The Trap Of Ace

Read The Trap Of Ace [by Eva Zahan] Chapter 37 – Taking a sip on the tea, I ran my eyes on the newspaper. The noise of Mom’s chopping vegetables and moving utensils in the kitchen rang across. But nothing moved my attention from the paper, not even her curious glances.

“You know, the Blackwood’s daughter ran off with her cousin’s fiance?” Her sigh resonated from the opposite side of the counter. “I got to know from the kitty party last night. Children these days, I don’t know what runs in their head.”

I flipped another page. The business column.

“Your aunt called me this morning to inform me how she’s enjoying her vacation in Switzerland with her third husband and soon will be sending me some pictures of their little honeymoon.” She snorted. “As if I wanted to know anyway. I’m glad that your Dad didn’t go after his elder sister. Thank G*d she’s not in the country right now. At least I got some relief from her frequent visits.”

I stayed quiet. Not warning her about Dad’s hearing her slandering about his sister to me just like I did every time.

“Em?”

“Yeah,” I answered, my voice came out croaky.

“You need some more tea?”

I shook my head, not looking up at her.

“Are you okay, honey?” she asked, hesitating.

This time I did glance at her, plastering a small smile on my face. “Yeah, why do you ask?”

Her identical eyes observed me. “You’re looking… tired. Didn’t get any sleep last night?”

I knew what she was indicating. The dark circles, the puffy eyes.

Nothing goes missing from mother’s eyes, does it?

A squeeze in my chest had me take a deep breath. I wish I could tell her.

“Nothing like that, Mom. I did sleep last night. Just having a headache since the morning. It’ll get better, don’t worry.”

“So that’s why you didn’t go to the office today?” Concern etched into her features. “Why didn’t you tell me? Did you get medicines?”

I nodded. “Yes, I did. I’ve also informed Caleb about it. I took a leave today.”

“Good. Take some rest. You’re taking too much work stress nowadays.”

Work wasn’t the issue at all. They barely gave me any actual work to do for taking stress.

Smiling at her, I looked back at the newspaper. The newspaper I’d been sitting with for the last half an hour. Not reading, just staring.

The clicking of heels against the tiled floor reached my ear. My fists clenched.

doing here? I thought you’d an appointment for cake tasting today. Are you done with it

to go to a conference with Caleb this morning. It ran three hours long.” Placing her designer bag on the counter, she sat

gritted my teeth, not reciprocating. My eyes glued to the big bold

that she noticed the

made some tea for

said Tess, staring at

something and left us alone. And not wanting to sit with her alone in the kitchen, I

phone or messages? You didn’t even go to the office today. He’s a mess right now, Em. That guy was outside of

her in disbelief. She was accusing me here of being the cause of his

hands with him in his absurd plan to display me some ridiculous show! To hurt me. To push me away from him. She was aware

what he did, after you did, you’re telling me to give him a

I’ve been feeling for hurting you like that. But, Em, you’ve to understand. Whatever we did, yes, it wasn’t the best way to do it, but it was for your own good. Trust

suffering and hurting for the last d**n seven years!” my voice rose as I spoke. With my heart beating fast in my chest, my breathing was harsh as hot lava ran

it. But at that moment, we were young, Em. We didn’t know how to handle this matter other than this. The phase Achilles was going

closed her eyes for a moment before opening them back, as

he told you about his condition back then, but he didn’t tell you of the severity of it. He was going through a living h**l. And I, Caleb and Tobis saw it. We saw him writhing in pain in his bed when he didn’t get his dose. We heard his screams from his nightmares. No matter how much

that situation shook me from my core. An urge to

didn’t think he’d be able to get out of it ever.

us, Em. Whatever we did, we did for you.” She added, moisture sparkled in her

wasn’t that young that you guys couldn’t tell me. But I was young enough for that scene you guys created to have me shattered completely,” I said, composing my features into coldness. “Anyways, I don’t want to talk about it anymore. You did whatever you thought

high, I turned around to

to talk to me, then don’t. I understand. But at least let him explain. Listen to him once. Don’t just shut him off like that,” she almost pleaded. “You don’t know what you mean

thickness down my throat, I walked out of the kitchen, without saying

***

my shoulders. But it couldn’t soothe me, the pain in my chest. Though it washed away the tears that

if someone was physically churning a dagger into my

heart, I slided down the glass wall of

Why?” I whispered,

had been scratched anew. I felt the same pain, the same agnony I endured years ago. And the irony was, the incident I’ve

hurt. But did they really save me from getting hurt? No, they only had thrown me into the ocean of tears I’d flown every night in silence after that night. They had thrown me to the disgust I’d felt dating so many guys who I didn’t even feel any connection to.

happened just because he thought it’d be good

push you away

moment I got to know how easily they broke my numerous dreams, intense emotions and

dare try to explain anything. You’ve done enough already! Leave me alone!” I’d

choice. I couldn’t let you ruin your life waiting for me. Trust me, I’d never wanted

away?” eyes filled with tears, I’d asked him. “Now I’ll make your wish come true for real this time. I’ll go so far away from you that you’ll never be able to

with something. But the pain in his eyes couldn’t surpass the one I’d in my heart

from him and ran away from there. From the

gasp for air. My nails dug into my palms as