Chapter 6
1730 Words
Valeriane
Air thickened, tension filled the room.
I could hear my own heartbeat.
Humiliation settles heavily in my chest, my fingers felt slippery against the card in my palm, my hand instantly turned it over, staring at it.
My heart dropped to my stomach when I saw what it was.
“Val.” Lucian called, my eyes threatening to explode with tears. “Look at me Val, did you see what he has done to you?”
They both hurt me.
“Lucian held my wrist, his grip was tight, I shifted uncomfortably in my position when my eyes snapped to his and he softened his hold.
Fear slammed into my chest when his eyes met mine. His gaze darkened as he watched me.
“My brother is a heartless womanizer; he loves no one, he cares for only one thing and that’s the mere reason he even walked into this room.”
I paused.
Thoughts poured into my mind, I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to forget the pain I felt.
“You don’t think he would be doing any of this because he likes me.” I asked, my voice aching with pain.
Lucian’s eyes shifted from mine, a frown deepened on his face.
I shook my head at the thought of what happened earlier, how did I go from pleasure to humiliation and I hated the ache my skin felt, I hated the feeling of vibrations between my thighs.
“I’m not saying that, I know my brother more than you do, I know his ways and I will not let him do this to you, hand me the card Val.” Lucian demanded, his voice tightening at every sentence, his face was filled with anger.
He was yet to recover from what he has seen? I was yet to recover too.
His gaze settled heavily on my face.
My lips trembling, I felt my heart throbbing against my chest
“No.”
The words he felt heavy against my lips yet it was nothing compared to the throbbing in my head, I was yet to figure out if it is out of fear or something else.
I watched as Lucian’s eyes widened in surprise.
“What did you think Lucian?” I asked, anger and frustration slammed through my chest, I felt a wave of anxiety wash over me. “Do you even have a heart?” My lips tremble.
“What I-“
He attempted to speak when he swallowed his words, his jaw twitching in annoyance.
“Are you worried to see me.” I paused, tears threatening to fall out. “Your possession lose control.” I asked harshly.
My cheek damned with tears, my lips quivering in anger.
I watched as he closed his eyes for a moment, when he snapped it open. Every emotion earlier disappeared from it. His eyes softened, his gaze didn’t feel distasteful, he had a small smile on his face.
He pulled his hand softly away from my hand and both hands found its place settled on my shoulder.
He stared at me, as if he was studying me, trying to understand my thoughts, it felt like he was trying to stare into my soul.
I felt small under his gaze.
I froze when I felt his hand forming little circles on my shoulder.
“I’m sorry.” Lucian whispered, his eyes lowering down, his face covered with sadness.
Wait what.
Confusion slammed through my thoughts, slow and suffocating, until everything made no sense
“I know it’s not my place to tell you what to do Val? And I know this wedding has been a disaster, I’m not even mad you let him to touch you.” His voice calm and soft spoken, his gaze settled on mine.
“I just can’t.” His voice broke.
His gaze fell on mine, studying my every reaction. Lucian’s eyes was filled with sadness, his hands were folded.
“I can’t believe you will forget me, forget us.” Lucian spoke
His voice wrapped around my thoughts is carefully, I almost doubted what was real? Lucian is apologizing to me.
“What?” I asked.
“You met my brother once.” Lucian’s voice softened, painfully. “Once, Val and suddenly you can’t remember anything between us.”
His thump brushed against my wrist gently and a shiver runs down my spine.
“I’m still me, I’m still the same person you trust.”
His words remained dangerously calm, each word slipping into my mind like poison.
My stomach twisted uncomfortably.
My pulse raced, my heart and mind collided with different thoughts, I didn’t know what to believe.
“You told me, you said you were only doing it to make her jealous, you treated me like dirt, you didn’t care how I felt.”
“That’s where you are wrong? I cared, why did you think I came back, we all said things Val, it doesn’t mean we mean any of it, people say things in hate, people say things in anger, it doesn’t mean it’s the truth, when I said I wanted you to be my girlfriend , I meant it.” He spoke.
I should walk away, yet every word pulled me, confusion twisted painfully inside me.
“You meant it.” My voice softened, my mind almost believing him, yet my heart remembered what happened the last time I trusted any of his words.
“You know who I blame, Genevieve.” He spoke. “You think I wanted any of this, Genevieve knows exactly how to get under my skin, she knew what she was doing that night and somehow I am the villain, did you ever think if roles were reversed,.” His eyes lifted up.
Finding him in a room with a naked Genevieve. Even the mere thought caused an ache through my chest.
“Bad.” I breathed out.
“Yes that’s how I felt and you know she is not good for me just like I know Malachi is not good for you, that’s why I am asking for the card, not because of anything, not because I want to have control over you, but because you are family.”
I didn’t want to believe him, I knew what it had done to me in the past but, his eyes, his words made me want to hand it over.
“I care about you Val, believe it or not, and maybe I am not so great at showing it, but I do, I care for you, and I don’t want to see you get hurt, get mocked by people, that’s what will happen if you are with Malachi, have you thought about how your parents will feel if they see this card.” He asked
I haven’t.
My eyes pulled away from his and it settled on the card.
My father will cause a scene and my step mother will not let me hear the last of it. I don’t want to hurt their feelings.
Lucian sounds genuine, he won’t want to hurt me.
Lucian pulled away.
“Lucian I, what if his intentions are not bad?” I asked, for a second, I could not believe the words that escaped my lips, I barely know this man, all it took was a spin to the world of pleasure to have me asking questions.
“Please.” Lucian whispered, he leaned closer to me; his face was just inches away from mine, I felt my chest resting with uncontrollable thoughts when he leaned his temples against mine. “You need to give me the card.” He begged. “That’s the only way I know you won’t fall for his tricks, do you know how many of those cards he passed to girls today, so many, he is only looking for members for his club, every thing he wants is strictly business, I swear to you Val.”
His voice was a bit higher, almost as if he was trying to control himself, and his hand never left mine
I felt uncomfortable under his touch, my skin filled with goosebumps and his words getting to me.
Malachi did touch me without even knowing who I was? And he spoke badly of me.
Lucian pulled away, he took a good look at me before placing his knee to the ground.
I paused.
Will he really? He can’t do this.
“Lucian, what are you doing?” I asked. “Get up Lucian.”
His head was bowed down, when my hands found its place touching his face softly, he didn’t pull away, instead he held my hand.
“I f****d up badly, I should have never let you come here all alone, it’s my fault Malachi even happened, but please, I don’t know what I will do if he hurts you, I do not what to have to hurt my brother.” Lucian begged. “I don’t know what I will do without you Val.”
His eyes darted to mine and my eyes softened, there was a glimpse of tears threatening to fall out of his eyes, he squeezed my hand softly and my body reacted before my mind could stop it.
“You will hurt him for me.” I asked, my voice low. “Lucian.”
Lucian’s eyes held honestly.
“I am trying to protect you Val.” His voice cracked softly.”Even if you hate me for it later, I can live with it.”
My heart softened at his words, I could not seem to shake off the stir of doubt in my heart.
He pulled his hand in the air
Panic slammed through my chest.
Something about his tears felt wrong, my eyes faster to the card one last time before I slipped it into his hand.
His smile widened on his face as he squeezed the paper.
“Thank you Val, I knew you won’t let me down. You should come visit tomorrow, my parents will love to have you, you know how my dad keeps talking about you, and my mom will be elated to have you around, you have to say yes.” Lucian smiled.
“Yes.” I breathed out.
My blood instantly ran cold. I realized too late what I had done.
I memorized Malachi’s address.
- Writer
