Chapter 69 The Unwanted Interaction
The noise of the celebration for Draven and Cynthia, the laughter of the family, the cheers were high in the air. But, my mind was unfortunately elsewhere.
I would be imagining the same for me and Vince but tonight, my heart was heavy as if someone had revived an old scar.
I needed air. I needed to feel the cold bite of the night to remind myself I was awake.
I stepped onto the stone balcony, the moonlight falling on the garden, creating a beautiful sight but to my misfortune, I wasn't alone.
Arden was leaning against the railing, an unlit cigarette twirling between his fingers, deep in thoughts, more like haunted by them because he hadn’t noticed my arrival yet.
He was staring at the ground until I cleared my throat.
“Ahem, ahem,”
He flinched, flicking the cigarette from his fingers instantly, straightening his back to place his attention to me.
"Arden," I whispered, my voice barely audible fidgeting my fingers around my dress.
The awkwardness between us was thick, a suffocating fog of things left unsaid for three long years. Arden scratched the back of his neck, letting out a faint chuckle.
“Uh.. sorry about that.” He whispered, pointing at the cigarette.
“It’s alright.” I forced a smile.
He took a slow breath, his shoulders rising and falling to regain his composure and raised his brows, maintaining his charismatic posture.
"What happened? Aren’t you enjoying the dinner with your in-laws inside?”
“I needed fresh air.”
“I see.” Humming, he stepped aside, letting me walk forward and stand in the opposite direction as we both spared a glance at the beautiful full moon.
"How long are you planning to stay?" I asked, my fingers clutching the cold stone of the railing, "In the city, I mean." I hope I didn’t sound rude.
"Months," he trailed off, finally turning to face me, searching my face with an intensity that made me want to hide.
"Maybe longer. My father needs me, and apparently... there’s a lot I’ve missed." He paused.
Forming my lips in a thin line, I absentmindedly trailed off, “Hmm… A lot.”
I was tense. The idea of him being around for months, sitting across from me at dinners, being best friends with my husband– The imagination was suffocating for me.
"Alyssa," he stepped closer, the shadows of the balcony playing across his features. I instantly broke eye-contact, turning away.
"Be honest with me. Are you happy? Really happy?"
I blinked, his question suddenly threw me into the reality, “huh? What do you mean by that?”
“I meant what I said. Are you happy?” He repeated seriously, standing right in front of me.
"I'm married to a man who cherishes me, Arden. To whom I am a priority. Vince had done more than anyone in my life," I enunciated.
Everything since the beginning began to flicker in my mind, bringing an affectionate smile to my lips. From his support, his talks, his gestures, there was nothing about him I could complain about.
Vince was…. flawless.
"I have everything I ever wanted."
"So that means I was late," he blurted out, letting out a huff of dry laughter that bewildered me.
He moved into my personal space, his face etched with a regret so deep it baffled me. Tilting my head in confusion, I blinked, wondering what he meant by this.
"I heard what was happening with Ken. I heard he was hurting you, that he was... a monster. I tried to get back sooner. I pushed the Germany merger through just so I could fly home."
"Why? Why would you care after all this time?" I chuckled nervously, tugging my hair behind my ear.
"Because I wanted to be the one to save you."
He choked out, his hand reaching out as if to touch me before he pulled it back in a fist. I stood stunned, his words ringing in my ears as I could feel a tremble in my body.
"I wanted to be the one to pull you out of that hell. I wanted to be your hero, Alyssa. But I was too late. Vince got here first."
I stood there, completely shocked. My mind raced back to those dark nights with Ken, the days I spent crying until my eyes were swollen shut, waiting for a savior who never came.
Deep down, I had waited for him, truly I did. But it never arrived.
He wasn’t there, never, whenever I needed him. It was my stupid heart that called him in every trouble.
No more!
A familiar step sounded on the stone behind us.
I turned my head, my face lit up in unknown delight, grinning at him.
“Are you guys catching up?”
Vince was standing in the doorway, the light from the dining hall silhouetting his powerful frame. The calmness, the stoic face.
The notorious world known as the ‘cold businessman’ but to me, the ruler of her heart and my steps immediately led to him to stand beside him.
“Yeah, I was about her life.” Arden nodded.
I looked at Arden, the man who was late. Then I looked at Vince, the man who was there.
The man who had held me while I sobbed for a life Ken had ruined.
I thought of the flowers, the diamond on my wrist, the way Vince knelt at my feet and confessed his own fears just to make me feel stronger.
“I hope she is not complaining about me.” Vince chuckled faintly, pulling me into his chest, his hand firmly on my shoulder.
A slow, peaceful smile spread across my face. The ‘what ifs’ of my past died right there in the moonlight.
"I think," I began, my voice steady and clear as I wrapped my hands around his waist, looking up at him wholeheartedly.
"That I was saved by exactly the right person, Arden."
I tiptoed and kissed his cheek, the grin not fading. His fingers closed over mine, a grip of never letting go of promise.
He only looked at me, his eyes dark with a triumphant, hidden heat, smirking at me.
"Are you ready to go home, Alyssa?" Vince asked softly.
"Yes," I whispered, leaning into his side. "Take me home."
“We will catch up later, Arden.”
“Sure. Take care….” He forced a smile, waving his hand to me.
As we walked away, I didn't look back at the man on the balcony. I didn't see the way Arden’s face fell.
I only felt the warmth of the man who had claimed me, blissful in the knowledge that I was finally, truly, safe.