Chapter 64 Protected
I blocked Ben.
Even though my uncle said that we shouldn't announce anything about the engagement yet, I don't want anything to do with him. I don't even want to see him again.
I promptly moved back to my parents, I don't even get to drive anymore.
After Katherine died, the press was in my face every single day wanting a fucking story that I couldn't give. I had to enter the studio from the back to rehearse. It feels like my whole life like I knew it is turned completely upside down.
The police may say it was a suicide, but we know it wasn't.
Her family released a statement that Katherine was troubled ever since she finished university, I don't even think they know why. They had a private funeral, so I couldn't even pay her my last respects.
In some way, she saved me from a dire future. And for that, I would always be grateful to her.
"Are you sure you can't come out tonight?" Simon asks me after our last day of rehearsals. "We leave for South Korea on Monday, you could finally meet my man!"
"I'm so sorry Simon, but not yet." I give him a small smile. "How about we go out in Seoul mmm?"
I can't tell him I'm much safer being in another country than here in the city.
Ben has gone on with his life as if I never existed, always spotted going out in the lifestyle pages. Of course they're speculating if we're still together or not, because I'm never with him. He's also never seen with another woman, so they're not sure because I've always been quite private.
I just received one message from Caroline, the fucking bitch.
"Ben says it's over between you two. Good riddance."
The audacity of that woman.
I can't even believe she sent me that message.
My father personally delivered the engagement ring to Mr.Cargill, and told him if his son ever came near me again, he will kill him. He said Ben's father was completely flabbergasted. It makes me wonder if the senator doesn't know what kind of person his son is. He has to know, right? He has always been so busy with work, almost never around, could that maybe be why Ben is that way?
In honesty, I feel betrayed.
Our whole relationship was a lie.
And I feel betrayed by Miguel.
He played me too.
T.J. personally makes sure of my safety. At first the other dancers were curious why I needed a bodyguard, but now they're used to him being around all the time.
"T.J. isn't coming with you on tour, right?" Simon wants to know.
"No." God, I hope Ben doesn't try something abroad.
We have a huge family dinner on Sunday, apart from my father and Alonso who is at an away game.
Amelia corners me in the kitchen when everyone is in the dining room.
"Are you okay with being away on your own?" She asks with concern.
I take a deep breath. "I think so. To be honest, I'm grateful to get away. I was starting to feel a bit smothered."
She nods. "I know how that feels, but you know everything is for your safety, right?"
I sigh. "I know."
"Sooooo." She nervously tugs her hair behind her ears. "We haven't had much chance to hang out, but there is something I wanted to tell you."
She's actually blushing, looking so cute that it makes me smile.
"What? Spill!"
"Please promise me you won't tell anyone." She grabs my hand and holds out her pinky. "Pinky promise."
I laugh and hold out my pinky. "Pinky promise."
She hooks her pinky around mine. "But honestly, no one can know yet."
I squeeze her pinky. "I swear on my first pointes! I won't tell anyone."
Her eyes glass over. "I had a positive pregnancy two weeks ago."
"Oh my god!" I hug her, emotion taking over, and my own tears gather. There's so much shit that happened these last few months, this good news was so needed.
"I know, right!" She laughs through her tears. "I just wanted to tell you before you leave tomorrow. It's still early times so nobody knows."
"I'm so happy for you guys."
"Alonso is absolutely delusional, of course." She rolls hers eyes dramatically. " He doesn't want me traveling to see him play even! I told him women have been pregnant since forever."
"Please send me sonogram pictures!"
When we're back in the dining room amongst the absolute chaos that my family is, I can't help but to question myself.
How could I doubt this in the first place?
Why was I so scared to go to my family?
They've always had me.
I'm still happy to leave the city the next day. I welcome the change where I could just get away from the suffocating atmosphere, even if it's only for less than a month.
After the flight to South Korea, it's already in the evening, and some dancers complain that I have my own room, but the coordinator tells them it's for security reasons and I'm paying it for myself. I don't even feel the need to explain myself anymore, I'm just grateful we're here and I can go to bed.
I do stay on the same floor as Gregory, though, and even he is too tired to talk, so I just wave at him when I get to my door and swipe my keycard.
As soon as I click the door closed behind me, I feel the shift in atmosphere.
The air just feels different.
I'm too scared to walk in further, staying close to the door in case I need to escape, but this time he doesn't hide or wait to strike, as if he knows I'm feeling exposed and vulnerable.
No, he comes around the corner from the bedroom like the fucking dark angel himself wearing a sinful smirk.
"I've been waiting for you."