Chapter2
991 Words
Aurora
Breathless.
That’s the word. I couldn’t breathe, how could I? With him looking so infuriatingly calm?
The world felt smaller, like it had shrunk to the size of this room and the pounding of my heart.
His eyes trailed first to my body, and when his gaze found mine, I froze.
“Archie…?” I found my voice again, still trembling and uncontrolled.
He stared at me with the calmest most unreadable expression, not confused, not satisfied, not joyous, just….
I just couldn’t place it, or maybe it was denial cause my heart knew that gaze too well, over the years, he still looked at me the same way.
Like I’m everything he wants, and everything he must have.
The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine, shivers I refused to acknowledge. But no! Never, I will not forgive, nor will I forget.
Don’t be a fool a second time, Aurora.
“Why did you do this!? You set me up? Why?” My patience was hanging by a thread now.
“What?” his deep voice was like calm music to my ears.
And suddenly the desire I had seen on his face, suddenly wavered to concern and confusion all at once.
He didn’t blink nor did his gaze shift from me.
But I knew better than to play along with this damn game. Sending the paper flying to the bed, just enough for him to reach, I swallowed, glaring at him and making sure I appear nothing less than bold, angered, and strong.
The last thing I would allow is to let Archie Malcolm see my tears.
He didn’t ask anything as he stretched his hand to pick the paper, his eyes still fixed on me until the paper was closer to him.
I watched him carefully, but nothing.
His countenance didn’t change a bit, and it hit me.
He probably was as innocent as I am, but then who is guilty? No, you know better than to trust a Malcolm, this is part of the….
“Aurora…look…” his voice broke through my thoughts as he looked up from the paper.
“I know what this looks like, but trust me, I’m just as confused and as innocent as you”
“Excuse me? You’re ….you’re confused? Really? You expect me to believe that?”
He sighed, watching him remain calm as ever stung me more.
“Listen, we were probably too drunk last night, and I also don’t remember a lot of things.”
“Oh, so then, what do you remember? Cause from where I’m standing you clearly aren’t as innocent as you claim, you did this, you tricked me into marrying you!” I fired back.
“No.” He shook his head standing from the bed.
“What are you doing? Ju….just, just stay back there!” I pushed the air like I had some sort of power to keep him away, but no, he didn’t stop, he walked up to me slowly, and I shut my eyes avoiding looking at his bare chest, or entertaining the sensual thoughts that crossed my mind, of him wearing just his underwear.
“That’s not how I remember it.” He was closer now, close enough that the only thing that could stand between us was the stretch of my finger. I clenched my fist fighting the pull he had over me.
A flash of everything that could go wrong if I don’t act real fast killed every thirst I felt, instantly.
“You know what? From the very moment I woke up right next to you, I knew I had made a fool of myself again, but guess….”
“Again…?” He raised a brow, but his phone buzzed just when he was about to say more and he turned to look at it.
I ignored him. And he ignored it and turned back to me.
“You can stay here and deny this all you want but guess what? I’m not doing this with you, not in your wildest dreams. I’m never marrying you!” I barked.
I hurried with the remaining buttons of my shirt, all the while feeling his gaze fixed on me, but I didn’t care.
I’m done, I don’t care what devious plans he’s got up his sleeves but I’m definitely not about to fall prey to any of them.
I looked around the floor making sure I had left nothing else behind, and when I looked back up and turned to leave I heard his voice and stopped abruptly, hating myself instantly.
“Aurora…” I turned back to him, and by now the welled-up tears were fighting to break free.
I prayed hard, so hard that this nightmare ends here.
“I hate you! I hate you so much for doing this to me, I…I..” I burst into tears and I feared my heart would burst out too.
I saw him lift his hands, fighting the urge to hurry beside me, and he did, he didn’t stop himself.
When his hands wrapped around me, I trembled and pulled away instantly. Wiping off my tears in seconds.
“Stay away from me, just….”
His phone buzzed again and he turned to it.
Right. Whoever that is, must be way too important, my heart stung but I held myself.
I don’t care about whatever, I’m out of here. He walked to his phone and I turned immediately to the door, but just as my hand touched the knob, he called my name, this time, his tone was urgent, firmer.
I turned to him as I saw the darkened expression in his eyes, he wasn’t looking at his phone again, he wasn’t standing again, he sat on the bed, his eyes fixed on me.
Fearing the worst, I walked back to him as his voice echoed in my head.
“There’s something you should see.”
- Writer
