6: Offer of Alliance

CIARA

“Fucking hell, I knew that woman was fake,” I muttered as I wiped away the tears stinging my eyes. It was almost surreal, the way Dad had just disregarded me. He’d never so much as raised his voice before, not even once, let alone hurt me. Yet now, in a single afternoon, it felt like I’d been erased.

All because of Yuri.

As soon as I stepped out of the gate, I froze when I saw the familiar car parked on the other side of the road. It was like it had been waiting just for me. For a second, I just stared, unsure if I was seeing things right. Then I walked over, knuckles rapping softly against the window. It just took a few seconds when Luis rolled it down.

“Why are you still here?” I asked, trying to make sense of it. “Were you waiting for me the whole time?”

“No, I went back to the hotel to get your stuff. Then I drove back because Sir Rowan told me to wait for you. He said you’d need a ride.” His words sent a chill up my arms, goosebumps rising instantly.

“Shit, your boss is freaking creepy.” I slid into the passenger seat anyway, because honestly, I had nowhere else to go. No matter how much I wanted to admit it, Rowan’s place was the only option I had.

“Here,” Luis handed me my phone. I took it from his hand almost immediately before he started driving.

When I checked my phone, there were missed calls and dozens of messages crowding the screen; some from friends, most from Austin. But I didn’t bother reading them. My thumb social media almost on its own, and there it was: a viral video, front and center, of me running away from the wedding.

I bit my lips, scrolling through the comments, my chest growing tight with every line about how sorry everyone felt for the groom, making me the villain. Some clever netizens were on my side, guessing that Austin must have done something to make me run away. But ninety percent of them? All of them were busy sympathizing with that bastard.

“Ugh, this is so frustrating.” I shut off my phone, pressing the screen harder than necessary. If I kept reading, I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from firing back at their ridiculous comments.

As much as I wanted to clear my name, to make them see that I was the victim, I knew I had to think twice before doing anything rash. I’d already learned my lesson about acting on impulse, and this time, I had to plan everything carefully.

I couldn’t let my emotions get the best of me again.

“Say, does Rowan have superpowers or something? Why does it feel like he can see the future?” I glanced at Luis, hoping he’d take my question seriously, but he just let out a low laugh, eyes steady on the road ahead.

“I don’t think he has any special ability, miss,” he said. “He’s just very keen. Very observant.”

“Right,” I muttered, turning back to the window. City lights smeared the glass in yellow streaks as we drove. I gripped my phone, ignoring the sting in my wounded palm, and let the silence settle around me.

I had to make Dad believe me. That was the only way I could prevent our precious relationship from getting ruined.

I closed my eyes, the exhaustion catching up to me suddenly. When I opened them again, I was back in Rowan’s guestroom, and the sunlight trickled through the gap in the curtains. I let out a long breath and turned over, dragging the covers above my head.

Even after all those hours, I still felt worn down to the bone. My body ached in places I didn’t even know could hurt, and my thoughts were scattered. I was just about to surrender to the haze again when someone knocked.

I peeled the blanket from my face and shuffled to the door, half-awake, only to realize it was Rowan. My hand froze on the knob, then I closed the door right in his face.

“How rude,” his voice came from the other side, flat and unfriendly. “Go downstairs and have breakfast.”

I replied with a simple “Okay” before heading to the bathroom. I was about to wash my face when I noticed my hand was wrapped in a bandage, an indication that someone had taken care of my wounds.

Just then, a small smile crept onto my lips. After I finished freshening up, I looked at my phone, tempted to check it, but I thought better of it and headed straight to breakfast instead.

“Sit down,” Rowan said the instant I stepped into the dining room. He didn’t even look up. He was busy reading the paper in one hand, then sipping coffee from the other. He was wearing glasses today, and the black robe he wore was hung open at the chest, which made me glance away before I caught myself and sat down at the empty chair near him.

“I’m going to work later. What about you? Still don’t want to team up with me?” His words came out casual, but there was an edge underneath.

“I’m going back to my apartment. I have work too,” I said, grabbing food right away because my stomach wouldn’t wait any longer. “I appreciate you helping me, but I need to think things through.”

“Do you not trust me?” Rowan finally put the paper aside and looked at me, causing me to stop with the toast halfway to my mouth.

“Yes,” I answered, maybe too fast. He just scoffed, shaking his head a little. Then he started asking about yesterday, and even though I’d promised myself not to talk, the whole story spilled out anyway.

He listened to everything, sipping his coffee in silence, just nodding occasionally, like he was patiently waiting for me to finish.

“And? What’s your plan now?” He placed his empty cup down, eyes sharp and unblinking as they bore into mine.

“I’m going to expose that woman’s true colors,” I answered as I pushed my chair back, the legs scraping against the floor, and then I stood up. “Thank you for letting me stay. And for the meal. I should get going.”

I was nearly at the door, already thinking about the next step, when Rowan suddenly spoke. “I have evidence. Plenty of it.”

For a second, I just stood there, stunned. When I turned around, I saw him leaning back with his arms crossed and an annoying smirk on his face. He looked so relaxed, almost like he had all the time in the world, but there was an arrogance in the way he carried himself that made my blood boil.

“I’ll give them to you. If you finally accept my offer of alliance, that is,” he added, words rolling out slowly, like he was dangling them right in front of me.

I clenched my fist because I hated how much I wanted to say yes. But I didn’t. I just turned away and left.

When I got back to my apartment, the first thing I saw was Austin, sprawled out on my couch, fast asleep. It was obvious he’d been here all night. After all, he was still in the suit from the ceremony, tie loosened, hair a mess, like he hadn’t even tried to go home.

I let out a long sigh. For a second, I wanted to throw something at him just to see him jump, but I stopped myself. Instead, I walked straight to my room and showered. After that, I changed and put on a little makeup until I almost looked like myself again.

When I was ready, I grabbed my bag and stepped out, quietly closing the door. But the sound must have woken him, because Austin shot up, eyes wide, looking lost for a split second before he saw me.

“Babe,” he said, stumbling to his feet and nearly tripping over the coffee table. “Where have you been? Do you know how worried—I mean, I was worried sick about you.”

I didn’t even think. My hand moved before my brain caught up, and I slapped him, hard, right across the face. The sound echoed in the room, and he staggered back, one hand to his jaw, turning to look at me like he couldn’t believe what just happened.

“Fuck you!” I gritted my teeth, holding myself back from shouting. “Stop acting worried when you’ve been cheating on me for two fucking years, Austin!”

I shoved his chest, all the anger I thought I’d buried flooding right back up.

“Do you have no shame? Where do you get the audacity to act as if nothing happened, huh? Were you really planning to marry me while you were screwing my stepmother?”

He didn’t fight back. He just stood there, taking the shoves, the blows to his chest, as he deserved it. Of course he did. In a second of pure rage, I grabbed his tie and yanked him closer, my nails digging into the fabric.

His eyes were wet with tears, and I almost laughed at the sight of it.

“I’m sorry,” Austin said, voice trembling. “I know what I did was wrong, but I swear… I already ended it with Yuri.”

He tried to take my hands, but I pulled away, disgusted.

“And? Am I supposed to be happy now? Relieved?” My voice broke, but I didn’t care. “You really think I can just forgive you like you didn’t turn me into a joke for two whole years?”

“I-I will do everything, please. Just forgive me, let’s start over.” His words tumbled out in a desperate rush, and the tears kept coming, streaking down his cheeks. I remembered how, before, seeing him so broken would have shattered me too. But not now. Now, his pain was something I had wanted to see.

“There’s no starting over between us, Austin.” My voice came out steady, “You betrayed me, you cheated on me, and that’s not something we can simply patch up.”

I pulled my bag onto my shoulder, watching him crumple a little more, slumped on the floor like he might fold in on himself completely.

“Leave my apartment, or I’ll call the guards to drag you out.”