If you only knew...

38.I love the way you lie

Ana's POV

As I sway to the music, my gaze drifts across my fiancé's shoulder, and suddenly, I find myself caught in a piercing stare with Xavier. He sits on the bench beside Nate and that girl, and in this fleeting moment, time seems to stand still.

For just a heartbeat, we lock eyes, creating an electric connection that speaks volumes without a single word. But just as quickly as it began, he glances away, breaking the spell and not returning my gaze anymore.

"Did something happen, love?" Marco's voice cuts through the moment, his concern evident as he senses me tensing and faltering in my steps.

I shake my head, forcing a smile, "No, it's nothing. I'm just really tired. I think I'll find a place to sit for a bit." As I say this, I gently attempt to pull away from his warm embrace, craving a moment of solitude.

"Ana, come on! Let's have some fun!" he urges, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice as he tries to make sense of my unusual behavior today. "What's going on with you?"

As I attempt to slip away from his embrace and make my way to the bench, he unexpectedly tugs me back, wrapping his arms around me tightly. His hands weave through my hair, but instead of the playful, exhilarating touch I experienced with Xavier the night before, this feels different—clumsy, even irritating. In this moment, all I want is to break free and create some space, yet here I am, trapped by a grip that feels more like a shackle than a tender hold.

"I think I know what's going on here," Marco murmurs, his voice low and barely above a whisper in my ear. "You're just looking for a better view of him, aren't you?" His words slice through the air with a sharpness that ignites a sense of dread gripping my very core.

"Why are you acting this way, Marco?" I burst out, my voice harsher than I intended. The knot of anxiety in my stomach tightens as I struggle to mask my unease about his doubtful behavior.

"Love, we've known each other for ages, and I've never seen you like this," he says, his voice laced with frustration as he stares at me, searching for an explanation. But the truth is, I have none to offer because deep down, he's absolutely right.

He finally releases me from our warm embrace, and I sink onto the bench, my heart racing and breath uneven. I take a moment to gather myself, hoping to regain my composure enough to act natural and affectionate with Marco, even though every part of me isn't quite in the mood for it.

I can't resist stealing another glance at Xavier, who remains oblivious to both me and Marco, lost in conversation with Nate. A radiant smile blossoms on his face, clearly sparked by Nate's hilariously terrible jokes. It's a joy to watch him, even from afar, as that smile lights up the place and makes my heart flutter.

"Just as I suspected, you can't tear your gaze away from him, can you, Ana?" Marco's voice cuts through the air, laced with a hint of irritation as he strides over. It's clear he's been observing me closely, ready to pounce at the first sign of distraction.

"Am I really not allowed to even glance around?" I inquire in a soft voice, feigning ignorance of the unsettling truth behind his words.

Without warning, he abruptly hauls me up from the bench and wraps me in a tight embrace. "I wish I could be wrong about that, princess," he murmurs softly in my ear, his breath sending shivers down my spine. Then, with a sudden urgency, he kisses me fiercely.

Momentarily stunned, I can't shake the feeling that he's consciously putting on this display for everyone to see, a bold declaration aimed at sending a message to the one person he suspects I might have feelings for. A wave of unease washes over me, intertwining with an unexpected surge of anxiety that steals my breath away.