: Chapter 17

A knock descended on my door.

“Coming!”

Putting the lipstick down on the dressing table, I opened the door. Judy, our house help, stood there with a white box in her hand.

“Sorry to disturb you, dear. But this has come for you,” she said, handing me the parcel.

For me?

“What’s in it? And who sent it?” I glanced down at the box.

Her shoulders lifted. “I have no idea, dear. A courier boy just gave me the parcel and left. Anyway, I’ll leave you to this. A lot of chores are on hand.”

Nodding, I flashed her a smile along with a thank you and closed the door.

I searched for a name on the box, but there wasn’t one. Who could’ve sent it?

Biting my lip, I unpacked it.

A gasp slipped through my lips as my gaze landed on the red gown lying in it. Taking it out, I unfolded it. It was the same gown I saw him checking out that day.

A note that was placed beneath the gown caught my eye. With a skip of my heart, I picked it up.

This one was left out from trying. I want to see it on you tonight. -A

So, he… bought it for me?

A warmth surged through my chest as I ran my hand on the beautiful cold shoulder gown. The fabric felt smooth under my palm.

Holding it against me, I stood before the mirror. It looked… beautiful.

But why did he get it for me?

Flashes of that night on the road floated in my mind. That horrible night we almost faced death…

My hands clutched the gown tight.

A car had lost balance and came our way. To save us, he had to avoid a collision and our car ended up hitting a street lamp.

I closed my eyes as the fear of that moment hit me back.

He’d put his arm over me to save me from getting hurt, not caring for himself. Even after the seatbelts, I was about to hit my head on the window, if not for him. The hit was that severe. Good thing neither of us had any major injuries. I got a small scratch on my leg. But his shoulder was hurt. The jerk of the crash and the way he stretched to protect me gave his shoulder a muscle injury.

I was so rattled after the incident that he clutched me to his chest for almost half an hour until I gained some composure. I hated the feeling. The fear I felt at that moment. The fear of death, the fear of losing him…

I shook my head, shaking off the inauspicious thoughts.

I shouldn’t be thinking of that. Everything is all right now. Today is Tess’s engagement night, so I should just concentrate on that.

I looked back at my reflection.

This gown.

Shouldn’t I be mad he sent another gift for me? But I wasn’t. The red tint on my cheeks proved that.

A sigh left me.

What was I doing? I was wandering away from my goal: avoid him until three months passed so I could finally go back to New York, away from him.

But… it’s just a gown…

I bit my lip.

“Em? You ready?” Mom called out from downstairs.

“Just give me five minutes!” I yelled back, my gaze returning to the gown, admiring it.

Securing my hand on Dad’s arm, I took a deep breath and walked down the red carpet that led us inside the Valencian Mansion. It should’ve been called a castle instead because that was the vibe I got every time I visited here.

The party was in full swing. A typical rich, classy, sophisticated, and dazzling atmosphere. And why not? After all, it was Tessa Hutton’s engagement.

In the swarm of all the dolled up people and rushing waiters, we found her at the tail of the grand staircase in the middle of the vast hall, surrounded by a group of her friends. Flaunting a sea green mermaid gown, she looked gorgeous. The groom stood alongside her with a three-piece posh suit. He didn’t look any less.

As soon as her gaze caught us approaching her, she rushed to us, followed by Caleb, and threw herself on Mom and Dad. Both of my parents had moisture in their eyes as they hugged their elder daughter with love and affection.

I smiled, standing beside. And then came my turn.

“Em!” Instead of her regular sandalwood, the fragrance of Jasmine filled my nostrils as she engulfed me in a hug. Pulling away, she eyed me up and down. “This isn’t fair! Only the bride should look that gorgeous in her engagement, not her little sister!” she complained, frowning. Then an involuntary grin stretched across her lips. Mom, Dad, and Caleb laughed along.

I couldn’t help but smile back, shaking my head. “Yes, and that’s why you’re the one who’s radiating the evening with your beauty. You look stunning!” Then my eyes fell on her neck. She wore the necklace we chose for her. It went well with her attire. “Especially this.” I pointed towards the piece of jewelry. “It’s beautiful on you.”

Glancing down, she grazed the oval-shaped diamond dangling down the slender platinum necklace.

“All thanks to you! I’m sure if only Achilles had chosen it, it wouldn’t be this beautiful. He wouldn’t even go to the mall. He would just order an expensive one randomly online!” She rolled her blue orbs.

He told her?

Seeing my surprise, she nodded. “He told me how you chose it for me. Thank you, Em! Otherwise, I don’t think I would be wearing my best friend’s gift tonight.”

I chuckled, my eyes seeking to get a glimpse of someone. The flutters that have been dancing in my tummy since we left home still stormed around.

Where is he?

“How did you like the dresses? I hope they weren’t that bad,” I asked, remembering those outfits.

Confusion fell over her face. “What dresses? What’re you talking about?”

I frowned. “The dresses he got for you, along with your necklace. He made me try them to see if they’d look good on you.”

She shook her head. “No, he didn’t give me any dresses.”

If he didn’t give them to her, then what did he do with them? Did he… buy them for someone else?

I bit my lip, clutching the purse tight in my hand.

“Oh, maybe he had some other plans with them,” I said, forcing a smile.

Something flashed over her eyes as they widened a bit. Mumbling something under her breath, she put a hand on my shoulder. “Maybe he wanted to give them to me on other occasions. You know, he bought all the gifts together so he could give them to me one by one at my other wedding ceremonies?”

That made sense.

The heaviness in me disappeared as I nodded.

Why could I just not care? She must have noticed the sudden change in my mood.

Someone’s clearing their throat behind Tess pulled everyone’s attention. When Tess moved, and that person appeared in sight, my lips parted in surprise.

The man I bumped into at Coopers Fabrics, back in New York, and saw at the restaurant that day.

What was he doing here at this engagement party?

Dark orbs stared right back at me with a smile on his face as Tess and Caleb welcomed him with side hugs.

“Hello, Mr. Hutton. It’s been a long time,” he said, shaking his hand with Dad.

Dad smiled. “Yeah, it’s been months. You finally got free of your busy schedule, huh?”

He shrugged. “Work is work. You can’t avoid that.”

“True,” Dad said, as that man greeted Mom.

“Em, meet Arthur. Achilles and Caleb’s uncle.” Tess introduced him to me. “And Arthur, this is Emerald, my sister.”

“Ah, the infamous Emerald Hutton. I finally got lucky to have the pleasure of meeting you.” He grinned. Taking my hand, he placed a kiss on the back of it.

Ace’s uncle?

What a coincidence I had already met him twice before our official meeting.

I gave him a hesitant smile. “Nice to meet you, too. By the way, we’ve already met if you forgot.”

Tess and Dad raised their brows at that.

“You guys already met? Where?” Caleb queried.

“Oh? We did?” He tilted his head, dark eyes puzzled. Why did it look so fake?

“Yeah, at Coopers Fabrics, New York?”

Thinking for a moment, he then shook his head. “Sorry, dear. I’m a little lost here. Maybe I forgot. It’s proof I’m getting old now.”

Everyone cackled with laughter, but I couldn’t. I didn’t know why, but something was off about him. When he looked at me again, something flashed over his eyes, but it was gone as soon as it came. Averting his gaze, he went back to the conversation.

“Where’s your prince charming tonight? I don’t see him anywhere,” Cassie asked, sipping on her drink. She arrived just minutes after we did, and without Beth. Again, she had her boyfriend problems.

I gave her a look. “He’s not my prince charming,” I replied, holding back the urge to glance around for the umpteenth time. It’s been almost an hour, and he wasn’t still here.

I didn’t like the frustration building inside me at all. I should be happy that he wasn’t here. But… he wouldn’t miss his cousin and best friend’s engagement, would he? Where the hell was he?

Is he all right?

“Yeah, right! Do me a favor and go look in the mirror. The dullness in your eyes due to your missing lover is unmistakable.” She snorted.

Pressing my lips together, I glared. “They’re not dull at all!”

When she noticed someone familiar in the crowd, raising her hand, she waved. “I think I got my prince charming for the night. Why don’t you just call him and ask where he is instead of playing ‘I don’t care’?”

My brows creased as she bounced off to a pretty guy and disappeared through the mass of people.

I wasn’t playing any games. He was. I was just trying to protect my heart from being broken again.

Scanning the crowd one more time, I walked towards the bar and grabbed a cocktail. The night did feel dull tonight, even after the chatter, laughter, and music around me.

While sipping on my drink, I caught Arthur, Ace’s uncle, on the other side of the hall, talking and laughing with some suited men.

Then his gaze locked with mine. A smile stretched across his face. Even from afar, I could see his façade. His smile didn’t reach the eyes. But I smiled back anyway and turned around.

From what I knew, Ace’s uncle handled a lot of important loads of the company. He was one of the liable persons at Valencian Corp and in Ace’s life. ButI wasn’t comfortable around him like I should have been.

That day at the meeting with Arabs, we were all on the terrace. What was he doing downstairs? Did he have a meeting at the same place?

Maybe. It could be just a coincidence. I was thinking too much.

Then, I felt it. Goosebumps crawled up my skin as I felt his gaze on me. He was here.

The abrupt silence around the hall and whispers of girls, the annoying sound of their giggling proved my suspicion right. The party was back to life after some moments while I stood there, fidgeting in my place, forcing myself not to look behind.

I don’t care! I don’t care! I won’t look. Chanting the mantra in my head, I managed to glue my attention on my drink. I was stronger than this.

“If I knew you’d look that beautiful in white, I’d have chosen this color instead of red for my Rosebud,” a deep voice rasped in my ear.

I stilled, my heart stopped in my chest.

Deep breath, Em! Deep breaths!

Inhaling deep, I searched for my voice. “You were mistaken if you thought I’d wear the gown you sent me.” I decided to wear another dress I’d bought with Tess the other day, instead of the one he bought for me. Even though I loved that gown.

Wait, did he just call me his Rosebud again?

“And I’m not yours.” Tilting my head, I looked up at him over my shoulder. It was a mistake. My breath hitched as soon as my gaze met his.

He wore his hair and beard longer tonight. I hadn’t seen him in two days, and his thick stubble was so grown today, giving him an extra look of edge and roughness. His dark hair touched the collar of his shirt. My hands itched to run over his covered jaw and smooth hair. While his stormy irises remained the same, intense on me, dark and dominant.

His heady cologne with his signature smell of a hint of smoke tingled my nostrils. Something tugged in my lower region as I filled my lungs with him.

Suddenly I felt him against me, his arms caging me around the bar. When did he come so close?

A groan reverberated through his chest as he brushed a strand away from my face. His intense gaze fell on my parted lips. “And again, I’m going to repeat that, Rosebud.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips on my earlobe. “You’re mine.”

A shiver ran down my spine. Another tug in the forbidden area had me mortified. Averting my eyes, I tried to break his cage and fly away, but he only pulled me close, binding me in his arms again.

The music began in the background, indicating the dance had started, while I continued to scowl and wiggle in his arms. He watched me in amusement.

The look in his orbs did something to me. He watched me as if he was looking at the most precious and beautiful thing in the world. His usual hollow eyes had light and… happiness. A serene, tiny smile tugged on his lips.

When my struggle finally died down, he took my hand in his. “Dance with me?”

“No,” I said, but not moving away from him.I was turning weak again, I knew. I couldn’t help it. He made me like this, he made me weak for him.

Ignoring my answer, he gently kissed my hand and pulled me into the dance floor among the other couples, who were already swaying under the slow music.

And all the time, I felt a pair of eyes on me. It wasn’t a warm feeling, though. The shiver that ran down my spine was chilling.