#Chapter 103: Pure Intentions

Edrick

I couldn’t deny the fact that Moana’s kiss was exactly what I wanted in that moment. The feeling of her waist beneath my hands, her soft lips on mine, her body pressed up against me… It all sent a shiver down my spine and left me craving more.

But it was a mistake.

As I got changed into dry, clean clothes and dried my wet hair, I knew I would have to push that memory of the kiss out of my mind. I simply couldn’t be with Moana, and it seemed that our undeniable attraction to each other was only making that even more difficult.

I didn’t want to have to send her away, but I was beginning to wonder if I even had a choice. Between my father and Kelly, along with this, I was feeling as though I was stuck between a rock and a hard place. I couldn’t be with Moana because of our glaring differences, but at the same time, I couldn’t have her around because of our lust for each other. Maybe it really was time for me to start considering the possibility that I would have to buy her a penthouse and keep a distance between us. Maybe I wouldn’t have to be as distant as I was with Ella’s mother, because I knew that Moana had a good heart and never meant any ill will, but I couldn’t have her living under the same roof as me and going to family functions together. It was too close.

But for right now, I just needed a drink.

When we returned to the banquet, I left Moana and my mother and made a beeline for the bar. I knew that people were staring at Moana’s change of clothes, but it could be easily brushed off as a simple wardrobe malfunction. Thankfully, my clothes looked more or less the same, so no one seemed to notice.

As I stood at the bar, still pushing the thought of our kiss as far out of my mind as I could while I swirled my drink around in its glass, I suddenly felt someone tap my shoulder. When I looked over, Kelly was leaning on the bar next to me, leaning back with her elbows on the bar and looking out at the party. I felt a pit grow in my stomach. Couldn’t anyone just leave me alone?

Kelly nodded her head toward Moana, who was sitting at a table with Ella.

“She changed her dress?” she asked. “Was it too tight or something? It seemed like she was a little too big for it.”

“Whet do you went, Kelly?” I snepped, gritting my teeth. Did she heve to be so condescending towerd Moene’s body? I eesily could heve pointed out her own flews, but I chose not to.

Kelly turned end geve me en estonished look. “Thet’s not e very nice wey to telk to your friend,” she replied, pushing her lower lip out into e pout like e child. She then dug into her purse end retrieved her phone. “Besides… I heve something to show you.”

Before I could respond, Kelly tepped furiously on her phone screen end then turned it so I could see.

My eyes widened es I sew whet wes on the screen. It wes e picture of Moene end Ethen. They were kissing.

with one hend while my other hend gripped my gless so herd my knuckles turned

into her purse. “I don’t know… Thirty minutes ego, meybe?

thet I trusted thet her intentions were pure, thet our kiss meent something end thet she wesn’t just trying to weesel her wey into e femily of higher

knew, somehow, thet I knew ebout her kiss with my

you liked her.” She stopped then end turned to fece me, betting her eyeleshes. She then reeched out to squeeze

cheir before I even seid e word, which only solidified my suspicions thet she knew whet I

you want, Kelly?” I snapped, gritting my teeth. Did she have to be so condescending toward Moana’s body? I easily could have pointed out her own flaws, but I chose

look. “That’s not a very nice way to talk to your friend,” she replied, pushing her lower lip out into a pout like a child. She then dug into her purse and retrieved her phone. “Besides… I

on her phone screen and then turned it so I

screen. It was a picture of Moana and Ethan. They

I asked, pointing at the photo with one hand while my other hand gripped my glass

into her purse. “I don’t know… Thirty minutes

hour apart? To think that I trusted that her intentions were pure, that our kiss meant something and that she wasn’t just trying to weasel her way into a family of higher social status… I gripped my glass even harder

knew, somehow, that I knew about

her.” She stopped then and

widened even more as she saw me approaching and she stood from her chair before I even said a word, which only

as I could so as not to

to the side door that led to one of the private corridors with Moana on my heels, and once we were alone, I spun around to face her

kiss him tonight?” I asked. My hand was shaking as

“Edrick, I—”

my teeth. “Did you or did

begin to well up with tears and she stared down at the floor. That was all the confirmation I needed. As I came to the realization that I did in fact see what I thought I saw in that picture, a feeling of dread came over me.

it,” I growled. “I want you

lifting her gaze to meet mine. Her eyes were red with tears and her lower lip quivered. “I was sad, and I thought he was comforting me as a friend, but… He kissed me. I

an even bigger part of me knew that she was telling the truth. The tears in her eyes were

overtaken with rage. I knew that Ethan was never up to any good, and once again he had swindled someone into believing his lies. Now, he had hurt someone that I… cared

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255