25 Chapter 25

"You didn't tell us you're coming home, Alpha." Aunt Graciana muttered.

We're in the midst of our dinner. Aunt Graciana invited us to join their meal. I refused at first 'cause I told them I won't be long but she insisted and I had no choice but to nod in approval. Harffiel might wonder what's taking us so long to go back.

"I'm sorry, Aunt. My come back isn't really planned." I explained and I turned to Royal who's watching me already.

Mrs. Mocetti and her husband sat across us, Throne got the center seat while I sat beside Royal.

"Mm." She nodded, chewing her food. Her eyes are on her plate. "How's your mom, anyway?" Then she shifted her eyes on me.

"She's fine." I smiled. "She's stable and by tomorrow, she's ready to be discharged."

"She's lucky she survived. I mean, don't get me wrong. Your mom is really stubborn. I kept on telling her she should relax."

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

"What do you mean, Mrs. Mocetti?"

"Eversince you left, she's been indulging herself to different things. She even planned to build a new business line." She replied and returned to eating again.

I took a glance from Royal but my eyes remained on him. I'm so puzzled at the moment. I don't know what would I react.

After we had our dinner, I decided to check Royal's room. While taking up the stairs, I feel like I'm in a horror movie. I try to remain my sanity even though my heart is pounding and my feet are wobbling. Every step I make is like a deep hole. I have to be careful 'cause I might fall.

"There's no ghost inside my room, Alpha. Stop quiverring." I heard Royal's voice from behind. I blindly whirled around and immediately caught his playful eyes. "And no scandalous stuffs." He added and let out a breathy smile.

I chinned up, trying to look firm in front of him.

"I just want to make sure there's no horrible things here." I explained and rolled my eyes while he just chuckled at me.

"Do you expect something?" He asked friskily and I looked away unexpectedly. The heat is creeping into my cheeks. "Come inside and see it for yourself."

I huffed and puffed at him. Why am I arguing with this man, anyway?

I held the knob and abruptly inhaled as I opened the door widely. I gasped silently at the sight of his whole room.

Paintings... my own masterpieces are all over his black walls. He almost has my duplications of all my arts.

"They look good, don't they?" A familiar voice knocked me off my trance but I couldn't help but go back to it. I lost my words. I lost my sanity at these sights.

How did he get all of these?

"I was there in every exhibit you had." He says, making me hang my lips in the air and I turned around, tears were threatening to fall.

"How?" I asked and gulped once as I zipped my lips.

"It's a secret." He replied and shrugged his shoulders. I watched him past by behind 'till I rotated my body to eye his back.

"Were you there?" I asked in confusion.

"Yup. But of course you don't know it."

I overlook his whole room. If something has changed, it's added with paintings hung on the wall. And the rest is kept.

I open my lips, ready to say something but I end up swallowing all my saliva. My brain isn't functioning well. I don't know how and when to start firing him with questions.

He whirls around and jabs his coffee eyes on me. They are so deep like an ocean. They're oozing mastery and dominion. One mistake and you'll die.

"Flabbergasting, isn't it?" He scoffed and I stared at him. His lips are curled into a smile.

"Sort of." I curtly said and walked inside his room. The familiar scent captured my nostrils and memories flashed at the back of my mind. In every corner of this room, I see nothing but myself loving him so much way back six years ago. "You didn't change your room." I commented and walked towards his bed. I saw him, in the corner of my eyes, watching every move I  make.

"Yeah," he said with a sigh. "I don't want to forget every single detail here."

I turned to him with a warning shot but he seemingly didn't notice it.

"Like what? Those times you were with Ria?" I couldn't lurk my own bitterness.

Oh, yeah, Raphaela. Still bitter with the past, huh?

He puffed a breathy smirked.

"You love bringing that topic, don't you?"

"Don't get me wrong." I quickly said, sounding defensive. My hands are propped on bed behind my back, supporting my body.

"Really?" He scoffed, exuding lark in his voice.

"Yes. It's just that, I'm thinking why you're not with her right now." I explained. "Mayhaps you're cheating on her?"

"Cheating?" He cackled like I just told him the funniest thing on earth. "Why would I cheat with her?"

That question transpierced my mind and heart with realization. I got it right. He was really in love with Ria that he can't cheat with her. He's more than an angel that couldn't break a glass for being gentle.

"Yeah? Why would you even cheat with her?" I mocked and shook my head in disbelief. I don't know what to do. The spasm is taking control of my heart. The throe is too much to bear.

A ringing phone interrupted my thoughts for awhile. I fished my phone inside my pocket just to see who's calling and I smiled when it was Harffiel.

"Yes, hon?" I greeted, plastering a bright smile.

"Hon, huh?" He teased and chortled. I tried my best not to roll my eyes. If Royal isn't watching me, I should have cursed this caller to death. "Nevermind." He cleared his throat. "What's taking you so long to come back here?"

I curled my lips into a smirk. I can feel Royal's piercing coffee eyes on me.

Come on, Rourke Yalenati Mocetti. Watch me.

"I'm so sorry, hon." I said with a hint of sarcasm. "Aunt Graciana invited us to a dinner. We can't say no so we accepted the invitation."

"Let me guess." He said. "Royal's with you, isn't it?"

I took a glance from Royal who's now wearing a white polo, sleeved are rolled up to his elbow with three unbuttoned buttons, showcasing his white chest and his collarbone.

"Yeah," I replied and rolled my eyes exasperately.

"Now I know." He teased and cracked a laugh. "Anyway, what time you could come back here?"

"I don't know yet." I sighed. "But I promise I'll be back as early as I can."

"No worries." He said bitterly. I can imagine his sad smile. "Take care of your heart, okay? Don't get near to him."

"I will." I said firmly.

"Okay." His last word before he hung up. I puffed an exhausted breath as I stared at nowhere.

"He must be so lucky to have you." A familiar deep voice stupefy me a bit. I turned to him in a mild shock.

"What do you mean?" I asked, bubbled with his words and he sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. I could feel something building up inside his nerves.

"Nothing." He curltly said and looked away. "I should have kept you." He whispered his last line.

After getting everything we need, we decided to drive off. Though Harffiel didn't nag me about my whereabouts, I know he's concerned of me. I know he wants to know about it so I decided to text him.

Me:

We're on our way.

After I sent my message, I switched off my phone and diverted my attention on the road. Royal isn't saying anything so I decided to shut my mouth as well. I have nothing to say, anyway. And if I have, I prefer to be reticent.

He stopped his car. I pressumed we're already here.

"Thanks for the ride." I said, breaking the silence between us. He didn't say a word so I decided to unbuckle my seatbelt. And when I was about to open the door, he suddenly held my arm. Millions of weak electricity traveled down my body, radiating like tidal waves. And one thing's for sure as I realized it, I badly missed his touch. I miss him so much. Something inside me wants him more... craving for his affection. "R-Royal." I called out in agony. The feeling is excruciatingly overwhelming, making tears pool over my eyes.

"Damn it." He cursed under his breath.

"L-let me go," I cried, chest is tautening.

"Tell me you're not married," he demanded exasperately, pulling me closer to his body.

"R-Royal," I whined.

"Tell me you're not pregnant."

"L-let me go!" I tried to get off from him but he's too valiant in gripping me. He's too firm that I couldn't move him a bit.

"Please, Alpha." He pleaded.

"What do you want to know?!" I yelled and loosened up from him. "What do you want me to say?" I caught my breath in silence.

"You're not in love with him, are you?" He asked miserably and I bursted into a sarcastic laugh.

"Why do you care if I love him?" I scoffed and his jaw clenched. "Did I even ask you if you're in love with Ria?"

"Ria again? Fuck it, Alpha!" He rose his voice, making me flinch. "How many times do I have to tell you we've been over for years?!"

I was taken aback at his sudden burst out. But one thing's unsure for me is his line.

Did I hear it right?

"That night when I proposed to her..." he started in a low voice. He went back to his original position. I can feel how hurt is he and there's something inside me that urges to comfort him, telling him that I'm right here beside him who's willing to give him an ear. "Believe me or not... it was her grandpa's decision."

He looked at me straight. His eyes are screaming grief.

"Her grandpa's decision?" I mouthed, can't believe. "Don't tell me you were just forced to be engaged with her 'cause my eyes saw how in love you were with her!" I hollered.

Don't fucking tell me lies, Royal. Don't turn me into an awful loser! Bullshit!

"I was. Okay? I was." He gave emphasis to his words as he tried to calm down. "But when you left, I realized how much I lost. I lost everything I had the moment you chose to leave me."

"Bullshit." I huffed under my breath. "So you're blaming me now?"

"No," he shook his head and captured my hands. "I had no choice but to set you free... to be married with someone once I loved. You told me you want to go to Italy for your dreams. And maybe that's a hint for me to let you go. I couldn't just jail you here knowingly you want freedom."

"But you know I'm willing to give up everything for you!" I argued and pulled my hand back.

"I don't want you to." He quickly replied. "I want you to be happy with your life 'cause I know what you've been through."

I shook my head, still unconvinced. I don't know what word he should say to make me believe that he really loved me. 'Cause it seemingly not. Seems like everything was just for show.

"And now you're back... everything's coming back as well."

I remained silent as I looked away. I gulped once, trying to settle myself down. I'm fidgeting in unknown reasons.

"You don't know but I followed you." He confessed and I abruptly turned to him. "It was actually our wedding day."

I contracted my brows.

"Wedding day?" I mouthed.

My heart is hammering inside my chest. Queasiness is tugging me down.

"Just like I said, Ria's grandpa was valiant about our marriage. He wanted us to be tied up as soon as we could. Civil marriage supposedly happened but then, I ditched them. Mom doesn't even know about it and she found out, she was furious at me that she wants to take away everything I own."

I pondered. I don't know what word will come out first. I heard him both of my ears but my brain isn't working well that I don't understand him.

"I didn't care about her threat." He added and I remained my eyes on my lap. I don't have the strength to look at his eyes 'cause surely I will give up. "I cared about losing you. Losing you is like losing everything... losing you is my worst downfall."

"I don't know already." I said and broke down into tears.

"Tell me, Alpha." He said as he took my hand and I looked up to catch his blue eyes. "Tell me you're not in love with him. Tell me that everything's just for show."

"Yes." I said and chinned up, eyeing him boldly. "But it doesn't make any sense."

"Why? 'Cause you're married with him?" He quickly asked, voice is miserable.

"I'm not... and I'm not pregnant. He's just a good friend of mine."

"Then what's keeping you from me?"

I scowled at him. I could feel my nose and ears boiling.

"The pain... the past... the walls I built six years ago."

"Let me demolish it." He propounded, sounded hoping.

"You think it'll be easy? No." I shook my head, showing my disapproval. "You cannot put things back like they were before, Royal. Just because everything seemingly cleared between us, it doesn't mean we're taking the next steps. We're on level zero, Royal. Keep that in your head." I threw a glare at him before I went outside his car. And that's when reality hit me up. Regret's bothering me but I know I did the right thing. I know it is how supposed to be before he could hurt me again.

You can't hurt me again, Royal. Not now, never will.