Chapter 25
Rhea’s POV
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“I’m glad he has someone like you now.” She whispered in my ear, “Don’t let him push you away. He might be a harsh, and say a lot of harsh things to you, but please, don’t let it get to you. Deep down, he cares about a lot of per
that you are amongst them.”
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and nodded.
1 right now, I can see
“I’m a bit tired so I’ll head over to my room. Alaric, don’t make her stay out too late. Also, take her for shopping if you can, as her fiancé, you should take care of her and cherish her. Do you understand?” Elena said sternly.
“Of course mom. I’ll treat her as the best woman ever.”
“Good. I’ll take my leave now, do come visit again, Rhea.” And with that, Elena walked out. Neither of us said anything until she was completely gone.
“I’ll treat her as the best woman ever.” I repeated, “Says the person who said he was unfortunately getting married to me.” I flared at him.
“Still holding a grudge from earlier?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Huffing, I stepped out of the room, Alaric followed behind me, “Even if you dislike me and had no choice but to get married to me, you didn’t have to…”
“I don’t dislike you.” Alaric suddenly cut in.
“Huh?”
“You got the wrong idea, I don’t dislike you. I’m more concerned for you, I know that you don’t want to have anything to do with me.” Alaric stared at me from the corner of his eyes, “I already checked before coming to get you, that Kevin, isn’t he the person that you…”
“Don’t even think about finishing that sentence of yours. Kevin was merely a… and old flame. You don’t have to be concerned about him, not now, not ever. Wait… What you said previously, was it because you were jealous?” From under my lashes, I glanced at him, waiting to see his expression.
It was really dark.
“Hahaha. You don’t need to look scary like that. Of course not, you can’t be jealous. You barely even know me. Hahaha.” I laughed nervously, my heart racing. Although I had to admit, I was a little pained at his facial expression.
“Let’s go, it’s running late.” I murmured, turning around to leave but his hands shot out to catch my wrist.
((
He mumbled something I couldn’t hear.
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Chapter 25
“What? What did you say?” I leaned in closer.
“I said if I was jealous, what were you going to do about it? Would you never see him again?” He stepped forward, making me
take a step backward.
“But…”
“But? Don’t say it doesn’t matter, Rhea.”
Another step.
“Despite the fact that this is an arranged marriage, I don’t want that guy anywhere next to you.”
Another step.
“I could kill him if I do.”
My back hit the wall with a soft thud as Alaric towered over me. His gaze was intense, burning into mine as if daring me to lie.
“I…” I hesitated, caught off guard by the raw emotion in his eyes, “You… You don’t even like me.” I muttered, trying to look
away, but he gently cupped my chin and turned my face back to him.
“I never said that.” He replied firmly, “Don’t put words in my mouth. I just didn’t expect you to agree to the engagement. I
thought you hated me… that maybe you were being forced into it. That’s why I offered the divorce? If I had my way…” He took a
strand of my hair in his fingers and played with it, but he didn’t finish his sentence.
Then he pulled back, “I’ll take you home first, it’s getting late. Let’s have a day I’ll take you shopping.”
The rest of the drive was quiet, but not uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that buzzed with unspoken things. I stared out
the window, watching the city lights blur into streaks as we sped past.
He didn’t say anything more, but his fingers brushed mine briefly when I reached for the temperature dial. My heart skipped. I pulled away quickly, not sure how to process all the signals he was sending me tonight.
When we finally pulled into my family’s driveway, I let out a slow breath.
“Thanks for today.” I said quietly.
Alaric turned to me, gaze unreadable in the dim light, “Goodnight, Rhea. And remember what I said, don’t let old flames ruin what hasn’t even started yet.”
I blinked, stunned into silence.
He didn’t wait for me to respond. He stepped out of the car, walked around, and opened my door like a proper gentleman. I stepped out, and before I could say anything else, he was already walking back to his car.
I watched him drive off, still trying to calm my racing heart. But the moment I stepped into the house, my peace shattered.
My mother stood in the door, arms crossed, lips pressed tightly together.
Chapter 25
“There you are.” She snapped, eyes narrowed, “Where were you? What were you doing with him?”
I blinked, “Mother, I don’t see how that concerns you.”
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“You! You went out with an unmarried man and came back home by this time, how is that going to reflect on this family?!” She
yelled, her face red.
or coming back home with
get, I am with my fiancé and
I snickered, “Speaking on which, didn’t your other daughter do the same? Why didn’t you sco‘ an unmarried man? Or is that you think she’s whoring around legally while mine is illegal? Do she? She’s with a womaniser, if I were you, I would go and do a pregnancy test with her. Who knows, she might already have a
baby outside wedlock. Isn’t that going to be the most embarrassing thing in this family?”
“You darn bitch!”
“Don’t forget ‘mother‘, who has the power here now. It will be very easy to do whatever I want to Ginny starting today. I’m tired so I’ll head to my room, goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I smiled, walking into the house. From behind me, I could hear Rachel
spewing curses and insults and I shook my head.
“What a barbaric woman.”
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