Chapter 5

We were driving home now. I was sitting beside him on the passenger seat. The house was at a 1-hour distance from the venue. It’s been even 10 minutes of him driving, and we hadn’t exchanged a single word. My heart was racing fast. Questions flooded my mind. Should I ask him or not? Should I, should I not? My mind kept repeating the same thing on loop. I looked toward him — he was just focused on the road.

Gosh, what a lucky day for me. I finally found the name I was crazily looking for, and at the same time, what an unlucky day — I found him, but I can't have him.

I sighed.

My eyes fell on his veiny hands on the steering wheel. His hand was gripping the wheel just like he held my neck in those nights — not tightly, just in control.

My thighs clenched. Oh gosh.

I looked ahead.

Stop it, Elora. He is your step-uncle now. It's so disgusting.

Even I was trying to remind myself how wrong this was now. My head voice wasn't helping me — it kept interrupting, saying, So what if he is your step-uncle? He is step, not real. Eww, I never thought I was this sick in the mind.

I can't move in with them. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to fight this voice. It sure would take over my senses and make me do something I’d regret.

Suddenly, the car jolted ahead.

I almost smashed my head on the car ahead.

But before I did, his hand came forward and stopped me from falling.

His hand touched my belly, making me freeze. My heart beat fast at his touch. Oh God.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I looked toward him. He was looking with concern, but not like someone who already knows you.

Are you planning to pretend that you don't know me? I asked in my mind, looking at him.

He looked so unaffected. The look in the venue told me he knew me, but the way he acted later just told me — So what if I remember you? You're nothing. You were just one of those passing days for me.

Can it be the truth? I asked myself. My overthinking was taking its toll. What if it was just me who didn't get interested in anyone after him? But he — he must have met a lot of girls after me. It's been 2 years. There must have been countless girls. He is way too handsome. And the way I saw the ladies at the wedding looking at him — they were head over heels for him. Their eyes showed they were just waiting for their chance to spread legs for him. And maybe some of them already did.

“Elora. Elora.” He snapped his fingers in front of me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I gathered myself. “Yeah, I’m fine, thank you,” I said.

“Why didn't you tie your seatbelt?” he asked.

That’s when I realized. “Sorry,” I said. I quickly shut my eyes, embarrassed. I was too lost to focus on anything, I guess.

I tied the seatbelt, and he started the car.

I decided not to ask him. Clearly, he wasn’t mentioning it, and I wasn’t ready to hear something unexpected. I always imagined him telling me how much he missed me, just like I did. But now, when I saw him here — the way he was behaving clearly told me he never missed me. So it was better not to ask when I already knew the answer. The answer that would hurt me more than it already was.

The rest of the ride was silent. I didn’t even look at him because it would only make it worse. I pulled my phone out instead and started looking for dress inspiration again. I better focus on my career now. That’s the only thing that will help me not cry all day, cursing him and my fate for being this bitch — and instead do something productive.

I got too lost in the search. The dresses were so pretty. I saved a ton of them. I was planning to mix some of the inspirations and create a better one.

The car came to a halt. I looked up. We had already reached.

“Thank you,” I said.

I opened the lock on the door, but before I stepped out, he spoke — stopping me.

“Elora,” he called.

How badly I wanted him to call me wildflower.

I turned my head toward him. He was already looking.

“You should move in with your mother,” he said.

I just looked, not saying anything.

Should I? But if I did, it wouldn’t turn out to be good.