Aurora's Gambit: Defying Destiny

Chapter 29

Confrontation

Aurora's POV

I sat in the lavish sitting room, my fingers drumming lightly against the armrest. Across from me, Lucian lounged back lazily, his sharp eyes filled with barely contained irritation, while Elias, ever the strategist, studied me with quiet calculation.

Tiningnan ko silang pareho at hindi ko napigilan na taasan sila ng kilay. Hmmm. Sa pagkaka-alam ko, mortal na magka-away ang dalawang 'to. These two despised each other, and according to the novel, both of these men would rather see the other dead than breathing in the same space. Kaya bakit nandito sila sa pamamahay ko? At magkasama pa talaga? 

Sobrang tahimik naming tatlo at halos makarinig na ako mga kuliglig sa paligid. They eyed me with so much hatred, especially Lucian. Kung nakakamatay lang siguro ang titig, siguro pinaglalamayan na ako dito sa harapan nila. 

Lucian was the first to cut through the silence. His voice was sharp and demanding. "You should be dead."

I tilted my head slightly, offering him an indifferent smile. "And yet, here I am."

"I watched you fall into the sea that night. No one could have survived that. So tell me, Kinara... How the hell are you sitting here, alive?"

Elias remained silent, pero ramdam na ramdam ko ang mga titig niya na inoobserbahan ang bawat galaw ko.

Lucian's jaw clenched as he continued, his voice filled with frustration. "I scoured that entire ocean. Every damn inch. We sent divers, search teams. I tore through Isla del Valhalla looking for you. And there was nothing. Not even a trace." He exhaled sharply, his fingers digging into his knees. "Yet here you sit, untouched, unbothered. Like you planned this all along."

My lips curled into an amused smile. "You went through all that trouble just for me? I'm touched." Pang-iinis ko sa kanya kaya mas lalong tumalim ang titig niya sa akin.

"Answer the damn question."

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako saka prenteng sumandal sa couch. "Perhaps the sea decided to spare me. Or maybe, Lucian, you just weren't looking hard enough."

Sinalubong ko ang galit niyang mga mata gamit ang kalmado kong mukha. Man, he's not just angry. I could see the storm brewing in his dark eyes. He was furious. Pero pake ko naman kung galit siya? His emotions are none of my concerns.

After a moment of silence, nagsalita na rin sa wakas si Elias. His voice is calm pero mahahalata mong may pagdududa sa tono niya. "We had confirmation of your death. A body. A report. Even the de Fidellis believed it."

Napangisi naman ako sa sinabi niya. My my. They actually belived that shit? Mga uto uto.

"Sounds like someone got lazy with their fact-checking," saad ko gamit ang mapaglarong tono.

Umigting ang panga ni Lucian. He's trying to suppress his anger. "Or maybe you orchestrated your own disappearance."

Elias let out a low chuckle, leaning back into the couch with an amused smirk. "I have to say, I'm impressed. Not many people can disappear so completely and then return as if nothing happened. But I doubt it's just luck keeping you alive."

Hindi pa rin maipinta ang ekspresyon ni Lucian. Yukom ang mga kamao niya. "Don't play games with me, Kinara. Where have you been all this time? Who helped you?" His voice dropped lower, edged with something almost possessive. "And why didn't you come back?"

Bumuga ako ng malalim na hininga, at nagkunwaring nag-iisip. "Bakit ko naman gagawin iyon? You think I'd go back to being a prisoner, a pawn in a war I never wanted to be a part of? I chose to disappear. And I have no regrets."

Lucian scoffed, as if what I said sounded very ridiculous to his ears. "Vanishing was one thing. But coming back now? With power? Influence? That's not the Kinara I remember. The woman who fled from me wasn't someone who could sit across from me with such unwavering confidence."

"Memories are selective, Lucian. You remember the woman who ran, but you fail to recall why she had to. Maybe you only saw what you wanted to see."

Lucian's lips curled in a smirk, but there was no amusement in his eyes. "And what is it that I failed to see?"

I tilted my head, holding his gaze. "That I was never meant to be owned."

Isang mababang halakhak ang tumakas mula kay Elias, binasag ang tensyon na namamagitan sa amin ni Lucian. "Interesting perspective. But perspective does not change reality."

Elias' eyes darkened, his voice steady but laced with possession. "No matter what you say, you belong to me. We are engaged."

Agad na lumingon si Lucian kay Elias at tinitigan ito na may halong pagbabanta. "She is not yours. She never was. She belongs to me."

Nginisihan naman siya ni Elias. "Funny, because last I checked, Kinara and I have a binding agreement. An engagement. That makes her mine."

"An engagement means nothing if she never agreed to it."

"She belongs by my side. That was always the plan."

Pabalik balik ang tingin ko sa dalawa. Kung mag-usap sila parang wala ako dito ah? What is wrong with these male leads?

Napabuntong-hininga at inis na tumayo. "Enough. I belong to no one. I am my own person, and I refuse to be claimed by either of you. Now get fucking lost before I lose my shit and put a hole on your brains."

Natahimik ang dalawa sa sinabi ko. Ilang sandali lang ay pareho silang tumayo at walang sinabi habang nakatitig pa rin sa akin. Lucian eyed me for the last time bago siya tumalikod paalis.

Sumunod naman si Elias, ngunit bago siya umalis ay may sinabi siya. "You may say that now, but fate has a way of binding us together, Kinara. We are fated together, and I can feel it." 

Hindi ko na siya sinagot pa at hinayaan silang maglaho sa paningin ko. As the door shut behind them, I let out a slow breath. Too bad, Elias, because I am the only one controlling my own fate. The story will not dictate my life. I will carve my own path, no matter what stands in my way.

Pagkatapos ng komprontasyong naganap kanina ng mga male leads ay naging mapayapa naman ang umaga ko. I just did some paperworks regarding Rasmon dahil napakarami kong backlogs gawa ng mga pangyayaring naganap nitong mga nakaraang araw. Hindi dahil wala na ako sa Rasmon ay papabayaan ko na ito. I am still actively monitoring my country.

Hapon na nang mapagpasyahan kong magpahinga sana mula sa pagbabasa at pagpipirma ng mga papeles. Sisimulan ko na sana ang maglaro ng game sa iPad nang kumatok at pumasok si Philip sa study.

"What's the matter, Philip?" Tanong ko habang ang tingin ay nasa iPad.

"Miss Ara. Malchiah and Mikael le Sciellou are here to meet you," saad niya kaya naibaling ko sa kanya ang atensyon.

Great! May bisita na naman. What is wrong with these people? At bakit ba sila sulpot nang sulpot dito sa pamamahay ko?

Napabuntong-hininga ako at pagod na tumayo mula sa swivel chair bago naglakad patungo sa pinto.

Now, what the hell do they want from me?