(Karsten)
It felt like an eternity since I had felt any semblance of peace. I guess hurting an innocent heart ca with dire consequences and I deserved every ounce of pain that had been slashing my heart.
Coffee and cigarettes had beco my best friends, and I was smoking more than I should have, but it was impossible to forget her when she was right there.
I should have let her go, but deep down, I was a selfish prick.
Besides, I knew she wouldn’t leave until she had figured out who had been stalking her. She cared too deeply for her family to put them in any kind of danger. That was her weakness and I just hoped her stalker wouldn’t use it against her.
I, on the other hand, like an asshole, as she now loved to call , was going to use her weakness to my advantage.
Right now she was in a full mood to vex , throwing open her seatbelt and challenging . She should have known, I never backed down from a challenge.
Scooping her up, I settled her in my lap; if she refused to wear a seatbelt, then my arms would act like one.
She slightly wriggled in my hold but didn’t make noise due to the presence of Caysir. For a little while, she sat still, facing away from while my face rested close to her delicate neck.
But then she took off her glove and pinched my arm so tightly with her sword-like sharp nails.
Damn! What did she feed them? Steel bearings?
She turned her head slightly so our eyes could et and sent a death glare. I fought through pain and tried to keep my face impassive but tears pricked the back of my eyes.
"Touch again without my consent and this pinch will be to your balls," she threatened in a low whisper, her eyes holding my gaze so boldly. The disgust on her face made my heart ache.
She had literally turned into a tigress with all those claws and threats.
My Blue Rose had turned into a wild rose revealing those thorns and pricks.
I pressed myself closer and murmured in her ear just to vex her.
"You are free to try." Arata could easily hold her ground, and a part of wanted to see if she could overpower too.
Her glare intensified and I was afraid she would elbow in the face, leaving with a bloody nose.
Thankfully, we arrived back ho, and the car rolled into the garage. Giving one last lethal stare, she opened the door before Caysir could and hoped out.
I followed her and found Asbela waiting for us with a grim look, aning my mother was here.
"Welco ho; Mada is in the living room having tea and waiting for both of you," Asbela inford us with a forced smile while she collected our coats.
I instantly offered Arata my looped arm. The role which started as fake had turned into a heartbreaking reality for both of us and yet we had to continue.
Arata took a breather and fixed her expression, plastering a polite but hollow smile on her face as she took my arm. Her gloved hand wrapped around my bicep as we began to move.
"If I knew your mom could make a difference, I would inform her of your hypocrisy, but I am pretty sure she won’t care, so I will save it," she muttered under her breath; her pointed nose was like a red bulb due to the cold weather.
"You are right," I lied, knowing my Ma would be highly disappointed in . She might be tough and set in her old ways but she had a staggering amount of integrity.
Ma was comfortably seated on the sofa, sipping tea in a delicate cup. She glanced in our direction and her gaze settled on Arata’s hand gripping my arm.
"Welco, Mrs Chevalier." Arata let go of my arm and proceeded to where Ma was sitting. Ma shook hands with her, and thankfully, I didn’t find too much hostility in her greeting.
"Looking beautiful."
Ma even complinted Arata.
I stepped closer. "Glad you are here, Ma."
She hugged with a warm smile.
"I missed you and wanted to spend Christmas together." She had co with long plans.
Arata settled down on one side of her while I chose the other.
"Should have brought Grandma too," I said, picking up the kettle and pouring tea into another cup.
"I told her to co along but she went to your Aunt Rachel for Christmas, so here I am." She squeezed my shoulder and I knew she was here on so mission. Nothing my mother did was random, it was all very calculated. Especially, her arrival after I had given a reprimanding to Urisa, scread sothing fishy.
"We are happy to have you here." Arata smiled with practised discipline; she didn’t glance in my direction. I poured tea into the second cup.
"So you guys have moved in together. That’s a big step," Ma humd, picking up a coconut cookie from the plate and nibbling on it.
Arata’s gaze finally shifted towards as if saying.
’Can you take this one?’
I smiled before handing the cup to Arata and taking the other for myself.
"It’s easier to go to the office together and I thought it was the right ti. Arata agreed." Picking up the cup from the handle I savoured the rich flavour of cardamom and took a tentative sip.
"That’s true," Arata forcefully smiled again and picked up the cup to hide the rest of her emotions behind it.
She must have been an emotional wreck already. I was putting her through so much, and it just felt wrong.
"So things are moving smoothly. That’s good news, right?" Ma asked, particularly from , her cunning eyes shone with a tinge of curiosity.
I glanced over to Arata and she fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat.
"They are, Ma. Why don’t we talk over dinner?" I proposed and she gave us a small nod while munching her cookie.
Gracefully, Arata got up and went to inform Asbela about our dinner plans. Her shoulders were hunched as if I had burdened her with a load she couldn’t carry, and the thought weighed heavily on , chipping away at my peace.
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