Chapter 64 Maybe in Another Lifetime
VIKTOR is taking control of everything. He sent her and Angel to school and work today. And he arrived and waited an hour earlier in front of her workplace. Lena wasn't shocked when she saw him.
"Viktor," Lena called as he opened the door for her.
"Get in. I'll talk to your boss for a while."
"Why?" Lena panicked. Terrence Blackwood hates her, and he might report to Viktor. Have they been communicating? But did they even know each other?
Viktor stared at her. "You were almost raped, Lena. I won't let that slide."
Lena was somehow relieved. But she suddenly thought of Clara and her friends. They apologized to her today when they asked why she suddenly disappeared.
"The company has nothing to do with it, Viktor," Lena reasoned out. "And my friends didn't even know what happened to me. They were guilty and they apologized for what happened. Besides, you said you already filed a case against the criminal."
Viktor stared at her. He didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Fine. Get inside and we'll pick Angel up."
Lena slipped herself inside the passenger seat and locked her seatbelt. She didn't move as Viktor went to the driver seat. Her lips were pressed together. Her heart felt cold and dead.
"I already contacted a wedding planner," Viktor said, breaking the cold silence between them.
Lena didn't answer. She kept her gaze on the road as the buildings outside past blurry in her vision.
Viktor glanced at her. "After that we'll look for a perfect wedding dress for you."
Lena inhaled sharply. She wants to jump out of the car, in hopes that death would finally free her.
"This is the right thing to do, Lena," Viktor said again. This time, his tone was sharper, like it was both a warning and a reminder.
"Lucian will never have the chance to do things like I did." That made Lena look at him.
Her heart almost stopped beating when Viktor glanced at her. His eyes were dark and dangerous.
He knows something.
Lena was suddenly scared. "W-Why would you involve Lucian?"
Viktor's lips curled into a dangerous and sarcastic smile. "It only took one mention of his name for you to finally respond." He glanced at her again, his eyes were ruthless. "Care to enlighten me?"
Lena swallowed hard and looked away. "I-I'll file a leave of absence for the wedding preparation."
Lena knows she had to say that to make Viktor drop the topic about Lucian. She's scared of what he knows and he might find out.
Silence followed after that. Viktor didn't speak again, and Lena is now scared of his silence.
The tension remained even after they picked Angel up. The little girl sat quietly in the backseat. Lena could see that her daughter isn't comfortable around him. Like she would never be.
When they got home, they immediately went upstairs. Lena could feel Viktor's eyes on her, but she didn't look back.
"Mama, is there something wrong?" Angel asked when Lena kneeled in front of her to take her shoes off.
Lena shook her head without thinking twice. She smiled. "Nothing. Why?"
Angel caressed her cheeks. "Because you look sad."
Lena inhaled sharply and caressed her daughter's chin. "Adults sometimes feel sadness. But it's nothing. It will pass."
"Just like kids?" She asked innocently.
"Yes." Lena nodded. "Just like kids."
"I saw Uncle Lucian in school," Angel said, making Lena pause for a while. "He looked sad too."
Lena swallowed hard. "Did he...talk to you?"
Angel looked down, her eyes reflected sadness. "He bought me ice cream after lunch. But...he...came."
"He?" Lena asked, confused. "Did you mean Viktor?"
Angel nodded. "Yes. He said my tooth will hurt if I eat ice cream."
Lena shut her eyes tightly. Viktor is doing everything to cage them in his world. Her chest tightened in pain. If she searched for another way, or just had the courage to fight her ex-husband's family, would things be different?
"I'm sorry..." Lena whispered as she buried her face in Angel's knees. "I'm sorry, baby."
"Why are you sorry, Mama? You said I can eat ice cream, right?" Angel hugged her. Her small hand caressed her back, comforting her.
Lena smiled and nodded. "Of course."
"I love you, Mama..." Angel hugged her so tight and Lena did the same while tears were rolling down her cheeks.
She has to accept the fact that her relationship with Lucian will have to end now.
The house was cold and quiet like usual. Lucian didn't join them during dinner. He stayed in his room even after Viktor sent a maid to get him.
Lena barely touched her food. She couldn't even swallow properly. She could feel Viktor's constant glances as if he was trying to decipher her through her reactions.
After dinner, Lena waited for Angel to fall asleep before she went out of the bedroom. She wanted to talk to Viktor. She wants to at least try to move the wedding date. She wants to...find a reason to delay the wedding. She doesn't want to get married.
"You said you caught them twice being intimate?" Viktor's voice was cold, stiff, and dangerous.
"Yes, Sir." A female voice followed.
Lena slowed down as she swallowed hard when she heard a voice as she walked along the dim-lit hallway. Viktor and Eva were in the study room, talking. The door wasn't properly closed, probably a mistake, and Lena could clearly hear their voices.
"And Lucian threatened you to not tell me?" Viktor asked again.
Lena's heart skipped a beat. She was too stunned by what she heard. That was why Viktor is rushing the wedding. Eva reported to him.
"Yes, Sir," Eva answered, bowing her head. "I'm sorry that I didn't report to you soon. I was...scared."
"Keep an eye on them all the time. Report everything to me from now on," Viktor said in a colder tone. "You can leave now."
Lena immediately left and hid at the corner of the hallway. She cupped her mouth and shut her eyes tight. Her hands trembled and she felt weak.
There's no way out.
Lena was about to go back to her bedroom when she bumped into someone. She was shocked when someone grabbed her hand and pulled her inside a room.
A familiar scent filled her nose as she was pushed against the closed door.
"I missed you," he whispered as he hugged her waist. His forehead rested on her shoulder while Lena stiffened beneath him.
He towered over her and locked her between his body and the door. She couldn't move, not because he was hugging her tight, but because her body was malfunctioning under his touch.
"Say something, baby..." Lucian whispered again. "Please tell me you'll let me stop the wedding."
Lena panicked and she immediately pushed him away. Her eyes welled with tears as she looked at him painfully. "What we had is wrong-"
"No!" Lucian shook his head, voice hoarse and low. His eyes were vulnerable. "No, baby. What we had is real. You and I. We love each other and that's not wrong."
"The timing is wrong," Lena said, her tone screams frustration. "What we had may be real and not wrong. But it's not right either. The timing...our way... Lucian, we're not gonna work."
Lucian's eyes softened even more as he caressed her cheek. "What did he say? Hm? Did he threaten you?"
"He didn't say anything," Lena answered. "And that's what I'm scared about. He was so quiet. And it's what makes him dangerous."
"I can protect you," Lucian said painfully.
"How?" Lena's voice cracked. "H-How can you protect me, Lucian? Everything we have was from him. We're living in his house. We're eating his food."
Lucian's hands fell to his sides as they stared into each other's eyes.
Lena was right, and Lucian knows that. He's still powerless against his own father.
"If I can promise a good future..." Lucian trailed. "Will you be with me?"
Lena swallowed hard. "If there's another chance...I'll choose you."
She inhaled sharply and shook her head. "But maybe that would be in another life. Because in this lifetime. I was too broken and ruined for someone like you."