The Trap Of Ace

Chapter 3

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 3 – The name that used to give me flutters in my tummy, now only added fuel to something that was smoldering inside me for years.

I didn’t want to be called with that name anymore. 

“I didn’t think my Rosebud could stay mad at me for that long,” he drawled out as I kept quiet, eyes searching for something on my face. 

My Rosebud?

Whatever you see on my face, Achilles Valencian, but you won’t find the fifteen years old sister of your best friend there. Because she died that night because of you. And the irony was, it wasn’t even your fault. 

“Don’t call me that!” My voice came out much like a snap. When he raised a brow, I tried to cool down my nerves. I couldn’t show him my anger. And though how much right it seemed, he wasn’t at any fault. 

He didn’t even know.

“I- I’ve a name. And I’d prefer to be called by that. I don’t like when someone calls me with nicknames,” I clarified.

The side of his lips quirked up. “I know your name. But you will always be Rosebud for me.” He leaned in, his hot breath fanning my earlobe. “Though this Rosebud of mine now bloomed into a beautiful rose.”

My heart stuttered.

Whispers of the past echoed in my mind.

“Really?” I’d brightened up like a Christmas tree. “That means you will marry me?”

He’d bit his lip, his eyes lit up with amusement. “I’m sorry, Rosebud! But I can’t.”

“Why not?” I pouted.

“Because it’s not the right time. You’re still so young.”

“Then when will be the right time?” I’d gazed up at him with so much hope.

“When you turn into a blooming rose from a rose bud.”

A shaky breath left my lips, a squeezing pain shot through my chest. My eyes stung with forbidden memories. He… remembered? 

But then flashes of that night floated across. My throat tightened, causing me to ball my fists. 

I gulped, it felt like acid burning inside me. I needed air!

Moving out of his arms, I pushed him away. Surprise flashed across his eyes, and then something like concern took over his features. Not wanting to stay there any longer, I turned around and walked away. As fast as I could without creating a scene.

“Rosebud!” He called after me, his voice closer. At my peripheral vision, I saw Tobias going to him, maybe to stop him from following me.

“Em? Where are you going?” 

Ignoring Warner’s question, I ran out there and didn’t stop until I was at the serenity of the huge balcony. 

Gripping the railing, I breathed in the cold night air. Up in the sky, hung the half curved moon, surrounded by gazillions of twinkling stars. They winked at me, as if mocking me for my pathetic feelings.

A lone tear escaped my eye as the cool breeze touched my face. And then I let some more to fall free. Tears that I’d been succeeding to put in for years.

My hand clutched my chest as I felt the same pain it felt that night. As if someone has sliced the old wounds open. 

Biting my lip hard, I attempted to stop those tears. Seven years. Seven freaking years! And here I was, still mourning over the heartache I got as a punishment of my foolishness. Seven years, and it still pained me physically to remember the loss.

I was still afraid of meeting him. I was still a coward. That’s why I tagged Warner along. I needed support. I knew one way or another, in these two weeks I’d have to face him. I’d been trying to escape from him after that night. I’d avoided him like a plague. Even if it was impossible for some occasions to avoid him before I went to high school to another city, I hadn’t looked at him. I didn’t look at his face or into his eyes, because I knew, I knew if I made the mistake to look up, he would see it. He would see it all.

find out how pathetic I was for believing in his words he said to a nine years old naive kid, not to break her fragile

I will forget him if I go away. So I went to live in a different city. I thought, if I dated other men, I would forget him. So I dated

Just one glance, and some mere words threw me back to where I’d stood years ago.

my voice quivering.

can’t I just move on?! After all these years, why can’t I just not feel anything? Why does it

Valencian! F**k you

wiped my face when I felt a presence behind me. A glass of orange juice

Warner. I will be inside

not your boyfriend. He is enjoying

to him. He followed

anger, shadowed jaw was clenched. His charcoal suit gleamed under the moonlight as he towered over me. Even after these years, I could only reach his broad shoulders with my five feet

‘boyfriend’ with malice, didn’t go unnoticed by me.

you here?” I took a step back. His close proximity suffocated

the distance I created between us, handing me the glass. “Came to

to see

about my well-being.” I ran my free hand over my arm as chilling air kissed my b**e

his jaw ticked. Shrugging off his jacket, he placed it over my shoulders. I tried to go away from his overwhelming presence, but he held me in place and secured it around me. His intoxicating scent filled my senses. “I will always be concerned for your well-being, Emerald. I can’t stop doing it even if

up into his intense grey. His arms still around me. Why wasn’t I pulling

care

little

sourness rose

you care for me?” I asked,

breathing me in. A shiver ran down my spine. Then he pulled away and peered into my soul, briefly glancing down at my

Let the time unfold the inevitable of its own.” Tucking a strand behind my ear, he turned around and strode away,

he mean by

I didn’t care. Looking back up at the sky, I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

at the feet of the huge staircase, talking to a bald middle aged man. But his eyes were on

I stopped

Ma’am? What’d you like to have?” He gestured to

the jacket, I handed it to him. “Would you please

followed my gaze and seeing the tightness of his jaw, the color of his face drained. He fumbled in his place with the tray and jacket in both of his hands. Before he could object, I thanked him

related to him, the more

You okay? I was about to go to you, but Tobias said to give you some time alone. Did something happen?” Warner fired as soon as

smile. “Nothing happened, everything is fine. Don’t worry! I just

That’s what I liked about him,

cutting. I agreed to stay until

get away if I wanted to keep

                         

alarm woke me from my sleep that had came to me with much difficulty last night. The soft beams of morning

followed as the memories

I pinched the bridge of my nose. Just a matter of

of my

one

my phone and saw an

Rosebud! Hope you’d a good night’s

A

skipped a beat. A? M-means,

hands curled

does he

didn’t want to do

but then decided instead. Deleting the message, I threw my phone back on the bed and padded into

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