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This isn't the first time he's comforted me. When I was young and I thought I could trust him, I often used to go crying to him. His hugs were always warm and soothing. It's no different now.
At some point, the sobs turn into sniffles, and then a bone-deep numbness.
"You want to get some food?" he asks kindly.
He’s been treating me differently ever since Maya came into his life. Or perhaps he’s always been kind to me and I simply didn’t trust him. He’s looking at me, expectantly.
“Why are you pretending to care?” I wipe my eyes, and he sighs.
“I’ve known you since you barely reached my knee, Cynthia.” Tony strokes my hair, making my lips tremble and my eyes burn. “I know you think I’m your enemy, but I’m not. I’ve only ever tried to protect you. Now, answer my question. Do you want some food?”
"No," I mumble hoarsely.
He sighs once again, but instead of driving me home, he drives us to a Thai place and gets me takeout. He also picks up some ice cream for me, but not once does he ask what happened. And I'm glad. I wouldn't know where to begin.
When we get to my apartment, he walks me to my door, and once I'm inside, he says, "Next time he makes you cry, tell me there and then. I'll fuck him up." Patting me on the head, he adds, "You're a strong girl, you hear me? And you're a good girl. He doesn't have the right to make you cry. I'll twist his balls off."
My eyes water, but I just sniffle and nod.
He pauses for a minute before looking me in the eye. “If you need anything, let me know. If you need Maya, I’ll ask her and bring her to you.”
“I’m okay.” I wipe my eyes.
Once he leaves, I take a few breaths.
"You can do this," I whisper to myself, wishing each breath wasn't so painful. But when I head to the bathroom and stare at my reflection, I wonder why Adam deceived me. Even if I was his fated mate, he could have told me the truth. He was in love with another woman, a better woman. I wouldn't have said anything. This world has long since taught me my place in it. I know not to aim for things I can never have.
But even under this hurt is understanding.
Of course, he would want Tina. She was a perfect fit for him.
The relief in his voice when he said 'God, I’ve missed you!'still echoes in my ears.
But I can't hate him. I can't be angry with him. I wish I could knee him in the crotch like Tony offered to. My eyes burn, and I splash water on my face. All those touches, those soft words, the protectiveness, couldn't have all been lies. Could it?
I don't know, but I do know he deceived me, and that means he's not trustworthy. However, he's still a lesser evil than the rest of the family, so I'll give him that.
"Alright," I smack my cheeks, giving myself the sternest look I can muster right now, "you're not going to cry anymore. You'll stick to your plan. Help him become Alpha and then…"
My voice catches, and my eyes harden in response to the way my heart trembles. "Then you free yourself. You deserve a rest after everything."
As I leave the bathroom, I get my phone and call Maya. She picks up on the second ring, and I say, "I need some help with a dress."
*****
The days until the Gala are tense for me.
Tina shows up every day, and Adam and her go for lunch and dinner. She's in the office before me and leaves with Adam. Probably to his apartment. I hate how nice she is to me. She makes it really hard to hate her. Adam, on the other hand, seems both happy and distressed. I wonder if he's worried about me saying something to Tina. I'm not stupid.
I do have to set up reservations for him. Watson shows up during my lunchtime, telling me to book this restaurant and that for the happy couple, along with sending flowers to his daughter. Adam doesn't stop him, and each time he just smiles and nods a little piece of me dies.
As Maya sews the hem of my dress a few hours before the Gala, she complains, "Tony said he'd buy you a dress. Why didn't youtake him up on it? He and I saw this beautiful midnight blue thing––"
"I can make do with this dress." I smile at her.
It's the dress I first met Adam in. I'm not wearing it to jog his memory. I simply don't have anything else to wear.
"But this looks patchy no matter what I do to it," Maya complains. "This is so annoying. You wear the dress as it is, you look like a hooker. A sexy hooker, but a hooker. But if you add a train, it looks like someone sewed it on at the last minute, which is exactly what's happening."
