Pain of the past

Taking a deep breath, I started, "When you told me about the contract our grandfather signed with Xavier's grandfather, I was devastated. I could not just give up on my dreams and at the same time I could not see our company losing its shares to the Knight Empire because you've worked so hard for it."

"Then I met him," I looked at Xavier who was looking at me with a blank face. "And I knew we could work this out. I thought I could get to know him better, but before that his father arranged our engagement." Reverting my eyes towards Marc, I said, "I was not ready, Marc. How was I supposed to marry him?...... I was just eighteen for god's sake… and naive."

I paused as I didn't know what to tell him further, he didn't have his memories of the year after our engagement. Looking at Xavier for help, I saw him in deep thoughts, maybe thinking about that day.

"Continue." Said Marc and I looked at his expressionless face.

Tears planning their escape from my eyes as I mumbled which was barely audible. "I left." And started crying as I wasn't able to hold back my tears anymore.

I was silent for a moment, trying to catch my breath as I sobbed in front of him. "I-I a-am sorry, M-Marc." Then sniffed the snot that was clogging my nostrils.

He stepped towards me as his face slightly softened, "Where were you in those years?" Asked Marc as I very well knew he was asking about the year in which he was in coma.

For a moment, I noticed Xavier held a curious and serious look towards me, like he was trying to understand something.

I was silent, unable to speak as I took my time, remembering the worst days of my life. I could not tell him the pain, the fear and trauma I've gone through.

"I…. I'm not ready yet…" I whispered looking down, trying to contain my tears and swiftly wiping off the tears from my face with the back of my hand.

I didn't know that Marc had already stood beside me. He towered over me, but his gaze was looking somewhere else, at a far distance. He was silent for a minute before he asked, "When did you get to know that he died?" He said those words gently, more like a whisper.

I could feel that it pained him to ask me that question. My mind took me back to the day, when I learnt about my dad and that was the day, I lost every hope left in my body. Well, that story is for another day.

Taking a deep breath, "After a year…. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye…." My voice broke at last as I sobbed.

It was quiet for a while. I waited for him to say something but when I looked up, his eyes were closed. I heard him sigh as if trying to process the information. I wanted to ask what he was thinking about, but I might just anger him. Moving a few inches away and I faced him. I stood there as I observed his calm posture. It was peaceful and his breathing was steady. I didn't know what I was doing but I felt that we probably need it.

So, I hugged him.

I buried myself on his chest as his scent overpowered my senses. I felt him stiff from my actions. I planned on making it brief since I didn't know how he would react. I was about to pull away but then I felt his arms circle around me as he hugged me back.

We were quiet, letting our hearts do the talking instead of using our mouths to utter the words that couldn't be explained with what we were feeling then.

The familiar warmth flooded through my veins, and I melted in his arms. Tears started streaming down my eyes as I let myself finally…. finally, grieve our father. "I-I'm so sorry, Marc……" and I sobbed in his embrace as his hands tightened around me.

"Shh…" he whispered through my hair after a long silence. "I'm also sorry for not looking out for you. I should've searched for you when Dad was asking for you in his last days." I looked up at him as he wiped my tears off of my face, gently, just like old times. "I'm sorry, Angel. And now I'm not letting you out of my sight ever. Do you hear me?"

Smiling a bit, I nodded as he pulled me another hug after kissing me on my forehead.

"I'm sorry, Marc." I said, sighing.

Moving away a bit, he looked at me and said, "I forgave you, Angel." Then his eyes flickered towards my neck and his eyes held amusement in them as he said, "I see you've kept it safe."

He was referring to my Rose pendant that he gave me years ago, "Of course, I did." I said and rolled my eyes at him to which he chuckled.

"So, everything is settled now, right?" Asked Carolina, her features were slightly relaxed.

Turning towards her, "Yes, it's your birthday but I got the gift." Marc teased her and she shook her head at his words and then walked towards me.

Engulfing me in a bear hug, she said, "There wasn't even a single day, when he didn't miss you. I'm happy you're back, Eve."

Smiling up at her, I said, "I'm happy too. But now…" I looked at Marc and pointed to him, "You make it up to her."

Before he could say anything, I pressed, "Please, Marc. It's your fiancé's birthday today. We'll talk in the morning."

After contemplating for five minutes he said, "Okay."

They both kissed my cheek one by one and left. I knew Marc had planned something special for her, I know he is just like that.

"And it's my cue to leave," said Chris as he walked towards me and said, "I'm sorry Evelyn."

Giving him a smile, I said, "It's fine." He then patted my back and left.

It was now me and Xavier left in the living room. He had this dominant aura circling around him as he walked towards me and said, "You should change." And I nodded as he was referring to my drenched dress.

He led the way, and I trailed behind him, into the room at the end of the corridor. It was a fairly large room, with a king-sized bed and other expensive furniture inside. The walls were painted in dark green, and the rest of the room was decorated in white.

"You can find and wear something from my cupboard." He said as I eyed him warily, my mind imagining the reason why his clothes were here.

"It's my house and my room if that's what you are thinking about." He said when he noticed the frown etched on my face.

Well, shocker there, I didn't know this was his house.

"Then why were you staying in the hotel?" I asked out of curiosity.

"Chris wanted to surprise Carol on her birthday. And I really don't like this place."

Nodding my head, I walked towards the cupboard and opened it. The clothes that were in there were from his college days, I presume. A certain black hoodie kept in the corner ideally grabbed my attention. I took it out and grabbed a pair of shorts that he had in there.

"I'll be outside. You can change here comfortably. That door leads to a bathroom." He informed me and then left the room, leaving me alone.

Walking inside the bathroom, I changed into those shorts and black hoodie. It was the same black hoodie which he gave me the night before our engagement.

Once I looked better, I walked out of the bathroom. Everything about this room captivated me. There was his distant scent dispersed in everything, from the bed sheets to the curtain. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I gently ran my fingers along the white material, imagining Xavier's presence there, sleeping with his head buried inside my neck and his arms wrapped around my waist.

Not wanting to think more, I stood up from the bed and stared in the mirror. The curls of my hair looked really messy, so I ambled towards the dressing table and used the brush to remove the tangles out of my hair.

After doing my hair. I was about to put the brush back into the drawer when something caught my attention. A photo frame in the back of the drawer, placed upside down.

Pulling it out, I turned it around and gasped when I realized it was the photo of Xavier and I, taken on our wedding day. Tears were in my eyes and a frown was plastered on my face while Xavier had a faint, innocent smile on his face.

I didn't realize when tears streamed down my cheeks as my knees buckled under my weight. I slid down against the wall, moisture leaking from my eyes at the memory of our wedding night when I ruined everything with one wrong decision, leaving him, giving him the worst pain of entire life.