คืนเร่าร้อน Just One Night

Nina

"Will you do the honour of marrying me?" I stood frozen on my feet as I stared at the ring he held out to me. Never would I have thought that our trio would end up like this.

I raised my hand, ready to kick the ring off, but I remembered his words before he started this: 'Play along' was what he whispered in my ear. I put on a smile, reluctantly dropping my hand to his face as I said, "Yes, I will marry you."

The crowd erupted in applause, even giving a standing ovation, and how much I wanted to roll my eyes at them—what fakers. But why wouldn't they? It was Caspian. No one could bear offending anyone in his lineage.

From the corner of my eye, I could see Sage's mother panting heavily; she must have never thought that her son's burial would be an avenue for an engagement for me.

"Congratulations," someone shook his hand while he smiled lowly. "Your father has always been wishing for you to get married; I never thought you actually would." He took him away as he spoke, and I was about to shout his name when two people stood right in front of me.

"Master asked us to get you back home immediately," he said, and just with the tone of his voice, I knew immediately that it was my father who sent them.

I wanted to scream out to Caspian to come save me, but looking at the crowds that dispersed without the burial ceremony even being completed and how I heard whispers about the proposal, I felt guilt swim inside me. I didn't want to cause more problems.

"Let's go then," I said as I walked forward with them behind me. Passing by Sage's mother, I could feel her hateful glare on me, but she couldn't do anything—not with those guards behind me.

I looked away from her side in shame and embarrassment, but just in time to see Caspian now surrounded by four men congratulating him. He gazed at me sharply before a smirk rose on his face. Now I was sure something was up, but what?

***

I banged open the door ready to rant at my father when I walked in, but I figured that he wasn't there. Cooling down a little, I called, “Aunt. Ma, where is Dad?” 

She immediately rushed to me, leaving her choice behind, before she smiled and said, “He just went on a business trip a few hours ago and asked I give this to you when you get back.” A devilish smile rose on her face as she searched through her apron pockets.

I tapped my feet on the floor as I stared at the nanny, awaiting her to bring whatever he has to explain himself out. “Here it is, make sure to read it carefully. I will warm up some food for you,” 

she said, and I grabbed onto it, looking at the suspicious wrapping for a few seconds before I opened it up.

“I guess you are already back home by now and you must be fuming at me right now, but nevertheless, I am not going to let you out of that house till Sage’s mourning period is over. So stay put and enjoy yourself till I get back. Love, Dad.” My breathing pace increased heavily as I closed up the letter, wanting to tear it to pieces, but on a second thought, I smiled.

I placed the letter on the table as I walked upstairs to my room. With such a letter, the guards were probably holding guns right now to stop me from leaving.

Sitting by the balcony, I couldn't help but remember the incident at the burial. The proposal? Sage’s sudden death? And even sad, everyone was acting weird, and everything was weird to me. I had just arrived in the country after a few years, and it was like everyone I knew was already crazy?

I got up to my feet, taking little steps towards the balcony before I looked down at the guards. Indeed, they were armed, even with earpieces in their ears; you would think they were protecting the president’s daughter. But no, I had to find out the truth, what actually happened.

I picked up my phone, wanting to place a call to Caspian to ask what happened while I was gone, but his number wasn't going through. I had thought it was because I wasn't in town; that's why I couldn't place a call to him, but from what it seemed, he had already let go of this number.

This time I called my dad, but he was also not going through. I thought of calling Silvia, but I could bet a thousand dollars that she wouldn't pick up that call. I had first caused a scene at her brother's burial, then I finalized an engagement? Who would take that?

I sat back down, unsure of what to do when my eyes suddenly caught someone among the patrol, Rein. He was my bodyguard since I was little; there was no way he wouldn't help me out of this mess.

I smiled as I walked downstairs, calling out to him as I walked closer, “Rein! Don't you miss your baby?” All eyes shone on us as I said those words, with even Rein looking around in shock and confusion.

“Ms., what are you saying? We…” Before he could say another word, I placed my hands over his shoulder, holding him closer to me as I whispered to him.

“Don't you dare foil my act.” 

An unwilling smile rose on his face as he took me by the waist and said, “I am not sure you want to play this game with me; I won't let you out.” I turned to him sharply, and he shrugged with a low smile on his face.

I pushed him away immediately as I scoffed. “What a killjoy,” I said, walking back to my room, disappointed that my plan didn't work when I suddenly heard a voice from a corner.

“Hi, Nina!” The unfamiliar face shone with a smile, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of danger.