Chapter 75 Worsening Bond
PRESENT:
The morning after dinner. Vince has already left for an early meeting, leaving the house quiet, me alone with my thoughts.
The mark Vince had left on my neck was a blooming violet bruise, a silent sign that I belonged to him and it was the future I had accepted.
I caught my reflection in the mirror and adjusted my collar to hide before leaving for work. My fingers linger on his burning sensation.
But, before I could solidify my heart to only think about Vince. My phone buzzed and a text from Arden came.
ARDEN: Left my watch at your home. I took it off when I went to freshen up. I’m out front. Can you bring it out?
My heart rate began to enhance. I knew I should call the maid to deliver the watch while I leave for my work.
But my feet were already moving. I found the watch, a silver piece that smelled of his cologne, and I didn't just pick it up.
I held it to my palm, closing my eyes, letting the scent of before fill my lungs for a heartbeat too long, sending an unnerving shiver down my spine.
I wasn't a devoted wife at that moment. I was eighteen again, stealing a moment.
Only to get thrown back to reality and rushed out.
“Here you go.” I said coldly, shoving the car in his hand.
“Thank you so much. Going to work?” He flashed his usual bright smile.
“Yes. Bye.” Keeping the talk short, I left for work.
Later, at work, I was working when my assistant walked in, looking hesitant.
“Madam, a courier just dropped this off. It’s from the Arden Group.”
My heart ceased to function for a second. I opened the folder. Inside was a formal partnership proposal, to merge with Arden’s international network.
“I’m not here to reclaim the past, Alyssa,” a handwritten sticky note on the first page read.
“I’m here to build your future. This deal would make you the most powerful woman in the sector. Let’s be partners again. Just business.”
My hand trembled. This wasn't just a contract, it was a fetter that could bind me to his world forever.
I looked at the signature. For a second, the office blurred.
“No,” I quickly slammed the file shut and shoved it into the bottom drawer of my desk, burying it under a stack of irrelevant papers.
I told myself I was hiding it to ‘think.’ But deep down, I knew I was hiding it from Vince.
Later that week, we had an event to attend. I didn’t think much about it, my mind was elsewhere.
I was right beside Vince, holding onto him as my only shore until the awfully familiar voice called us from behind.
“Vince. Alyssa," Arden greeted, his eyes lingering on me a second too long, "You look... breathtaking. Blue suits you."
"It does," Vince replied in a proud tone, “I choose the color after all.”
He pulled me slightly closer, his hand spread across my back as I could feel the heat of his palm settling in my bones.
“I’ve spent a lot of time looking at the markets lately. I realized I made some grave errors in judgment years ago, you know.”
“Really? What error?” I instinctively asked, worried his loss might not be too much.
Arden took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze dropping to the floor before returning to mine with a look of tragedy that only baffled me.
"Not just in business, but in timing, and in life."
He let out a short, bitter laugh that made my chest ache with pain when I realized where he was leading this topic stupidly before my husband.
"It seems I arrived back in the city just to realize I am far too late."
The silence that followed was suffocating. I couldn't find my voice anymore, I was too busy trying to ignore the way my pulse jumped at his admission.
Beside me, I felt Vince’s entire body solidify.
The warmth of his hand on my back stiffened my whole being. My heart began to pound as I looked up at Vince.
"Yes," Vince nodded, pressing me flush against his chest, "You are."
Later that night, the tension followed us into our bedroom. Arden spoke mindlessly and I could feel the consequences leading to me.
Vince was silent as he undid his tie, his movements jerky and uncharacteristically aggressive that enhanced my heartbeats.
"He’s bold," Vince finally said, his back to me as I was undoing my jewellery, keeping my eyes low and unaffected.
"Especially when he knew my wife had a crush on her."
My heart stopped. "How did you...?"
“We used to be best friends, Alyssa. Do you think he wouldn’t tell me if his mentee confessed her little love to him.”
He stopped right behind me, his hands holding my shoulder in a warning grip that evoked a flinch from me when I could sense the darkness emerging from him.
“Nor was I blind to notice how you looked at him like nothing else exists beyond him.”
“I… I was immature. It was just a crush. Not that we were… a thing.” I stammered, fidgeting my fingers around my dress.
“Then why is he offering a partnership to my wife without consulting me first?” He leaned down, whispering dominantly in my ears.
“Why is he involving himself with us? He’s testing the fences, Alyssa.”
“Vince, I–” I gulped, stepping back with a tension building in me. I couldn’t let an apparition of the past ruin my present.
“I saw the courier logs at your office today when I stopped by to surprise you for lunch,” His eyes were narrowed, searching my face for a lie. “You didn't mention it.”
“It… It was nothing, Vince.” I tried to justify, removing his tie and placing my palm over his heart.
“Just a business proposal. I was going to reject it tomorrow,”
I was reaching out to touch his chest, but he caught my wrist mid-air. My breaths caught in my throat. It wasn't a violent grip, but it was firm.
“Then why hide the file in a locked drawer, Alyssa? Why didn't you laugh it off the moment you saw it?”
He leaned down, his face inches from mine.
“You’ve been distracted since he walked into our lounge. Your body is here, but your eyes... they’re searching for something that isn't me.”
He let go of my wrist, his gaze dropping to the mark he had left on my neck, the mark that was supposed to claim me. I looked down.
“Don't make me regret trusting the woman I saved,” he whispered in a disappointed tone.
I stood frozen as he walked into the dressing room, the distance between us suddenly feeling wider than the years Arden had been gone.
All because of my stupidity.