Chapter 140 I LOVE YOU, FIREFLY
The air grew thick with anticipation, and everyone was eagerly waiting to hear Drexton's answer.
They all knew his revenge was tied to the Castellan surname.
"That was what I failed to understand, that you are Ixora Castellan, not Georgia. I used to see Georgia in your face, and I was wrong for doing that. Your surname might have changed to Ronald, but I don't care. I will always choose you for who you are, not because of the name you bear. You are not Castellan or Ronald's Ixora. You are my Ixora."
His reply got Eric, Maddox and Jaxon smiling, Nelly sniffing, and Alexa tearing up.
Ixora's grip loosened on the box, and it fell on the ground beside her.
She marched to Drexton and landed a slap on his left cheek.
"Why are you doing this to me?!" She sobbed.
Drexton turned his right cheek to her.
"Hit me all you want. I know I deserve more than that."
Slap.
"You're a jerk."
Slap.
"Bastard."
Slap.
"Coward."
Slap.
"Asshole."
Slap.
She stopped slapping him, panting heavily with her heart racing like a tsunami.
For those eighteen months, she'd bottled up her feelings for Drexton. Pretending to feel nothing for him again. Lying to herself when she said those times she saved him was her way of repaying him for all the times he saved her in the past. The truth is, she can't handle it if he dies. She doesn't want him to. And drowning herself in Hazel's and Nikita's mission was to stop herself from thinking about him.
The more Drexton stared at her tear-clouded eyes, the more guilty he felt.
Throughout her life, she's done nothing but love him with her heart, body, mind and soul. And throughout his life, all he'd ever done was orchestrate her ruin and destruction.
He deserves more than a slap for always being an asshole.
He took his hand behind his back pocket and drew out his gun.
He held her hand and put the gun in her hand.
"Take it. Do whatever you want with it. I owe you my life," he said without batting an eyelid, meaning every single word that came out of his mouth.
Ixora breathed. "To hell with your stupid life." She tossed the gun to God knows where and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.
Drexton stood, engulfing her in a tight hug. The hug was so tight that they were running breathless, but they didn't mind it.
How much they missed being in each other's arms, feeling the skin of each other, and sniffing the intoxicating scent that they both carried.
Claps erupted from the onlookers, everyone proud of Drexton's courage and the fact that he was ready to die at Ixora's hands.
A unique love story. A match made in heaven.
"You were forgiven this time, but the next time you..."
"There won't be a next time. This time was our test of love." He cut her off. "I promise to cherish you until I take my last breath." He whispered, a promise—an everlasting one.
"Shush," Ixora whispered. "Until WE take our last breath." She corrected, smiling and tightening her grip around him, afraid of letting him go again.
Eric and Drexton's eyes met. Eric gave him a proud nod.
"Glad they are back together," Nelly mumbled beneath her breath, but Maddox heard her.
"You were about to leave without thinking about US?" he asked, standing beside her.
She met the intense stare he was giving her.
She smiled. "Just like how you support Drexton, we'll always support Ixora."
Maddox shook his head and pulled her into a tight hug. "Don't leave. Stay," he mumbled in all sincerity. Though there was no 'please' in his words, his tone was pleading.
"I won't," Nelly replied.
"It's crazy how we are the ones who aren't having any lovers' reunion," Alexa said, looking at Jaxon.
Jaxon gave her his attention. "What?" He raised his brow. "You wanna date?"
Alexa's cheeks heated up as she punched his arm. "Punk."
"You wanted a lover's reunion?"
Alexa shook her head, not knowing what to say to him.
He curled his arm around her waist and pulled her close, resting her head on his chest.
Alexa smiled.
Their eyes went back to Ixora and Drexton, who were devouring each other's lips like the long-lost lovers that they are, but in their case, they aren't long-lost lovers. They are long-lost souls who craved each other in the darkest possible way, and now, their souls have found each other, and this time, the souls are reuniting forever.
\[TWO DAYS LATER\]
"Your boyfriend will be left breathless once he sees you."
Ixora's cheeks burned as the stylist helped her put on the white wedding gown.
After their reunion, she found out that her father was the reason why she was back with Drexton. It's been eighteen months since they parted ways, and they're finally together, but not fully. Not until they get married.
She was surprised when Drexton asked for her father's approval to marry her, and he approved without a second thought.
If it were up to Drexton, he'd get married to her the next day, but her Dad had left it for a week. He wants to spend a few days with her before handing her to Drexton.
She couldn't have been happier. The dream she began having at the age of sixteen was finally coming to pass. How happier could she be?
"We're done," the stylist said and took out a mirror.
"No," Ixora stopped her. "I'd like Drexton to be the first to see me before I see myself."
"If you say so. Let him see the goddess he's going to marry."
Ixora chuckled. "I hope so, too."
The dresser helped her, and the two of them left the dressing room straight to the waiting room.
Drexton sat, legs crossed, flipping the pages of a magazine. Something to keep himself busy. Crazy to say his mind wasn't even in the magazine. The magazine was to ease the impatient within. He's been waiting for the past thirty minutes.
After pushing countless wedding gowns to the sides, they couldn't find the perfect one. They are perfect as they are, but not perfect for his Ixora.
The owner had said they think they know the type of gown they're looking for. And like that, they took Ixora away, for thirty whole minutes.
What the hell are they doing with her?
As if hearing his question, the door creaked open, and they walked out, gracefully.
His gaze left the magazine and landed on Ixora. His jaw dropped, his eyes widened, and the magazine fell and landed on his foot.
A broad smile plastered on Ixora's lips as she beheld his eyes. They said she looked beautiful.
He knew Ixora was extraordinarily beautiful, curvy, the type of girl he'd choose in his ten lives, but with the wedding gown on, she looked lavish. Stunning. Exquisite. Pulchritudinous. Any other word he could think of to classify how gorgeous and breathtaking she looked. Exactly, she'd stolen his breath because he had forgotten how to breathe.
The white sleeveless wedding dress was made for her. It showed off her spotless skin. It hugged her upper body, the cup pushing up her breast in position. Downwards, it was flared, reaching the floor.
He could already imagine the smile on her face when she walks down the aisle in that dress.
"I'm back!" Alexa announced, loud as usual, coming in with the shopping bags. "OMG!" Her mouth popped open, and the bag fell from her hold.
"Ixora." She stalked towards her. "You look so amaaaaazing," she dragged, showing off her dramatic behavior.
Ixora laughed, poking her forehead. "We're in public, you silly."
"I now see why Drexton hasn't said a word. You are drop-dead gorgeous; his eyes have said everything needed. Look at how he's staring at you," she said, in her usual loud voice.
Drexton didn't bother looking away. Let everyone know she's his.
"We're here!" Nelly announced, coming in with Maddox and Jaxon, the three of them carrying their own shopping bags.
"Wow. You look so beautiful," Nelly handed her bags to Maddox and went to Ixora, admiring her wedding dress.
"What the?" Maddox shook his head, holding the bags to his chest.
"You shouldn't complain. She's your girlfriend," Jaxon said, and went to Drexton.
He noticed how Drexton was eating Ixora with his eyes.
"You shouldn't stare too much."
"I don't need permission to stare at what's mine," he replied, his voice sounding cocky, possessive and obsessive. All in one.
\[GRAVESITE\]
Drexton stood, hugging Ixora to his chest as they both stared down at his parents' grave.
It's the full moon night, and it bathes them with its warm silver glow.
"The first time she came here, she came as the girl I wanted to ruin, but today, she's here as the person I'll be spending the rest of my life with," Drexton talked directly at his parents' grave.
Ixora smiled, snuggling closer to his chest. She does not want to let him go. Not now, not ever. They've been through a lot.
"Don't worry, mother, father, your son has grown past his revenge. He's learned how to love, and I'm proud of him. You, too, must be proud. He fulfilled every bit of the promise he made to you," she muttered, hearing his heartbeat.
The first time she came here flashed in her mind.
"Honestly, you were really a psychopath back then. Who on earth thinks they don't have a heart?"
"I used to. I thought my heart stopped beating, and my condition made me believe it. I couldn't feel anything back then. It was only numbness until you came in," he paused, remembering Joanna's words. "Joanna used to say you would be the key to unlocking my heart, and you are. I'd always walk away because a part of me believed it was true. Whenever I am around you, I do things I have no control over. I always reacted to your presence, and I thought it was all part of the game."
"I used my revenge plan to fuel every little affection I felt that time. Until I realized I hadn't drawn the revenge plan, you did," he looked at her, mirroring her face. "Every plan I hatched always bounced back on me. I got tense when you were stuck in a burning mall. I stalked you because I was afraid of somebody else hurting you while I was away. I became your shield because I knew many people wanted you gone. I failed to realize that every twisted time I saved you was my heart calling out to you. Every twisted affection I showed you was my way of showing my emotions. Every twisted time I wiped your tears was my heart, telling me it's aching to see you cry, and every time I didn't let anybody hurt you was my way of protecting you," he said, his voice heavy with raw emotion.
"Our love story started from the time you were born. You weren't born to fulfill my bloody thirst for revenge; you were born to heal the heart of a broken man whom the world shaped into heartless. I should have realized long ago that all those acts, care, possessiveness, obsession, protection, jealousy and affection are my way of showing how much I've fallen for you. I love you, Firefly. I..."
She cut him off by pressing her lips on his. She let her lips sit on his before pulling back.
"That's enough. You've said the words I've always wanted to hear. I love you so much, Flame. Save the rest for our wedding night." Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and their eyes bored into each other's.
"I love you, Firefly," Drexton whispered huskily, cupping her butt cheek.
Ixora jumped on his body, curling her legs around his torso.
"I love you too, Flame." Their lips crushed down heavily, biting, nibbling, grazing, tonguing and sucking.