DESOLATION

16

INEZ

"You have fifteen minutes. Come down for breakfast." With this said, he went out of the room. I am still in shock. It is too much to process. He is letting me go. Oh God, this is the most beautiful day. I am so happy. My struggle has finally borne fruit. I have succeeded in making him bow and let me go. I squealed happily.

He only gave me fifteen minutes to get ready. I should not do anything to make him angry. I don't want him to change his mind. Looking at the clock, I noticed that two minutes had already passed so I quickly got up and got in the shower. I clean my body and then wash my hair. I quickly get out of the shower and then dry myself. Walking into the closet, I took my time in selecting a nice dress. Today, I want to dress up well. The happiness is overflowing. I selected a pretty white dress.

I feel very happy after a very long time. My mind is swirling with the thoughts of my freedom. I will finally be free from Lorcan now. I will be able to live my life like I used to without him dictating to me. Lorcan accepting his defeat is just a cherry on top. It is giving me immense satisfaction.

Lorcan's words repeat inside my mind,

"I'm done playing this game with you. You won, and I accept my defeat."

He does not know how much satisfaction his words have given me. Him accepting defeat in front of me is making me feel something which I cannot even describe in words. I quickly dry my hair and leave them untied because Lorcan likes it like this. I want to do everything he likes today so he can give me my freedom in return.

I look at myself in the mirror. I am looking different from the normal, sad Inez. I am looking like my old self.

I quickly leave my room hoping that I am not late. While descending the stairs, suddenly a thought came to my mind and it was enough to halt my steps.

What if he has changed his mind? No one can guess what is going on in his mind. What if it all is one more of his mind games, which he likes to play with me. How stupid I am to quickly believe his words. He is Lorcan Gatchel, the Irish mafia lord. He never shows mercy to anyone. Why did I think that I would be an exception? How can he let me go without taking something from me in return?

Now, when I think about it, I start to realize that I should be scared of it. Lorcan claimed me as his, forcefully married me despite knowing that I want to be as far as possible from him. It has been months since we got married, but he never paid any heed to my begging, so why now? What changed suddenly?

Maybe he did not mean what I think he meant? Could this be the case? No, please. It would hurt a lot to see my hopes shatter.

I stop myself from losing hope and continue to go towards the dining room. I have no other option than to face what he has laid out for me.

I enter the dining room and find him sitting at the head of the table. There is no one in sight, but breakfast is already on the table. I silently go towards him with my eyes cast downward and sit on my usual seat on his right. Lorcan glanced at me for a moment with a strange expression, which made me sure that something was going on in his mind. I wonder what is going on in his mind. Unlike my eyes, which Lorcan believes are an open book, his eyes give nothing. It is hard to decipher his expressions.

Without saying, he begins to eat and I place a croissant on my plate as well. Hunger is the last thing I am feeling right now. My mind is running with a thousand thoughts. My hands are becoming sweaty with anticipation. Why is he not talking? Was it a cruel joke he played with me the moment I woke up? If this is true, then he must be laughing at me right now.

"I know what is in your mind, Inez. It is all over your face," Lorcan said after a long silence. I looked towards him and found him peacefully eating his breakfast.