Chapter 56 Chapter 56
"Tomorrow is Gala night"
Suddenly, the warmth of the moment vanished, replaced by coldness. One second my fingers were tracing the steady rhythm of his heart, the next I felt his entire body turn to stone. The air in the room suddenly felt thin and sharp.
"So?" His voice cracked the thick silence in the room. His eyes were now wide open, as he stared at the ceiling.
My throat turned dry.
The way his mood had snapped in a second, it didn't seem like a good idea to continue but I had no other option.
"Can you take me there?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
I was expecting an answer from him but instead, he grabbed my shoulders and pushed me off so abruptly that I stumbled back. I quickly gained my balance and adjusted my dress. He sat up too.
"NO!" He announced as if the word was the final decision. He didn't even think about it for a second.
"Why?" I demanded, my own anger starting to flare. I was losing my patience. I curled my fingers to keep my temper in check. I can't lose it now and ruin everything.
"I can't take you there. The decision is final. You are going to stay at home, look after Aurora, and wait for me to return like a good woman is supposed to be"
My jaw clenched and my eyes narrowed at him. He was not ready to meet my gaze.
"Why Lucien?" I asked "Who are you to define what a good woman should do? And ask yourself, are you a good man?"
He fell silent so I continued, "Lucien I have a life outside of being a mother. You have the custody of Aurora, so right now she is more of your responsibility. Isn't she?
Finally, his head turned to me.
"If I were to look after her all the time then why did you take her away from me?"
A long silence spread between us as he kept staring at me.
"As a father, you have all the rights to go around and come back, see your daughter, play with her, and sleep carelessly. Then, as a mother why can't I step outside this house leaving her responsibility on you? Don't I have any other life?"
His eyes narrowed at me, jaw tightened, fists clenched and unclenched.
"You have no place to be there. Everyone knows about our past relationship. It will create a headline unnecessarily"
I exhaled a deep breath.
"I am not asking you to take me with you. Just arrange a pass for me" I asked politely.
"And what exactly will you do there?"
Now I became silent. But I know that without giving a proper reason to attend the Gala night he will not take me there.
"I never ask what you do in your business, Lucien. Why are you being so nosy about me"
"Because after what you did last time, I cannot trust you. It had already cost me enough. I can't take another risk and my father is also going to be there so..."
"So?" I cut him off "Unlike you, I am not afraid of him"
A deep silence spread between us. His fist clenched.
Okay, now I feel a little better. Just because I know everything about him it is not right to take advantage of his weakness. I licked my lips.
"I am sure you haven't told him about me. Have you?"
He looked away. I am certain he himself has taken the responsibility for the ruined deal. He must not have mentioned me to his father.
"You are not going there and that is final" he announced it like his final decision and stood up from the bed "Now just leave my room. Your service is done for tonight"
And with that, he just walked inside the bathroom casually.
My eyes narrowed and my jaw clenched tightly.
No Lucien. It is not done!
\~~~~
Lucien's POV
My gaze flicked to the entrance for no reason. I was with so many people, yet I felt lonely in the vast ballroom that was thick with the scent of expensive lilies and the suffocating weight of expectations. I stood there with a glass of vintage scotch in my hand that I hadn't even tasted, watching the elite of the city circle each other like sharks.
I couldn't forget Cynthia. I could see that behind her those beautiful eyes she was simmering a plot. She was never fond of this kind of party. She never attended them even with her father.
Then why now?
In the morning, at the breakfast table, she ignored me. She fed Aurora, pretending I didn't exist.
That hurt me.
I want her attention too. I would have done anything for her if thanks were like before. But now I cannot trust her anymore and with the announcement my father is going to make tonight, I don't think she belongs here.
"Lucien? Are you even listening to me?"
The sharp, high-pitched voice of Sofia snapped me back to the present. I didn't turn my head immediately. I took a slow breath, before letting out a, "Yes,"
"I was just saying how long I’ve waited for this," she continued without caring about my lack of interest.
"The years of waiting, Lucien... It’s finally happening. I am so happy our families are finally making this official. The engagement is all anyone is talking about."
My hold on the glass tightened. Sofia shifted closer as the paparazzi clicked our picture together. Immediately, I took a small step away, maintaining a distance.
Sophia is no doubt a very beautiful woman. She can drive any man crazy but not me. Every woman other than Cynthia, repels me. I have never touched anyone before or after her. Neither do I think, I ever could.
The night when Cynthia came to me for money, I hired a woman to sit on my lap for a minute, just for the act, to make her jealous.
My eyes caught the sight of my father who gave me a sharp nod. It wasn't just a nod, it was a silent command to stay in line.
I inhaled a sharp breath.
It's been years since I separated from him but still, I am unable to forget the childhood traumas rooted deep within me.
Suddenly, my father began to make his way towards the podium. The crowd parted way for him. Sofia straightened her spine, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining the gala tonight. Today I am going to make an important announcement"
The guests started whispering among themselves. My body became stiff while Sophia beamed in excitement beside me.
Dad parted his lips but before any word could come out of his mouth, the massive double doors of the ballroom swung open, grabbing everyone's attention including mine.
I felt the air leave my lungs when I saw the intruder.
Cynthia.