Chapter 31 The Chaotic Dinner
I was deep in my thoughts as I walked back to the house, the card in my palm gave me chills. My mind reeled back to the conversation I had with Cecilia.
What does she know about my father’s death?
For all I know, my father was run over by a car while he tried crossing the road by midnight drunk to stupor. The driver hadn’t seen him.
I sighed, running my hand through my hair. Why should I even be thinking about this? She was probably just trying to play mind games with me.
I tossed the card into my pocket. The sound of laughter from the dining room reached my ears. Tan and her parents had already arrived.
My footsteps became softer as I tried to walk pass quietly and go upstairs before a hand stopped me. I looked up to see Garett, the butler, staring back at me with a blank look on his aging face.
“Master said to tell you to join them once you return,” He said curtly.
I groaned, trying to plaster a smile on my face as I turned towards the dining hall.
“A very good investment I must say, Mr. Duke. Perhaps we…” Aurick stopped mid way as I scrapped the chair noisily before sitting.
I looked at the occupants at the table. Tan and Barth were seated together across from me. Aurick had taken a seat at the end of the table and I was sitting beside my mother.
Tan’s parents were seated at the rear end. Tan’s mother had a scowl on her face as she stared at me, Tan’s dad however gave me a blank stare mirroring Aurick.
Tan had a small grin on as her fingers intertwined with Barth’s hand on the table, an act visible to all and was done to spite me. Despite the ache in my chest, I ignored them, not bothering to look at Barth.
I wondered if I should tell him about his mother’s confrontation earlier…
“You’re late,” Aurick’s stern voice loomed over the table.
I tried to give an apologetic smile. Aurick had been cold towards me since that day and I don’t blame him. I almost jeopardize his name.
“I’m sorry. I wanted to get some fresh air but I got distracted.”
“Oh, the repercussions of your actions getting to you already?” Tan asked with a chuckle.
“Tan!” Her father said glaring at her and she shrugged, stuffing her mouth with a bite of the streak.
Harry Duke glanced my way. “Don’t mind her. She can be a handful sometimes but she doesn’t mean what she says.”
I nodded. I didn’t care anymore. Tan could go to hell.
“I hear that you are now taking online classes,” Tan’s mother, Jules, was the one who spoke this time.
Before I could speak, Aurick cut in.
“Yes. She will be taking online classes till everything subsides. It’s for the best,” He responded with a tight smile.
I bit on my lower lip staring down at my food, my appetite was lost a long time ago. I watched, listened as they spoke, feeling like a ghost at the table.
My mother’s hand reached out to mine under the table, her warmth creeping into my skin.
“Are you okay?” She muttered to me while the others laughed.
“Yes. Don’t worry about me,” I responded with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
She nodded, her eyes filled with worry.
I finally had the courage to look up and my eyes met Barth’s. The world seemed to have disappeared leaving the two of us as the table.
I licked my lips, my fingers fidgeting under the table. I couldn’t breathe. I needed air. I stood up, and everyone looked at me. Barth’s gaze was soft and still distant as his eyes bored into me but I didn’t want to be in the same space as them all.
I really didn’t feel like I belonged here with them.
I walked away before anyone could stop me.
…
“I knew I would find you here,” Barth’s voice came behind me, startling me.
I was standing at the balcony, looking at the space under me. Lights from the city a few distance from the estate were visible.
“What are you doing here?”
He didn’t respond, instead, he took slow steps towards me that suddenly made me feel castrophobic.
“Should you be with your guests?” I asked again, my back hitting the balcony rails.
His hand reached out to touch me, his fingers grazing my cheeks as our eyes met. His gaze was filled with concern and his eyes made me almost melt in them.
“You look unwell.”
I chuckled, gaining my sanity back as I smacked his palm away. “You don’t have to worry about your step sister when your girlfriend and her parents are waiting for you.”
His face darkened. “Do you think I want this?!”
“Who cares about what you want?!” I half yelled. “I stopped caring when I heard everything you said about me. And for the record, I’m not surprised. I knew I meant nothing to you.”
“Don’t say that!” He cupped my face. “Don’t you ever think that. You mean everything to me, Yvonne and I’m sorry I hurt you. I said those things before I got to know the real you. I hated the fact that someone was going to come into my life and scatter the peace I had created in my head and you did. Not only did you bring chaos, you brought a warmth that I didn’t think I need. I wanted to show you parts of me, parts of me I have never shown to anyone. And I’m sorry, I wish I could take those words back.”
I listened to his words, feeling the sincerity in his voice, his eyes and his touch but it didn’t mean anything now…
“It doesn’t matter anymore. You are happy with someone else…”
“That’s not true,” His gaze dropped to my lips. “I’m only happy when I’m with you.”
Barth crashed his lips on mine, kissing me with so much urgency and longing. His tongue poked on my lower lip and I opened up before I could stop myself, kissing him back with the same intensity, melting in his mouth.
My hands flew to his hair as he deepened the kiss. His tongue devouring and exploring every corner of my mouth. His body warmth enveloped me and I felt wet between my thighs.
The kiss was raw and intense and my head was filled with thoughts of him. I wanted him to turn me over and fucked me right here in the balcony while the others were inside and they could hear me scream.
But, that won’t be possible.
This was wrong.
So wrong.
A tear fell from my cheek as I pushed him away.
PAR!
My hand flew to his cheek as I glared at him, wiping my lips. My face filled with disgust.
“Don’t you ever touch me without my permission!”
Without waiting for another word from him, I walked away.