Special Thanks to Anita Ross and Estela for their kind gems. It means so much to me and it's the reason I am writing. Thank you for loving it as much as I loved writing it
NIRELLEOnce I am done with the pictures, I find my mom in the crowd and meet her. I have to make sure to get out of there before I have to talk to Cassian because I know what they could do."Mom""Honey, say hello to my friends. This is...""I have to go," I say, stopping her. I have smiled for the camera; now they have to do what I want them to, and that is to let me go before I cause a scene at their precious party."Honey," she was startled by my reaction but tried to mask it with a smile. "So soon? The party only started," she added, biting her lips so that they stained the bottom part of her teeth red."Lucien wants me home now," I add, and she nods, turning to her friends and laughing nervously."He is so smitten by her that he can't even be away from her for a moment," she lied because she wanted them to think I had some sort of control over Luien."Oh, I see," they murmured, liking whatever story she was spinning."But I thought he agreed to let you stay for the party," she s
NIRELLEOnce Yvette is done with my makeup, I barely recognise myself. Her goal was to be glamorous so that everyone knew that I was not on their level."This is much better." She beams with happiness at her work."Mom, don't you think this is too much? It's just dinner with a few of your friends," I say, and then she looks like she has been caught in a lie. "Not a few of your friends?" I ask, and she nods."How many people are coming over?" I ask, feeling my heart beating out of my chest."About fifty guests; your father is throwing a reception for your wedding celebration. It's not like he got to do it before," she said, and I feel my entire face shake with shock."You threw a party on the day I left here. Why else do you need another party?" I ask, and she looks at me like I was being unreasonable."This is a big deal for your father, so just come along to the party and smile for the guests. They all want to see the girl who stole the hear
NIRELLEHe gets up from his chair and walks to me. He pulls me aggressively into a hug and lingers for a long time. I pull away after a minute of discomfort. I feel as if I should walk into a washer and wash off the feeling on my body, but I just throw him a weird smile. I don't know if he notices that I am uncomfortable or if he just does not care."Sit, sit," he said, beaming with joy. "You are truly my daughter; look how proud you have made me." He sounds like someone whose child had achieved a great feat. Maybe a cure for cancer or terminal illness. I hold my breath and smile with a nod."I am glad to be your pride." I am shocked at how well I am keeping it together. I was almost sure that I would have lashed out at him by now, but so far, so good. His eyes go up to the two bodyguards standing behind me, and his eyes dart around the room uncomfortably."Oh, just act as if they aren't there." His reaction to them gives me so much peace. I am sure he won't try anything fishy with me
NIRELLEI feel dread creep up my mind. Yvette had been too excited to hear that I was coming to visit her."I never thought you'd ask." Yvette sounded like she knew what wrong they had all done to me, but she was trying to hide it."I want to come say hi," I lie, trying to keep vomit from rising through me. I hated that I had to act cosy with them, but I was going to wear a wire in case anything was going to slip in my interaction with them."Your father is happy to see you; he has been wishing that you would come." I almost ask her if he would try to rape me if I came over.A knock on the door brought me back to reality. "Nirelle?" I take a deep breath and walk to it."Good morning, Mr. Vexley.""Mr. Vexley? I thought you were...." He stops himself and then presses his lips together. "Good morning, Mrs. Vexley." I almost melt at him calling me that. It was almost as if I had updated my identity. "Did you sleep well?""No," I shake my head. There was no need to lie to him when he was g
NIRELLE"Greedy? I thought we were both facing the world hand in hand?" I ask because I can't understand what about the situation made him greedy. "I had thought you'd be as happy as I am now that people would stop trying to put me and Cassian in the same boat and think we were more suitable for each other, or was I just grasping at straws here?"He looks conflicted. "Didn't you come in here to make things right?" I ask when his response is silence."I did.""Then you'd have to do a little more than just stay silent with me.""You are right," he nods and then sits on the edge of the sofa beside me. "I wanted that moment to be about you. I wanted everyone to see how special you are, but all of a sudden, it felt as though you were being used by me, and the last thing I want to do is use you. I don't want you to ever feel used.""I did not feel used because I was not used." I correct him, and he looks at me. I see his eyes, and they comfort me more than I would have thought. "I felt seen.
LUCIENI have never been so confused in my entire life. I was so sure that things were going well, and then she became so distant. It is even worse than before because now I am aware of what it means. How did things go so south? The image and my reaction. I had expected myself to be happier about the situation, but I felt my stomach drop into a pit as if I had done the wrong thing when I was sure that I had not.On the call with Cory, I was just trying to defend her, but it had turned into this whole thing. I guess my luck was real, just that bad luck following me all around."How was your little date?" Theo enters the study with a smug smile on his face. He took one look at me and rushed to me. "Did you manage to fumble it?" His question was harmless, but why did it feel like an attack?"I did not." I shake my head, but he does not seem to believe me."I would have thought that after that night you'd be beaming and basking in the bliss of being in a new relationship, but it's you. You