Semua Bab NIRELLE: Bab 71 - Bab 80

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.

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

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

NIRELLEAfter breakfast I make my way to Lucien's study; with one knock I let myself into the room, and he lights up upon seeing me as if we had not just parted a few moments ago."What are you doing here?" he asked, shocked to see me."I am here to see Mr. Vexley. Is he in?" I ask, and he tilts his head, squeezing his face as if he were thinking about what I had just asked. "If he isn't in, then I can just come back another time.""Well, if you are here for Mr. Vexley, then I am afraid you might just have to come back another time, but if you want to see Lucien, then I can assure you that he is in here," he said. I did not even think of him responding that way when I asked the question, but I liked it."Are you okay?" I walk to the table and stand on the other side of it."I know that Cassian will be coming for us soon, and I am not sure if I know the way to protect you.""Remember I told you this just a few days ago." I pause and tap on the table gently. "Side by side""Sure," he lea

NIRELLEI had come in to cook to take my mind off going back to the kiss I had shared with Lucien, but he had waltzed into this place to kiss me once again. How was I to survive? It would be replaying for days on end in my head. He tugs on my lower lip as though it were something that was giving him some kind of strength. His hand drops from my wrist and circles my waist. My brain is screaming at me; we should not be doing this here, in the kitchen, where anyone can walk in and see.I pull away at the thought of that, and he looks at me, breathless, with his eyebrow going up. "Why?" he raps gently. I saw his chest heaving as he spoke."Anyone can walk in and see us," I respond, almost not believing that he was asking me that. Why did I pull away? I don't remember giving him such a freeway with kisses that he had gotten so bold as to do them twice a day."In my house?" he asked, and it clicked. This was his house. "I can do whatever I want, whenever I want in your house," he adds, and