Fleeing the Nightmarish Father novel Chapter 41

“Hey, are you okay? Dariel told me to stay with you.” Jacey entered our room with a knock, passing me a sweet smile.

“He did?” I chuckled.

“Yeah. Anyways, I hope it’s not that bad. I want you fine on the engagement.” She grinned, sitting on the bed with me.

“Don’t worry, it’s not that bad. I will be fine by tomorrow.” I smiled back, not removing my eyes from my foot.

How he touched my foot, said those about. Not knowing himself why he was doing all this.

“But, Dariel had strictly ordered you not to let you leave the bed.” Jacey continued, widening my smile.

“You should know your brother, he loves exaggerating.” I giggled, shaking my head, covering my face with my hand shyly.

“Aren’t you smiling too much? Did he say something to make you red? Oh- what am I saying? This is the first time in his life he had picked a woman with a bridal style.” She laughed, teasing me, bringing a blush on my cheeks.

“Oh come on. You know it’s nothing like this. I was only hurt.” I mumbled, creating a reasoning. I didn’t want to latch my heart needlessly to get it hurt.

“My brother is not that kind to care about hurting people… unless it’s his Saafia, hmm?” She smirked, leaning closer.

‘His.. Saafia? Is this possible in the first place?’ My throat dried at the mention of it.

“Stop. It’s nothing like this.” I whispered, shaking my head in denial quickly.

Don’t invite useless thoughts. Her brother would never… at least not me.

“Okay, okay, you rest. I will handle all the decorations.” She chuckled, waving her hand at me.

“Okay.”

After she left, I began to think about the things which never crossed my mind before. I never tried to perceive from his perspective.

…Then why did you get hurt when I yelled? Why were you enraged by the thought of me leaving?

With these mind bending questions, time passed and he returned home. My mind was constantly pondering about us.

“You’re still awake?”

My breaths hitched, a shiver went down my spine, looking up at his dominant form. He looked stressed but was thankfully chill.

“W-Welcome home.”

Stammering, I quickly lowered my gaze, not wanting to look at him.

If I did, thoughts which never crossed my mind before would enter.

“Hey. How are you now?” He greeted me monotonously, not noticing my reaction and ruffled his hair.

“Much better. It hurts when I put my foot down but I think it will be fine by tomorrow.” I whispered, curling my lips in a smile.

‘Why don’t you talk like how you did all the time? It won’t hurt…’ I thought about it but couldn’t bring myself to speak.

“Okay. Great. Did you have dinner?” He asked calmly, changing into his casual wear.

“Not yet. I was waiting for you.” I told him softly, bringing a frown on his lips.

“I told you, I’d be late. You shouldn't have waited.”

“You freshen up. Let’s have dinner together.” I offered in a sweet tone. He paused, turning to me with suspicious eyes but soon relaxed.

“Fine…” He sighed, shrugging his shoulders and walked out of the room.

‘Please Saafia, Dariel is like this because he had never seen happiness in his life.’

“We both are stubborn. You refused to see my side that I didn’t want to attach feelings for a temporary bind. And I refused to see yours.” He continued, plopping on his elbow. Sounding excited. He was amused to find one same habit in each other.

“And what is mine?” I arched an eyebrow, wondering what about me he managed to grasp.

“So what if it is temporary? As long as we are in this bind, there are obligations, devotions…”

“So different, isn’t it?” I chuckled.

“Hmm…”

He nodded before clearing his throat, getting up and grabbing the tray, definitely not ending our talk until he pissed me off.

“Besides, all things aside, why would a rich, handsome and desirable man like me be with ‘you’?” He smirked playfully in the end.

I glared at him and this time, I held my head high, pushing my hair behind and retorted.

“Exactly. Why would a kind, sweet and innocent girl like me be with an arrogant and selfish man like ‘you’?”

We both had a staring competition for the next few seconds before breaking into a chuckle. My sound stopped when his titter came. My mouth was left open, staring deeply at him.

The sound of short but pure laugh made my heart race, no doubt he looked compelling like that.

“Okay. You rest now, okay?”

Chuckling faintly, he shook his head, pinching my cheeks before getting the tray and left to put them in the kitchen as I stared at him wanting to tell him-

‘You looked beautiful…’

When he left, I hugged my knees close to my chest, smiling sheepishly to myself, touching my cheek with his words unintentionally intoxicating me.

‘What are you forcing me to think, dammit?’