Chapter 14 Chapter 14
My breath hitched when Lucien suddenly started walking towards us. His eyes were fixed on Adrian's hand that was holding my chin.
I licked my dry lips and forced my gaze back to Adrian.
“Cynthia?” Adrian frowned. “Why did you suddenly turn pale?”
I forced a smile and took his hand in mine.
"I... I am just feeling weak." I lied, "I think we should go back."
His eyebrows drew together as he wasn't seen buying my lie.
"Shall we?" I asked.
My heart was now pounding in my ears. Lucien was close... Very close.
He hesitated, then nodded.
I let out a breath of relief and took a step ahead, but to my horror, Adrian turned around.
Fuck!
Lucien's eyes turned devilish when Adrian saw him but he still kept looking at me. Adrian's hold on my hand tightened, possessively and protectively.
“Adrian…” I clutched his arm. "I think we should head home. What if Aurora woke up?"
But he didn't move from his place.
He was staring at Lucien as if he were looking at him for the first time.
"Hello," Lucien said, stopping just a hand away from Adrian. "Long time no see."
His eyes were on me all the time. Not even once did his gaze flicker to the man beside me.
"What are you doing here?" Adrian asked.
One side of Lucien's lips curled up in a smirk.
"Just came to say hello and ask if everything is fine."
Adrian stepped forward, shielding me behind his body.
Lucien chuckled and looked at him for the first time.
“You’re a little late; I’ve already seen everything.”
My heart skipped a beat and I stopped breathing.
He is here on purpose!
“Isn’t that right, baby?” Lucien peeked beside Adrian with an infuriatingly amused smile.
My ears started turning red. I need to leave this place with Adrian before a blunder happens.
"What did you just call her?" Adrian took a dangerous step towards Lucien.
The air between them thickened instantly. Suddenly the temperature increased by many degrees. I started feeling hot.
“Baby,” Lucien repeated lazily.
"You..." Adrian lifted his arm to hit him but I caught it on time.
"Adrian, let's go, please," I requested.
But Adrian was burning holes in Lucien. He wanted to kill him right there and then.
"Seems like you have not told your husband about that night." Lucien smirked. "Did you?"
My body froze.
"Night?" Adrian asked. "Which night?"
"The night she warmed my bed for money"
For a second, it felt as if my soul left my body. Adrian's body stiffened too but Lucien seems to enjoy every single minute of it.
"What rubbish!" Adrian shouted, "I don't believe you. Just get the hell out of here!"
"Ok! Ok!" Lucien raised his hands in mock surrender. "But baby..." Lucien's eyes once again drifted to me. "You are always welcome if you need more money."
I gasped when suddenly Adrian lunged forward and grabbed his collar.
"Shut your filthy mouth, or I will break this jaw of yours," Adrian said through clenched teeth, and the nerves of his neck were bulging out.
I trembled at my place. I have never seen this much angry Adrian before.
“Relax,” Lucien laughed softly. "Your wife came to me willingly."
My vision blurred.
"And it wasn't her fault as well. A woman always goes out when she can't get satisfaction at home. I can't get over her tight walls and the way she was moaning my na..."
Punch
My eyes widened and my palms moved to my mouth as a loud gasp escaped my throat when Adrian punched Lucien's jaw.
"You bastard!" Adrian roared and once again punched Lucein.
To my surprise, Lucien didn’t retaliate. He let him hit him.
My head started spinning, and I felt like emptying all the contents of my stomach.
"Adrian, stop." I held his arm from behind, but it seemed like Adrian had had enough.
"Please, Adrian. Please!" I almost begged but he didn't stop. "I am not feeling well."
And he stopped
“Don’t ever come near us again,” Adrian growled, shoving him away and snapping his head to me. I flinched looking at this side of him.
He then grabbed my wrist and started pulling me with him. I had to practically run to match his big steps.
My heart was hammering in my chest when I turned my head to look back.
I shivered when I found Lucien wiping off the blood in the corner of his mouth while smirking at me like a villain, which was followed by a wink.
A sharp tug from Adrian made me stumble forward.
He stopped just before entering the house and suddenly whirled me around.
“What rubbish was he saying?” he roared.
I licked my dry lips and took a hesitant step toward him, but he immediately stepped back, creating distance.
“Adrian, please… calm down.”
But he didn’t.
“I asked you again and again where you arranged the money from,” his voice shook with fury. “And you never answered me.”
I swallowed hard as I saw anger and hurt flash in his eyes.
A shiver ran down my body. Never in the five years of knowing him have I seen him this angry. He always had control over his emotions, no matter the situation.
My throat choked with emotions. I can't breathe, blink, or swallow.
I just wanted the storm to calm down.
"Was I so worthless to you, Cynthia?" His voice softened.
I shook my head, frantically.
No one… no one could ever do what he had done for Aurora and me. No one.
I was grateful to him beyond words.
“Adrian, please… Listen to me,” my voice trembled.
“I don’t trust him,” he said coldly. “I don’t trust anyone.”
His hand came up to grab me by the arm.
“But I know you,” he continued, softer now. “I know you can’t do something like this knowingly.”
My heart clenched looking at the hope in his eyes.
"Just tell me, Cynthia. He was lying, right?"
I stayed silent. I didn't dare to accept the truth and I didn't want to lie anymore.
He inhaled a sharp breath.
"Okay, we will try again," he composed himself. "Just answer me in yes or no. Did you go to him that night… for money?”
I looked down in shame. My whole body was shivering like a leaf.
“Cynthia!” He suddenly shouted. “Yes or no!”
His hold on my arm became painfully tight. I swallowed down the lump in my throat and whimpered.
"Y... Yes."
Silence
Deep silence
He didn’t shout.
Didn’t say anything.
That scared me the most.
Slowly, his grip on my arm loosened, and I looked up. His eyes were blank; his Adam's apple bobbed as he took one step away from me.
My heart dropped.
I shook my head.
But he took another step back.
"Adrian"
My hand reached out for him but he was already away and out of my reach.
"Say something, Adrian," I requested.
His silence was killing me. It would have been better if he had shouted at me.
"Please, Adrian," I whispered, desperately.
But he didn't.
Instead, he just turned away and walked inside the home. I watched him disappear.
I tried to run behind him, but my legs gave up. I dropped to my knees and tried to cry, to pour out everything I had been bottling inside me for a month, but I had numbed my emotions so many times that not even a single tear came out of my eyes.
Suddenly everything started turning black and I passed out in the middle of the muddy ground.