Chapter 19 Can you help me with that?
Dahlia.
I guess even fate was conspiring against Jason and his foul plans and as I took the elevator down, mixed emotions swirled violently within me.
I was heartbroken, especially after learning about Jason's vicious plan, but I was also overjoyed. Yes. It was not all grim.
I got to know what they were planning, and that way, I could devise the best counterattacks.
If they wanted to ruin me so badly, why would I hesitate? I was going to burn down their world with a gentle smile plastered over my lips.
No drama, no begging, and certainly no pleading, just ruthlessly and precisely, and while their world burned I would be in the capital, reciting my wedding vows to Dalton Riggs, the man who was better than Jason in everything, including how fast he made my heart race.
Speaking of which, to prepare for my next moves, I needed my fiancée's help. In my circle, I didn't know who I could trust, after all. After my father's and Dalton's betrayal, I would be a fool to continue trusting people blindly.
Thinking about it, I fished my phone from my clutch and dialled his number, finding it was easy. It was already pinned under 'favourites '
The call was picked up on the first ring itself and that caught me off guard, but I steeled myself, that was not the time to lose myself, the wedding day was fast approaching and I needed to act promptly before then.
" I needed your help with something." Soft and gentle, my voice tore through the air, and for a moment, silence greeted me from the other end of the line.
" Go ahead." His magnetic voice seeped through my senses and I swear, my mind blackened out, for a second before I proceeded with my request.
" I will have it taken care of " He reassured, and afterwards, he told me to take care before he ended the call.
After my call with Dalton, I proceeded to call Freya. My meeting with my best friend had to be rescheduled. Matters of dealing with Jason were of utmost importance, and aside from that, anything else could wait.
After promising to inform her when I got an opening in my schedule, I gave a call to my wedding planner. I gave her the time and location. I didn't care how busy she was. For the success of my plans, meeting with her was very important too.
Afterwards, I ordered a ride and instead of going back home, to the place that I grew up in, to the place that held most of my memories, I found myself sharing the location to Dalton's Southside villa instead.
I guess compared to the place that I had spent over a decade and a half, the place that I had only lived for not more than three days felt more homey and welcoming.
" Welcome home, Miss." The butler took a bow as he ushered me in, and I nodded dazily, my mind elsewhere. Home? That word almost sounded wrong, unfamiliar, and yet, the warmth that enveloped me when I set my feet in the villa, the calmness, that feeling could only be best described as a home.
And I guess my home was where Dalton was, then.
When I got to my room, I didn't sleep, or wallow in pain like a person who had recently been heartbroken, no. I was already past that.
I prepared a warm bath, soaked myself in for two hours over a wine glass, and when I was finally done, I felt like a new person.
Then I proceeded to do my skin care and by the time I was done, over the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the sun was already blushing orange, and I found myself at the balcony, donned in a robe, my phone at hand, seated in a rocking chair, enjoying a rare moment of peace and quietness.
For a brief second, I felt the world slow down around me. And I dare say, even amidst the chaos that was happening, that was the most relaxed I had ever been, in my entire life.
In the past, my entire existence had been woven around Jason. If I weren't organising things for him, I was somewhere, buried in his computer, reorganising his schedule. The other times I would be in the kitchen, cooking meals for him.
And other times, I were in the mall, shopping for him, buying business gifts for his business partners. Over the years, I had doubled as his nanny, secretary, assistant, chef, and chauffeur all in one.
It was more like I didn't have my own life outside. It was always about him. About what he liked, disliked and how carefully he had to move around not to displease him. I had even forgotten how to take care of myself, my skin. And my friends? Apart from Freya, who stuck with me, although she clearly hated how I slaved myself for Hason, I had no other friends.
Could Jason's friends be considered mine? I mean, all along, they knew what he was planning, and yet, they chose to hide it from me. As much as I was betrayed by Jason, his circle, the people who had been close to me, Max included, were no better and I intended to cut them all off.
Well, it was not until the sun's warm glow was replaced by dusk that I snapped out of my daze, and just then, my phone rang.
It was my Mom.
" How have you been holding on? You only have two days before your wedding with Dalton. Do you feel pressured?" She asked, genuine concern framing her words and I teared up.
My Mom had always been like that, seemingly tough, and yet, caring enough to give you a breathing space.
She still wanted to make sure that I was okay with marrying Dalton, and that I didn't feel pressured.
" If it's too much, we can always postpone it, you know?" Mistaking my silence for unwillingness, she added, and I couldn't have felt more guilty. I had people who genuinely loved and cared for me, and yet, in the past, I had hurt them, blindly, while trying to please Jason and my worthless father. Not again.
" No, Mom. I am also looking forward to my wedding with Dalton. I am currently in his Villa, actually. " Just from revealing my whereabouts, my cheeks heated up.
We weren't even married and I was already staying in his house. What would my Mom think about me?
Anyway, it didn't matter. I would be his wife in two days. It didn't matter where I stayed.
" Good. I'm glad to hear that your heart is already warming up to him. Just use those days to relax. I am already handling everything from my end." She advised, merrily, and as her melodic voice seeped through my senses, I fell into a daze.
It was the first time in years that my Mom sounded so genuinely happy. I guess in the past, my father and I had given her too much stress. Speaking of which,
" Mom, on my wedding day, I want to give my father a gift." Light and melodic, my voice cut through the silence and from her end, the line went dead.
My father had always been a sore spot to my Mom, she must have been displeased by the mere mention of him.
" The mansion house that we live in is under my name, right?" I enquired,
"Help me sell it," I added, almost in a heartbeat.
" I want him kicked out on my wedding day."
" Can you help me with that?