Chapter 12
Amber’s heart raced as the memories of that night surged back, vivid and all-consuming. It was as if she had been transported back to that moonlit balcony, the warmth of his body against hers, the intoxicating taste of his kiss lingering in her thoughts. Her throat felt dry, and she struggled to breathe as the echoes of that stolen moment flooded her mind.
Suddenly, a loud crash jolted her from her reverie. Startled, she looked up just in time to see the decanter tumble from the table, the dark, rich scotch spilling in a chaotic arc, pooling on the surface like the memories that had just threatened to overwhelm her. The sharp sound cut through the air, snapping her back to the present with an urgency that made her pulse quicken.
As her eyes darted to Luc, she found him staring at her, his expression a mixture of surprise and something more profound. The air between them crackled with tension, thick and heavy, as if charged with electricity.
It was a fleeting yet intense understanding that they were both lost in the same memory, a shared experience that bound them together in the most intimate way. Amber felt her breath hitch as she realized that he was thinking of the same moonlit balcony, the same night that had altered the course of their lives forever.
In his eyes, she saw same flicker of desire, the haunting reminiscence of their stolen moments beneath the stars. The way his gaze bore into hers spoke volumes, a silent acknowledgment that they were both painfully aware of what they had shared, of the undeniable chemistry that still simmered between them. She couldn’t believe that she was still attracted to him after all that had happened.
He must have reached a similar conclusion because the moment their gazes locked, Luc's expression twisted into one of palpable disgust, as if he had swallowed a bitter gourd whole. His eyes flashed with something akin to fear, and he recoiled from her presence, moving away as though she were a contagion. “Get out!” he hissed, his voice low and venomous, each word dripping with contempt. It was as if even the sight of her was poisoning him, infecting him with an illness he couldn’t shake.
Amber felt the sharp sting of his words pierce through her, but before she could respond, he was already striding away, his body tense and rigid, every muscle coiled like a spring. He exited the room, disappearing down the staircase, leaving her alone with the weight of his rejection.
That night, Amber found herself tossing and turning, her mind replaying their earlier exchange in an endless loop. The memories of their past clashed violently with the present, and sleep eluded her like a wisp of smoke. Finally, as dawn broke, she felt the exhaustion settle into her bones, a heaviness that threatened to pull her under.
The alarm rang out at 5:30 AM, and she groaned as she swung her legs over the side of the bed, the fatigue clinging to her like a second skin. After a quick shower, she splashed cold water on her face in a futile attempt to wake herself up, her thoughts still tangled in the remnants of last night’s confrontation.
As she opened the door to wake Nico, she heard the soft, playful sounds of laughter echoing from the living room. Intrigued, she followed the sound, only to find her little boy sitting on the floor with one of his toy trains. To her delight, Luc was crouched beside him, making exaggerated “choo-choo” noises that had Nico giggling uncontrollably.
This was the first time in days that Amber had seen her son genuinely happy, and it warmed her heart to witness the bond forming between father and son. Just as she contemplated stepping back to let them enjoy this moment together, Nico looked up and called out, “Mummy, come play!”
Amber could never resist that sweet, innocent voice, so she walked over and sat on the carpet beside them. As she took the toy train Nico offered her, she felt Luc’s gaze briefly meet hers. There was a flicker of acknowledgment, a moment where their worlds seemed to collide before he turned his attention back to their son. The playful atmosphere was comforting, yet the tension between Amber and Luc simmered just beneath the surface.
“Papa says I can be a train driver when I grow up,” Nico announced proudly, his eyes shining with excitement. The way he said “Papa” struck a chord deep within Amber. It was the first time since their arrival that she heard her son refer to Luc in such a personal way. She glanced at Luc, and to her surprise, she saw the hardness in his expression soften, as if her little boy’s words had melted away the barriers he had erected.
“I’m sure you’ll be an amazing train driver, sweetheart,” she replied, forcing a smile, “but first, why don’t you go brush your teeth so we can head downstairs for breakfast?”
Nico nodded enthusiastically and padded away in his pajama bottoms, his tiny feet barely making a sound against the floor. As silence fell over the room, Amber felt the weight of Luc’s gaze on her, heavy and scrutinizing.
Just as she resolved to follow Nico to the bathroom, Luc broke the silence. “I’ve invited Carlotta to have breakfast with us.”
Amber turned to him, surprised but not entirely shocked. In fact, she welcomed the prospect of a third person—anything to dilute the awkward tension that had settled uncomfortably between them. But the way he said it stirred something inside her. His tone was sharp, laced with an undercurrent of challenge, as if he expected her to retaliate or put up a fight against his fiancée's presence.
She halted, a frown creasing her brow as she looked at him more closely. It was as though he was anticipating a battle, ready for her to defend her territory. But why? What kind of game was he playing? She had no reason to object to Carlotta joining them, especially since the last thing she wanted was a confrontation.
“Okay,” she said simply, her voice steady and devoid of any animosity.
But to her surprise, Luc's expression darkened, his brows knitting together in confusion and anger. He looked almost pouting, as if her acceptance had struck a nerve. As if he had wanted to fight with him over this. Wanted her to make a big scene. but Before she could comprehend what had just transpired, he stormed out of the room as if she had mortally offended him by agreeing to him just like that, his body taut with frustration, leaving her bewildered in his wake.