LOVE? NEVER | ✓

Chapter Thirty

"It's when, and only when, you realize your world isn't as vibrant as it seemed to other people, that you crash to everything, destroying every camouflage around you until the glittery curtains of the truth fall, and you face reality." - Raghad. 

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"I am not cancelling the marriage," I said, tipping the mug further to gulp more of the hot coffee down my throat.

We were sitting in that same café near my company, the waitresses eyeing me creepily every time I turn. I think it was because of my blood shot eyes and my thinning body that they thought I was slowly dying.

Which was in some way, very true.

"And why is that?" Aurden asked, chewing on her bite of the cupcake.

"Because I think it would ruin everything," I replied and her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Wouldn't it be better if we went with their plan in our own way and then get hold of them?"

"That would be dangerous."

"I know, but it would help us maybe catch them red-handed."

"Red-handed doing what? Killing you?"

I shook my head, resting the mug on the table calmly, weighing all the options I had in mind. I could cancel the marriage and we can both go in separate ways. I wouldn't come near her again and she'd do the same, but then damned Jonathan will hire his bloody people to figure the whole thing out and they-he-will most probably put Rose through hell and back.

Or I could not cancel anything and go with what I just told Aurden. The odds I gain from having the upper power are greater and I'd easily be able to in a group that would possibly treat Jonathan, and whoever is working for him, the right way. Rose knows it all and I'm still holding to that growing thread of hope that maybe this all will go at least...well.

And to that other thread of hope that says that it was all just a joke, a dream, and nothing more.

"No, not killing me," I shook my head slightly. "Planning to."

"Tell me what you're thinking, Ethen."

"I'll tell you," I assured her. "When it's the right time."

I lifted my head up as soon as Isaac stepped inside the café, his eyes roaming the people's faces until it landed on Aurden first, then on me.

He walked in my direction and I turned to face Aurden. "We'll talk later," I told her and she looked around.

"Are you kicking me out—"

"Hey, Aurden," Isaac greeted her and she smiled awkwardly at him before she stood up, her cheeks red.

"Hello," she straightened her skirt. "I have some stuff to do. Have fun, I guess." She nodded her head and walked away, leaving us in silence.

"You said you wanted to see me," he said, settling down on the chair in front of me, his face expressionless.

"Yes," I nodded. "I need to ask you about something."

"Yeah, sure."

"Do you like Rose?"

Shock broke his face into tens of expressions that I couldn't read. His mouth fell open, and then closed multiple times but nothing got out for the first minutes. "Your fiancé?" he asked and I could tell that he did not believe the words he just muttered.

"Yes, my fiancé."

"I don't like her," he said looking away. "Why are you bringing this up again?"