No. Not that.
He could take anything from me. Not that necklace.
The scanned image was the first valuable thing I had. This was the second. I couldn’t afford to be away from it for one second.
I tried to take it back from him, but he pulled his hand away.
“Please, give it back.” I couldn’t control how shaky my voice was.
He stared at it, like he held some sort of admiration for it. He rolled his thumb along the locket, and in that moment, I yearned for oblivion.
“I think this will do,” he nodded. “Goodnight, Lyric.”
He turned away.
No. You’ve got to be kidding me.
“Please, you have it to give it back. You can’t take it from me.” I ran after him.
I felt cold tears on my cheeks. Oh, damn it.
He kept walking until he reached the parking lot. Kael and Nerion were already there, the backseat hanging open.
Jaris got in, completely ignoring my pleas. Where the hell was he going?
The door was shut and Kael and Nerion got into the front door.
“Hand it back!” I was angry now, slamming my hand against the window.
The asshole had the guts to stare at me through the window, letting me see how superior he was.
The car started and drove off.
I was losing my mind. I couldn’t let him get away with this.
There was a waiting cab nearby and without thinking, I got in. “Follow them!”
The cabby seemed hesitant but went after them.
I cried in the backseat. That locket contained ashes from my babies‘ clothes. After I lost them, I’d burnt the little clothes I bought for them and put some of the ashes in the locket so I could have it with me all the time. It was my own way of feeling their presence as I had not even been able to get their bodies to bury.
He had no idea–he was holding a locket containing remnants of his babies‘ belongings. Of course, he didn’t care. And if they’d been alive, I wasn’t sure I’d have let him come near them. A man like him didn’t deserve to be around children.
My cab man followed him until he drove into a suite. But before I could pay the man and rush out of the cab, he was already going through the revolving doors.
I ran after him but was stopped by the security at the door.
“Do you have a reservation, ma’am? If yes, we’d like to see your details.” The first one said.
Geez, Jaris was getting farther away.
“I–I don’t have a reservation I just need to see someone.” My eyes were on Jaris as I answered hurriedly.
“Okay. But first, we’ll need to confirm from the person that you’re to be let in.”
Huh? Jaris would never agree to let me in.
“Fine. I want to make a reservation!”
“I’m sorry, but we’re fully booked for the night. If you’d like it, we have other amazing branches we could-”
“I don’t give a hoot about your hotel. I just need to see someone, and he’s getting away!”
Jaris was already getting into the elevator. My heart crumbled as he pinned me with his gaze, letting me know he won. “I’m really sorry. These policies are set in place to ensure the safety of our guests. And you know the city’s quite busy today. Considering the King’s funeral…”
The man continued talking, but his voice was so
Successfully unlocked!
my ears.
I clutched the sides of my dress as I stared at the elevator which had long gone up. Jaris was gone. With one thing that
meant the world to me.
I was so broken I couldn’t
26
I found a spot to sit within the vicinity, and it was a good thing none of the securities tried to get me to leave. Because I didn’t plan on leaving. I was going to stay here and wait for Jaris to give back my necklace.
Having it taken from me suddenly brought back the pain I’d never truly healed from.
My babies. I didn’t even get to hold them in my arms. Maybe, my life would’ve taken a different turn if I hadn’t lost them. If the cruel hands of death didn’t take them from me.
After my time with Jaris five years ago, I discovered I was pregnant. But since I didn’t know who he was back then, and I’d been abandoned by him and everyone else around me, I had to handle the pregnancy myself.
I met a woman–Penelope–who was very kind, took me in and helped me. But unfortunately, my babies died at birth. I never even got to see them. I’d been in an accident and passed out, so an operation had to be done on me to get them out. And when I regained consciousness, I was told they didn’t survive.
The only odd thing was the fact that I didn’t get to see Penelope either. According to the nurse I’d seen when I woke up, she told me Penelope had an emergency and had to leave.
I’d been looking for Penelope since then but to no avail. I only wanted to know where my babies were buried. I wanted to be able to spend time with them, sometimes.
It’s possible she had buried them that night since I was unconscious, but I wanted to know where.
I sat there, in front of the waterfall for hours, my tears not stopping. I was there until late into the night, even when the atmosphere had gotten quiet.
I didn’t have a single strength in me anymore. I felt so weak without the locket.
At a point, one of the securities came up to me. But it was out of concern.
“If you don’t have a place to stay, I could offer some help. Our storage room is locked right now, but I’m with the keys….”
“I don’t need a place to stay,” I muttered weakly without looking at him.
I didn’t mind staying here until morning.
However, the more I stayed out here in the cold, hungry and exhausted, my rage toward him amplified.
I heard the departing steps of the security, but not long after, new ones approached. Could they leave me alone?
“Why’s it so important?” I gasped and turned at the sound of his voice.
He was there, wearing simpler night outfits but looking every bit of the annoying man that he was.
He had my necklace in his hand, giving it a puzzled look. “You’re willing to spend the night here, just to get this back.” He held it up. “What makes it so special?”
I sniffled, wiping my tears as I stood up. I avoided his gaze. By the moon, I was so mad at him I wished I could give him a punch. But that would only be me writing my death sentence.
Silence stretched between us for a while. He must’ve seen that I had no intention of speaking to him, and by some miracle, he handed the necklace back.
“Never disobey me, Lyric. For as long as you’re with me.”
My answer was a hard glare, my eyes still rimming with unshed tears.
I picked up my purse and walked past him, heading to the gate.
I felt relieved. So so relieved. But I was still wounded that he could be this cruel to do this to me.
Getting to the road, I looked out for cabs. There were still a few cars driving around. I should be able to see one.
Bidding time, I stared at the necklace in my hand, a sad smile touching my lips.
That was the last blissful moment I had for the night as a car, seemingly intentionally, ran into me, bringing me to the ground.
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