Chapter 92: Chapter 87

Song: 'Wake Me Up' by Avicci

Feeling my way through the darkness

Guided by a beating heart

I can't tell where the journey will end

But I know where to start

They tell me I'm too young to understand

They say I'm caught up in a dream

Well life will pass me by if I don't open up my eyes

Well that's fine by me

So wake me up when it's all over

When I'm wiser and I'm older

All this time I was finding myself, and I

Didn't know I was lost

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Song: 'Wake Me Up' by Avicii

HANNAH'S POV

"Don't worry, he won't notice a thing," I assured.

"I don't know, maybe we should change the plan.”

“You wanted this, remember?” I reminded.

“He's not easy to fool," came a nervous voice.

"Well, he's in for a surprise then because I am too good at fooling people," I said proudly.

"Okay, Hannah, be it on you then. When is he coming back?"

"Tomorrow night," I said, already awaiting his return.

"Alright, it'll give you three more days to set our plan in motion. Be careful, please."

"Hey, I told you not to worry. What's the worst that can happen?"

"Let's just say you never find out." Huh, what does that mean? "Good luck, I'll be in touch."

"Sure, see you soon." I ended the call with a furrowed brow.

............................................

ELIJAH'S POV

I was exhausted when I came home; it was a long flight from Japan. It was a tiring but successful business trip. Dad was trying to acquire a partnership with a few investors in Japan to expand our business there, but unfortunately, he couldn't. So, when the opportunity arose, I jumped right on it.

So it automatically called for late hours and leaving early the next morning. And that meant missing out on my dinner with Hannah.

And for the first time, I hated prioritizing my work.

But damn, did I miss her.

I didn’t realize when I stopped running away from home that I was looking forward to going back to her. When did she become my pull back to life?

So, despite how tired I was, instead of heading to my own room, I went to hers. I just have to see her. As I said, I missed her.

You'll wonder why I didn't bring her with me.

Well, in reality, things aren't always in our favor. Unlike fiction, we can't always be up and about whenever we want. The business world isn't that kind to accommodate your personal life. While I went to Japan for the new contract, Hannah worked here on our hotel project; both our priorities were important; that's just a part of our lives.

Also, she's not merely my assistant; she's the heir to her father’s business that’s to be merged with ours. She needs to learn how to handle things in my absence.

Huh, funny how it doesn’t anger me anymore. Before, just the thought made me cross, and now it’s something I’ve subconsciously accepted, perhaps a while ago.

I opened the door and carefully walked inside the dimly lit room, trying not to make a sound in case she was sleeping.

As expected, she was sleeping.

Of course she’s sleeping; it’s past two in the morning, idiot.

Trying not to make a lot of movement, I sat beside her on the bed. A smile stretched over my lips as I hovered over her weirdly sleeping form.

How can I be attracted to her when she’s currently lying on her side in a rather disfigured position? Her one leg is stretched straight but backward while the other one is folded in such a way as to make her knee and chin meet. Meanwhile, her one hand is tucked under the pillow, and the other cradles her folded knee.

Yeah, that’s the best I could explain it if that makes sense.

It will be a very good position for sex if she is under you, don’t you think?

Putting that very tempting thought aside, I brushed the hair away that was covering her beautiful face; my heart skipped a beat. One look at her and all my exhaustion vanished. Is this what coming home feels like?

She looks so angelic while she sleeps; who can tell that once awake, she has a tendency to turn into a devil?

My devil.

How she managed to sneak into my numb heart will always be a mystery to me. I’ve started entertaining the thoughts that I’ve prohibited for myself.

My hand, on its own, made its way towards her cheek and caressed it lightly. Her touch alone heals something in me that she’s never broken. I wish she were awake so I could gaze into her mesmerizing eyes.

God, how I wish to kiss every inch of your body. If only she knew how hard I restrain myself around her, but I’m not sure how long I will be able to hold back.

My body stiffened a little when she started withering all of a sudden, but thankfully, I didn’t wake up and settled back into a deep slumber. I took a breath of relief for not being caught creeping up on her like that. Though, deep down, I wanted her to wake up.

Taking it as a cue to leave, I leaned down over her and placed a soft yet lingering kiss on her temple.

I stood up from the bed, but skeptical that I caught a glimpse of something, I turned back.

Is that a smile?

“You’re awake," I said, tucking my hands in my pants pockets. I confronted her, and the blush on her face deepened.

“No,” came an abrupt reply, “Shit!” Mumbling under her breath, she covered her face with the quilt.

So, she’s been awake all along, huh? I smiled at her silliness.

“Why are you still awake?” My voice echoed in the silent room.

“I’m not,” came a muffled voice from under the quilt.

“Hannah!” I tried sounding stern.

“I was waiting for you.” removing the quilt, she opened her one eye and admitted sheepishly.

Our eyes met as they held under the sneaky moonlight illuminating the room; my heart fluttered at her confession.

“Is that so?” I took my previous position and sat next to her again.

“Of course not, don’t flatter yourself, intruder,” she tried scowling, but her reddened cheeks gave her away.

“What else can be the reason?” I whispered, leaning closer to her intimidatingly.

“Maybe I was waiting for someone else,” my fists clenched at my sides at her challenge, and my face hardened exponentially.

I think she noticed the change in my mood as her eyes widened, and she tried to sit up. But I was quick to restrain her movement then and there; I pinned her arms by her side.

“And who could that be?” I said ruggedly near her face.

“My boyfriend…” She tried to sound smug, but I shut her down with my lips on hers.

The kiss wasn’t soft; it was rough and hungry, and more than that, it held authority and aggression. How dare she do something like that?

“Dare complete that sentence, and trust me, you won’t be able to speak for a week.” The tremble of her body assured me that she knew I meant it.

I’ll be damned if she ever thought about another man, not even as a joke.

My mouth stopped the punishment once hers started responding, matching up with my fast, animalistic pace.

Eventually, our pace slowed down as the kiss became more heated and needy; our lips moved in perfect sync. Her petite body and hoarse breathing tempt me beyond my restraint.

God, I missed her so much. And I made sure to translate it into the kiss.

“You’re mine, all mine,” I whispered possessively after the kiss, letting her know that she’ll never belong to another man again.

“I’m not.” She rolled her eyes, pushing at my chest, and sat up. I stared at her.

“Oh, but you are. Don’t make me prove it to you,” I glared harshly.

Is she still thinking about someone else? Fuck!

“What are we, Elijah?” There was a sadness in her eyes that tugged at my heart, but it was her words that caught me off guard.

“It’s late; you should sleep,” I said emotionlessly, trying to avoid this very question that’s been on my mind lately. I don’t think I have an answer for it just yet.

I got up to leave, but she held my hand, halting my steps. Our eyes locked again, and I saw vulnerable pleading in her eyes that she rarely lets me see.

Baby, don’t do that; there’s something in your eyes that makes me let go of all my guards, break my walls, and just tell you everything.

If only you’d say it to her instead of saying it in your heart.

But you don’t deserve it; you don’t deserve to see the ugly side of my life; it’ll only dull the light that you have in you. I can’t be responsible for that more than I already am.

“Stop it, Hannah, I’ve come home after so many days, and this is what you want to talk about?” I kneeled on the floor, held her hand, and changed the topic, but the look in her eyes told me she was adamant.

I tried reaching for her face, but she stopped my advances and held my hand midway.

“I won’t be your fuck buddy, Elijah. I won’t be another Eva in your life." Fuck! So she thinks all I want is sex from her.

What else do you have to offer? She doesn’t even know you.

And she can’t; no one can.

“Hannah, I… I can’t give you what you want," unable to see her grieving face, I looked away.

Why don’t you just tell her?

“And this is not enough for me,” her unblinking gaze pierced me as I refused to meet her eyes.

“Do you want me to leave?” Now it was her turn to look away.

I stared at her for a while expectantly to maybe stop me or at least say anything. She didn’t.

Before I got up and left, I placed a small kiss on the top of her head, hoping that somehow she’d understand. She clenched her eyes shut in visible agony.

“How can you be so cruel and heartless?” She said once I reached her door.

I stopped; I knew she was looking at me but didn’t look back, afraid I might end up telling her everything. I got out and closed the door behind me.

“It’s for the best,” I said dejectedly as I rested my head against her door.

………………………………………………………

Bam!

A gunshot was heard in the distance. I looked all around for her as I walked on the shore when a hand landed on my shoulder. I turned.

“You?” I asked in confusion.

“Were you hoping to see someone else?

“No, I was looking for you,” I said unsurely.

“But your eyes are searching for someone else.”

“That’s not true…”

“Stop lying to yourself, Elijah; you’re forgetting about me,” her voice faltered.

“Why is your face blurring? Are you leaving me?” I asked fearfully as I tried to touch her face.

“I would never leave you; I love you so much.” I wrapped my arms around her, trying to hold her as close as possible.

But for some reason, my search didn’t end there; my eyes wandered around looking for someone else.

“Stop looking for her, Elijah, she’s better off without you,” she whispered in my ear, “You don’t want her to end up like me, do you?”

I detached myself from her, mortified.

“Look what you did to me,” a look of betrayal settled on her fading face. My eyes went to her stomach.

There was a hole in her stomach from which blood was oozing profusely, drenching her pearly white bridal gown.

“I… I didn’t do it.” I felt tears in my eyes.

“How long will you run away from yourself, Elijah?”

“No, no, don’t say that.” I reached out to her; my hands trembled as they tried to somehow stop the bleeding. “I didn’t do it; it will be all okay; you’ll be okay,” my panic-filled voice echoed amidst the raging waves that now shrieked loudly.

“You destroyed everything; do you want to ruin her too?” A sad smile appeared on her face, piercing my heart deeper than I can take, “Just like you ruined me.”

“No, I won’t let anything happen to her; I’ll protect her.” I tried shouting it to the world, but all that came out was mumbling.

“You can’t protect her from yourself. You think you can move away from the past so easily? Have you learned nothing?” Her voice was soft, but it held accusation.

“This time it would be different,” I tried reasoning.

She broke down into hysterical laughter as life drained out of her.

“Let her go, my darling; she doesn’t deserve your darkness,” she cradled my face in her blood-soaked hands.

“No,” I shook my head in denial. “No, I can’t; she’s good for me; she makes me happy.” I tried convincing, pleading.

“You can’t kill her happiness for your own.” She wiped the relentless tear that flowed out of my eyes.

“I, I lo…”

“You love her, right?”

I nodded after a while, afraid of accepting the truth that I myself ran away from.

“Get away from her before it’s too late; your love is a curse.” Her face turned serious.

“I can’t do this to her; I can’t break her heart,” I pleaded to make her understand.

“Break her heart before you kill her. Just like you killed me,” letting go of me, she started walking backward, her hand sliding out of mine. Her feet left a blood trail behind her as everything around turned red.

“Don’t leave me, I’m scared, please don’t leave me.” I chased after her with haste.

“I’m always with you.” Her voice faded.

“Please stay,” I begged.

“Let her go, Elijah, it’s the right thing to do,” her words rang in my head like a siren as she disappeared into thin air.

I searched around fanatically for her; all I saw was blood, lots of it, all around, everywhere.

“Rachel,” I cried out.

I didn’t see her after that; all I heard was a faint whisper.

“Let her go before it’s too late.”

“Rachel!” I woke up with a scream.

Before I could comprehend what was happening, I felt a bile of bitterness rise in my throat. Hurrying, I got out of my bed and ran to the bathroom and threw up.

Once done, I looked up at myself in the mirror and saw a ghost of myself in reflection. It looked like me, but it was lifeless, pale, and drenched in tears and sweat.

A new dream.

One that I’ve never had before.

A terrifying dream.

I washed my face with cold water, raked my hands in my hair recklessly, and tugged on them harshly. Trying to normalize my erratic breathing, I sat on the edge of the jacuzzi.

The dream was a wake-up call; it was too real.

Fuck, what was I thinking?

Despite knowing what happened last time, how could I let things escalate so much?

I can’t do this to her; I need to keep her away.

I got out of the bathroom and looked at the multiple pictures I have of Rachel all around my room. I walked up to the one that had the both of us, together, happy.

I touched her face, but it felt foreign; I didn’t hold the comfort that I always felt in her presence. Just like in my dream, her face started disappearing despite being clear and in front of me.

It was then that it struck me.

‘You love her, right?’

….……………………………………

Author’s note:

An early update, yayyy!!!

It’s a little tricky to read; it’s overwhelming.

But on the brighter side, look who realized what’s in their heart.

ELIJAH IS IN LOVE, Y’ALL!!!😍💃🏻

But it’s not simple for him; there are still many hurdles he has to cross.

Any guesses what Hannah was talking about?

Drop your votes and endless comments and shower your love on this chapter.

P.s. I’m overjoyed by the response on the previous chapter. Spam this one with your love also.

Enjoy the chapter.

Much love❤️❤️