Chapter 71 Brion's confession
"What are you going to do with him? Take him back???" Brion demanded, his gaze incredulous.
"Take him back?" I scoffed, a smirk coming over my face as I stared at the picture in my hand. "I have no plans to do that, Brion. I want him to fall for me, then push him down like he did to me. I want to make him feel the pain I passed through in his hands." I got to my feet and threw the picture on the floor. "It's time he dances to the tune of his music," I gritted out as I stomped hard on the picture. "What if he has a trick up his sleeves? How do you propose to work against someone like him?!" Brion yelled at me. "This is dangerous, Nova. I'm not letting you do this. You are not going anywhere near that man. If he wants to fight for legal custody of the kids, I can fight him with my resources. I don't want you to get hurt because of him!"
"I know what I'm doing." I plopped down on the couch. "I have thought about this. It's the only way for me to get back at him."
This was the only thing I could think of at the moment. Even though going to his house sounded risky, I had nothing to fear. Dashiell wouldn't ever hurt me, not when he knew how much that would
mean for his kids.
"But it's dangerous!" Brion argued, trying to make me change my mind. "I can't have you do this, Nova. You are willingly walking into the den of the Lion. Can't you see that?"
"I know." I peered up at him, trying to convince him of my plan. "I'm telling you, it's the perfect way to get revenge. I'll get back to him, make him fall in love with me again, and then I'll break his heart like he broke mine. This is the only way, Brion. Please understand me."
"No, this isn't the only way." He shook his head, his gaze pleading. "Why do you even want to get revenge on him? Why don't you forget everything that happened? He's not worth it, Nova."
"You don't know how it feels. I still want to make him feel the brunt of my anger. Until I have gotten all those who hurt me, to feel the pain, I won't rest. They must experience the hell they put me
through."
"And how do you intend to get back to Brion?"
"By repeating all he did to me. He seemed to be in love with me. What better way of getting back at him, than doing what he did to me?"
Plopping down on the couch, Brion slammed his fist on the table, his expression furious. "Are you kidding me? You're going to put yourself through that again? He's a toxic person, and he'll only hurt you more! Don't tell me you have to forgo all he made you go through all these years. For God's sake, Nova. Listen to yourself! This isn't the right thing to do!"
I stood my ground, my voice rising. "I can handle it. I'm not the same naïve woman I was before. I know what I'm getting into. Besides, I have you to support me should things get heated between us. You don't have to worry about me. I can take care of myself."
I wasn't the same woman I was. Even though I still needed Brion to help me sort some things out, I knew I was stronger than I was years ago.
Brion shook his head. "You're not thinking clearly. You're still hurt, and you're letting that hurt cloud your judgment."
I glared at him, my anger boiling over. "You don't understand. You've never been in my shoes. You don't know what it's like to be deceived like that! I need my revenge. You know I do! Well, you don't know. You haven't been betrayed like I was. You don't know how I fucking feel!"
Brion's face reddened, his voice matching my level of intensity. "Maybe not, but I do know what it's like to care about someone who's determined to destroy themselves. And that's what you're doing."
I sneered at him, my words dripping with venom. "And what do you care about? You're just my friend, right? You don't have a say in this."
Brion's eyes flashed, and he leaned in, his voice low and urgent. "That's not true, and you know it. I've been in love with you for years, but I've never dared to tell you. Until now."
I was taken aback, unsure of how to respond. And then Brion kissed me. Softly, gently, but with a passion that left me breathless.
As his lips met mine, it was like a spark of electricity had ignited between us. The air around us seemed to be charged with tension, and I felt like I was melting into his embrace. The kiss was fierce
and passionate, like a stormy sea crashing against the shore. It took my breath away, leaving me gasping and wanting more. I seemed like I was being swept off my feet like the ground beneath me had given way, and I was falling, falling, falling into the depths of his eyes.
His kiss was like a wildfire that consumed me whole. It was intense and all-encompassing, leaving me feeling scorched and breathless. I felt like I was drowning in the intensities of his passion like I was being pulled under by a powerful undertow. The world melted away, leaving only the two of us lost in the fury of our emotions.
For a moment, I forgot about my plan, forgot about my anger and hurt. All I could think about was the way he made me feel.
When he broke from the kiss, I stared at him, stunned by what just transpired. I couldn't form any words as I watched him. He took a step back, his eyes widening as he watched me, almost like he just realized what he had done. Just like him, I was trying to figure out what just happened between us.
"I'm sorry," he apologized, looking down at his feet. "I didn't... I shouldn't. I don't know what came over me!" He yelled out, exasperated. "I just wanted to get you to change your mind. I shouldn't have done that!" He sat back on the couch and covered his face with his palms. "I'm sorry, Nova. I shouldn't have done that. I was carried away."
"It's okay." My words came out as more of a whisper. "You don't have to apologize about it. It's alright." I forced a smile as I reached out to touch my lips. My heart was still thumping in my chest as I thought back to the intense kiss we just shared. No one had ever kissed me that way, never made me feel like I was the most precious being on earth with just a kiss.
"You are not angry?" He removed his palms from his face and watched me, gaping at me as if he were seeing me for the first time.
"Stunned? Yes, I am, but not pissed at you. It's just... you took me by surprise, that's all."
I never thought he would kiss me, at least not in such a manner.
"Does that mean you love me?" He looked hopeful, his eyes shining as he watched me, waiting for my response.
"I don't know." I shook my head. I couldn't explain how I felt about him. Though there was this feeling within me, I couldn't name. I wasn't certain of the right name for it. Was it love? Dependence or
something else?