Love Me Or I Die

CHAPTER 21

Steven persuaded her with good intentions. She had sacrificed too much for him, for late Sophia, and for their family. He did not wish for her to live the rest of her life in hatred; if not, her whole life would truly be ruined.

Stella vaguely understood his intentions, but determination still flashed across her eyes.

Regret? The edges of her lip lifted. No, she wouldn’t regret. She would never.

Sometimes, humans could be really overconfident; and the result of overconfidence was unimaginable pain.

In the car, Lucia placed her hand on her lap, her vision hazy. Her heart felt empty, very empty.

“If I was the one who died then, would all of you be happy?” Her lips curved slightly, her smile a little dull.

If she died, would all of them be happy? Daniel and that mother of hers.

The car stopped suddenly. If not for the seatbelt, Lucia’s body would have been thrown against the windshield.

Her shoulders were grabbed suddenly with an immense strength it almost made her bones hurt—as if they were being crushed.

“Take back your words, Lucia.” Daniel’s deep black eyes were slightly red. He didn’t like her saying this type of self-loathing words. Sophia was already dead. Did she think that she could salvage anything? Were his anger and his frustration really… because of this?

“Don’t you wish for me to die early, too?” She raised her head, extremely sorrowful but helpless. Was there anyone who loved her in this world? She received much more hatred from the world than she did love, even though she did not do anything wrong.

“That’s enough, Lucia. I don’t want to hear you saying something like that again. I never said I wanted you to die early.” Daniel’s hands on her shoulders were still tight and forceful.

His eyes were deep. She smiled slightly, a bitter tear falling from the corner of her eye. Was that not the case? Was there anyone who cared about her life? Even her mother wished for her early death. Would this man who hated her care?

Then, she felt herself being reeled into an extremely warm embrace. She shut her eyes gently. So such a cold man could be so warm, too.

“I never wanted for you to die early. Regardless of whether I admit it or not—and whether you’re willing or not, you are still my wife. Lucia, I realized that while hating you, I have started to care for you. Do you understand what this means?”

Daniel’s hands wound tightly around her waist and felt her jump lightly in his arms. His lips curled up into a smile at this moment. He never wanted her to die early—never ever—for what he wanted was…

For her to stay…

In a living hell.

Under the flashing light, the man’s features seemed colder and more callous. Perhaps this was his true nature.

She hugged his clothes tightly and took a deep breath of the faint tobacco scent on him. She felt like her heart, which shattered into pieces, was slowly growing back together and healing again.

“Daniel James…” She called his name, her throat closing up. Could she think of it as him starting to fall for her, even just a little?

“Woman, is there anyone who would call her husband by their full name?” He smiled suddenly and cupped her face with one hand. She was touched, her face filled with emotions and fear she couldn’t mask.

“Call me by my name next time, Lucia.” He pressed his lips softly against her forehead then shifted down. Every kiss was soft and full of doting love; every kiss was as if it was for his most treasured woman.

“Say it for me to hear.” His voice was alluring, making her body shiver.

“Say it,” he murmured softly, gently. It was such an intimate gesture. She could not escape; neither did she want to. Was it really coming true? Could she really get what she wanted?

“Ah Daniel…” It was such an intimate way of addressing him. Her lips opened and closed, and her words made his eyes darken.

“Good girl, say it one more time. I like hearing you say my name.” His lips grazed along her lashes to her face, making her unable to escape. If this really was a trap, then she would gladly fall into it.

“Ah Daniel…

“I love you!”

Daniel’s heart skipped a beat. Her declaration of love pierced through the depths of his heart, making him remember this sour feeling for a very long time. It was unforgettable.

He did not speak but used his actions to reply to her instead. His lips continued moving down.

He reached her lips, and she lifted her head, her long lashes brushing against his face. His lips were touching hers slightly, not pressing deeper. She realized her heart was racing, almost engulfing her and making her breath stop.

She wound her hands around his neck, kissing him back for the first time. They were kissing inseparably in the car. Daniel’s eyes flashed with something indescribable that went unnoticed by her.

That night, they interacted with a never-before lingering gentleness and passion. She was completely devoted, giving every part of her body and her heart—as well as her soul—to this man.

In the dark, the Sophia in the picture hanging on the wall seemed to smile even brighter.

Morning came, and sunlight lit up the entire room. Lucia opened her eyes slightly and realized that she was held tightly in Daniel’s embrace. She lowered her head shyly, still in disbelief that the passionate and aggressive woman from yesterday was her.

“Why, are you shy?” Daniel’s deep voice rang beside her head. He ran a callous hand across her back under the blanket and stopped at her collarbone, sending shivers down her spine.

“Don’t do that.” She pushed him away lightly. It was ticklish. Her face—extremely pale—was tinted a light cherry pink, and it was so gorgeous.

“Haha…” Rich male laughter rang beside her ears, and her heart seemed to be in sync with his vibrations. Thump, thump, thump…

It was just like Beethoven’s fated musical notes. She wasn’t sure whether it was going from fast to slow or from low to high—or if it will go from resounding to tranquil… just like fate.

“I like your behavior yesterday. You really made me feel satisfied.” He moved in closer to her ears on purpose and took her sensitive ear lobe into his mouth gently. He never had a shortage of women so he knew the female body like the back of his hands, but the innocent and pure Lucia had nothing to compare his experience with.

She was a little taken aback. His actions made even her chest blush a tantalizing pink.

Simply looking at her roused Daniel’s desire easily. He stood up hurriedly and looked at the picture hanging on the wall. His eyes landed on Sophia, and the heat on his face finally subsided.

Lucia caught on and raised her head, following his gaze to the picture. She shut her eyes gently. She was still not comparable to her.

“Don’t think too much. I just don’t want to be late.” Daniel’s voice came closer again, and he pressed his lips lightly against hers, swollen from all previous kisses he gave her.

“I can’t deny that she will always be in my heart, and I’m not sure of what I feel for you right now. I have known her since I was young. I can’t forget her so easily. Do you understand? We can’t forget our responsibilities. I have already tormented you, and you have paid for what you did, but I can’t forget her just like this. It’s unfair to her. She’s innocent.”

He raised his hand and placed it on her face gently. “I believe you didn’t do it on purpose, because you have let me come to know a different you.”

His gentle caress seemed to rub away the last defenses of the woman’s heart.

“Do you really believe me… that I didn’t…?” She wanted to say something, but he placed his hand on her lips as if he did not want to hear what she had to say.

“It’s okay, we can stop talking about this. I’m hungry. Shouldn’t you be preparing breakfast for your husband?” He smiled slightly, the morning light falling on his face and neutralizing his slightly cold features.

“I got it. I’ll go prepare immediately.” Lucia nodded her head lightly. She sat up and then realized that she was not wearing any clothes. She blushed furiously, turning around to wear her clothes. Even though they were already the most intimate of couples, she still was not used to exposing herself in front of him.

Daniel stared at her elegant curves from behind her. Her back still had the marks left from the passionate night yesterday, but she had not noticed it. His lips curved into a slight smile, extremely cold and callous; but perhaps it was because he was against the sunlight.

Lucia finally put on her clothes. The moment she walked out, her legs gave out. Her face became even redder, and she did not dare to turn and look at him.

The door closed softly. Daniel then retrieved a cigarette from the bedside drawer. The huffs and puffs he took made his features blurry and fogged.

He only put out the cigarette when the cigarette butt almost scalded his fingers. He stood up and walked towards the bathroom. When he walked out, he was once again the superior CEO of his company.

When he opened the door, the maid Helen scrambled up immediately the moment she saw him as if he was some tremendous flood. He pursed his lips in displeasure… was he so scary?

However, if he looked into the mirror now, he would know himself whether he was scary or not. His perpetually cold expression, extremely sharp looks… coupled with his thin and fickle lips and icy, colorless black eyes. This was the business genius that was known to all, not to mention his effective methods and callous heart. If he was not in this industry that ate people up whole, he would have run out of bones to munch on.

He never had the habit of eating breakfast, but this woman changed him effortlessly. He realized surprisingly that he felt hungry in the subsequent mornings just after that one breakfast. Since she was the one who caused him to become like this, she would be in charge of feeding him in the future.

He did not realize that he had used the word ‘future’. She was the second woman he used it on, other than the late Sophia.

She made a few simple side dishes and two bowls of porridge. The living room was filled with a light fragrance, making his thumb twitch and his appetite increase. Even though they were only simple homemade dishes, he could not help but like the taste. He thought he liked to eat extremely spicy food, but he realized he was wrong. He actually liked dishes that had a light taste with minimal seasoning the best.

Lucia put a large bowl in front of him, but he kept staring at the small bowl in her hand. She blinked lightly and lowered her head in confusion.

“Is that not enough for you?” She smiled ever so innocently. Then, she stood up and poured half of the porridge from her bowl into his.

“I’ll give half of mine to you if that’s not enough. I’m not that hungry.” She had laughter in her eyes. If he really wanted more, she was okay with not eating.

“No, that’s enough.” Daniel picked up the bowl in his hand and started eating gracefully. Did she think he was a pig? To be able to finish a meal for two—though, he really could.

She looked at him with a radiant and gentle smile. No matter where he was, he would always be the center of attention with his good upbringing.

“I’m going to work.” He stood up. Lucia passed him his briefcase, but he just furrowed his eyebrows slightly, not moving from where he was standing.

“What’s wrong? Did you forget something?” She searched around. Did he really forget something?

“You’re the one who forgot something, not me. Miss Lucia, have you forgotten that you’re someone’s wife?” Daniel crossed his arms as he stood. All his female partners in the past clung to him, kissing him and not willing to let him go… while she was seemingly chasing him out.

It made him extremely displeased.

Lucia’s mind was still a little blank. What did she forget? It was not as if she did not know that this was the first day she was really his wife.

Daniel walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulders, kissing her slightly opened lips fiercely and taking away all her senses wildly.

“Miss Lucia, remember.” His lips landed on the lips that had another layer of red on them. “This is the morning kiss you give to your husband.” His expression was deep, his features holding his always-reserved confidence.

“Did you remember, hmm?” He drew back his fingers, and she nodded her head immediately. Her face had a light blush. Her innocence showed through her shyness.

She was already married but was still so innocent. It was not clear where she got her personality.

He looked at her again and then walked out. He glanced at his watch. It would be eight o’clock sharp when he reached the office.

Lucia stared at the door in a daze for a long time. A hand of hers reached out to her lips. So this was how happiness felt like. It seemed like heaven could not even compare.

She walked back to her own room and sat on the bed. The room was filled with his scent—warm and safe, making her long for him.

She took out her sketchbook from the drawer and drew a portrait of an unusually familiar man again with a few strokes for the outline and some simple lines. The man on the paper had eyes as deep as the ocean, but his face held an indescribable gentleness. If the word ‘gentle’ could be applied to him, this would be it.