124 Nausea
Mara
“She didn’t even shed a tear, Lucian,” Tina spat, her voice brittle with venom. “She’s pretending. Acting like she cared. Meanwhile, she was whining about needing her beauty sleep while we were terrified for your life.”
I almost laughed. It was so transparent. But the nausea twisting in my gut stopped me cold.
“Get out, Tina,” Lucian said, his voice razor-sharp.
I reached for his arm-calm him down. Tina was pregnant. As much as her presence grated, we both knew she wouldn’t be with us for much longer. The baby was due in two months. We could afford to be measured. She couldn’t.
“Please, Lucian,” she said, voice dropping into a pitiful plea. “Be kind to me. I know I wasn’t the best girlfriend, but I loved you the best way I knew how. I made mistakes, I know, but Mara? She wasn’t there when it was ugly. When you were
humiliated and broken. I was.”
Lucian stared at her in stunned silence as she stepped closer, desperation rising in her like a tide.
“If your father hadn’t bought her for you, she wouldn’t even be here. She didn’t choose you, Lucian. I did. We would have been married by now, building our life. Can’t you see what your father stole from us?”
The room shifted. The air got heavier.
Lucian didn’t move. But I felt something in him snap-quiet, deep. He must have linked Austin, because the door creaked open a moment later, and there he was.
“Please, Lucian,” Tina said again, her tone now thick with fear. She could feel the shift too.
“What do you want from me, Tina?” he asked, calm now-but with that terrifying calm that lives just above rage.
“I just want a little kindness,” she choked out. “To be treated like you once treated me. That’s all.”
“You don’t need me for that,” he said flatly. “Joey’s already giving you more than I ever did.”
Her eyes widened. That hit like a slap. She hadn’t expected him to know. She tried to speak, but the words tripped over
each other in her throat.
“There’s nothing between me and Joey,” she managed.
Lucian tilted his head. “Really? You’ve been telling people we had an open relationship.”
Her mouth fell open, stunned. “That was one time,” she snapped, then turned to me with open contempt. “But you? You forgave her for f*****g your brother by the lake.”
Lucian’s hand flew up so fast I barely saw it. But it stopped midair-shaking.
I was already there, fingers on his wrist, holding him back.
“Lucian, no,” I said quietly, steady.
I wasn’t protecting Tina. I was protecting her unborn child. Because if that slap landed, it wouldn’t just bruise her pride. It would leave real damage.
Lucian’s jaw clenched. His whole body trembled.
“Austin,” I said, turning. “Please. Get her out of here.”
Tina stared, eyes wide with disbelief. Shocked that Lucian had come that close to striking her. Maybe, deep down, she
1/3
124 Nausen
+15 Points
thought she still had power over him. She was wrong.
Austin nodded and led her out, her sobs trailing behind like smoke.
I turned back to Lucian, ready to speak-but the nausea returned in full force. A wave of heat, a roll of dizziness.
I barely made it to the bathroom before I was on my knees, heaving. My stomach twisted violently, emptying itself with a
force that left me weak and shaking.
“Mara?” Lucian’s voice was tight with concern from the doorway.
I flushed, wiped my mouth with a towel, and tried to breathe through the nausea still clinging to my throat.
“I don’t feel good,” I said, my voice rasping.
He didn’t hesitate. He scooped me into his arms and carried me back to the bed like I weighed nothing. The moment my
back hit the sheets, his hand went to my forehead, then to the side of my neck.
“You’re pale,” he murmured, brows drawn tight. “You feel a little warm. Did you eat something bad?”
I shook my head slowly. “Nothing but the picnic food. That’s it.”
“I should call the doctor-”
“No.” I reached up and cupped his cheek. “Just come to bed. It’s probably stress. The fight. The aftermath. The… other things.” I gave him a weak smile.
He hesitated, but finally relented, sliding in beside me and pulling me close. I curled into him, grateful for the safety of his
arms.
“I’m sorry about Tina,” he said softly, his hand stroking my hair.
“You don’t need to be,” I whispered. “She hurt you more than she ever hurt me.”
He was quiet for a moment before answering. “Not anymore, Mara. I just want her gone. Out of my life. She’s chaos, and
I’m tired of letting her drag me into it.”
I kissed his chest softly. “She won’t matter soon. We’ll build something new-without her.”
He nodded, tightening his hold.
I sighed. “Right now, I just want sleep. From Saturday till now, it’s been a full-blown emotional rollercoaster. The stress. The battle. The… post-battle activities.” I grinned. “Draining, in the best and worst ways.”
Lucian chuckled. “I’m glad to be of service.”
I laughed too, and for the first time in days, it was light and real. We fell asleep wrapped in each other.
Morning light spilled into the room when I woke, and I found myself alone in bed. Lucian was seated nearby, relaxed, eating a sandwich and reading something on his tablet.
“What time is it?” I asked groggily, sitting up.
He looked over and smiled. “Six. My father says breakfast is at nine.”
I – I
I groaned. “I can’t wait to go home.”
He chuckled. “You look better after all that rest.”
I did feel better-lighter, but starving. I eyed his sandwich like it was sacred.
He must’ve noticed because he raised an eyebrow and smirked. “You can have it.”
I disappeared into the bathroom to brush, and when I came back, half the sandwich was still on the plate by the
2/3
124 Nausea
nightstand. I snatched it up without asking and took a huge bite.
“Throwing up must’ve left you empty,” he teased.
I nodded mid-chew. “This is amazing.”
Lucian smiled. “Austin made it.”
I remembered-this was his father’s mansion. We hadn’t stepped foot in the kitchen once.
“Cold cuts, cheddar, lettuce, and a bit of mayo,” he added.
I moaned as I chewed. “I need more of this.”
Lucian’s eyes darkened playfully. “Careful, Mara. I’m the only one allowed to make you moan like that.”
I smiled, mouth still full, and he chuckled.
“I’ve linked him to bring more,” he added, handing me his juice. I drank the rest in one go.
I checked my phone, curiosity nagging at me. A missed call from last night.
My father.
I dialed back, and he picked up on the first ring.
