CHAPTER 154. CLAIRE

CHAPTER 154. CLAIRE
We headed to the restaurant Raviel had booked once the boutique staff finished my makeover. They had a salon with very complete facilities. When I walked into the boutique, I was just an ugly duckling, and when I came out, I had transformed into a beautiful swan.
Raviel held my hand tightly as we arrived at the restaurant. I wouldn't have been surprised if he were taking me to one of LA's most luxurious restaurants. We were greeted by a waiter with impeccable manners. He then showed us to our table on the balcony. The view was breathtaking. The balcony overlooked the town square, and I could see the beautiful lights twinkling in the distance.
"Nice place."
"Glad to hear you like it. Now it's time to order. But if you don't mind, I'd like to order you their signature dish."
I closed my menu and handed it back to the waiter.
"Of course. I trust your taste."
While Raviel chatted with the waiter, I enjoyed my time gazing at the beautiful city lights. People looked like a swarm of ants walking along the sidewalk. Car horns honked in succession in the distance, like a beautiful harmony.
“I’m surprised you’re still working the day before your wedding.”
“There’s no reason to take time off because we’re both so busy. Anthonio and I are only taking two days off, tomorrow and the day after.”
“Don’t you want to go somewhere on your honeymoon?”
I never imagined going on a honeymoon with Anthonio. Especially with Aiden still so young, I didn’t think about leaving LA until he was at least two.
“No. Aiden’s too young to travel far.”
“I know that’s no excuse.”
I chose not to discuss the matter further, and thankfully Raviel didn’t try to confront me. I was too lazy to talk about my wedding plans tomorrow. I didn’t have the excitement.
“What are your plans, Rave?”
“Living life.”
“Have you found the right person for you?”
“Yes. You.”
I shot him a sharp look.
“I’m serious.”
“Do you think I’m joking? I’m dead serious.”
"Okay. But I hope you don't waste your precious time. Go on your date and be happy."
Raviel took my hand, which was lying on the table, and squeezed it gently. His gaze focused on me.
“You know, as time goes by, I’ve come to realize that a person’s happiness can’t be measured by how much money they have in the bank, or how beautiful their partner is. People can find happiness in very simple things. My happiness isn’t about how many women I date in a week or how much money I make each day. My happiness is seeing you and Aiden happy.”
His grip tightened, and I squeezed it back.
“I don’t need to date anyone, Claire. I don’t want to. It seems my sex drive is dead.”
“Are you going to become a saint?”
“I don’t think so, but I haven’t been with anyone for a year. Fucking great!” he said nonchalantly. As if it wasn’t an accomplishment at all.
“Don’t you get bored?”
“I have so much work to keep me from getting bored.”
“My door is wide open to you whenever you want to visit Aiden. Maybe when he’s a little older, you can bring him over. You can spend time together as father and son.”
"Are you sure? You're not worried that he'll be exposed to dark things while he's with me?"
If he hadn’t said it with an amused look on his face, I would have thought he was bringing up what I said a year ago.
At the time, I was so blinded by anger that the words just slipped out of my mouth without stopping.
"I regret ever saying that to you, Rave. I didn't mean to be so harsh. I was just angry about our less-than-ideal situation."
"I didn't take it seriously. If I did, I'd never have appeared in front of you again, but now I'm still lingering in your life like a ghost."
“You know, if you hadn’t shown up at my door that night, I would have shown up at yours someday. It was only a matter of time before I grew the balls to do it. Every second I lived was filled with thoughts of you. I wondered if you were okay. Charless and Seth were always willing to give me updates on you without me having to ask.”
“You don’t have to drag your ass around looking for me, because I’ll come to you. All you have to do is ask me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“Thanks.”
Our food arrived, and it was two enormous portions of tomahwak steak with equally generous sides. I gaped, our table piled high with food.
“I don’t know how I’m going to finish all this? You want me to grow like an elephant before my wedding tomorrow, huh?” I pretended to pout.
“You’re not going to get fat overnight. But if Anthonio doesn’t want to marry you because you’re fat, just call me, and I’ll gladly take his place.”
I smiled at him.
“That’s a relief. I don’t have to worry anymore.”
“So, eat a lot and get fat.”
I snorted, but then I chuckled softly.
I couldn't believe that the time would finally come when my life would be peaceful. I had a hard time imagining this happening to me. I sat face to face with Raviel in a fancy restaurant. We ate heartily without having to worry about any attacks. We didn't have to worry about the terror of people seeking revenge on Raviel. I was grateful that Raviel had chosen to leave his old life and build a new, cleaner business. I couldn’t say those businesses were less risky, but at least they minimized the risk of unwanted bloodbath.
"I'm so full. I don't think I can walk outside with a stomach this full," I groaned.
"Can't you walk?"
"Rave, my stomach is so full. I need time to—"
Suddenly, Raviel moved toward me and picked me up bridal style.
"Rave, what are you doing? Put me down."
"You said you couldn't walk because you were so full."
“Indeed. But put me down. People are watching us. I'm embarrassed.”
Raviel ignored my whining and carried me to his car. I couldn't help but hide my face in his chest as everyone turned to stare at us.
"That was so embarrassing," I groaned once we were in the car.
"I can walk on my own if you give me a minute to settle my stomach."
"I don't want to wait another minute. I want to carry you," he smirked.
"I knew it. You stole the opportunity, didn't you?"
We smirked at each other.
The closer we got to the apartment, the sadder I felt that our happiness was about to end. I wouldn't be able to see Raviel again starting tomorrow. He would disappear again and not reappear until he decided to.
And when he did, everything would have changed. I would be Anthonio's wife. I would no longer be a free woman who could go wherever she pleased.
"We're here."
Raviel's car stopped in front of our apartment building. I turned to look at him in confusion.
"Aren't you getting out?"
"I have to go somewhere."
Disappointment clouded my face as Raviel grabbed the paper bags from the passenger seat and handed them to me.
“Happy wedding. Live happily with Athonio.”
I couldn’t hold back my tears.
I threw myself into his arms and cried loudly into his shoulder. The paper bags fell under the dashboard, but I didn’t care.
“I don’t want to lose you, Rave. I love you. I love you so much.”
“I know.”
He hugged me back tightly and buried his lips in the nape of my neck.
“I love you too, Claire.”
“I want you to take me as far away from here as possible with Aiden, but I know that would be the worst thing I could do to Anthonio. I owe him so much, and I can only make it up to him by marrying him.”
“A part of me, wants to take you and Aiden with me. I don’t care about that bastard. But another part of me knows that you’ll never be happy with me with the shadow of guilt hanging over you for that bastard. So, I’m letting you go. This time, for good. I won’t appear at your apartment door again. Maybe I’ll come to see Aiden, but I don’t know when. Until we can both truly let the past go, I think it’s best to not see each other.”
I cried harder on his shoulder. His words were like swords piercing my heart. I was devastated. And it was worse than even Olivia's betrayal.
"I hope in my next life I'll be your soulmate. I want to grow old with you surrounded by our children and grandchildren."
"In my next life, I'll ask God to bring us together sooner, so I don't have to wait twenty years to make you mine."
I pulled away from him. My face was streaked with tears, and probably all my makeup was smudged. But in a moment like that, I cared less about how I looked. I was too devastated to think about my appearance.
I stared at Raviel's entire face, committing it to memory. I would miss his blue eyes and his lips so much.
"I love you," I whispered to him one last time before pressing my lips to his.
We kissed slowly and tenderly, not wanting this moment to pass quickly. I ran my fingers through his hair, wanting to feel his strands one last time in my palm. I want to keep this moment forever in my heart and mind.
“I can’t let you go,” Raviel whispered hoarsely.
Our foreheads were pressed together and our fingers intertwined.
“But I have to let you go.”
The moment Raviel unlinked his fingers from mine and pulled away from me, I felt utterly lost. I felt confused. And suddenly, I was standing in front of my apartment. Alone. My right hand was holding a gift from Raviel.
He was gone.
The love of my life was gone forever.