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.

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

I’d to go to a conference with Caleb this morning. It ran three hours long.” Placing her designer bag on the counter, she sat beside me. “Hi,

reciprocating. My

that she noticed

for Em, you

said Tess, staring at

to talk to Dad regarding something and left us alone. And not wanting to sit with her

mess right now, Em. That guy was outside of our house the entire night, and you

disbelief. She was accusing me here of being the cause of his misery when she’s the

knew everything and joined 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 of everything but yet didn’t even try to tell me once in these years. And

you did, you’re telling me to give him a chance to explain?” I shook

Em. And I’m extremely sorry for that. You don’t know how guilty 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

broken heart for seven years. I don’t see anything good in my suffering and hurting for the last d**n seven

And I also know that we shouldn’t have done it. But at that moment, we were young, Em.

eyes for a moment before opening them back, as if

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

him in that situation shook me from my core. An

was becoming for you, he couldn’t let you dream of him anymore. Even we didn’t think he’d be able to get out of it ever. And when I told him about your plan to confess to him that

Em. Whatever we did, we did for

tell me. But I was young enough for that scene you guys created to have me shattered completely,” I said, composing my

chin high, I turned around to

please. If you don’t want 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 to him, Em. That man is nothing without his

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

***

my body, soaking me into its heat, relaxing the knots of my shoulders. But it couldn’t soothe me, the pain in my chest.

pained so f*****g much! As if someone was physically churning a dagger into my

choked sob left my mouth. Clutching the place over my heart, I slided down the glass

you do it? Why?” I whispered, letting the

I’ve suffered for so long for wasn’t even real. It was all

save me from getting 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

thought it’d be good for me

push you

like I’d been struck by thousands of arrows the moment he said those words. The moment I got to know how easily they broke my numerous

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

him explain. “Rosebud, please! Just hear me out. I had no choice. I couldn’t let you ruin your life waiting for me. Trust me, I’d never wanted anyone else in

me away?” eyes filled with tears, I’d asked him. “Now I’ll make your wish come true for

in his eyes couldn’t surpass

away

eyes, my throat tightened causing me gasp for air. My nails dug into my palms as I cried my heart out. But the