Chapter 160 A Strange Man

Chapter 160 A Strange Man
\[Raelyn’s POV\]
I sit quietly, watching and waiting as my mother-in-law flits through a bunch of dresses that her personal stylist sent to her. They’re made in all different fashions, but they all hold the same color.
My wedding dress.
One of these dresses was meant to be for me to marry Ray, and even though I should be happy and even excited about the upcoming event, I still just couldn’t find it in me.
What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I feeling so resistant to this marriage when I was the one that initially agreed to it?
Was it because I was nervous and getting cold feet, or was there something more brewing?
“How about this one?” My mother-in-law asks, snapping me out of my daze. “I think it will fit your body perfectly. What do you think?”
Silently, I take in the dress that she is showing me. A floor-length number with a lacy bodice and puffed gauzy skirt.
It’s gorgeous, and any woman who wore it would look beautiful in it, but I just can’t find it in me to say I like it.
“Hmmm, maybe another then.”
Unfazed by my indifference, my mother-in-law starts to rummage through the dresses again, but before she can settle on another one, one of her guards enters.
“Ma’am,” he announces as she turns her attention to him. “You’ve got a visitor.”
“Is it him?” She asks, unbothered by the sudden announcement. “Do send him in.”
“Ma’am, are you sure?” The guard asks, clearly nervous. “What if he tries something?”
“Send him in,” my mother-in-law repeats. “Or should I replace you with someone else?”
“N-no,” the guard gasps. “I’m sorry for my insubordination.”
Nodding, my mother-in-law lifts a hand and makes a shooing motion, sending the guard away while I wonder who exactly could be here to cause such a disturbance.
“Let’s see,” she continues now, flipping through dress after dress. “How about this?”
As she speaks, a man enters the room.
He’s tall, broad, and handsome, and I know immediately that he must be related to Ray due to the family resemblance.
“I figured you’d come.” My mother-in-law announces, turning and taking in the man whose stormy gray eyes are locked on me. “But you came much quicker than I expected.”
“How could I not?” He asks as I feel myself drifting into his gaze. “You’ve taken something of mine, and I can’t possibly stand to be parted with it for too long.”
“Did I?” My mother-in-law asks. “I don’t think that is the case at all.”
Who is he? I find myself wondering as I continue to take him in. And why do I feel myself being so drawn to him? Was it because he resembled Ray?
No. That couldn’t be it, as I wasn’t all that drawn to Ray as it was.
“You don’t?” The man asks, finally freeing me from his gaze. “Then how do you explain this?”
As he speaks, he nods toward me, and I feel my heart do a little flip.
“Are you referring to your brother’s fiancée?” My mother-in-law asks. “Of course she should be here.”
“His fiancée,” the man repeats. “Don’t make me laugh.”
Frowning, I look from my mother-in-law to the man in back. Wondering what exactly was going on here, but before I can think too hard on it, the man moves toward me.
“Are you alright?” He asks, kneeling in front of me and taking me in. “Did she do anything to you?”
Opening my mouth, I prepare to tell him that I am fine and ask him who exactly he is, but the words don’t seem to come. Instead, this odd sensation that starts in my chest and travels through my whole body breaks out.
“Who?” I whisper, trying to make sense of what I’m feeling. “Who are you?”
At my words, the man’s eyes widen, but his expression doesn’t change. It remains gentle, caring, and, if I dare say it, filled with adoration and love.
“So you have forgotten me,” he murmurs, reaching out and touching my cheek. “I had a feeling.”
“Osiris,” my mother-in-law growls, walking up and smacking his hand away from my face. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“Shouldn’t I ask you the same thing?” He asks, slowly rising to his feet. “It seems that I’ve been too lenient with you all this time, and you have finally overstepped your boundaries.”
“My boundaries,” my mother-in-law repeats, her voice filled with amusement. “I don’t know what boundaries you can possibly be referring to. I haven’t done any such thing. The most I did was rescue Ray’s fiancé from your grasp.”
“His fiancée,” Osiris repeats, his voice dangerous. “And you really think that you can continue to go along with that plan? There are many eyes and ears on us at all times, and even if you managed to manipulate the old man, it doesn’t mean that you can manipulate everyone else.”
What? I hiss inwardly, trying to take in what the two are saying.
What is he talking about manipulating? Who is she manipulating, and how?
“Don’t worry,” Osiris continues, turning his gaze to mine. “I’m not going to let her get away with what she did. I will make sure that you pay the ultimate price for putting you through this.”
“Are you threatening me?” My mother-in-law asks, snapping her fingers, and so many guards appear. “Who are you to threaten me in my own territory?”
“Something that you lay claim to temporarily and by despicable means can never truly be yours.” Osiris points out. “Just because you’ve managed to achieve something now doesn’t mean it will last.”
“Leave,” my mother-in-law growls as her guards start to close in on Osiris. “And don’t you dare ever show your face here again.”
At my mother-in-law's words, Osiris, and when the guards start to close in on him, he lets a powerful surge of energy escape him.
Shocked, the guards stagger and then try to close in on him again, but he just repeats his actions.
"I think this makes it pretty clear who is actually meant to be here and who isn't." Osiris smiles. And it would be best that you remember that."
Turning, he takes me in once more and gives me a look that is filled with promise.
"I will be certain to come back for you once I have found a way to deal with what this woman has done. Do be a good girl and wait on me."
"Okay," I whisper before I even realize what I'm doing. "I'll wait."
"GUARDS! "My mother-in-law screams, waving a hand. "GET HIM OUT OF HERE NOW!"
"No need," Osiris chuckles, raising a hand. "I was going to leave on my own anyway. I simply came here to see with my own eyes that my mate and future luna was okay. Now that I have, I will be leaving."