The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 55 – His entire stance tensed as soon as I asked the question. His eyes still away from mine as he took a deep breath, his jaw locked tight.

“Rosebud, we just got together. Let’s just keep the bitter chapter of my life out of our new beginning, shall we?” Grey orbs met mine. They held a desperation for me to understand. “I don’t want to relive my past when all I want is to make new beautiful memories with you.”

I knew it hurt him to talk about his past. But I couldn’t let this go. I had this intuition that whatever Arthur was talking about was related to his father’s s*****e. There could be something else also. And I needed to know everything to sort things out.

So even if it pained me to torture him with his memories, I didn’t back off. “Until you’re clutching on your past like that, you can’t start fresh. You can’t be truly happy. I can see it, Ace. You’re battling with something. There’s something that’s bothering you. And it’s not just Antonio. Please tell me, what’s it? What happened to your father? I want to know everything.”

Closing his eyes, he pulled away and showed his back to me. Facing the window again, he stood there with his hands fisted.

“There’s nothing much to know, Rosebud.” His voice came out cold. “I used to always look up to my father as my idol. I wanted to become like him. Until I got to know his real face.”

I didn’t dare to interrupt him, fearing that he would just switch off again. So I just stood there silently, listening to him.

“He was a womanizer. After some years of his marriage with Mom, he started to cheat on her. And that broke my Mom,” he revealed. A gasp slipped through my lips.

“But even after being unfaithful, he had always loved his reputation more than anything. He was always discreet about his affairs. Because he wanted his image to be great before the society and his children. Mom had always doubted his activities until one day he wasn’t careful and she caught him with one of his girlfriends in their own bed.”

I stood there immobile, shocked at the revelation. So that’s why they never had a good relationship.

“And it wasn’t only Mom who caught him. I and Caleb were also present there, so did Tobias and Tess.” The broad shoulders of his were rigid. “And not being able to handle the shame, he ended his life.”

Silence.

The whole cabin echoed silence as he stood there with his tensed posture. Only his heavy breathing reverberated across the room.

Something clenched into my chest at the pain he wasn’t willing to show. I knew how much it was affecting him.

Padding closer, I wrapped my arms around him from his back. My hands rubbed across his chest slowly, trying to provide some comfort.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me in front of him and engulfed me into his arms.

With his arms wrapped around me tightly, his head snuggled at the crook of my neck. And I hugged him back, running my hand through his hair softly.

“It was the worst day of my life. That night still haunts my dreams sometimes,” he said. It pained me the way his voice cracked.

I placed a kiss on his shoulder. “I know saying it sounds easier than done, but you’ve to let it go, Ace. I know whatever happened would be traumatic for anyone, but you can’t let it affect your whole life this way. Let it go. I know you still can’t accept it. But you have to. Accept it and move on. I can’t see you suffering like this.”

“I’m trying. But the demons of my past pull me back into their darkness whenever

away slightly, I cupped his face. “Then we’ll fight those demons together. I’m always here

always be there with me?” The unreadable look in

my lips against his. “I will,” I promised. “I’ll

of his

pulled me into his arms again. “I love you,

you too.” I

Whatever he told me, I didn’t find anything

decided not to ask him any more questions for now. He

the tight grip of him around me as if I’d disappear somewhere at any moment made

***

after getting it out from the oven.

of strong arms snaked around my waist from behind. The fragrance of

rasped into my ear. His

Tossing the

He raised his brows.

eyes. “Of course I’m making food for both of us. Though we can also send

taste the food my Rosebud makes for me.” The

head, I

Unbelievable!

through me as his stubble tickled my skin. I let out a

“Stop! It’s tickling!”

rubbed his face more against my neck,

crept up to my sides, I let out a squeal, trying to get away. But holding me back, he tickled my sides, throwing me into a fit

his face, he just watched me

“S-stop! I can’t breathe!”

he didn’t stop. His laughter followed

he stopped. Wiping the tears from the corner of my eyes, I glared at him. And he just grinned, pulling me

his hand crawling up into

told me which hunger he was

tug in

I need you, baby,” he groaned, his

“No, I’m making dinner and we’ll enjoy the food now. Other plans

grumbled, trying to touch me again. But put the

let me finish my job. I need to ice the cake

together.