CHAPTER 69. WRONG TIMING
HARA
Admitting that I met Roland today wasn't an easy task for me. I spent all afternoon bracing myself up for this moment, but it didn't change a thing. I'm still scared as hell, about what Ryder's reaction might be.
I know he's not gonna hurt me, but I can't say the same for Roland. I can't guarantee what Ryder might do to him.
Ryder dropped his spoon on the table and it made a noisy, clattering sound that made me flinch. His eyes darkened and held a deadly, glacial scowl. I had no reason to be frightened because I know he won't hurt me, but I was. Anyone would be, especially because of the dark shade his eyes just took.
He leaned back on his seat, with his arms crossed on his chest.
“You went to meet him?“ He asked in a hoarse whisper. It was more of a statement than a question, and I knew it was his jealousy speaking. It didn't make me feel any bit at ease though.
“No, I didn't go to meet him. We ran into him…“
“Where?” He asked sternly, cutting me off and I felt ripples running down my spine at the coldness of his voice.
“Uh, At the border between us and Silver Pack,” I lied. It was almost impossible to tell a lie when you have such a haughty, murderous gaze on you, but I dared to.
It was an outrageous lie but I had no choice. Thinking for over four hours about this moment, one thing was for sure, I can't be a hundred percent honest.
Ryder would never spare Roland's life if he finds out that he is here in this pack. If I do tell him that I saw Roland here, I can bet my life on it that he'll hunt Roland down and kill him. I just couldn't take that risk. I still need Roland alive, I'm yet to talk with him, I need to know why he chose to show up now and what it was he really wanted.
I know I'm being incredibly foolish but matters of the heart can be a little complicated. Love can turn the smartest creature into an absolute fool. And even though my brain is screaming at me to be smarter than this, my heart won't yield. I wanna talk to Roland, I shouldn't give him any listening ears, but I will. Because that's what my heart wants, and I got to keep him alive until then, even though it means lying to Ryder.
I can't tell him that Roland is here in Red Cross Pack, I just can't. Ryder once killed a man for hitting my face. I don't wanna imagine what he's gonna do to a man who seems to still have some bit of affection for me. Ryder won't spare him. And as much as it's thrilling to have a man who'd do anything to keep you just like Ryder, it's still equally frightening. The things he might do are rather frightening.
He was quiet, seconds ticked into minutes but he didn't say a word. His eyes were heating me up like an abyss and I felt my insides going up in flames.
Panic gripped me as I feared he might have seen through my lies. I thought of a better lie to say but I didn't get the chance to. He was already on his feet and walking away, without glancing back.
His cryptic action left me restless and uneasy for days. We didn't see each other anymore after the night at the dining table.
I avoided him on purpose because I didn't want him to tap into my mind and find out the truth. He didn't seem like he was eager to see me either, because if he was, he would have invaded my privacy like he does best.
A week later, I stepped out of the palace to go check on the cake designer for Hailey's birthday party. We decided to throw a small party at her apartment. She'll invite a few of her friends from her workplace and that'll be it. I still feel awkward about meeting her colleagues but Hailey keeps reassuring me that I had nothing to worry about. She's kind of convinced that we're all gonna get along great. I'm not exactly an optimist but Hailey was over the moon about it and I had to indulge her.
I arrived at the building and went to meet the Cake designer's secretary. She was at her desk and seemed to be arguing with whoever was on the other line. She was a frail-looking female, who seemed to be in her late twenties and had a certain jittery aura that would certainly make her easy prey to bullies.
Her lashes lifted as she noticed me and quickly hung up the call.
“Hi, Good afternoon,“ I chuckled softly, trying to arouse her a bit, “I'm here to see Gina, I'm her client,“
“I'm sorry but she had an emergency and left early. Do check in tomorrow. Thank you,“ She said dismissively, taking her attention back to her work.
Dejectedly, I walked out of the building and took out my phone. I dialed the number of the royal chauffeur who dropped me off here. He dropped me off here a while ago and said I should call him up when I was ready to leave, that he was running an errand around here somewhere.
I'd barely dialed the number when I felt a shadow above me. I looked up and let out an abrupt gasp. It was Roland, I'm beginning to think he was stalking me.
”Hello, Hara,“ He greeted with a half-assed smile.
I was speechless, just the thumping of my heart could be heard from a million miles. Roland had a way of always leaving me speechless.
Seeing him again had me weak in the knees and kickstarted my heart to an insane pace.
“What - what are you doing?” I asked feverishly, feeling slightly sick all of a sudden. It was all because of my fear. Fear of what Ryder would do if he finds out that Roland showed up here again.
“I need to talk with you,“ He said,
I might be yearning to talk with him, but this was the wrong timing. Ryder's chauffeur was on his way and I didn't want him to see me talking to Roland. No doubt he's gonna rat me out to Ryder.
”We have nothing to talk about, Roland. Whatever we had in the past was buried in the past,“ I said firmly, hoping that'll keep him off my back. I turned to leave but froze in my tracks at his question.
”Including our child?“