As Royce introduces her to various important people throughout the evening, Raven can't help but notice the way he talks about her to everyone."This is Raven, she is absolutely brilliant with chemistry and research," he tells a group of rich businessmen with genuine pride radiating from his voice.Raven feels timid at the praise, yet she cannot help but feel like she is being seen for her worth.Then he says to another elegantly dressed couple, his hands resting protectively on her lower back as he speaks:"You should see the incredible work she's doing, it's going to change everything in the field," he boasts confidently.Every single introduction is filled with compliments and praises.Like he is actually excited and proud to show her off to everyone here at the party.It reminds her painfully of how things were with Draco.How naive she was to think Draco was the only one who would ever feel this way about her.She thought he was the only person who would ever be proud to have her
Draco’s eyes snap to Raven immediately he smells her and his heart thuds, pounding loudly to his own hearing. Raven has always been a ravishing beauty but tonight, she looks like a goddess, adorned with the stars and glittered by the moon.A thick lump finds its way down his throat as Raven walks further in wearing an elegant emerald dress that hugs her curves perfectly and folds around her like a glove.The colour of the dress makes her eyes shine amidst the twinkling lights of the ballroom.His roaming eyes halt as they meet hers across the room and the fiery anger or perhaps hatred in them slaps him back into reality and he looks away, guilt chipping at his yearning heart.He had run off in search of Carla the last time, and left her all alone.He cannot imagine how she must feel, but can perceive a bit of the hurt in her gaze as she glares straight at him back.He wished he didn't leave her like that, but he had no choice.He had to. Carla's life is tethered to his, so if he risked
Raven settles into the passenger seat of Royce’s car, still not quite believing she agreed to be his date to some fancy party, but here she is.Royce, though, looks genuinely pleased as he starts the engine, a smile spreading across his face."I'm glad you agreed to be my date. But before the party, you need a makeover.""A makeover?" She frowns at him, suddenly feeling self-conscious."What's wrong with how I look?""Nothing's wrong with you," he says quickly, and she can hear the sincerity in his voice."But this is a high-end event. We're talking about the mayor, city council members, business owners. You need to look the part."Raven looks down at her worn jeans and plain sweater, suddenly feeling inadequate."So what are you saying exactly?""I'm saying we ditch school today. Forget about the lab, forget about everything else for now. Today is about getting you ready for tonight," he explains as he navigates through traffic.She opens her mouth to protest, she should be working o
Like Royce instructed, Raven strips and gets into the bath, exhaling loudly as the warm water hugs her skin.She sits in there a while, soaking and allowing the water to loosen the tension in her body.It is only when the water goes cold and she starts to feel her skin wrinkle that she finally steps out, pulling the drain.She wraps herself in a large soft towel and pads to the room, her feet hitting the floors with a dull thud.She stops at the sight of a robe already laid out on the bed and walks toward it, unfurling the towel and shrugging the robe on.There is a covered tray on the bedside table and she makes her way over to it, already inhaling the aroma before she sees the food.As always, Royce is doing all the right things even while he's mad at her.During her bath, she had had time to think and came to the realization that he must be mad at her because she went off with Draco.He probably found out somehow, the same way he had known she was at the station without her calling
Raven watches, mouth agape, as Draco speeds off on the motorcycle, leaving her on the deserted road next to his car.What just happened?Her eyes fill up with tears as she registers the situation.After almost bleeding out in her arms, Draco had left her here to run off to another woman while he was still losing blood.After everything they had just been through together? Even in his critical condition, he is more concerned about Carla. That much is obvious. She blinks her eyes dry, trying to force her tears back and lets out a shaky breath.It’s no use as it does nothing to stop the new rush of tears.She crumbles at the side of the car. This feels like a cruel play of fate. Draco keeps pulling her here and there and hurting her even more every time.As if things were not already bad enough, her ears prick to the sound of police sirens, and seconds later, a couple of police cars surround her car.“This is the police! Stand slowly and raise your hands above your head!”Raven is startl
“What the hell—” Raven's scream is cut off by another gunshot plus a louder bang on the car.Then another, and another.“We need to get out of here. Those men are after me. They are from a drug operation we burst recently,” Draco exclaims, igniting the car and pushing the gear into place.Raven’s heart thuds frantically in her chest, getting faster with every bullet that hits the car.“What?”“It’s part of the things I wanted to discuss with you.”Draco tears through the street, swerving sharply into a backstreet, and Raven eyes the rearview for the attacker.A black car is right on their tail, nearing them by the second.“They’re going to catch up soon,” she tells Draco fearfully.He glances at the mirror, seeing the same thing she does, and steps on the gas, going even faster.Another bullet hits the car, shattering the side mirror on the driver’s side, and Raven lets out a loud shriek.“Shit, we have to do something,” Draco growls beside her, going impossibly faster as the car twis