Chapter 5 Memories
The man holding me whispered a few words of comfort, then, in a rage, kicked Seth’s friend with all his strength.
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Seth’s friend spat out blood, terror-stricken as he stared at the man before him..
“You’re… Lucian Corvain? From the Corvain family?”
Lucian ignored him. After beating Seth’s friend half to death, he called the police and then took me away.
The entire ride, Lucian was silent. The air around him was heavy with anger.
He didn’t say a word until we reached his hotel. Then, as soon as the door closed behind us, he pressed me back against it.
“I’ve given in to you so many times. Why didn’t you just break up with him right away?
“Why put yourself in such a dangerous situation? If I hadn’t come looking for you the moment I landed, do you have any idea what could’ve happened?”
My tears fell like a broken string of pearls, my shoulders shaking as I sobbed.
“I was scared.
“I was afraid that if I broke up with Seth before you came back, you’d say I lost the bet and tell me to get as far away from you as possible.”
Lucian froze, his eyes red as if they might bleed.
He pulled me into his arms, utterly spent, resting his head on my shoulder as he cried.
“I’m sorry. God, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault-I was such an idiot.
“I’m back now. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll never leave you, not even in death.”
We both cried until we were gasping for breath. Technically, Lucian was my childhood friend.
When I was little, my parents were always busy with work and left me at my grandfather’s house. My grandfather fa- vored boys and never cared much for a granddaughter.
Lucian was the boy next door.
Kids always formed little cliques, and as the outsider, I was constantly bullied. My grandfather never stood up for me.
Only Lucian ever chased off the kids who picked on me.
He worried I’d be lonely, so he always brought me along, even though I was just a tag-along.
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Chapter 5 Memories
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No one ever remembered my birthday. On those nights, I’d cry alone under the covers, convinced I was the unluckiest person in the world.
That’s when Lucian would tap on my window with a pebble.
When I snuck outside, he’d surprise me with a cake and wish me happy birthday.
“To the best little Elaine in the whole world-thank you for being born. Happy birthday.”
Even the first time I got my period, no one taught me what was happening. I was so scared, I thought I was dying, and hid away, but no one noticed.
Lucian searched for me half the night. When he finally found me, he carried me home on his back.
I ran a fever all night. Lucian didn’t dare sleep, staying by my side the whole time.
In a way, it was almost like Lucian raised me.
He was the light in my life. Falling for him felt as natural as breathing.
But when I finally mustered up the courage to confess my feelings, he turned me down.
“Elaine, I’m not a good person. The way I act around you-it’s all an act. You’re a good girl. We’re just not right for each other.”
But I wouldn’t give up. I clung to him, insisting I could accept every part of him. Lucian, worn down by my persis- tence, made me a bet.
“You know Seth, right?”
Of course I did. In New York, Seth was infamous-he could go through a dozen girlfriends in a month.
“I only pretend to be the good guy around you, but deep down, I’m just like Seth.
“If you, such a good girl, can stand being with him, then I’ll believe you and I could be together.”
After saying that, Lucian left the country. I agreed to the bet and started pursuing Seth.
Lucian kept apologizing, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I’m the one who made you suffer so much. I’m a terrible person.”
I wrapped my arms around his waist. “It’s okay. As long as you’re back, that’s all that matters.”
After all, Lucian was the most important person in
my world.
