Lunar Temptations

Ch 48

He surely looked breathtaking, but this time, it wasn't the looks that took my breath away, but his words.

I stood there, gaping like a fool - something I had been doing a lot lately. He surely wasn't joking, and his eyes were speaking clearly; then what was he doing? Was he playing with me, or worse, was he testing me? I couldn't comprehend them for a few more seconds until -

"Then why did you make me apologize - actually no," I said and paused to correct my statement. "Why were you pretending to believe her?" I asked the more important thing. I didn't care about the apology part as much as I cared about Esther getting away with it all, so I rephrased my words.

He sighed and pulled his hands out of his pockets and ran them through his hair, contemplating something.

"If you believed me, then why-" I began to say again but got cut off this time. "Because Mother's in on this, and I wanted her to think that she has fooled me," he explained simply, and that was all it took for everything to make sense. "She had carefully planned everything. She made sure to erase the entire day's footage so that anyone from that day could be a suspect. Then, she chose Danna among everyone else, and once she was done erasing the drive, she planted it into her house," he finished.

I was dumbstruck still and slowly took in everything.

I opened my mouth to speak, then closed it again when nothing came out. He knew all along. This bastard knew everything all along yet acted like he believed Esther's lies. Why couldn't I see it? Well, he does have a stoic face, and I couldn't decipher what he was thinking right then either. So, that was it. He did believe me, and I had been sulking for the past hour or so for nothing.

Great, now I was starting to feel even more of a fool.

"How did you figure it all out? You didn't even know Esther came over that day." I reasoned and tried to get more answers out of him. A part of me was glad that I was getting answers finally.

He took another step towards me, and this time, his shadow fell on me, making me appear smaller. A dangerous feeling sparked between us, and I watched intently, never letting his gaze drop.

"I know everything that goes around here, Raya. Although you shouldn't have hidden it from me," he said, referring to my reply from earlier when I had said I didn't have any suspicion. I lowered my gaze, immediately regretting my actions. Maybe if I had told him right then, things might have been different.

"I-i had no proof against her. It would have been a far-fetched guess, nothing more," I murmured lowly, looking away and into the distance. The grass suddenly started to look a lot more interesting to look at than those brown orbs staring me down. I didn't know what to say to him.

"You shouldn't have broken into her office," he said sternly, catching my attention back. My brows furrowed as a small part of my anger returned, and I snapped my head to him. "You did make me apologize for it, did you not?" I taunted. I wasn't actually sorry for it, though, and I would never be. I did the right thing even if it had different consequences than I was expecting.

"My mother is a dangerous woman. If I had let you off that easily, she would have known," his voice was deep and serious. I licked my lips nervously and was about to speak when he gripped my arm and yanked me closer. My eyes widened momentarily as a gasp escaped my lips.

"She would have had you dragged out of there and disappeared within minutes, and I would have never known if it wasn't for that maid," he hissed into my face. His anger coming to the surface threatening to spill and engulf me in it. I blinked, watching his face contort into a concerned glare. The line on his forehead shows, displaying his frown even better up close. A few inches were left between us, and moments from that night began to resurface in my head.

"Maid?" I questioned, briefly.

He nodded, "She told me you were in Mother's office and that the guards have you surrounded."

"Lisa..." I whispered, realizing who it was. That girl was an angel with a pure soul. She had risked it all to help me break into Esther's office just because I mentioned that I might find some evidence there. Lisa was ready to help Macy in every way possible, even if it meant risking her job. Not only that, she went ahead and informed Zayden about the situation when things got out of hand.

"Is she in trouble?" I questioned immediately.

"No, I'll make sure of it," his reassuring words were enough for me to know that Esther wouldn't try to go after her, and even if she did, then he wouldn't let it happen.

It was funny how I could easily get reassured by his mere words now when days ago, I wasn't ready to give up on hating him. The time had passed, but not enough for me to dismiss his hate yet that short time had brought upon many differences. He was starting to break through the walls, and with each passing day, I would question what was happening to me. Why were my walls weakening, and why was I letting him in when I used to promise myself revenge on him, yet there I stood - unable to think straight in his presence, let alone take Elio's revenge.

I stared into his eyes, thinking of all the ways I could back out right now, especially after what he had done the last time I had given in. I inhaled deeply, ready to back away from him when he traced a thumb lightly over my lips. A sweet erotic feeling tucked low in me, and I trembled lightly in the cold breeze. His hot touch together with that air could make anyone go trembling from need and excitement, but there won't be an 'anyone' except me.

"Now, about your punishment," he said, dragging that thumb lazily over my bottom lip.