Chapter Two – Who's Jace?
Adrian's POV
> "I never stopped watching her.
I just stopped pretending I didn't want to touch her."
— A.W.
She looked like peace and punishment, lying there in the backseat of my Rolls like a fallen angel. One without wings,because I plucked them.
Her brows were perfectly arched, lashes long enough to cast shadows, lips slightly parted like she was whispering secrets to sleep itself. She looked untouched by the flames.If only they knew,I am the fire.
The buzz of my phone dragged me out of the spell. It was my assistant ,Richard.
"Master," he greeted, voice tight. "The JJ Group is making aggressive moves on Evergreen. If we don't lock down Mr. Cartier…"
"He's already agreed," I said coolly, starting the engine. "Evergreen's ours."
"Shall I initiate the second phase, sir?"
"Yes," I said. "Let's see what kind of war JJ wants to start."
But my mind wasn't on the project. Not really. My eyes kept drifting to the rearview mirror, back to her. She slept like the world had never touched her. Like she hadn't been the center of mine for far too long.
Was she just shocked to see me? Or was my presence still poison?
Then she murmured,soft and fractured.
"Jace… Jace…"
Jace?
The name echoed, sharp and unfamiliar.
Does she have a boyfriend now?
The thought made my jaw tighten. The idea of someone touching her,someone else in her space, in her life,it was infuriating. I'm the only one who can touch and torture her.
It would make things interesting.
Or it would make things bloody.
The iron gates of the mansion opened without delay. I drove straight to the front, where the staff stood frozen.
"Welcome, young master," one of them stammered.
I hadn't been back to Dark City in two years. I hadn't planned to come back at all. But Loe changed everything.
"She's back too," one whispered. As if that explained everything.
I got out, opened the door, and lifted her into my arms. Her weight was nothing,like memory,like regret.
The family doctor was already waiting outside my bedroom.
"Come in," I said, pushing the door open.
Loe's POV
> "He built the bed I woke up in—
but it was never meant to feel safe."
— L.C.
The air was cold,bloody. A cold chill ran down my spine like a finger of ice had touched me,the scent of blood was thick and heavy in the air.
The basement!
How was I back here. I tried to move,but I was chained down to a bed. "No,no,this can't be happening" I shouted.
"Loe Cartier" Adrian sneered from the shadows,"how dare you have three children behind my back" his voice was laced with disgust, "knowing how much I despise you."
"Mommy, mommy please save me"
That voice,that's Jace's voice.
"Jace!" I cried,my heart shattering into a million pieces.
"Don't waste your breath,your children are an abomination,just like you."
A flare of light revealed them, I could see Jasmine and Jake in their night wears,curled,lying lifeless on the concrete floor.
"No! This can't be happening." Tears fell down my face as I thrashed against the chains. "You can't do this!" I screamed.
"Yes,I can." Adrian walked forward with a devilish grin,a knife glinting in his hand. "And I will."
He rose the knife over Jace's chest.
"Ah!" I screamed back to reality,hands on my panicking chest. My heart was beating so fast.
I looked around, trying to take in my surroundings.
Everything in the room was either black or white,it was quite unfamiliar.
"Oh,you're awake." That voice, Adrian.
Reminded by the dream I just had,I clutched the duvet to my chest. "You don't have to be scared, little flame." He said. His tone,mocking and icy.
"My name is Loe" I said, firmly. "Oh,I see. You've grown wings again. I won't hesitate to prune them" he smiled wickedly.
I needed to get out of there,back to the hotel I booked. I didn't even sleep there last night,what a waste of money.
Mom! Yes,I needed to call my mom. I looked around,no phone.
"Where's my phone?" I asked. "What? You want to call your boyfriend? Jace?" Adrian laughed.
Did I sleep talk last night?
"Mom,I need to call mom" I explained.
**Dining room**
"My baby!" Selene walked into the mansion,arms reaching to hug me. Behind her was an older woman and a young man dressed in a navy suit– flawless posture,sketched jawline and glasses that made him look intelligent. Mother and son, obviously.
"Ah,this is my friend Marie," selene beamed
"and her son Alex."
Alex smiled–revealing two dimples, softening the sharpness of his perfect face.
He looked cute.
Too cute.
"Don't stare too much Loe" mom whispered, trying to hide her bubbling excitement.
"How do you feel now dear?" Marie asked,a smile plastered across her aging face.
"I'm fine," I replied with a polite nod."I'd actually like to go back to the hotel now."
"Hotel? Loe, we're family. You didn't have to book a hotel when we live in such a huge mansion." Selene tugged at my dress.
Guilt took over me.I haven't been with family in three years, staying in a hotel would be unfair. I sat back down.
"Where's Adrian?" Mom asked.
"Work,"I muttered.
"Alex,why don't you take Loe out for a drive while Marie and I talk. I'm sure she must have missed the city" selene smiled.
Before I could refuse, Mom and Marie had left.
In the car,once we passed the gates,I broke the silence. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"The park," Alex said with a smile,both charming and annoying.
"Why the park?" I asked. The city park was a known place where people fell in love and made promises under trees. What was this?
"You look like you need some air,"he replied,eyes fixed on the road. "And a place where no one's watching you."
He glanced at me, trapping me in the gleam of his green eyes. "Sometimes we hide in big houses and still feel trapped."
Damn!that hit harder than I thought.
I coughed,fixing my gaze on the tall buildings of the dark city.
He was right,I really needed air. Did Adrian come back to the dark city because of me? Even the thought that my kids could be his was enough to drive