Chapter b20 /b

LUCIAN’S POV.

“Why?” I basked/bb, /bwanting to know the reason she would do something like bthat/b.

Why would she want to hurt herself?

“You were mad at me. You wouldn’t talk to me. Her hands tightened around me as her croaked voice reached.

I didn’t understand her logic bat /bball/b.

my ears.

Yes. I was mad at her–for going to see that moron Vaughn. But I was more mad at myself… for hurting her, for letting my anger get the best of me.

I couldn’t face her, and that was why I ignored her. I never expected her next line of action would be.. drowning herself.!--

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I was confused. She confused me. Normally, she’d pull stunts like this because she wanted to go see Vaughn. But now… now she was doing it because I refused to see her?

She had been different since the night of the engagement, but honestly, I didn’t buy it. Someone couldn’t just change this much overnight.

I gently unwrapped her arms from around me, ignoring her little protest, and turned to face her.

“How’s your neck?” I asked, my eyes flickering to the spot where I had grabbed her earlier.

Her face scrunched–adorably–in confusion before realization dawned.

“You didn’t hurt me, Lucian. I promise.” Her tone was reassuring. But I didn’t buy it.

Liar

“It wasn’t my intention to hurt you.” I didn’t intend my voice to sound so cold, but I was a man who only knew how to show two emotions clearly–coldness and anger.

“You bdidn’t/b.” She insisted, her eyes pleading as they searched my face, “Lucian, look at me. Please.”

She stood on her toes just so she could cup my face, the sight almostical. Her small hands were warm against my jaw, iforting

“You didn’t hurt me. I swear

My eyes scanned her faceb, /bsearching for the slightest sign of deception.. but surprisingly, there was none.

What was going on?

What trick was she ying?

Or bwas /bI suddenly living in an alternate universeb! /b

was

Before I bcould /bsay anything, Maya walked into the open doors of my room with ba /bbtray /bcontaining a te of hot soup in her hand.

“ce it over there.” I instructed, taking a step back from Alina.

bAlina’s /bbface /bdropped slightly at the movement.

“Would you be needing anything else, Master ckwood?” Maya–ever the professional–asked.

“bYou /bcan retire to bed, Maya Close the door behind you.” I told her.

“Good night, Mr. and Mrs. ckwood.” She bid us softly, before leaving

caught Alina trying not to smile, though her lips did so anyway.

bAm /bI hallucinating!

6:20 AM

—even though we

Because the Alina I knew hated being referred to bas /bmy fiancée.. yet here she bwas /bsmiling at being called my wife- weren’t bmarried /byet

200

“Sit down” I ordered, pointing at the sofa before moving to sit opposite her. I picked up the bowl of soup and began to spoon feed her “Open”

She opened her mouth obediently. A first.

b“/bGood girl.”

I continued feeding her in silence until the bowl bwas /bempty. I then handed her a ss of warm water and stood, moving to a differenter of the room–creating distance between us.

She bfrowned/b.

“I’ll have a doctore check on you tomorrow.” I told her.

“I won’t let any doctor see me unless you stop running away from me band /bgive me a chance bto /bexin.” She said stubbornly.

“I am not running baway/b,” I said sharply, ring.

Avas I

“Oh yeah?” She asked sarcastically, moving toward me.

Subconsciously, I took a few steps bback/b.

“See!” She eximed, frustrated, tears filling her eyes.

Oh

I wasn’t avoiding her due to anger. No. The truth was far worse.

I didn’t trust myself to keep my hands away from her when she was this close. Her scent was driving me crazy, and all I wanted to do was push her against the wall and kiss the living daylight out of her

But I didn’t want her to hate me.

“Don’t cry.” I pleaded softly, not moving towards her.

For

some reason, I couldn’t stand the sight of her in tears. It pulled at something deep inside me.

“Then give me a chance to exin,” she whispered, her tone filled with raw emotion as she approached me once again.

This time, I stayed rooted in ce.

“Alright then,” I bsaid/bb, /bvoice low. “Exin.”

b2/2 /b