Chapter 019

“Can we talk?”

It was funny how a few days ago, the sound of his voice woke her in ways she couldn't explain. But right now, it made her realise how empty she was without him and how badly she was going to survive with her resolve to let him go.

It wasn't even much of a resolve. Not when Bianca was back and he was choosing Bianca over her.

She cleared her throat and tried to focus her mind on something. Something that would make the tears go away.

There was a saying that thinking sad things when you had an uncontrollable laugh helped to stop you. Maybe thinking something good would help stop the tears.

But what was there to really think about?

Her happy moments started when Ethan walked into her life. Funny how, they had found a way to now be part of her sad moments.

Seeing Ethan was not willing to leave and she didn't want —or rather, wasn't prepared for a confrontation, she stood up, pushing the chair backwards. The screech of the wooden surface against the marble floor reminded her of the ripping of her own heart. 

“Excuse me,” she managed to voice out. 

She squeezed through the small space between her and Ethan, all thanks to her smallish frame, and started towards the exit. 

She wanted to turn. Damn, her stupid heart wanted to fuck everyone's opinion and run into the arms of her lover. She had missed him and would really love to spend the night with him. Even her head told her Pa Frey could go fuck himself and the rules of being a hybrid could burn in hell. For a breath, she stopped, her heart racing with excitement. 

But a voice pushed her resolve to run far away from Ethan.

Bianca. 

She was still in the office and had now stepped out, calling out Ethan's name in a way that made her jealous.

“Are you done with the PA?” she heard her ask.

PA.

She didn't wait to hear Ethan's response. Something told her it would cut deeper than a sword. Her feet slapped against the cold marble as she stepped out 

Mia was not on seat. At least, safe didn't have to explain why she was leaving work earlier. Since she was basically broke, she had no option than to hike back home, a long distance that was going to melt down all the calories from the lamb pasta.

Ethan was in a dilemma. Having known the truth now, he was mad at his father. Now, it all made sense. And 

realising that made him also mad at himself.

But he could barely get a moment to think. Not when Bianca was all over him like a storm. She dug her nails into his shirt, stopping him from going after Abigail.

“Ethan —honey, I've got a problem,”she started, trying to take his mind off the departing form of Abigail. “I think there's something in my eye. It must have been from the time your incompetent PA threw coffee at me.”

He faced her, eyes blazing with anger. But the anger soon died. What was the need of defending Abigail in her absence when he couldn't do that in her presence?

“Do you mind checking?” She asked, undeterred.

He moved forward and tried peeking into her eyes. But Bianca, knowing what she wanted, stretched and pulled her lips to his. It was a short moment. But it had captured what she wanted. Ethan, unaware, pushed her off him slightly.

“We need to have a long discussion when I'm back from Dark city,” he told her. 

Bianca knew what he wanted to say. But she wasn't going to allow it. She leaned towards his ear and whispered. 

“How about tonight? In your bed when I'm taking you to the edge of paradise.”

He tensed up. 

Sex with Bianca only reminded him of how much he missed doing it with Abigail. He had thought it would make him forget her. But nothing made him forget about her.

He backed away from her. 

“You should go home,” he stated.

The moment he got into his car, all he could think of was the way Abigail had ignored him and how he could start a conversation with her. He wasn't ready to dvd things with her and heck, he knew she wasn't either. 

As his limo drove through the street, he saw her a few blocks away. She was hiking home. 

His heart sank. Now he knew why she fainted that morning. He knew Abigail barely had enough to sustain herself and she wasn't one to ask. He had decided to upgrade her salary, unknown to her. But it wasn't yet time to receive pay.

He grabbed his phone and dialed Alex.

“I need you to send a hundred thousand dollars to Abigail's account,” he instructed. “And it must be from an anonymous account. Stop whatever you're doing and make that a priority.”

Alex, who could never understand the dynamics between his boss and Abigail, nodded. “Right away, sir.”

It was a thirty minute trek. Abigail used the time to admire the city. Find something positive out of the negative. But there was scarcely anything to admire..

Maybe if she wasn't a hybrid, she would have seen the beauty. All she saw was classicism. A terrible one that left her perpetually broke.

As she got home, she grabbed her phone, only to see an unexpected text. The amount took her attention first.

A hundred thousand dollars.

She screamed. Then she realised. It must be a mistake. 

If not, someone was trying to set her up 

A hybrid with a hundred thousand dollars? Even the banks would call or report it. 

Yet, safe hopes it was hers. A hundred thousand dollars could do a lot. A new location with a door Liam could easily break through, a fur coat, and food.

She was so hungry.

And too famished to care about repercussions. 

She had to eat out. Try something new and face the repercussions later. As she resolved to go out, a notification popped up on her phone. She didn't miss the catchy headline nor did she ignore the click bait.

Ethan was right there, kissing Bianca, a few minutes after he wanted to talk to her.

Her gut twisted with disgust.