Dawn POV
I ran a nervous tongue over my lower lip, looking anywhere but at Nicole.
A moment ago, I was busy crying my eyes off and enjoying the comfort of his chest, but now, being here with him feels so suffocating and awkward as heck.
“Here…”
Nicole offered a hot cup of coffee.
Flying my head up, my eyes met with his handsome grin, and I quickly looked away.
Hey! Why do I have to get into this trouble? And out of anyone to offer me comfort, should it be Cole?
“C’mon,”
Nicole crouched before me. He held my hand and gently thrust the cup into it. “You probably need something warm.”
Yeah! I probably do, but what I need best was to get myself out of his large office.
This is my first time here, but I’m too nervous to even take a look around.
“Don’t think about anything else,” Cole sighed. He rubbed his hand over my hair. “Act like your normal self.”
I held my breath, my hold tightening on the cup as his fingers glided over my face, brushing off a strand of hair off my face.
“Be free with me as your usual self,” Nicole whispered. “Just act like you know nothing about the engagement stuff.”
My face heated up. Blood gushed down to my ears as I quickly lifted my eyes away from her.
I’d wonder, ever since that day, if he truly meant what he said that he’s coming for me.
I mean, if anything, Cole means nothing to me… Unless I’d classify him as a friend… Or maybe, just an acquaintance.
And there he was, that day…. saying he’d come for me as though I’m some kind of property to be passed by around.
Sucking in a harsh breath, I held the cup with my two hands, feeling the warmth and I turned to face Nicole who still has that grin on his face.
“You…” I mumbled.
“Yes,” Nicole inclined his head forward.
“You… You don’t mean what you said that day, do you?”
With his left brow raised, Cole rubbed the bridge of his nose and slowly pulled away from me.
Of course, he shouldn’t mean it. Nicole doesn’t seem like someone who would force someone to marry me unless my speculation was wrong.
“That I’d come for you?” He scowled. “I meant every one of my words, Dawn.”
No! That’s absurd! Come for me? My eyes found him again, and I shuddered in fear.
The look in his eyes, and the smirk that graced his lips remind me of my Dad.
I remember that expression… It’s just the same on my Dad’s face when he ordered me to be locked up.
“No…” I stuttered.
My heart palpitated in my chest, and my eyes dilated in fear.
Fear such that I’ve never felt before coursed through me.
Dad glared at me, his bloodshot eyes sending a cold shiver down my spine as I tried to move away from my spot.
“No… Dad…” I cried. “I do not want… I do not want to marry him…”
I shook my head, taking some cowardly steps away from my Dad.
“I don’t… Want to…” I breathed out.
“Dawn, are you okay?!”
I felt a strong tug on my arm, and a familiar voice muffled in my ear.
“Dawn!”
“No!” I gasped.
I flew my eyes open and took a step away from Nicole.
I’d just imagined him as my Dad. His jeering voice, his satanic smile.
“Are you okay?” Nicole asked again, worried laced beneath his low voice.
I wiped my tears away and gave a slight nod.
“Come have a seat, you do not seem okay…”
I stepped back again when Nicole tried to take my hand.
“I’m fine,” I said with an awkward smile.
“You sure?” He sighed, retrieving his hand back to his side.
Something passed through his eyes, but I was too shocked to make out whatever it was before it disappeared.
“You wasted the tea,” he mouthed.
“Why?” I mouthed. “Why do you wanna marry me?”
I narrowed my gaze at him, watching his every move and studying his expression.
Does he not care? Or does he decide to ignore the fact that I’m with his brother?
Or maybe, he gets the fact right that there’s nothing between me and his brother.
Nicole ran a hand through his black hair, passing a tongue over his lower lip.
Something passed through his eyes again. This time, I saw them right, but sorry, I’d like to ignore them for the safety of my heart.
Of course, it can’t be… It definitely cannot be true, can he?
“Because,” he breathed out…
My breath hitched in my throat, hands fisted into a ball and my ears flared up, waiting for whatever he was going to say.
“I love you.”
And I was right! The reality finally hit me hard in the face.
I hope that’s a joke, then I’d give him the honor of laughing at his dry joke.
“Since the first day, I met you, Dawn.” Nicole continued. He took a step forward but I cowardly stepped back.
“I don’t know what you did to me, Dawn.” He let out a bitter smile. “It was love at first sight, Dawn. Since the day I met you, I just wanna have you by my side. Do you know how heartbroken I was when Ethan introduced you to me as his girlfriend?” He quietly chuckled.”I should have not believed him, of course, he’s someone who could never stay loyal to a woman.”
I blinked back my tears. Indeed, Ethan is not a one lady’s man, but it’d still be better to hear all these from him.
“It’s clear that we’re destined to be, pretty. If not, there’s no way our family will try to get us married.”
“Ah! Thank you, Nicole.”
I whirled around on hearing a familiar cold voice behind me.
My gaze settled on Ethan who was glaring at his brother behind me.
Hey! If a look could kill, then Nicole would be 10ft underground now.
Ethan snapped his gaze at me and I gasped.
“You did a good job trying to take advantage of my woman.”
What? My woman?
“Isn’t that right, kitten?”
Ethan snaked his arms around my waist, pulling me against himself. He placed a brief kiss on my forehead.
“Are you trying to jilt me for that old man?” He scoffed. “If you’re done with your speech, dear brother, then I’d like to move out with my woman.”
“Ethan, what are you doing?” I gritted out.
I stepped on his feet, earning a low deep growl from him.
Damn him! Did he think he could come on here and start claiming me as his woman?
Does he think he can keep confusing me after I’d seen him kissing his supposed claimed bride?
I silently huffed, nudging his side with my elbow, but Ethan rather tightened his hold on my waist.
“Let go!” I gritted.
“Not when we’re still here.” He grunted.
Hey! I do not care how much I’m hurting his feet, after all, he’s done more damage to my precious heart.
“Dawn…”
“We’ll be going now, brother.”
Not taking a last glance at his brother, or even allowing him to complete his word, Ethan dragged me out of the office.
“Let me go, Ethan!”
“No!” He snapped. “You have got to follow me!”
Follow him? Who does he think he is? He’s going to control my life.
Jerking my hand away from his, I halted my step.
“Dawn…”
“What?” I snapped, now my anger returning in folds.
Does he think he can just burst into the hereafter he makes out with Mel?
“Do I look like a fool to you?”
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Dawn?” He sounded frustrated.
Ethan ran his hand through his hair, passing out a harsh deep breath.
What do I think? Ugh! Don’t tell me he’s trying to deny that even though I witnessed that myself.
I scoffed.
And why am I even angry? Why am I desperate to hear a not-so-true excuse?
It’s not like we’re dating or in a special relationship.
Fisting my hand into a ball, I blinked back the tears that were threatening to escape from my eyes before I looked up at him.
Ugh! I won’t fall for that pathetic face.
“Listen, Dawn…”
“And why should I?” I cut him off with a glare. “Why do you wanna explain yourself, huh?”
I know it hurts, but I never knew it’s gonna hurt so much like this.
What kind of explanation is he going to give? Huh? Or he’s gonna just tell it to my face that I’m only his bitch… Nothing much and nothing else.
“Dawn…”
“There’s nothing special between us, anyway… ” I mumbled.
I momentarily closed and opened my eyes, mentally calming myself down.
I won’t cry, no! He just doesn’t deserve my tears.
“Dawn… Let me explain…”
“Why would you explain, huh? It’s not as if I’m your girlfriend or what! ” I snapped.
Okay,! Now calm down, Dawn.
“kitten…”
“You can kiss anyone you want, make out with… ”
I let out a short yelp when my back hit the hard wall. Ethan pressed my shoulder against the wall, his cold gaze boring into my eyes.
“You want to know?” He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my face, making my body crawl with goosebumps.
“Ethan…”
I don’t know what he’s doing, but having his face up close, his lips almost close to mine is making me lose my sanity.
Before I could blink twice, Ethan smashed his lips on mine.
What!
I gasped and Ethan used the chance to shove his tongue into my mouth.
He moved his arms around my waist, pressing my petite body against his.
Okay… I truly don’t wanna kiss him back, but his lips on mine and his arms around me are driving me insane.
Pushing every negative thought at the back of my mind, I slowly moved my hand around his neck, standing on my toes to meet his pace.
Our lips moved in sync, pouring every one of our emotions into it. The anger… The jealous… And the passion.
I closed my hand, running my hand through his silky hair.
Even if he’s going to chase me out of his life, I just wanna enjoy this moment with him.
Ethan suddenly pulls away and I let out a low hiss.
“That…” He breathed out.
“What?” I raised my brows.
He ran a tongue through his swollen lips then trailed his fingers over mine. “I’m trying to explain to you so you won’t get a bad idea.”
“And why don’t you want me?” I breathed out.
“Because… Because…” Running another tongue over his lips, Ethan sighed. “Because… I love you!”