Chapter 5 - Blue Hydrangeas

RUYI WYNTER❦

I was back at my morning job as a florist, tending to freshly delivered flowers. I removed the beautiful roses from their roots, still wrapped in plastic nylon, and replanted them into soil pots.

I was doing these continuously for about hundreds of them, as my mind completely slipped through what I was doing and was instead warped by Jace’s betrayal,

Whether he was actually trying… truly trying hard to get us out of this mess, because realistically how could we possibly pay off five million dollars?

And maybe I overreacted. Truly.

He’s out there doing things that hurt me so he could pay the debts, when it’s a lost cause already… We didn’t even owe Lucien money,

Wouldn’t it have been better if the debt collectors hadn’t been caught and killed? Maybe we would have found the money. Maybe we would have paid them off. Maybe Lucien would never have found out that Jace’s life wasn’t taken.

“Ouch…”

The sharp cry escaped me as red blood bloomed across my palm. I had nicked my index finger and thumb on a rose thorn, careless and absentminded.

Ruyi… attend to the customer!”

Shana’s voice cut through the courtyard as I was arranging the pots. I immediately lifted my bleeding fingers to my mouth, trying to stop it, and rushed into the glass shop.

Standing with his back to me was a man fully draped in black… about six foot six—lazily brushing his fingers over the blue hydrangeas. His scent reached me before his voice did, woody and amber, like cashmere cologne and familiar.

Where had I smelled something like that before, something that stood out so sharply among all these flowers?

“Get me everything,” he said, his tone low. “Mix it with roses.”

I froze.

I didn’t make a sound. How did he know I was behind him? And why would anyone want all the blue hydrangeas mixed with roses? That was a mighty bouquet—big enough to fill a car trunk.

I didn’t think much of it. I just turned to get the register and papers.

When I turned back, he was staring straight at me through ocean-blue eyes. A mask covered the lower half of his face.

“Welcome to our—” My absent mind finally kicked in, but before I could finish, he grabbed my hand. My heart skipped violently.

He pulled out a plaster from his pocket—as if it had been waiting there—and carefully wrapped it around my bleeding fingers.

“I’m sorry—” I tried to pull away, but his grip was firm,

Strange, It was so strange and weird.

“Right,” he drawled lazily. “How many more sorries?”

I frowned, confused for a second… then it hit me. He was the man I had bumped into last night while running from Jace’s workplace.

I bowed slightly, “I’m sorry for bumping into you… Please drop your address, we'll deliver your flowers.” I said, keeping my bow down and excused myself nervously.

❧❧❧

It was fifty minutes past ten p.m— my closing hour at the pork shop. There were days like this we close even later because we have very drunken customers that wouldn’t leave.

I walked out and locked the shop, Mrs. Lela had left before me, and I slid my cold hands into my pocket, worried that I was late to make dinner for Jace,

He must be hungry, he must be getting mad whilst waiting, he must think I was still angry at him, even though I was. But he shouldn’t think that was why I was late,

Panic buzzed through me as I hurried down the icy pavement, my thoughts spiraling. I wasn’t paying attention when my foot slipped hard against the ice.

I would have fallen…

But a strong hand caught me, and when I regained balance, it was the blue hydrangea and rose guy,

And wait, waiting to save me out of nowhere? This will be the third time he’s helping me…

“What? Uhm… I’m sorry…” I panicked as I quickened my pace to get away from him, but he soon caught up, his woody and masculine scent wrapped around my nostril, it was intoxicating, it was attractive, obviously expensive… why is he following me? I panicked.

“How’s your finger ?” He asked, “Fine thank you… please go away.”

“Why ?”

“I’m just being a human being,” he said calmly, “socializing with another human being. Is that weird?”

“Please leave, I’m married, my husband is waiting at home hungry, I don’t want to keep him waiting.. not even a second longer.” I said, almost incomprehensibly, hoping he leaves me alone.

Three “coincidental encounters” were more than enough red flags.

“Husband huh? He must be a lucky jackass.” He said… with a bitter tone, almost murderous and possessive.

“Excuse me?” Panic sharpened my voice. “How dare you? You don’t know me, and you don’t get to disrespect my husband. Please leave me alone.”

I quickened my pace again.

“I can drive you home,” he offered.

“I love my husband,” I said urgently. “And if that won’t make you leave me alone, then I’ll assume you’re a creep and I’ll scream for help.”

“Love ?” He snickered bitterly, as if angry.

I ran.

….

I reached my street, gasping for air and a black car honked beside me, scared me shitless, the window rolled down and my heart dropped.

It was Mafia Lord Lucien’s men, the silent deadpan man who led me to Lucien’s study and towering Jules,

My body started shaking. Is this it? Are they here to finish me off?

To collect the life debt? Terror locked my limbs.

“Please…” my voice broke. “Please leave my body for Jace… And don’t shoot my face… please… let me stay beautiful for him… even in death.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the gunshot.

It never came.

“Get in,” the deadpan man said flatly, opening the car door.

I froze for half a second—then obeyed.

The moment I was inside, the blindfold went over my eyes.

Darkness swallowed everything.