotel. There’s another event tomorrow. Do you need something? Is that why you want me home?”

I swallowed. “I just wanted to ask permission. I’m going out with my friend Elsie.”

“Where are you going?”

“To a disco. We just want to celebrate. Final exams are over.”

There was a brief pause on the line. Then, “All right. You can go out tonight. But you need to be home before two in the morning.”

Relief bloomed inside my chest. I couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, Dad. Thank you!”

“But if you fail your exams,” he added firmly, “I still won’t return your allowance and your ATM card.”

I laughed softly. “I’m actually excited for the results so I can get my money back. I’m confident I passed.”

“Good.”

“Thank you. Take care. I love you, Daddy.”

“Take care, too. Enjoy the party. I love you.”

When the call ended, I jumped from the bed, unable to contain my happiness. “Yes!” I whispered to myself, grinning like a child who had just been given the world.

I opened my closet and began searching for the perfect outfit, something bold enough for the night, something that felt like freedom.

Elsie arrived just before seven. I was already dressed, my hair falling perfectly over my shoulders, my lips painted with quiet confidence. Tonight was supposed to be light and carefree.

“Lilith, are you really not bringing Aeros?” Elsie asked, applying another layer of lipstick as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

I picked up my bag. “It’s a girls’ night out. I’m not bringing my boyfriend.”

She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

“Let’s go.”

We headed downstairs together and there he was. Aeros. Waiting.

“Ma’am, are you leaving?” he asked, his voice calm but watchful.

“Yes. But you’re not coming with me.”

“But your daddy told me to drive you.”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “Can’t you see my friend is here? I’m going with her. You can just sleep.”

Without waiting for his response, I walked past him and slipped into Elsie’s car.

“You’re so mean!” Elsie whispered once we were inside. “Why did you snap at him like that?”

“Let’s just leave before my mood gets ruined.”

She started the engine, and we drove off.

“Lilith… isn’t that your car?”

I glanced at the side-view mirror. My jaw tightened. “Yes. That’s ours. Why is he following us?”

Elsie laughed. “Protective boyfriend.”

“Tsk. I told him not to follow me.”

“It’s kind of sweet.”

I leaned back in my seat, crossing my arms. “What else can I do?”

But deep inside, something stirred annoyance tangled with something softer, something I refused to name.

Half an hour later, we arrived at the disco bar. Music pulsed from inside, the bass vibrating through the pavement. Lights flashed against the dark sky like promises of reckless freedom.

Yet I didn’t move.

I waited.

Moments later, Aeros’ car pulled in. He parked carefully before stepping out, his expression unreadable.

I lifted one eyebrow as he approached.

“Ma’am Lilith,” he said gently, holding something out to me. “You forgot your cellphone.”

Only then did I realize my hands were empty. I took it from him. “Thank you. You can go home now.”

“I’ll wait for you.”

“That’s not part of your job anymore, Aeros.”

His gaze softened, but his voice remained steady. “It’s not about my job. I have an obligation as your boyfriend.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. “You remember your obligation now? When you were with Bena, you seemed to forget it.”

There it was. The wound I pretended didn’t hurt.

He stared at me for a long moment. “I knew it. You’re jealous of her. That’s why you’re angry.”

“I’m not jealous.”

The lie burned in my throat.

“I’ll wait for you,” he repeated quietly.

I turned my back on him, refusing to let him see the storm in my eyes. “Suit yourself.”

And without another word, I walked into the bar into the flashing lights and deafening music trying to drown out the one thing I couldn’t silence.

My heart.

When I stepped inside, I immediately saw my friends sitting at a table with men.

“I thought this was a girls’ night out,” I muttered under my breath.

I walked toward them, irritation rising in my chest. “Why are your boyfriends here?”

“My boyfriend refused to let me come without him,” Lesley explained. “He wouldn’t allow me to go alone.”

“Why don’t you just call your boyfriend too?” Elsie teased.

I shot her a sharp look.

She grinned mischievously. “Kidding!”

I dropped into the seat beside her and grabbed a drink. After a few rounds, the alcohol warmed our veins, and soon enough we decided to dance on stage.

“Lilith, let’s dance.”

I turned and there he was.

“Why are you here?” I asked Melvin coldly.

He smiled as if he belonged there. “We’ve been here for a while.”

“They’re just at the next table,” Lesley added.

“You’re with them?” I asked, irritation obvious in my voice.

“They tagged along even though we didn’t want them to,” she replied.

“I don’t want to dance.”

“You don’t have a boyfriend with you anyway, so I’ll take his place,” Melvin said smoothly.

“Just give him a chance,” Lesley’s boyfriend chimed in.

I let out a heavy sigh. “Fine.”

“Thank you.”

He took my hand and led me to the center of the stage. The music slowed, and we moved together in a way that appeared almost intimate.

“I know you still love me,” Melvin whispered.

I scoffed. “You’re insane.”

“That driver of yours isn’t your real boyfriend.”

I laughed. “Who told you he’s not?”

“I know you only made him your boyfriend because of a bet. And you’re avoiding me because you don’t want to lose.”

“Who told you that?”

“I don’t need to say.”

I laughed again, colder this time. “Whoever told you that is lying just like the lies you feed every girl you play with.”

“I’ll tell your boyfriend. I’ll make sure he leaves you.”

“Go ahead,” I shot back. “Let’s see if he believes you especially after I’ve already given him my virginity.”

Melvin’s face darkened. “You gave it to him?”

I smirked. “What? Are you mad? Did you think I’d give it to you? I’m not stupid enough to give something that precious to someone I don’t love.”

“Don’t you miss the sweetness of my kiss?”

Before I could react, his arms wrapped tightly around me. One of his hands squeezed my backside.

“Melvin, let go of me!”

“Lilith, I can give you a million. If that’s all that’s stopping you from coming back to me.”

I shoved him hard. “Find someone else to talk to!”

I turned and hurried away.

“Lilith!” he called after me.

I walked quickly toward the exit, but he followed and grabbed my wrist. He yanked me back, pinning me against the wall, and tried to kiss me.

“Melvin, what are you doing?!”

Suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from me.

“Aeros!”

Aeros punched Melvin twice, sending him crashing to the floor.

“Don’t you dare kiss my girlfriend!”

I grabbed Aeros’ arm to stop him. “That’s enough!” I shouted.

Melvin stood up, wiping the blood from his lip. “Girlfriend?” he repeated, laughing mockingly.

“A-Aeros, let’s go.”

I had a terrible feeling Melvin was about to reveal the bet between me and my friends.

“You only became his girlfriend because of the be—”

Before he could finish, I slapped him hard across the face.

Shut up!” I screamed, my hand trembling. “I don’t like you! Stop harassing me!”

My heart pounded violently not just from anger, but from fear.

Fear that the truth would come out.

Fear that I was about to lose something I didn’t even realize meant everything to me.

Without looking back, I grabbed Aeros’ hand and pulled him out of the bar, my pulse racing louder than the music we left behind.