The Trap Of Ace

Chapter 19

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 19 – Jumping in fright, I whirled around, with my heart at my throat.

Dark eyes met mine as he stood right in front of me.

I sighed in relief. “Oh, Arthur. It’s you.” My gaze flickered around, no one was nearby. The hallway lied eerie.

What was he doing up here?

A small smile tugged at his lips, expression tight. “You shouldn’t be wandering here and there alone, dear. Especially in this wing. Achilles isn’t very fond of it if someone enters here.”

My head titled. And why was that?

“Uh, actually it’s been years since I last visited here. So I thought to take a look around.” I shrugged. “Whose room is that anyway?”

Glancing at the door, something washed over his face. But he masked it soon enough, not letting me understand anything. But whatever it was, it was… dark.

“It was his mother’s room,” he said, attention back on me.

Was?

“You mean, Ophelia?”

He nodded.

I remembered that woman. Though she was sweet, I never saw her spending much time with Ace and Caleb. Both her and his father would be away from home most of the time. I wondered where she was now.

“Where is she?”

With an empty look, he replied, “Away.”

Just as I opened my mouth again to ask for an explanation, a voice hindered me.

“Here you are, Arthur. I was looking for you everywhere. Thank G*d a waiter saw you coming this way,” said Caleb, sending me a brief glance. “The Simpsons are asking for Achilles, handle them, will you? Because I’m so done giving excuses to everyone of where he suddenly got missing leaving the party.”

“Of course!” Turning to me, Arthur nodded at me. “I’ll see you later, Emerald. And remember what I told you.”

That this place is not for wandering.

At the corner of my eye, Caleb’s attention peaked at that as his brows furrowed.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said, tone polite. What was in this room that they literally marked this wing as restricted? And if everyone was prohibited to come here, then what was he doing here in the first place?

Flashing me another of his vague smiles, he walked away.

“What was that?” asked Caleb, watching his uncle’s retreating form. “What did he say to you?” The subtle look of his at the locked door didn’t go missed.

“That Ace won’t like it if he finds out of my being here, in the east wing.”

Rubbing his neck, he looked at me. “It’s not like that, Em. It’s just that, a lot of his memories are connected to this place. Good and… bad. And he doesn’t want anyone to peek into them.”

He meant peek into this room?

“Anyway, the ceremony is about to begin. Let’s go!”

The sudden change of topic hinted that he wasn’t comfortable talking about this subject. So I let it go and accepted the arm he offered me.

Walking away, I glanced back over my shoulder one last time at that room. What so bad happened here? And in his mother’s room?

After the engagement was done, the cake was cut and served. And the last dance of the night began.

My eyes still looked around for him. He wasn’t there even during the engagement. Did he already leave? He did look extremely roused back in the east wing.

“This isn’t fair, Dad! You won’t dance with your daughter at her engagement party?” complained Tess. She has been pestering Dad to dance with her so that she could take some pictures, but Dad kept denying due to his lack of experience.

“Sweetheart, you know I can’t dance. Why don’t you go and dance with Caleb?”

“Right, we just got officially engaged and she already got bored of me,” commented Caleb, earning a scowl from Tess.

“I’ve already danced with him twice. Now I want my dad to dance with me. Come on, just one dance, Dad!” She fluttered her puppy eyes.

He let out a sigh. “Alright, but for only five minutes. No more.”

“Done! Thank you so much!” Squealing, she gestured to the photographers to get ready and dragged Dad along after her.

“Now that my fiance left me alone here, can I ask my gorgeous sister-in-law for a dance?”

laughed as Caleb bended a little and gave me

can say no to my handsome brother-in-law.” Rolling my eyes,

flattered!” Grinning, he led me to the

the rhythms. A lot of other couples also joined at the last dance. Even Tobias and Mom went

the same went with her. In between talking to Dad, she threw adored glances at her fiance. Felicity radiated off her face.

got the love

I never imagined that I’d be living

“What do you mean?”

certainty between us. And at one point, we thought that we’d have no future together. Until six months ago when we decided to give

a lot of misunderstandings and argument over it, until everything turned out good. I didn’t know why he’d such fear of

“I’m really happy for you guys. Tessa is lucky to have you. And I hope you won’t disappoint

genuine. “I won’t, I promise. And it’s the other way around, trust me. I’m the

I shrugged. “That’s true.”

looking back at my

cleared my throat. “Umm, when did you

liked her the moment Achilles introduced her to me. And after a time, I got to know that

were into each other for that long? How come I’d no idea?” I

So we decided to keep it quiet to see where

my brows. “Secret relationship,

chuckled. “You can

hit me, threatening the fall of my

month before

my stomach. She was already in a relationship with Caleb when she kissed Ace that

fell on her. She was laughing at something Dad

cheat on

***

me out of my raw sleep. Groaning, I pulled my phone out

calling at

my

Ace?

drowsiness left from my body with the skip of my heart. Why was he

Should I receive it?

Of course I should!

the green sign, the call went d**d. Disappointment filled my chest as I stared at the screen, hoping it’d ring again. But it didn’t. I

was he calling? Was everything

the night. His past, his mom’s room, Tess and Caleb. So

left without informing anyone. But then I decided against it. What’d I say? I couldn’t just show

was

Should I call back?

back if

me to tap on it. But then I threw my phone in its previous place. I couldn’t just call him like that. I’d

set on the phone, heart awaiting, hand ready to grab it if

again. Even after an hour he didn’t call. And eventually darkness slowly pulled me back into

***

on the floor I tried to locate any faults into the new designs we

checked my phone. There were five missed calls from him.

I’d called

like a hurricane. The thought of if he was okay ate me out. Even in the office,

come to the

that? It’s disturbing,” said Liza, glancing up from

decided to work from my cabin today with me. And while she was so lost into her job, I was

“What?”

her eyes to my still tapping

I’m sorry. I was actually thinking of something,” I apologized, halting the dancing

on the desk, giving me her

about him? She must’ve had some information. Oh yeah, right. The meeting. “Uh, when is

And yes, everything is done,” she said. “Are you sure there’s no

as she went back to her work, my mouth opened again. “But how would the meeting take place if Ace is not

present here today, Caleb will handle the

say

you have any idea where he is?”

he said the boss would be away for a couple of days. He

For a

a thoughtful expression etched over her face. “Maybe he

do you know that he went to the UK?” Something dimmed inside my chest. He’d

I don’t know why though, maybe for vacations. He actually needs it. Most

over there? Or any friends?” I don’t think he’d go there

very closed person, you should’ve known that as you’re his close family friend. He doesn’t have any friends other than your siblings. And nor does

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