Chapter 2
|| VALERIA ADDAM's POV ||
There will be times in life when you will feel dead inside. That's what I thought after the unexpected kiss. Thankfully, it was all dark and nobody got the chance to see that I kissed my ex instead of my boyfriend.
I couldn't believe my own eyes even though he was sitting in front of me for ten minutes.
GIDEON SILVESTRI! THE NEW NAME OF THE TOWN!
Ezra once again exaggerated, passing him another glass of wine,
" Gideon bro! I never thought that you would come. You have become a big shot now. I thought you would never give a fuck about this reunion."
He smirked, the same devilish smile, carrying on his face,
" Neither did I! It's good to see you guys again."
I stayed on the couch numbly. It felt like all the years of memories had been crushed in front of my eyes in a second. It had been ten years since I last saw him. Except for his deep enchanting voice, nothing had changed in his features. His pitch-dark suit highlighted the light whiter shade of his skin and those deep brown eyes were like demonic souls that put everyone in place. I was surprised that he was still wearing the earring in his left ear. Except for the white one, he was wearing a round top. Even though he had become a big shot now, his habits didn't change. Not to mention, the small tattoo on his left wrist was giving off an aura of Mafia Boss. Some would have mistaken him for a gang if his name weren't so well known in society.
Gideon set his eyes back on me, uneasiness fighting inside my body. His lips pulled up into a smile, shifting between me and Rowan,
" I heard that you two are getting married soon. Congratulations!"
Rowan responded with a polite smile, not having any damn idea that he was talking to my ex,
" Thank you! I hope that you will attend it."
Gosh! I wish that I could shut this boy up!
Gideon smiled lightly, his response giving me goosebumps,
" Of course! How can I miss it?"
Even though he had kissed me in the game, I brushed off the thoughts at the beginning. But now, his words were beginning to get uncomfortable inside me. Until today, I was so proud to think that I had moved on from him. But one kiss, it was like we were living the high school life again.
Why did he kiss me? Was it just a coincidence?
I would take it as a yes after what happened between us. We were no point in talking to each other as well. The urge to stay calm became severe in my head. I wanted to go away from here as soon as possible.
Wake up, Valeria! You can do it!
I shot a ridiculous, big smile, hopped onto Rowan's arms before saying hurriedly,
" Sorry guys! I have to meet my in-laws today. We can't be late. Rowan, honey! Let's go back!"
Ezra tried to say something but I was already dragging Rowan up with me. Even though I had walked far away from him, I could feel his heated eyes on me all the time.
I hope we will never meet again!!
" I thought, you would stay at the party longer.", Rowan said with a smile as we sat across the dinner table, waiting for his father to join us.
Rowan had been the only heir of the Brook family. They were noble and rich in the town. Even though I was born as an heiress as well, it was nothing but empty talk now. Not only that, but my family was from a criminal background. For this reason, I had refused Rowan several times but he was persistent in making me, fall in love with him. Lastly, I had to admit my defeat in front of his love.
" Sorry honey! We kept you waiting!", Mrs Brook descended from the stairs, the jewels around her body almost blocking my vision. There was no doubt that she liked to adorn herself like a delicate noble lady from a rich family. Mr.Brook kept a straight face as he sat together with his wife at the dinner table.
My nervous nerves started kicking hard but Rowan always encouraged me to stay calm. The dinner started with an awkward atmosphere. It was more like we were in a training field, not allowed to talk randomly.
Mrs.Brook started, chewing the steak elegantly,
" We heard about you a lot, honey. Well, we have nothing to know about you especially but the fact about your father..I heard that he will be out of jail soon. Isn't he?"
I felt blank for a split second. I hated to discuss my father but what could I do? I wished that we didn't share the same bloodline. It pained me to think how malicious he was to the innocent people.
Rowan reacted first, his hand gliding down to grab my palm in a comforting manner,
" Mom! I told you about this already! Why should you insist on asking her again?"
Mr.Brook's roar resonated across the room, startling me a bit,
" Because it matters to us. The heir of the Brook family can't just marry off to a criminal's daughter. This marriage can't happen if her father isn't out of jail."
I fought back the sob that was coming out of my throat. I should have expected this to come but Rowan said that his parents were very loving and would do anything to make him happy.
Stumbling off on my feet, I excused myself from there, forcing the tears not to,
" I am sorry for ruining your moment. I should leave now!"
I ran to the exit, Rowan's shout kept echoing from the table,
" Val... Stop.. Don't go..Val.."
Once I was out of the mansion, my knees became wobbly before hitting the ground. I burst into wails and cries.
Why did I imagine this happy life? Did I think that it was easy to let go of my past life?
For the first time, I felt like a failure in life. Despite being so strong for years, I couldn't take the heartbreak that I felt today. Rowan deserved someone better than me. I should have left him long ago.
Before I could manage myself, my phone had started ringing aloud. Wiping the tears off, I unlocked it to see Uncle John, calling me at this late hour. My expression drastically fell as I answered his call clumsily,
" Uncle John..Dad..is he okay?"
Uncle John sighed heavily through the phone. In all whole New York City, he was the only person who stayed there to support me. Because he thought that whatever happened to my dad, it wasn't my fault. I deserved a better life. He stayed in touch with me and provided the necessary information on time.
Uncle John sounded hesitant before telling,
" Well.. Valeria..I have bad news for you..I am afraid that your dad will need to stay another year in jail."
I gasped hard in surprise, muttering incoherently,
" What..Do you mean? You said that he..he will be released next week. Why is the delay now?"
Uncle John replied with a helpless sigh, the sound of flipping papers coming from his background,
" Because someone has reopened a new case against him. He is charged with guilt again."
I stammered, staring at the darkness ahead,
" Who? What... what is the case about?"
Uncle John gave me a response that took my breath away for a long while,
" The slaughtering against..the Silvestri family that he did ten years ago. Someone big has reopened the case again and found him guilty."