However, Amara contemplated. Should she look back? What if he wasn’t looking at her? What if he was? What if he didn’t care? What if he did? What if he was waiting for her? What if he wasn’t? She shook her head. What if he was, he did not have any right to wait for her. He wasn’t hers and she wasn’t his.
With a heavy heart, she walked out without looking back into the garden.
Kaelith nibbled on the inner tissue of his cheek. Stubborn little vixen. He knew she was upset with him. Even more than that. When she was out of his sight, he looked at Rafael.
“You breached our deal, don’t overreact when I’ll breach mine.” Kaelith’s words stirred Rafael as the latter snapped his head.
“What deal?”
Kaelith scoffed his eyes resembling coal.“Feigning innocence, huh?”
Rafael’s words faltered and hands lingered in uncertainty. There was a palpable tension as he seemed caught between conflicting emotions, each decision and gesture weighed down by a reluctance to commit fully. He remembered the deal—fresh and clear.
He gulped, trying to keep himself calm averting his eyes to the side.“That was impulsive, I thought…I did not deserve her—"
“And now you do? After everything?” Kaelith’ s gaze, sharp and unwavering, seemed to cut through the Rafael’s soul.“You don’t. Neither do I. But if it comes to us, then I’d pick me as the better brother.”
Rafael’s hesitancy was removed with frustration. Who the fuck was he to tell him what he deserved or not?“You’re being cocky—"
Kaelith clicked his tongue. “That’s called being strategic. Keep my words in mind, Amara will remain a De Luca, she will be called Mrs. De Luca forever. But with a different middle name.” Rafael clenched his jaw and slammed his hand on the table knocking over the cup of coffee. Martha flinched in the kitchen hearing the brothers arguing.
“She will not marry you!” His eyes flamed.
Kaelith chuckled visibly unbothered.“She will. She will marry me. She will be my wife. She will carry my children. And she will love me.” There was a hidden promise in his words. Rafael felt a chill running down his spine or did Martha. Now she understood why Kaelith was so concerned about Amara.
“Over my dead body!” Rafael growled, Kaelith tilted his head, his sharp eyes piercing.
“I don’t think your death is necessary, I’ll make her mine in front of you, and you won’t be able to do anything. Do you know why? Cause she will be with mewillingly.”
CHAPTER 21
Kaelith watched as Amara walked beside Rafael towards the waiting car. The heavy suitcases were in Rafael’s hands as he stuffed them into the backseat. The air was heavy with unspoken tension, and Kaelith, standing by the front door of the mansion couldn't shake resentment oozing through Amara.
Her gaze remained fixed on the ground, avoiding eye contact with Kaelith. Rafael tried to offer a comforting smile, but it barely reached her troubled eyes. She hated knowing Kaelith did not care for her and it hurt her more realizing she was reading into things too much.
The engine of the car hummed softly.
Kaelith felt a knot tighten in his chest. He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She looked so sad and writhed like a flower. Her fists were tightly clenched.
“I’ll send someone with her remaining stuff,” Kaelith murmured taking Amara’s attention. The womanlookedsotakenabackbyhiswords.HisvoicesocoldanddistantAmarawonderedifhe was the same man who consoled her that night.
Feeling embarrassed, she cleared her throat. “You don’t have to…I don’t need anything.” She licked her lips the action caught Kaelith eyes as he pushed his hands into his pant pockets.
Rafael smirked.
“Then I’ll throw it away.” Kaelith causally shrugged his shoulders feigning ignorance to her pouty lips and teary eyes. Amara clenched her jaw.
“Do whatever you want.” She mumbled tears stinging her eyes and hearing his words. She hated him at that moment more than anything.
Martha watched from a distance with a heavy heart as Rafael helped Amara inside.
As they reached the car, Amara turned to Kaelith, her lips parting as if she wanted to say something. Yet, the words remained trapped, and with a brief, pained shaky breath, she took her eyes off him.
Rafael opened the car door for Amara, who hesitated before getting in, stealing one last glance at Kaelith. Her eyes spoke volumes, conveying a depth of emotion that was deeper than oceans and colder than the air around them. The car door closed with a soft thud, and the engine roared to life.
Kaelith watched as the car pulled away, his heart heavy with unknown feelings. He knew he hurt Amara more than he should, but it was necessary for what he planned for the future.
His eyes followed the car as long as it took a turn.
