Chapter 41: Hate?
1626 Words
Chapter 41: Hate?
RHYS
Shit.
Blaze knew how to get the best part of me, and she never failed, but why were those fuckers smiling ear-to-ear as if flirting with her—my Blaze, was some piece of cake?
She even called him ‘baby’ and he had the temerity to imagine walking down the aisle with her!
My jaw tightened in the room filled with laughter and chuckles. I could miss other days but this? I'd never!
I arrived in the country three hours before the graduation ceremony began. I'd have returned earlier but I needed to be sure of one thing—Alessio was gone. That way, it'd be safe for her.
Three hours. I got dressed and as usual, Sophia clung to me. She was my ‘fiancée’ to the public, so that was the only valid reason.
She knew I'd been out of the country but not the exact reason.
I'd arrived at the venue, minutes before she walked in.
Fuck. Blaze was fuckin dashing in that gown. The purple one.
My eyes were fixed on her all through the ceremony. Even when Cassian had walked up to talk to me about a few things, I wasn't focused.
I knew.
I knew I was an audacious bastard to think about her.
Cassian had shown me the person I paid to keep her company while I was away but God, I was only listening. My mind grabbed nothing—absolutely nothing.
When she gave her speech, I was the proudest man alive.
She deserved everything—she'd worked for all of it, and I was very sure Valerie would have been just as proud as I was to see her graduate as the top student of the fashion academy.
After her speech, I met her outside. She said nothing to me and I swear, I understood the whole point.
I was a freaking ass! An ass who had no form of regard or apology to tender.
She gave me no reaction—not even as small as a glance. God, I didn't want to leave until I made her turn to look at me, but Hardy had called me that minute and I was forced to pick up.
Fast-forward to the dinner session, I stayed back because I wanted to. It was her day and even though I was sure she probably hated me right now, I was more than willing to stay back and celebrate—witness her happiness.
At first, I thought it was not on purpose, and it'd eventually die as the night extended, but no, it didn't stop. She was giving them compliments and what were they doing??
They were flirting with her in return.
How could she have changed so much within one—no, two months?
I picked up my phone even though she didn't look like she noticed I was sitting beside her—she hadn't spared me a chance. She probably didn't notice so I texted.
She ignored me!
The second, she responded with ‘thanks’
I wanted to punish myself badly for doing anything and everything to deserve that attitude.
Why was tonight full of compliments from bBaze? And the fact that the receivers were some bastards who had their eyes wagging at her in lust!!!—It only sent my chest pounding.
I knew I'd lose it, the moment I caught another guy's eyes lingering on her cleavage.
I warned her—not her, but for their sake and she “dared" me.
My blood boiled right beneath my skin. Damon. He was the one she called ‘baby’—the height of all.
I picked up my phone, asking Cassian who that white-haired mother was, via text. Guess what?
He was the person I'd asked Cassian to pay, so they'd keep her company.
I'd been badly worried she'd be bored without a friend and I asked him to buy me a friend for her.
That was Damon. Technically, I owned him. But Cassian was such a motherfucking i***t.
Why did it have to be a man?
I didn't look a bit jealous, right?
I wasn't going to ruin her night so I headed to the bathroom right before anyone would notice my motherfucking fury-clenched jaw.
It was a unisex bathroom and I could hear some voices talking as I walked towards the door. So, I decided to use the place instead.
“I heard she was back together with her ex-husband.”
My legs crossed at the halfway-open door.
“It was her life. They said she was such a strong lady.”
“When are you going to stop defending a liar like her? I mean, Marcus Scott, her father, came clean before the press.”
Damon. The voice of the guy she called ‘baby’.
I knew I’d lost it already and I wouldn't spare him.
I walked in, sleeves rolled up on my arms. Two guys were in there. The one I owned, technically, and the one she called ‘Tom’.
The moment our eyes met, they coiled up.
Tom left the bathroom, and I followed him to make sure the exit was free. Not that I cared if anyone could walk in.
How did it affect me?
It took the white-haired bastard such a short time to figure out what he was about to face.
“What did I hear you say about her?”
“I—I—I" He stammered like he freaking motherfucker he was.
He didn't even have the balls huh?
I held his tie, tightening the knot till he was choking.
God damn it, I didn’t want to stop until I could see the veins bulging on his forehead.
“Easy, easy, boy.”
My lips widened in a smile. Dark. Psychopathic.
“You don’t talk about Blaze like that. I own you. She owns me. You’re just a worthless toy she owns indirectly.”
The next minute went by with heavy blows, gut and jaw-breaking punches. Nosebleeds.
I was already dangerous enough in that room.
He shouldn't have pulled the trigger for me.
I wasn’t satisfied.
Hit. Hit. Hit. Hi—
“Rhys!” a sharp voice called my name.
My hand hung mid-air.
I turned toward the door. From her posture, her reaction, the way the door moved, I knew she’d just walked in.
I drew back, leaving the bastard to stagger out. Not for himself. For her sake.
I knew I’d done some good damage to his face.
I f*****g deserved a plus.
He passed her and I saw the shock spread across her face as her eyes shot out and her lips fell apart.
“Did you just beat him to a pulp?”
She wasn’t soft. Her tone was furious, scolding, breeding venom.
I got up from the floor, eyes on her.
“Yes. Happy now?”
Her face clenched, her body moving with sharp breaths.
“You can’t do that, Rhys!.”
An unidentifiable expression flickered in her eyes.
“Why can't I?"
“Seriously?” she scoffed. “Beat up my friend because you were jealous?”
I f*****g saw his eyes on her boobs. He didn’t want to be friends. And what I heard him say was proof.
“I’m not jealous.”The lie tasted like gall juice —bitter.
“Then what were your texts for?” she shot back, like she wanted the answer before the words even left her lips.
“I wasn’t jealous—” Too late to swallow it. “I warned you not to.”
It didn’t leave my lips softly. Jealousy mode activated. Hell yeah. I wasn’t denying it anymore.
“Told me not to do what?” Her voice rose, her brows pulled together as if amused.
“Told you not to exchange compliments with those f**k—”
“Who are you to decide who I compliment?”She yelled at me.
This was getting heated.
“What if I did compliment them?” Her breathing shook, as if she’d stressed her lungs. She obviously had.
“What is your business? Why are you even here?”
She looked straight into my eyes, like she was disappointed I’d shown up.
Like she hated my existence more than I could imagine.
That voice. Those lines. That stare.
They stung. They stung in ways I never knew were possible.
Silence settled in that bathroom.
I looked away, my heart shattered like nylon into countless pieces.
She stood there, eyes on me but neither of us said a word.
I blinked, returning my eyes. Her lashes fluttered, and somehow I lost the courage to look her in the eye.
“Why did you ask Cassian to give me this?” She pointed at the dress she was wearing. The jewelry.
My eyes lit up. “How did—”
She looked at me and asked again. “Why?” Firmer this time.
I couldn’t lie to her.
“Because I knew you’d never wear them if you knew they were from me.”
She looked me dead in the eye and exercised a pause.
“You’re right. I know they’re from you now,” she said evenly.
I lifted my eyes but she'd already taken her earrings off. Then her bracelets. Then her necklace. The shoes.
One by one, everything dropped to the floor.
The sound of metal and heels against tile felt louder than it should have.
She turned to leave barefoot, all the accessories abandoned on the ground.
“Will you please keep the gown?”
My chest softened. I didn’t know what to expect from her.
She turned.
“I’ll have them washed and sent back, Mr. Rhys Adrian.”
Fuck! She left.
- Writer
