Bands of the Unpaid Dowry

Chapter 25

"Little M. There, I've got you. I've got you." Jace's reflexes had been fast enough to grab onto Millicent's flailing arms before she toppled over and down the stairs. Nonetheless, his arms were trembling as he sat on the landing with Millicent curled to him, whose eyes were shut in fright, and he reassured himself through rugged breaths and a loud heart beat that she was okay and in his arms. His forehead scrunched up as he softly rubbed her cheeks to get her to respond and open her eyes and after a minute, he saw those brown eyes that never failed to calm him.

Anthony and Josephine, who had rushed up and hovered around the couple with deep lines of worry etched onto their faces, both exhaled in relief when they saw her eyes open. Anthony felt his wife wobble into him and he grabbed onto her, curling his arm around her and sending another worried look to her whom he now held in his hands. Seeing that she was looking at Millicent with a glad face with one hand still on her chest from the panic, he leaned down to kiss her forehead in assurance.

Millicent traced her eyes to the anxious meteor gray-blue ones that gripped her to her soul. She tried to smile to calm him but she could tell he had been unhinged by the incident just like she had been. Her heart rate increased when she comprehended how crazy Gwen could be. She had actually wanted to push her down the stairs and even though they were not a long flight, they had been molded to be steep enough to support any kind of feet. She felt Jace's firm arms tighten their hold, and he moved to stand while still holding her in his arms.

Once they were on their feet, he was turning her in all directions. "You're okay." He kept murmuring and his parents surrounded her, giving her allayed smiles. She grabbed onto Jace who wouldn't stop inspecting her. When her hands settled flat against his cheeks, he stood still and finally held her gaze. When she smiled, he immediately pushed her against him in a hug.

"I'm fine." Her voice tickled the hair of his neck where she was cradled.

She was pushed back gently, and he took a minute to scan her from her head to her toe and then looking at her, he said, "She's lucky. Stay here with mom, I need to find Gwen." That intimidating look was back in place, and he looked above her to where his quiet parents were and he found his mom's eyes, who nodded and stepped closer to them to take Millicent in her arms.

"I'll come with you, son." Jace nodded at the meaningful look his father gave him.

They rushed out of the house and walked around to find Gwen, pacing around the swimming pool in a frenzied manner. The duo of the father and son, in a similar fashion strode toward the woman who had still not realized their presence. She turned around in terror, though her face betrayed none of those emotions, when the overwhelming presence of the two men emerged over her.

"What the hell was that, Gwen?" The calm voice of Jace impaled her where she stood at the edge of the shallow pool. His furious eyes were a vast contrast to his impassive face and placid tone.

"What are you talking about, Jacey?" She widened her eyes which hid the orange eyeshadow she had luxuriously applied.

"What am I talking about? You almost knocked Millicent down the stairs." There was a subtle twitch of displeasure in her eyes when Jace exclaimed that the woman had not fallen.

Anthony placed a calming hand on his son's shoulder and firmly grasped it so that he could quell his displeasure. Turning to face the daughter of a business partner he had regretted forming an alliance with after all the events that had taken place the past few weeks. He saw her eyes still had their innocent disposition.

"Now Miss Dumas, even a car feels aftershock after it crashes into something." After his statement he saw that the heiress was evidently stunned. She had never truly witnessed his aristocratic nature beyond their house.