Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Pitfall

ARIANNA

I squeezed my eyes shut, my body already craving his hands around me. Tears of frustration pooled in my eye, threatening to roll down my cheeks.

After I had dropped the call with the woman that had sent me the pictures, I had decided I would find the truth myself.

I had thought I could tell him to give me space with a stoic face but here I was, breaking down over the phone.

“Let me come pick up, you can tell me want you face to face” He let out, the rumbling of his car letting me know he was on his way already.

“Okay” I was doing this just to see him one more time before he gives me the space I asked for.

I packed my bags slowly, anticipation and dread warring within me. As I opened my door, my gaze went straight to Glory’s office.

What I saw next shocked me. Derek held Glory by the waist as he kissed her against the wall of her office.

I looked away, my cheeks burning. I walked into the elevator hurriedly, hoping neither of them had seen me.

A squeal came out of my mouth then, I always knew there was something between them. My smile faded as I got to the first floor.

Lucien paced the front of the building, his head snapping towards me as I stepped out of the building.

He came towards me but didn’t pull me into his arms like he always did. I shifted towards him, my hands clutching tightly at the handle of my bag.

“Hey” I let out, my voice sounding hoarse. “Baby” He responded, his arms drawing me closer at the same time I felt tears roll down my cheeks.

I know I should confront him first but I needed this, I wasn’t proud of how dependent have become on him.

His hugs now felt like the only place I could breathe properly. “What is darling? What is wrong? Did someone hurt you?” He asked, each question carrying a growl with it.

It was quite funny how the one who wanted to protect me was the one who hurt me. “You told me she was your Ex” I questioned as we settled into the car.

I turned to face him looking for signs he had lied to me. “Who?” He asked, dropping the seat belt he had pulled over his chest.

I searched his eyes, seeing only pure confusion there. “Here” I handed the box of pictures to him, dreading the look of shock that might come across his face.

Confusion bled to anger, his hands fisting the pictures in them. “Who sent these to you?” He asked, his eyes hard.

I blinked at him, wondering why he was angry. If anybody was to get angry, I would be the one.

“Why are you getting angry?” I questioned, my eyes narrowing on him. “Because these pictures were taken years ago. I thought I had burned it”

“The person who had sent it said they were recent” I threw back at him, a silver of hope shining within me.

Could it be the woman was trying to win Lucien back? “I had burned the suit I was wearing here” He stated clearly.

“We would look through my closet together when we get home” He declared, starting the car immediately.

I swallowed, the need for him to be telling the truth so strong it formed a lump in my throat. I gazed outside the window as he sped down the road to his house.

Once he parked his car, he dragged me behind him into his building. The security at the door didn’t offer a greeting like he did every time Lucien and I walked into the building.

He must sense something was wrong. “I told you I would never betray you” He let out as the elevator hummed with power.

“The pictures threw me off…I knew you were the one there, what did you expect me to think?” I asked, a sniffle following it.

“This should be seven years ago, when she and I were still together. She had told me a report sent these pictures to her” He explained, his tone low.

That meant she had hired someone to take their pictures. But why? As if reading my mind Lucien spoke up.

“Apparently, the reporter wanted to an exclusive interview with her but she refused which led to him stalking her” He added.

“But it wasn’t true, was it?” I questioned. “Her story actually checked out, except the man had denied taking those pictures even though I found it on his camera”

So basically, the woman had framed the reporter because he was disturbing her. And now she sent those same pictures to me to warn me away from Lucien.

I didn’t say anything else, the knot that had formed in my chest since I saw the pictures and took her call started loosening bit by bit.

We stepped into his apartment, stepping out of our shoes as we walked towards his room. He held the picture before him as he rummaged through his clothes.

Even before he turned to tell me the suit wasn’t in his place, I had come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth.

He must have seen that exact same thing in my eyes, he flung away the pictures as he cupped my cheeks.

His head lowered against mine, his lips taking mine with a soft caress. “I am sorry I doubted you” I whispered against his lips when we broke the kiss.

“You have no reason to be sorry; the pictures were pretty strong evidence” He whispered back to me as he peeled off his suit jacket.

“Don’t just request for space from me, Ari. I don’t think I can handle that” His eyes peered into mine.

I kissed him this time around, pouring my heartaches and apologies into the kiss. I think there was a part of me that knew Lucien wouldn’t do that.

It simply showed how I was still healing from the pitfall that was Kieran.

“Now you would pay for thinking you can leave me” Lucien growled out.