My heart shattered immediately as she broke that news. My body felt numb. All I did was flash a smile at Mrs. Velasquez and Clyde as they took their leave. Clyde even glanced at me one last time with an unexplained expression before she followed his mother.
I sighed deeply. What is happening to me? I just felt Denver assisted me. I sat on the sofa, and he did the same, beside me. My eyes can’t meet his gray eyes. I was afraid of what he would tell me. I was beyond surprised about that.
That’s why Mrs. Velasquez keeps asking me about the wedding. She didn’t expect that I didn’t know about the wedding being called off. She keeps persisting that Denver should tell me about it.
I have too many questions in my mind. Who made that decision? Is it the Velasquez? My father?
I thought this wedding was to bind the two families and help the Golieza. Is there another reason Velasquez merged with us?
My eyes widened when the realization struck me. Kian once told me that maybe the Velasquez family wants something for me. Or from our family? Then what is it?
It makes sense now. Even without the marriage, they insisted on helping us without them benefiting from it. But what if they already have a hidden agenda, and it was fulfilled now?
And now, they’ve called the wedding off maybe because they’ve used us already. It’s done. Whatever they wanted from us was already fulfilled.
But something’s not right. If they already fulfilled what they wanted from us, why did Denver keep our marriage legal? Even if our marriage was on paper, still, we’re married. He’s my husband, legally.
I shut my eyes closed from thinking too much. I didn’t even feel Denver was already lying his head on my lap as he stared at me. I gulped when our eyes met. His gray orbs were like piercing through mine. They were like speaking to me through eye contact. I always admired his eyes. They were mesmerizing to me especially when he shows numerous emotions all at once. His gray eyes hypnotized me.
“I’ll go upstairs, Denver,” I told him. I was about to stand up, but he didn’t even move a bit.
“Why? You’re tired?” he asked. My eyes landed on his Adam’s apple protruding. “Eyes up, young lady.”
“Maybe drained,” I muttered. I leaned forward to kiss his forehead. He was even startled. “Meeting your mom exhausted me.”
“Oh, I shall sleep with you, then.” He got up, and his eyes never left mine. “I’ll carry you.”
“No, you don’t need t—”
I couldn’t finish what I said when he carried me in bridal style. He has a smirk plastered on his lips. The quite common smirk he always does whenever he thinks of something.
“You’re still reclusive,” he mumbles as he carries me upstairs. I just cling my arms to his neck, my body closer to him. I can even feel his breath on my cheeks. “And I like it better, wife.”
I felt his chest move as he heaved a sigh. He looks like he is resisting and controlling himself from something. Our noses touched when we were already in our room. He entered with fast-paced steps before he laid me down on our bed.
“Thanks, I’ll just rest.” I closed my eyes and didn’t wait for his response. I can still feel his presence but with enough distance. ‘Enough overthinking and get over it, Sharmienne.’ That was the last thing I reminded myself of before I fell asleep.
I WOKE UP with someone caging my whole body with a warm pair of muscular arms. I just realized that my face was on Denver’s chest and that I could hear his heartbeat. His fine breathing shows that he’s asleep. I reached for his hair and ruffled it.
“I hope your explanation will not tear my heart,” I whispered and kissed his nose. I gently removed his arms from mine. I noticed that it was already four in the morning. We skipped our dinner.
I went to our walk-in closet and got a sports bra, jacket, and leggings. Then to the bathroom to change before I managed to sneak out of the room.
I need to jog. I want to release this confusion. The cold breeze felt comfortable against my skin as soon as I got out of Madrigal’s Tower. I jogged around the vicinity for about an hour before I saw an open fast-food chain. I’m hungry. I dine in to eat my breakfast then take out some for Denver.
It was almost six in the morning when I arrived at Madrigal’s Tower. The lobby was bombarded with people, especially girls my age. As if they’ve seen some celebrity here.
My eyes widened and the take-out food I am holding almost fell when I saw Dwayne amidst the crowd. He was interacting with his fans early in the morning. He looks like he also jogged because he was wearing a loose shirt paired with jogging pants and rubber shoes as his footwear.
He casually wipes his forehead as he kept on talking to his fans. I smiled. Just seeing my idol is a dream, and even if it’s from afar, I am really happy and grateful. It’s enough for me to see him this close.
I walked towards the elevator. It was about to close when Dwayne saw me, and he motioned me to wait. I stilled at that moment that I didn’t realize he swiftly walks inside the elevator too. He was followed by a guy who’s remarkably familiar to me.
Jake Leonardo Hart.
I pursed my lips as I stared at both of them. How did I end up in this situation? Being with Dwayne and Jake Hart at the same time?
“Breathe, miss.” I heard Jake who was beside me say. He chuckled as if he found something amusing. I didn’t quite understand what he was pertaining to. I just realized it when I noticed I’d been holding my breath since they got inside the elevator. “It’s not because of this guy, right?” he added, pointing his finger to Dwayne who was in front of us.
I want to answer him with a straight “No.” My mind is preoccupied and thinking about how to adjust to this kind of this situation. It was my first time talking to him this close. I just knew him because he’s the guy whom my sister likes.
I was distracted when I saw Dwayne look back at me.
“Oh, don’t be afraid. I’m nice.” Dwayne scratched his eyebrow and smiled at me. “What floor is yours?” Dwayne asked.
“20th floor.” It was Jake who answered him. I pursed my lips. I’m hesitant to tell Dwayne.
“How about you, miss?”
“F-fifteenth.”
He nodded and did the honor to press our designated floors. I was just silent while I’m with them. I don’t know why I can’t feel any excitement right now. Even with my idol in this elevator, I feel scared knowing that Jake is with us.
Carmienne already warned me about him. She’s suspecting this guy as a piece of information that will complete the puzzle of that ‘tragedy’. He’s also a gangster. An enemy of The Falcon. I do not even know how to manage this situation properly.
How would Denver react to this?
The elevator tinged dedicating that someone will enter. A guy wearing a cap entered. His physique was familiar to me. He was just looking down and pressed the 15th button.
He's familiar. I know just by looking at him. I tried to look in his direction, and when our eyes met for a split second, I felt relief.
We heard Jake chuckle behind us. It’s as if something is funny about our situation. “One of the Golieza, huh.”
Before I could even look back at him, the elevator stopped on the 15th floor. As the door opened, Denver’s face looked as if he was waiting for someone. When our eyes met, his stares at once became and in rage. The guy wearing a cap pulled me out of the elevator. Before the door closes, I looked back and saw Dwayne waving his hand at me while Jake, on the other hand, has a menacing smirk plastered on his lips.
“He’s surely lurking out.”
Daniel removed his cap, still holding me with his other hand. Denver saw it and he at once pulled me closer to him.
“Why are you alone? Where have you been?” he asked, holding both of my arms. I lifted the takeout food I bought. He sighed and shook his head. “You should have told me.”
“I’m okay.” He didn’t pay attention to what I said and embraced me even though we were in front of his friend. “Denver…”
I felt him tighten his hug on me as he put his head on my shoulder. He looks troubled. I was about to say something when I met Daniel’s gaze on us. He pursed his lips and put his hands in his pockets. He has that serious expression that he only showed right now. He’s always been playful.
I tapped Denver’s back when I heard him utter something. “Don’t scare me like that again. Never again will I lose you. Never.”