Chapter 72 Chapter 72
My breath hitched in my throat when I saw Lucien. His body froze too, as he looked down at me as if he couldn't believe his eyes.
He looked like a haggard. His eyes were bloodshot with dark circles, as if he hadn't slept all these nights.
Before I could make a move his arms wrapped around me as he pulled into a bone-crushing, desperate hug.
"Cynthia! Oh God, Cynthia, where have you been?" He buried his face in the crook of my neck, "I have looked everywhere."
I could feel his body trembling against mine. His hold was so tight around me as if he was afraid I might disappear if he loosened his grip even for a second.
I swallowed hard, my heart was thudding loudly in my chest. My eyes were burning with tears.
Yes, I hated this man because he failed me but I can't deny the fact that I still love him.
I wanted to melt in his arms, cry, and tell him everything about Adrian... About the baby I am carrying... His baby.
My hands moved up to hug him back but my brain forced them to stop.
"Cynthia, I am sorry, please don't leave me" he mumbled against my skin
My hands dropped to my side as I closed my eyes to feel him.
Suddenly, the warmth was ripped away in an instant as I was pulled away from him with a harsh forceful tug. It was so rough that I almost fell to the ground.
The sudden attack too took Lucien aback. For a second, he couldn't understand what happened.
Adrian pushed me behind himself and stepped between us. I could feel his whole body radiating with controlled wrath.
"How dare you touch my wife!" Adrian hissed.
Lucien froze, his eyes snapped from me to Adrian and then back to me. I looked down, fiddling with my fingers.
"Wife?" Lucien asked in surprise.
"Yes, Lucien. My soon-to-be wife"
Adrian folded his arms to his chest as he proudly announced the news to Lucein. His voice carries the calm. A dangerous calm.
Lucien's fists clenched to his side and the expressions of confusion quickly substituted with rage.
"What rubbish is this?" Lucien asked as he looked robbed.
Adrian smirked.
"For five years, I have been taking care of her. And now I am going to marry her. Something you were never capable of doing."
Lucien's jaw tightened and his nose flared.
"I won't let you force her into this!" Lucien roared.
The girl who was showing us the wedding gown came running to us but stopped at a hand's distance, watching the two men fighting.
"Force?" Adrian chuckled "I am not like you, Lucien. I haven't forced her. She has made her choice and we are getting married this weekend" Adrian wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer "Now, walk away before this gets ugly."
"She is the mother of my child!" Lucien stepped into Adrian’s space, "You think I am going to let you take her?"
"It's her choice, Lucien and she has already decided to spend her life with me. Isn't it Cynthia?" Adrian asked looking down at me.
I just nodded and looked down before Lucien could read my eyes.
My daughter is at Adrian's home. As much as I want to push Adrian away and scream the truth, I can't act foolish and put her life in danger.
If I went to Lucien now, Adrian would burn everything down.
"Now, you may leave, Lucien!" Adrian said "We still need to select the wedding gown"
Adrian turned his head to the shop assistant.
"Bring the gown, I selected" he ordered her.
The woman rushed out and within a minute came back with the wedding dress. All the while Lucien was looking at me, searching for an answer while I was avoiding his gaze.
"Go" Adrian ordered "Put it on."
I don't want to!
"GO!" Adrian shouted and pushed me slightly towards the girl when I didn't move.
"This side, ma'am"
I walked behind the woman like a robot as she showed me the way to the changing room.
"Ma'am, do you need any help?" She asked me.
"No, I can wear it on my own" I told her.
She licked her lips and took a small step ahead.
"No ma'am" she looked around once before leaning forward "with the police or something?"
I froze for a second. My hold on the gown tightened.
"Ma'am, don't take me wrong but the man looks a bit scary. I mean... I am just worried for you"
"No, it's fine" I told her "Thanks for the concern"
I gave her a fake smile. She nodded and left. I sighed and looked at the gown before undressing and putting it on. My hands were literally shaking so badly that I could hardly work the zipper.
I turned around to check myself in the mirror and for a second I forgot to breathe. The gown looked so beautiful on me but I wasn't happy on the inside. The dress suffocated me. It is going to be a bad memory for me forever.
I placed a hand on my stomach, whispering a silent apology to the life inside.
"Ma'am" a knock on the door snapped me out of my thoughts "Sir wants you to be quick"
I let out a deep sigh, before stepping out. I was expecting Adrian to be there, alone waiting for me but Lucien was still there.
Both men were standing exactly where I had left them. As the sound of my footsteps reached them, they both turned.
The silence that followed was absolute.
I could see Lucein's breath hitching in his throat, his Adam's apple bobbed as he watched me from head to toe. His anger seems to be replaced by sorrow. I could see the guilt of what he has lost in his eyes. He always used to tell me how he imagined me as his bride in his dreams. He wanted that dream to come true and today he was watching me try on a wedding gown for another man.
Adrian, on the other hand, looked like a man who had finally seen his god. His eyes widened in surprise. The darkness in them was momentarily replaced by a terrifying, obsessive worship. He forgot to breathe as his hand fell to his side. At that moment, I wasn't a person to him; I was the ultimate trophy, that he had won after five years of yearning.
"Perfect," Adrian whispered, his voice made me shiver.
Lucien took a small step forward but Adrian came in between.
"You are looking so beautiful Cynthia" he said "I just can't describe it in words"
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
From the corner of my eye, I could see Lucien's fists tightening and his jaw clenching in pure rage.
I could tell Adrian was doing this on purpose. He wanted to show Lucien what he had lost.
My heart clenched in my chest. I also wanted Lucien to realise the same but right now I was not feeling good.
"Adrian" I whispered.
"Yes, my love" he asked in a honey-dipped voice that made me shiver.
"I want to go home, please"
He smiled
"Yes, baby. I know you must not be feeling comfortable with someone’s presence here. Let’s finalize this dress and get home, okay?"
I nodded.
"Go and change. By then, I will pay the bill."
I didn’t waste a single second in turning on my heels and going straight to the changing room.
I opened the zipper of the gown and stepped out of the dress, letting out a deep breath of relief.
I could barely pick up my clothes when I was suddenly slammed against the wall, and a pair of lips smashed against mine.