The Blackmail Bride

Chapter 32 Part 2

When you read a story, read it with a grain of salt.

Apologies

Jace drove at an acceptable speed afterwards. The drive was quiet, broken occasionally by an overtaking car.

I glued myself to the window, watching the unsuspecting world around us. Truthfully, I was just maximizing the gap between the driver and me. If Jace noticed, he didn't comment.

Our mansion was coming to view from half a mile away. Immediately, my back straightened. Jace flicked me a look.

"So eager to get away from me?"

"You said you wouldn't talk to me anymore for today," I replied.

Glancing at him, I noted the dangerously calm look. He turned his head my way for a second and his gray eyes were entirely too serious.

And his tone matched it, "I think it would be better for us to be seen together in the coming weeks 'til the wedding. You've been coming to the office daily and this behavior would spark rumors. What do you think?"

I leaned back against the leather seat, "I said I would like to not see you for the next two weeks."

His eyebrows twitched as he turned to the driveway. The gate was already opening and the guard on duty waved, recognizing Jace's car.

"Would it help if I apologize for today?" he asked, almost sincerely. "Or is it because you're having cold feet with the wedding coming up?"

"No," I admitted, my eyes looking at the front porch of the mansion. "To both questions."

He sighed. It was a telling sign that he was trying to quell his temper. Jace turned the curb just until I was directly in front of the house and stopped.

I was spurred into action, picking up my bag and pulling at the door handle. It was locked.

I glanced at Jace then, "Open the door."

A frown was set on his jaw as he stared at me, "I'm still talking to you."

"This isn't what we agreed on," I reminded him. "I have nothing else to say to you today. Nothing kind nor polite so let me leave for both of our —"

"I'm sorry. For today. For what I said and did. It's inexcusable."

That surprised me. The sudden shift in his tone. There was a brand of quiet that came with his apology. As much as I didn't want to, something inside me responded to it. Maybe it was tiredness... but tears wanted to well up and I had to breathe in sharply to force them back.

I wondered if it showed. Like, how much of a torture everything was lately. The wanting to run... I wanted to look away but my eyes were fixated on the liquefied mercury in his. Could he see it in my eyes?

Was this heartburn that I was feeling?

"I don't want an apology," my voice was hoarse.

"I don't think I want to know what you want," His lips twitched. "But we're getting married in two weeks. It's happening. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

The wanting to run... it did show. So was this his reply?

"I'll see you in two weeks," he said.

The lock clicked and my fingers pulled on the door handle. It opened and I jumped out. No goodbye, no thank you for getting me safely back home...

I turned my back on him and ran for the door. My legs did not stop even when I got inside. It wanted upstairs, in the solitude of my room. Vaguely, I heard greetings from the staff but I'd ignored them.