Chapter 37 Chapter 37
Lucien's POV
"Stop!" The word left my mouth before I could think. "Stop the car!"
And the driver immediately applied the brake at my order.
The cars of my security team that were following me also stopped behind.
My fist clenched and unclenched as I breathed heavily, looking at the way that I left behind.
Cynthia's cries echoed in my head.
And when I should leave her there, and mind my own business, I found myself stepping out of the car.
I walked back and the guards followed me.
My feet stopped when I found her lying in the middle of the road on her stomach. One of her arms was stretched forward as if she was still trying to reach something… someone.
“Damn it,” I muttered under my breath and immediately closed the distance in long strides.
I dropped to my knees beside her.
“Cynthia.”
No response.
My hand reached out to push the hair away from her face.
Her skin was cold.
There were dried tear tracks on her cheeks, cutting through the dust, dirt clung to her skin and there was a faint bruise forming near her temple.
My chest tightened.
I slipped one arm beneath her shoulders and turned her gently. Her head lolled against my arm, completely limp.
She felt fragile and very light as if she hadn't eaten for days.
'You also starved for days after she left you' my subconscious mind reminded me.
I shoved the thought aside and quickly slid my arms under her. Her head fell against my chest instinctively when I lifted her.
She used to fit here perfectly but now she doesn't.
I straightened abruptly, forcing my expression back into stone.
I turned toward my most trusted man.
“Take Aurora home safely,” I said in a deadly calm tone “I won't hesitate in killing you if she gets hurt in any way"
“Okay boss,” he answered quickly.
I rushed to another car with Cynthia lying almost lifeless in my arms and asked the driver to take me to the hospital.
I told myself it was because I didn’t trust anyone with her while she was unconscious.
That was the only reason.
My heart pounded painfully when I looked down at her face. My thumb moved before I could stop it, brushing away a streak of dirt near her jaw.
No!
I can't melt!
I won't!
I clenched my jaw so hard it hurt and looked away.
Once we reached the hospital, I admitted her, completed all the formalities, and drove back home before my mind could change and I would do something that I would regret later.
"NO! NO! NO!" Aurora's sharp voice echoed in the room.
I gestured to the caretaker to leave the room and she did.
"Strawberry," I called softly, stepping into the room.
Aurora turned her face to me. She was sitting on the floor with her legs sprawled, her tiny arms folded tightly across her chest, her cheeks were puffed out with air, and a stubborn pout sat on her lips.
What hurt me were the tears pooled in her eyes.
"What happened?" I asked, stroking her head gently
"Mr. Stranger, I want to go home" she said.
I inhaled a deep sigh.
"This is your home" I told her. My voice was quiet but firm.
Her tiny eyebrows squinted together and for a moment I saw the image of her mother in her.
"No!" She came back "This is not my home."
I had known I would win the case, so I had spent a fortune preparing a room for my princess with all the luxuries. I had even hired the same caretaker to ensure she felt comfortable.
But it wasn't working. She was still making a fuss.
Suddenly she started crying.
"Strawberry, what happened?" I asked, scooping her into my arms, "Are you hurt?"
She shook her head while wiping her tears with the back of her palm.
"Then why are you crying?" I could feel my own heart ripping. "Just tell me what you want. I will bring anything you ask for."
She only needed to put her finger on a thing, and I would bring it to her feet.
I just can't see tears in her eyes.
"Mumma"
I froze. My grip on her tightened instinctively.
"I want my mumma"
She sniffed and looked up at me with hopeful eyes.
"She pinky promised to pick me up" she sobbed "where is she? I want her"
For a moment, I was left with no answers.
But then I licked my lips, "She broke the promise and left you to me"
She froze for a second. More tears flooded her tiny eyes, spilling over her cheeks. My heart clenched with a guilt I didn't want to admit to.
"No! She can't" she cried even louder "Mumma scolds me but she loves me. She will never leave me alone" she thrashed wildly.
"You are not alone, strawberry. I am here"
I tried to convince her but it was of no use.
"I want my Mumma!" she demanded, her voice rising to a frantic pitch.
A servant appeared at the door. I gestured for him to leave the tray on the table and get out.
"Okay! How about having your favorite strawberry shake?" I asked, picking up the glass.
She froze and eyed it for a second. She hadn't eaten anything since arriving. I knew she had to be hungry, and she could never deny her favorite drink.
"No!" She looked away "I just want to go. Mummmmaaaaa"
And then she started crying hysterically. She started thrashing in my lap as if I were a devil.
It was getting more difficult than I thought.
"Okay! Okay!" I held her tightly and made her look at me
Her lower lip was now wobbling, her nose had turned red due to crying and her eyes were still filled to the brim with tears.
This hurt me more than I thought. I don't want to see a single tear in her eyes.
"How about you finish your shake and dinner while I go out and bring your Mumma?" I asked.
Slowly her shoulders relaxed and then she slowly extended her pinky finger.
"Promise?" she asked.
I forced a smile, hooking my finger around hers. "Promise."
She calmed down and I gave her the shake. She sobbed and took a few sips.
Planting a kiss on her forehead, I stood up and left the room, asking the caretaker to go and give her the meal.
Once she ate, we would find a way to make her sleep. Eventually, she would learn that her mother wasn't coming back.
But than I looked back inside the room to find her having the shake not because she liked it but because she thought it as a way to see her mother.
A sigh escaped my mouth.
I wanted to punish Cynthia for keeping my daughter away from me for years but at the same time I cannot see tears in Aurora's eyes.
I can't break her promise.
She will never trust me.
I picked up my car keys and rushed down to find some solution when the main door burst open.
Cynthia?