Chapter 8

He didn't respond and ignored my question, instead focusing on giving instructions. Treating me like air once again and seriously ordering them. Which everyone follows obediently, and none of them are actually bothering with me.

My lips parted before I bowed my head and took a small step back from him. I don't want to hear what he has to say next because I've finally realized how foolish my previous actions were.

What had gotten into me? I take a few more steps back, until I'm at the far end of the room, not caring how stupid I appear to everyone else. The only thing on my mind is getting away from him and the feelings that are growing in my heart.

Everything that has happened, as well as my husband's possible true identity, is perplexing me. My mind was so preoccupied with my thoughts that I didn't hear their conversation or what order he gave to his subordinates next.

I sat on one of the couches, it leaning on it and bowing my head, making myself as invisible as possible like he is treating me. Perhaps it is better this way.

I'm not even involved with him or anything that will happen tonight to begin with. In regards to Zach, I can also pretend that nothing happened. He might have a reason for keeping this aspect of himself hidden from me.

He is my husband, I can trust him. This man is only a stranger, and he is only confusing me because Zach is his enemy. Yes, that is one of the most logical reasons why he actually brought me here and even told me about my husband being involved in this world.

I had forgotten my surroundings while being held in my thoughts, and it was only after a voice woke me up that I realized someone was already sitting beside me.

“You want some drinks?” a deep voice leisurely offers to me, I can feel his eyes lingers on me.

I moisten my lips and tightly clasp my hand in my lap. "Can I go home?" I asked, ignoring his offer and asking something else without raising my head. Then I went on, my voice a little hoarse. "I... I didn't hear or see anything, so can I just go home?"

I think it's better to go home now rather than get further involved; it's not like I was a part of it in the beginning. Zach has no idea I'm here; what would happen if he did? I'm someone who shouldn't be here in the first place. I'm only here because of my stupid curiosity.

He didn't respond or even speak for a few seconds before saying, "Are you really?" his tone sarcastic, with more hidden meanings, as if he could see right through me.

I flinch and raise my head, my eyes are slightly stunned. Our gazes met the moment I looked at him. His green eyes are much more prominent this time it’s not dark.

There's nothing shocking about his question that could elicit such a reaction, but that seemingly simple question struck a nerve within me. Do I really want to go home? Is that really something I want?

My lips parted, then closed again, my pupils quivering as I made eye contact with him. I wanted to agree and say that it is exactly what I want. However, I can't seem to say it out loud.

It's even more apparent when I look at his calm demeanor as he waits for my answer; his eyes seem to anticipate my response as if he knows what I'm thinking.

The truth is, a part of me yearns to know what the outcome of this night will be. It's not just curiosity; there's a part of me that wants to get involved. It's strange, but it's deep within me, which is why I'm becoming increasingly afraid with each passing second. This is something I'm not familiar with.

I had no idea what was going on anymore, and this man is there, digging deeper into that something within me. I need to get away from him, he confuses me... I'm now at odds with myself.

"Do you really know who I am?" I inquired, never taking my gaze away from him. This man must have met me before, but when? How come I don’t remember him? There is no way that he is the only one that I can’t remember, or is there such a possibility?

At my question, his leisurely expression faded. He shifted his gaze away from me and toward the glass, he was holding, then took a sip from it before returning his gaze to me.

"It depends... on whose you, we're talking about," he responds, causing me to frown. I'm not sure what he meant by that.

"What do you mean?" I inquire once more, what he meant by it depends. My question can only be answered with yes or no, so why can't he be direct and answer it?

However, our conversation was cut short, and the man had yet to respond when someone interrupted us.

“Master, Beltrad already answered, and he agreed.” A woman stood beside the man and informed him.

I had no choice but to remain silent once more; no matter how much I wanted to know more about the man and how he knew me, I couldn't get involved in his business.

He nodded, his face still calm, and sipped from his glasses. As I averted my gaze away from him and planned to act like someone blind and deaf on the side, I happened to glance at the woman that stood before us.

Her eyes and the way she stared at me earlier caught my attention. I raise my brows at her only when she appears to wake up, averts her gaze, and refocuses on the man who appears to have no intention of responding right away.

I narrowed my eyes and focused my attention on her for a brief moment; if I'm not mistaken, she had been staring at me previously. Staring is nothing to be concerned about; I'm an outsider here, and some of them being curious about me is understandable; however, her earlier gaze was not one of those being only curious at someone, but rather one of familiarity.

However, I can't confirm either because it happened in a split second. Tilting my head and then returned my gaze to the man beside me. And from that moment I can’t remove his gaze away from him anymore

“This night is only the first,” he says as a malicious smirk appears on his lips, green eyes gleaming with dark intentions.

I don’t even know what he meant by that, but his face spoke it all clearly, and my heart pounded again. I'm curious about him for some inexplicable reason.

As I'm staring at him, he looks at me again, his expression still plastered on his handsome face, and it widens even more. Only then did I wake up, blink, and avert my gaze away from him again.

I move a little away from him; I don’t want him to find out how he made my heart race by seeing his expression. I’m afraid of this reaction from me, this is not right.

Fortunately, he didn’t mind me anymore and focused on the matter at hand. I’m not bowing my head anymore, so I can finally look in front of me, and watch them.

The man stood beside me, and again, he caught everyone’s attention in the room. The dominance that he exuded easily occupied the room.

I want to tear my gaze away from him as well and pretend that I can’t hear or see anything, however, my body seems not to be obeying the intention of my mind.

Since I can’t pretend anymore, I watch them openly this time while being silent at the side. There were not a lot of people in the room, unlike earlier. Even the man named Archeron is not inside. As a result, the room became spacious to look at, and they looked in our direction as their master stood right beside me.

I raise my head and watch him like everyone else in the room, he seems to become the center of attraction in an instant, a position he is born with.

“Tell everyone, this night is destined to be long. Get ready,” he instructed in his serious voice, simple and yet so captivating.

And I watched as everyone answered and obeyed his simple order. The people remaining inside started to get ready for the impending fight. They are not in a mess at all, as they prepared themselves.

I observe them, amazed by it all. This is only something that I can see in movies, and I can’t believe I’m seeing it in real life.

"Are you ready?" a deep voice said again beside my ears, and I raised my head, looking at my side.

He looks down at me, swirling the liquor inside the glass, “I hope you are,” he says without a smile on his lips.