Thorns of Roses

Run

Song for this Chapter:

Can I Be him-James Arthur

CHAPTER 23

CORINNE

As we got closer and closer to the Mayhems' Mansion in Malibu, my heart beat faster and faster. I know that when we are there, I will face the reality. The reality is that Diesel and I will never be together and I can't do anything because he's getting married to someone I also love unconditionally, my sister.

Do you know the feeling that you want to get angry, you want to cry in front of them all, you want to lose your anger? But you can't do it because you have to think first about how they will feel, you have to think about their welfare rather than your own. I have to be strong even though my soul is being killed little by little, I have to smile in front of them even though my heart is breaking.

Carina knows I am in love with Diesel. And even though my sister is being mean and rude to me right now, I can still see that she sees me as her older sister every time she’s looking at me. my sister is a very good person, she just has to do that in front of everyone and her own mother. But I can feel it, I can feel that she still loves me.

Diesel knows I love him, but I can’t blame him. He already drew the line many years ago, I am just the one who can’t stop loving him whilst he sees me just a friend.

This is the least I can do for them not to think about me, not to get awkward with me.

Blaze drove us yesterday after breakfast at that café in downtown, sure we made some stop but he actually drove almost 43 hours from New York to Malibu. I even suggest to him that we can just book a flight and will only took us 4-5 hours, but he insisted that he will drive, he said he loves to.

It's funny to think that the Blaze I'm with now is far from the Blaze I knew on campus. He can talk nonstop and a great ice breaker when we are both silent. He keeps me company, he keeps my mind occupied when I start thinking bad thoughts. It's surprising because I know him and everyone knows him to be quiet and carefree and doesn’t give a flying f**k about anyone surrounds him. But he's here with me, doing me a favor that I know I will repay when the time comes. I know there's more to Blaze's good deeds now. I know the time will come when he will charge me for this.

It’s only a matter of time.

When we reach the Los Angeles Border, He parked the car on some dark alley, and some dirty thoughts pushed through my mind and he noticed it instantly and he laughed at me, he told me were just going to get dress there inside his car to save some time for us to get in dinner on time. I didn’t think that having s*x with him, is kind of addicting, he will make sure that you craved for it, for him. And for me, that’s the scary part when it comes to him. Aside from Love, Lust is one of the powerful feeling one person can have. you can't even choose who will turn you so f*****g on, it just happened. Too bad for me, it's my enemy. Maybe it's the hate that what makes me so drawn to him. we just didn't have s*x, we're having a rough hard s*x that I don't know I wanted too, not until him.

He opened some close door that I didn’t even know myself.

By the time we reached their mansion he looks exhausted and didn’t hop off his car immediately, he closes his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath.

A blonde woman is waiting for us outside the door, and she’s smiling so bright flashing her pearly white teeth even her t**s is out for everyone to see.

I think, she’s in her thirties.

“I told you, we should just take the flight.”

“I am fine. At least I had 43 hours with you.” He smirks flirtatiously.

“Stop it.”

He chuckles “Stop what?”

“Flirting with me.”

“Why? Can't two people who are dating flirt with each other?”

“Take note. Fake dating.” I emphasis every word.

He smirks “Rude.”

“Who is that?” I point to the woman who is waiting outside they’re mansion.

Blaze smiles fall “That’s Annette.”

“Yeah, whose she?”

“My father’s little girlfriend who likes to think she will be a f*****g queen one day.” He sounds pissed off. “Come on.” He hops of his car and I did the same.

Once were outside of his car, he walks closer to me and suddenly hold my hands in a very very gentle way, that I didn’t know he can do. He made me feel safe? I think. I don’t know if that is the right word to say.

Annette’s smile fall as she looks Blaze and I’s entangled hands but instantly compose herself when Blaze’s father walks out of the door to greet us.

I think this Annette is on to the father and to the son, such a gold digger.

Havoc saw our hands, and his smile grew bigger. “Thank god, both of you decides to show up.”

“Yeah,” He squeezed my hand while looking down at me “Corinne here made me so occupied this weekend.”

My stomach churn but managed to smile back at him, we’re fake dating. I have to act at least like it. “Aw, such a sweet boy.” I put my hands on his face and he clears his throat, as if telling me that I am too much.

“I am glad you two are getting cozy not like last winter when you almost kill my son.” There’s no bitterness or venom in Havoc’s voice, he seems to be genuinely happy that his son and I were getting along.

I chuckle “Who would’ve thought, right?” It’s my turn to look up Blaze, and he have this same fire he had last night on his eyes that instantly makes me wet.

“Told you, this woman is literally the death of me.”

Both of them laugh and I did the same, actually, Annette does the same but it’s a f*****g fake one. I smirk at her and even shove my f*****g t**s on Blaze’s arms that earn me a devious look by Blaze.

“We should head inside, I am sure your parents wanted to see you too for my son had snatch you from them.” Havoc and Annette starts walking inside, but Blaze whispers to my ear seductively.

“What was that about?”

“What?”

“You shoving your f*****g t**s on me, your naughty little slut.”

I swallowed hard through his rash words that made me even more wet. “I just did you a favor since that conniving b***h looks like she wanted to eat you alive.”

He chuckles while were walking inside they’re massive mansion “Territorial, aren’t we, baby?”

Baby, oh fudge. I want him inside me now.

Once we set foot inside, they’re outdoor garden that had access to the Malibu sea, a pair of emerald eyes were already staring back at me.

But that's not all I noticed, Carina was next to him and he was also holding her hands as if they were comfortable with each other. But Diesel's eyes were staying on mine, didn't even faltered as he looked down at Blaze and I's holding hands.

“Almost two days you’re with my daughter and she looks like a real elitist.” It’s my father.

My hold on blaze’s hands tightened, and he looks at me with curious stare but I managed to smile at him.

“Isn’t she looks fine?” Blaze sounds proudly.

“She is more than fine.” It’s Diesel, Carina clears her throat.

Off course, none of our parents even noticed the boiling temperature right now. because none of the truly cares.

We start the dinner peacefully, just talking about business and politics. My heart was pounding, I wished they stay at that topic. This is the first time in a while that I wished for them to talk about their own power not anything else.

Diesel and Carina were sitting in front of me, whilst Blaze is beside me.

My father is on the other end and his father is on the other end of the table too, while Martha and Annette are beside them.

This is just a private dinner with the Mayhem’s. I kept thinking, except I know that it wasn’t.

“So, the time has come for us two families to unite as one as family.” Havoc starts and my hand twitch, I already see blaze’s eyes were on mine as his hands hold my legs from beneath the table. Reassuring me, keeping me at bay.

“We will start this family merge with my nephew, Diesel and to your second daughter, Carina this coming next month.”

My eyes widened, as I looked at Diesel, he knows about this because he didn’t even react, he’s just watching me as if waiting for my reaction. Carina was looking at me too, surprisingly, she looks sad and defeated.

“Next—Next month?” I splutter.

Blaze’s hold on my legs tightened, warning me.

Havoc nods “Yes.”

“That’s—that’s three weeks from now.” I am sure my eyes were water right now. I put my hands on my shaking legs, Blaze hold it so tight and I looked at him, he’s already looking at me.

“I don’t see a problem with the date since Carina and Diesel talks about it.” Havoc looks confused.

I looked at the two lovers in front of me, Diesel is now looking so f*****g guilty.

“So—you two have—a relationship?”

Carina bow her head as Diesel drink his wine just to keep himself from answering me.

I scoffed. “Fuck.” I mutter.

“Baby?” It’s Blaze, “Calm down.” He whispers.

I just nod. Trying to compose myself, as they look at me with curious stare.

“Is there a problem, Corinne?” It’s my father who decides to intervene.

I shake my head “No, nothing. Just thinking that Carina was too young for this, isn’t she?”

"We don't see any problem with Carina regarding this marriage. She didn't object since we also asked for her opinion about this." It's Martha. You f*****g b***h, I know you're the only one making the decision for your daughter who barely even finished high school and you're ready to marry her off just for money and power.

I nod “I see.” I looked at Carina, this is the first time I saw her helpless, nope. She didn’t like this at all.

I don’t know if this is jealousy or just me being an older sister trying to protect her?

I don’t know anymore.

Blaze didn’t remove his hands from me, not even a second.

I raised my wine glass and look at the two both of them, trying to keep my tears at bay “Well, congratulations.” And I drink my wine, chug it down until there’s nothing left.

“Are you okay, honey?” Martha acting like she cares.

I nod “Yep. Just happy for the both of them, I guess.”

Havoc and my father nods as they decide to make a late toast for the soon to be husband and wife.

We all continue with our dinner without me saying another word “You want to get out of here?” Blaze whispers.

I smiled at him, and shakes my head “No, let’s finish the dinner.”

"You two, I notice you're getting close to each other." It's Havoc once again with a huge grin on his face.

Blaze holds my hands and raise it for everyone at the dinner table to see “We are. Actually, we’re dating.”

I tried to smile, the best as I could. I looked at Diesel and he has this look on his face that he just wanted to strangle the life out of me, as if I f*****g betrayed him.

Our parents clap and looks so f*****g satisfied with what Blaze just announced. And curiosity gets the best of me.

“That’s the best news I ever had this week.” It’s my father. He’s the one who told me to be a b***h with a bigger Mayhem. I don’t know if what he just said is true or just a f*****g act?

“Yeah, who would have thought that these two are like cat and dog who likes to fight with each other, and now they are dating." Havoc nods satisfied "We won't have any trouble matching them after Diesel and Carina."

“What?” Havoc’s word rings through my ears like a church bell.

“What?” He asked.

“What did you just say about me and Blaze’s?”

I can feel Blaze’s hand tightened more holding my hands as he bows his head and chug his own wine. I looked at him.

“Blaze?” But he didn’t answer or even looked at me.

“We were going to announced it after Diesel and Carina’s wedding, to make our families more united. You and my son were set to get married five weeks from now.” Havoc explained calmly. “We don’t see any problem right now, don’t we? Since you’re already dating my son. It’s a start.”

My mouth gaped, as I looked at my father with his warning look, nodding at me.

Oh my god.

This can’t be happening. I am marrying the Angry god? Oh, f**k, no.

“Do you—do you know about this?” I asked Blaze, and suddenly, Carina and Diesel became the background of this night.

Blaze looks at me “I do.”

I try to act as calm as possible for them not to notice the turmoil that’s going on inside me.

Once again, I was set up. I was caught in the dead end. With nothing or nowhere to run.

I looked Carina, she has this sad look on his eyes again. Is it sympathy?

“Corinne, are you okay? You seem get pale.” It’s Annette.

I tried to remove Blaze’s hold on my hand underneath the table but he didn’t make it easier but I managed “Yeah.” I smiled perfectly f*****g fake for all of this clown sitting with me. “I just need to go to the bathroom.”

“Sure, take your time honey.” It’s my Father, but I didn’t even turn around to look for every one of them, I went straight to the bathroom, because anywhere is safe when they’re not around.

Once I am standing out of they're sight, i did nothing, but Run.