24 Chapter 24

"You can step back if you're not comfortable with me." Royal coldly said as we're walking down the hall.

"Do I have a choice?" I mocked and he stopped then turned around to glare at me, making me take aback.

"I just told you, didn't I?" He cocked his left brow at me, so did I, trying to compete with his glare.

Show to him how strong you are, Alraine Raphaela Marcos. Show to him that you weren't hurt at all.

He narrowed his eyes on me.

"If only you're not pregnant, I should have carried you up and down." He disputed and I can see a playful smile on his deep coffee eyes.

"Then do it." I challenged, taking a deep breath while chinning up.

His lips curl into an amused smile and I remain still, though my heart is hammering and my feet want to run away.

"You might regret it." He said in a smirk and I smirked back.

We ended our arguments by passing by behind his back. I can't stand longer whenever he's around. And one thing I have realized and found out,

My dead stone-cold heart is slowly melting. The iced metal barrier I have built around my heart is laggardly shattering without my permission. Whether I want it or not, the burning passion is flaring up vigoriously, evanescing the frail wall I've been considering as a sturdy one.

Or maybe my heart wasn't really frozen at all. I just kept myself being hurt again so I decided to astray from everything. I decided to close all the doors so no one could intrude my life and leave me shattered.

"So you don't have any plan in following me?" I heard Royal's voice from behind and my heart flinched as realization hit my head up. I forgot to tell myself that mom's the reason why I'm with this bastard.

I haulted and faced him with a scowl. That playful smile beside his lips made me feel annoyed even more. I want to kick his ass off just to vanish that freaking smirk.

"Why would I follow you? I can go to your house by myself."

"It's getting late, Alpha. Besides, I won't let you drive by yourself."

I grimaced. "In your dreams I would follow you."

"Mr. De Marco might kill me if something happens to you."

"You should have died the moment you broke my heart." I said unconsciously and chewed my whole mouth when realization hit me again. I whirled around and my eyes stung. Tears pooled over my eyes as my heart is sinking.

Damn it! I couldn't help but blurt out. I should have shut my mouth to avoid unnecessary words.

"Alpha..." he called out and I broke into tears. I battered my eyelashes, tears are threatening to fall and before they'll do, I ran them dry using my hands.

"Nevermind it." I curtly said. "It's nothing."

"I'm sorry," he whipered, sounded pleading.

I turned around and plastered a worthless smile.

"I'm fine around." I faked a smile. "Maybe... maybe I was just too young... too fragile... too frail... too gullible that I believed you loved me too."

"I did." He quickly replied. "I do love you-"

"But as a sister." I cut him off. "You only saw me as your younger sister. That the reason why you were so intimate to me is because you're trying to move on from Ria."

"No, Alpha." He shook his head in misery. He was trying to reach my arms but I was so valiant to step backward. And I can see pain and regret in his eyes. "You're viewing things wrong."

"Then what's the truth? That everything was just for show?" I paused for awhile, eyeing him. "I was there, Royal! I was there!" I raised my voice. I caught some attentions of people passing by but I don't care anymore. I want to end this holy shit. "You proposed to her in front of me!"

"Because I had to!" He raised his voice as well, making me flinch. "You think it was so easy for me to hurt you?"

"But you already did!" I spat. "And now you sound like you're blaming me for what had happened? God damn it, Royal! God damn it!"

I broke down into tears. Why is he acting like it was me to be blamed? That I was the reason behind all of these fucking shits.

"Please... listen to me..." he begged, his voice turned to a soft and gentle one and I couldn't help but melt.

Fuck, Raphaela. Fuck it! You're always weak when it comes to him! How come, Alpha? How come?

"If I would listen, would it take all the pain you caused me?" I challenged miserably. "Why?" I let out a heavy breath. "Why are you doing this to me?"

Tears streamed down into my cheeks like a river. My heart is scorched, whipped and tripped. It feels like I want to end breathing, perhaps it could help me to lessen the pain in my heart.

"Please... let me explain." He cried, trying to reach me. I badly want to touch him, to hug him tight but I know it would just hurt me so much. It would kill me to millions of death. I know what I have lost. I lost myself when he broke me. I have vowed to myself that I will never ever fall in love again with same or different man 'cause I know they all the same. They'll tell me they love me but they have the guts to hurt you. Absurdity at its best, isn't it?

And now that he's in front of me, I found the long lost snip of my life. It's like he had it for so long.

I wiped my cheeks using my hands as I tried to settle myself down. Why am I crying in front of this dickhead?

"Let's just keep ourselves civilized." I propounded but it sounded more like declaration. "As of now, I don't want to talk about our past." He was about to butt in but I immediately trailed him off. "We'll pretend that we're okay in front of them but if we're alone, don't expect any word from me."

"What if I would defy you?" He challenged and I chinned up, eyeing him boldly.

"It's still your choice, fratello. I'm not forcing you to negotiate with me. Just don't drag my name in any scandalous things you would do with me."

"Scandalous." He mouthed in a smirk. "Let's try. But I tell you... I would everything to win you back."

"Win me back?" I laughed mockingly. "How could you say you would win me back when I wasn't yours in the first place?" I cocked my right brows at him and he stared at me, his eyes are screaming valor.

He tilted his head at me mockingly.

"Keep your pride high, Ms. Marcos. Once I got you, there's no escaping holes for you."

I smirked at him. "You wish." I said and he just smirked back at me.

After that scene, we both decided to settle ourselves down. Just like I wanted, we'll keep civilized. And as we're inside his moving car, we didn't dare to speak up and I could feel the tension between us. I can feel his desire to talk to me.

A ringing phone broke the silence between us. It was his phone from his pocket. He took it out and answered the call.

"Mom," he welcomed the caller and I know it's Aunt Graciana. "I'm with Alpha."

My heart quailed a bit when he mentioned me. I was watching him while talking to his mom over the phone when he suddenly turned to me and I abruptly looked away. My heart is hammering foolishly.

Stupid heart. You were never my ally. You always oppose to what is supposed to happen.

"Yes, mom." He said, knocking me off my trance. "I don't know. She didn't even inform me."

I scowled at him but he just gave me a teasing smile.

"She's with Harffiel, his sexy husband." After his line, he bursted into a laughter and I suddenly felt something pricked my heart. I realized how much I miss his laughter. "Yes. They told us they're married." He added and I shifted my eyes on the road. There are wild insects rumbling inside my stomach and my cheeks heated up in embarrassment. "Don't worry, mom. I'm not convinced yet. I have known this girl in my passengerseat."

I quickly turned to him and caught his playful eyes. He laughed softly and my cheeks fluttered at the sound of his laugh.

"Yes, mom. Once I'll know she's not yet tied up with someone, I'll be the one to tie her with my own knot."

"You wish." I spat in a whisper and he laughed at that. I rolled my eyes and looked away from him. I guess Royal will always be Royal.

After he ended his call, he focused on the road but a smile of recreation tarried on his face. I furrowed my brows as I strained myself from jabbing his chest.

"Don't look at me like that." He said in chortle and I rolled my eyes.

"Stop smiling, will you?" I argued.

"Why? Don't you even miss my smiles?"

I let out a sarcastic airy smile.

"Why would I even miss it?"

"Come on," he scoffed between his smiles of victory. "I have no problem if you'll admit that you miss me so much."

"Funny, isn't it?" I mocked and he laughed at me.

"I'm serious," he argued like a baby and his face became catatonic. "And I must admit, I have missed you eversince you left."

I looked away. The taste of venom touched my tongue. I felt the pang creeping in every vein I have.

"Liar." I muttered under my breath. "You just got used to my presence and it gave you a shock when I left."

"Sort of." He answered and I looked at him straight. "But didn't I tell you I always miss you every time you leave my room?"

His eyes are screaming sincerity, yet, I don't believe in them. It's just a pitfall. A pitfall that I should avoid 'cause it would cause me trouble, it'll only lead me to entanglements.

"Whatever you say." I curtly said and turned away, trying to brush the topic off.

"Believe me-" he said and my ears winced and I unexpectedly cut him off.

"I'm tired of believing you." I declared and shifted my eyes on him, boring them into his. "And I'm tired hearing your lies."

"Okay," he said exasperately, nodding in resignation. "It's your choice, anyway."

I nodded and looked away then took a deep breath.

You can do this, Raphaela. Don't get affected by his words or his actions. He's a man of lies. You should have shoved that in your mind. Never believe in him again 'cause in all of the people who would lie to you, it's someone you love the someone. It's someone you trusted whole heartily and then what? You ended up being a fool and an awful loser. You ended up breaking your own heart.

He parked his car inside his mansion and I must say that nothing changed at all. His mansion still looks mesmerizing and a paradise.

We stepped out from his car and I couldn't help but wander my eyes around with so much adoration. With that dim and warm lights from his house, sparkling man made pool like stars in the sky, cold and fresh air softly blustering my skin.

"You still love the place, don't you?" I heard him suddenly asked and I turned to him with a smile.

"I miss this place." I said and looked around. I still love their garden, fountain, specially the ground that is covered with green grasses.

"This place misses you too." He said and my smile disappeared unexpectedly. I shifted my eyes at him and caught his with so much passion. And he smiled, so do I. "Let's go inside. Mom's waiting for you."

I contracted my brows.

"She knows we're here?" I asked amusingly.

What do you expect, Raphaela? Eversince, Aunt Graciana loves you. She even told you once she wants you to be her daughter.

Okay, enough with daydreaming. Aunt Graciana should know you're here since she called Royal a moment ago. Stupid. Tsk.

"Yes. So we better get inside. You know she doesn't tolerate bad behaviors." He chuckled, so do I. His laughter is like a cancer, contagious.

"I wonder what she looks like." I said and started walking. I was a little bit caught off guard when he snaked my waist.

"She's still fresh and good looking woman like you." He complimented and I glared at him. "What? I'm just telling the truth." He argued innocently.

"Do I look like a rotten meat?" I snapped as I scowled at him.

"No," he replied while laughing. "What I meant was, you still look young while aging."

"Is that an insult or compliment?" I stopped from walking to completely face him.

"Compliment?" He replied hesitantly and I jabbed his chest, making him laugh even more.

"Don't talk to me." I warned.

"You're so cute when you're mad."

"Royal!" I whined and jabbed his arm then he winced.

"I'm telling the truth!" He argued, grimacing. "You're a walking paradise."

I mocked at him. I gritted my teeth in snappish manner. I want to kick his ass off.

"Should I be thankful, then?" I scoffed and he wiggled his brows playfully. The grimace turned into a diversion.

"Yes, baby." he whispered his last word and leaned his face closer to my ear and whispered. "But don't worry... you don't have to." He whispered seductively, making my hair on my nape rise. His husky voice sent delicious sensations down to my spine, radiating like tidal waves. "Trust me, I would have left you naked here if I can't help myself."

My cheeks flushed into a shade of red. He pulled his body away from me as he giggled.

"Love it, don't you?" He teased and I whirled around. I can feel my cheeks burning in embarrassment.

"Stop it!" I warned but only a chuckle I got from him.

"Hmm," he hummed. "My baby's flushing red." He stated friskily. "Guess she wants to cuddle with me tonight."

"Oh, goddess." I murmured. What the hell is he doing?