Chapter 71 Chapter 71
Cynthia's POV
The morning light felt harsh as it penetrated through the curtains and fell on my face. I had to blink multiple times to adjust my vision to the light.
I hadn't slept well. Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Adrian near me. I opened my eyes only to find myself alone in the room. I was just hallucinating but I couldn't shrug off the fear of him going something to me, taking further advantage of my vulnerability.
Adrian made Aurora sleep in his room only and forced me to come back to my room. She has asked me to focus on my own recovery so I could look best on my wedding day.
Wedding day!
It is a dream for every girl and once it was for me as well but right now it seems like my death day.
The door clicked open, and Adrian stepped in, dressed in casuals. He looks like a handsome and successful businessman, but I have never been drawn to him like that.
He has always been a good friend to me.
A soft smile was playing on his lips as he approached the bed.
"Had a good sleep?" He asked.
I just stared at him keeping my mouth shut.
When he reached out for my face to caress it, I shifted away and sat up. His fingers curled in the air as he let out a deep sigh.
"Get ready," he commanded gently.
"For what?" I asked, my voice came out hoarse.
"We are going shopping. A bride needs her gown, and since the wedding is this weekend, we don't have a moment to lose."
"When you are taking all the decisions than you can choose this too" I shrugged and looked away.
"Cynthia, I would suggest you not to test my patience" he came back.
I could hear the sound of his heavy breathings. He was shooting death glares at me.
I wonder, how cleverly he pretended to be something he never was for five fucking years!
And I was stupid to think that he was actually helping me with no selfish motive. I knew he liked me but never knew that it was this dangerous.
"Where is Aurora?" I asked, licking my dry lips.
"She is with her nanny, having her breakfast" he told me.
My eyebrows drew together.
"Nanny?" I asked in surprise "Why do we need a nanny for her? I can look after her..."
"No! You cannot" he cut me off "Your attention is required for the wedding" he inhaled a deep breath before adding "and than to me"
I swallowed hard and fell silent.
"At least for the first few months, I don't want any disturbance between us"
So now Aurora has became a disturbance for him. I felt my skin crawling. I needed to go away from him. I can't even breathe in his presence and what's going to happen in my life this week is making me a sick to my stomach.
I can't even escape from here without hurting one of my babies.
"Where are you going?" He asked when I tried to step down the bed.
"To see Aurora" I told him.
"You can't!" He held my wrist.
My eyebrows drew together as my head snapped to him.
"You can't stop me from seeing my own child, Adrian!" I shouted at him "I am marrying you, right! What else do you want?"
"I want this marriage to happen smoothly. I don't want you to create any fuss or drama so until the wedding happens you will see Aurora only when I allow. You get me?" He stated as if I was obliged to follow his order.
"I am not going to follow everything you say!" I stated firmly.
"I am not forcing you, I am just telling you my decision. It's up to you that you follow it or not. Just remember that if you went against my will, you will not like the consequences"
My heart shrank in my chest as I inhaled and exhaled a deep breath to be sure that what I was seeing was in real. I was not in a dream.
"Now, either get ready, come with me for the wedding dress shopping or stay here, locked in this room for the entire day. Neither of you will be able to see each other!"
He left my wrist and before I could make any move he walked to the door.
"Don't make this difficult, Cynthia. The sooner we find the dress, the sooner we can come home."
The "home" he spoke of felt more like a cage.
~~
The drive to the boutique was a silent torture. Adrian kept one hand on the steering wheel and the other firmly over mine. His fingers interlaced mine so tightly that it numbed my knuckles. He told me about his close friends he is going to invite to the wedding.
Earlier, he just wanted me to sign the papers because he didn't expect me to agree to the marriage so easily. But now when I have said 'yes', he wants to fulfill his dream of having a proper marriage.
My body jerked forward when he pulled up in front of a private botique. It seems like a boutique that requires a month's notice for an appointment but to my surprise for Adrian, the doors swung open immediately.
"Welcome sir, welcome ma'am" the guard bowed slightly before opening the doors for us.
Adrian kept his hand on the small of my waist, as if I were some trophy. He held me flushed against his side all the time. His arm felt like a heavy bar more than a protective embrace.
"You see how beautiful my fiance is. I want something as spectacular as her. Show me the best wedding gowns from your collection"
"Sure sir" the woman gave a practiced smile "Please, feel free to browse the private collection in the back.
The woman guide us and Adrian led me toward the rear of the store. My mind was just filled with the thoughts of Aurora. I wanted all this to end as soon as possible so that I could finally see my daughter.
I felt suffocated looking at the line of wedding gown. Something that used to fascinate me earlier felt like a death sentence because of the man standing beside me.
Adrian was choosing the wedding gown with atmost attention, while I was just nodding to whatever dress he showed to me.
Suddenly, Adrian's phone rang. He checked the screen before excusing himself.
My forehead frowned in suspicion. Usually he talks over the phone in my presence and now suddenly he needs privacy.
"Ma'am, just give me a second" the woman said.
I nodded.
She went away, leaving me alone. I sighed heavily and casually started walking around when suddenly I bumped into a solid chest.
The scent hit me before I could even look up. My throat turned dry and eyes widened when my head snapped up at the man.
"Lucien?"
"Cynthia?"