Chapter 82 IXORA IS GETTING MARRIED
\[CEMETRY\]
Caius' burial had just concluded. Drexton, Maddox, Jaxon, Stacy, Bonnie, Skye and Lorraine, with a few other people in attendance. Skye was doing his best to console Bonnie. His eyes would occasionally go to Drexton.
Lorraine did a good job pretending to be deeply hurt by his death. As expected, she earned the people's sympathy.
Drexton, Maddox and Jaxon were staring at the grave.
"What next?" Jaxon muttered.
"We wait," Maddox replied.
They looked at Drexton, who gave them a quiet nod.
"Let's leave," Drexton said.
As they were going, Drexton's eyes fell on Skye. He stared at him for a few seconds before entering the car.
Jaxon was driving, with Maddox in the front seat. Drexton was at the back.
"So, tell me, why did you kiss that girl?" Jaxon asked, his eyes fixed on the road.
"I'm close to finding my answers about her."
"Dig out her information if you're so curious."
"She's not that dumb," Maddox replied, sinking deeper into the chair.
He closed his eyes and saw her trembling self.
He couldn't help but find her cute that day. His presence frightens her, or maybe she's just pretending.
And the more she acts innocently before him, the more interested he gets in her.
He's going to unravel her like a book until she's got nothing to hide anymore.
Drexton's eyes were glued to his phone.
As they fell on the latest news headlines, they darkened.
"Stop the car."
Jaxon pulled the brake to a halt.
"I'll go from here." He stepped out before they could say a word.
Jaxon gave him a slight nod, marching the brakes to life.
He glanced at Maddox.
"Is it me, or is Drexton..." He trailed, swallowing the rest of his words.
His muscles acted up, tightening around the sterling wheels.
The more he thought about it, he increased his hold.
The car groaned in response to his hardness.
Maddox noticed the difference in him.
"Let him do things his way. He's Drexton, unpredictable," Maddox said without opening his eyes.
\[BLAKE'S HOUSE\]
Stepping out of his room is a thing of the past. He doesn't leave the room, and it's a good thing he didn't shut Audrey out. She's been the one taking care of him.
He believes that being here would be enough to take away his misery. He has tried moving on from Ixora, but it's just not working.
It gets worse when all he sees is her smile, all he smells is her scent, and the only thing he can feel is her soft touch. Each time he thinks about the trip she went with Drexton, it breaks his heart more.
He admits he's not as strong as Audrey. He's never been. He might be her elder brother, but when it comes to matters of the heart, he's weak.
He hasn't even touched his phone or watched television.
Skye had told him that Drexton had returned, which meant Ixora was back, too.
But he still couldn't see her, not yet. Who knows, he might act off again and behave badly with her.
The door burst open, and Audrey ran in.
"Have you heard the news?" She panted.
It was obvious she ran all the way here.
"What news?" Blake asked, uninterested.
"Ixora is getting married in three days." She broke the news, expecting to see a reaction from him.
Nothing happened.
"Congratulations to her then," he muttered.
"Huh?" Audrey looked around, confused. "I just said she's getting married."
"And I am sending my congratulations to her. Besides, he's the one she loves. Am I supposed to stop her wedding?"
Audrey blinked. "You know about the wedding? That she is getting married to James instead of Drexton."
Blake sat up, eyes widening in shock. "What?!"
\[NELLY'S HOUSE\]
She slammed the fridge shut and rested her back, sighing inwardly. She was wearing a black sweater over shorts, and her fake glasses were gone-not like anybody was going to visit her out of the blue.
She hadn't been herself since yesterday, and she was glad Ixora wasn't around; otherwise, she'd have pretended hard to be okay when she was not.
Two things were on her mind: first, the kiss with Maddox, which she regrets deeply. She shouldn't have lost control of herself. But when she saw him, she didn't know what had happened or how it had happened. She found herself melting in his touch, maybe because she hadn't felt that way in three years. Just misery and sadness.
Then the guy she bumped into. She didn't know why, but she couldn't forget his touch. It might have been only for a few seconds, but her brain was able to record the touch. She couldn't fathom the familiarity behind him. Somehow, he reminded her of...
She left the kitchen, recalling she'd been thinking a lot lately. She needs to clear her mind, nothing at all. If Ixora were here, they'd have hung out together. She couldn't go to Blake, not when he's still sulking over Ixora.
She arrived at the sitting room to see someone sitting on the couch. He wasn't facing her, but his hairstyle and the surrounding aura were what she could recognize anytime, any day. Maddox.
She took slow steps backwards.
He's the last person she'd want to see now. Not when his madness and inquisitiveness are driving her crazy.
"I can feel your presence, Nashira." He faced her with a sharp turn, making Nelly stagger.
Luckily, she held herself with irregular breath.
"Stop calling me that," she muttered, avoiding his gaze at all costs.
In just a flash, he was in front of her.
She walked back, and he followed her until there was no other escape for her.
"Isn't that what you are?" His eyes hovered around her face, as if they'd provide the answers to his questions.
"You know nothing about me."
"Correct." He pressed his pads to her chin. The cold finger sent shivers down her spine as he raised her chin, mirroring their gazes. "That is why I won't stop until you come clean."
"You kissed me like a pro, not something a nerd would do."
"T... The kiss was a mistake," she stuttered, her eyes refusing to leave his own.
"And that is to tell you, in my presence, you tend to lose yourself." His finger reached her lips, parting them open. "Just like the kiss, you'll willingly tell me who you are. I'm the only one who can match up to your wild nature."
"Why are you rubbing salt into my wound?" she asked, tears gathering at the corners of her eyes. "What's so hard about letting me be? Why are you so hellbent on finding out things about me?"
Maddox smirked, rubbing his thumb below her eyes, making sure to wipe out her tears. "The joy of seeing you this way. Broken. Sad."
Nelly tried reading his eyes, but it was the same. Emotionless. Maybe if she was able to read his eyes... just maybe watching him let his guard down even for a second.
He stepped away from her, ready to leave. "One more thing, your little friend is getting married."
"Who?" Nelly asked. "Ixora?"
He gave her a long stare and left without saying a word.
Nelly could still feel his madness surrounding her; he left them behind.
She remembered his words and rushed to fetch her phone.
On switching it on, the first thing she saw was the hot trending news on the internet.
The internet was on fire because of the news.
"This morning, Georgia Castellan broke wonderful news. She said the Castellan and Miller are going to become one. Her daughter and James had been so in love with each other. After discussing with them, they are ready to tie the wedding knots together. She ended her speech with 'a love so pure and true'."
"This isn't happening," she muttered, panic gnawing at her chest.
She dialled Ixora's line.
No answer.
From the shadows, someone lurked around. His eyes were as deadly as those of a snake.
He dialled a number.
"Hello, Dad. Someone's troubling your daughter-in-law, my princess. Gather his information. Maddox Creed."
\[STACY'S HOUSE\]
Skye lay on the bed, Bonnie's head on top of his chest. Stacy went to the agency, so it's both of them at home. Bonnie stopped crying the moment they returned from the cemetery.
"Are you okay?" Skye whispered, stroking her hair.
Bonnie nodded. "I'm fine. Will get over his death soon."
Skye smiled, pecking her hair. "Is there anything you want? I'll get it for you."
Bonnie secretly pinched herself. First, her dad's death, then he wouldn't leave her alone even for a second.
She smiled to herself, remembering she had a chance to hug Drexton.
The thing only her father's death could make possible.
She hugged him, and even though he didn't reciprocate, his scent did wrap around her.
She couldn't get enough of it. She could stay a whole day sniffing the scent if she got the chance.
And the interesting part, she did it while Ixora was around. She made sure Ixora realized that in Drexton's life, she was more important than her. Low-life bitch.
"Hmm?" Skye hummed softly.
"I'll let you know when I need something," she said, trying to keep her voice as calm as possible.
A little more of him and he'd be useless in her life. That reminds her...
"Were you about to get what I asked from Blake?"
Skye slowly pulled her away from his body and sat up.
He shook his head negatively. "I couldn't. Besides, what would you be doing with Ixora's personal information?"
Bonnie faked a smile. "Is it bad to want to know more about my friend?"
"I've been observing you, Bonnie. You always talk about Ixora whenever we are together and, at times, it feels as if you hate her."
"If you can't do it, just say so. None of these talks is necessary."
Skye fell speechless as he watched her take her phone.
A wide smile drew across her lips as she read the trending news.
"What?!" She screamed, scrambling out of bed.
Skye jerked, eyes following her. "What happened? Why did you shout? You scared me."
Bonnie faced him, the smile reaching her ears.
"Ixora is getting married!"