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 it

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

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

she noticed the tension lurking around

tea for Em, you

said Tess, staring at

excused to talk to Dad regarding something and left us alone. And not wanting to sit with her alone in the kitchen, I got up from my seat. That’s when her

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

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

plan to display me some ridiculous show! To hurt me. To push me away from him. She was aware of everything

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

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

good? What was good in there, Tess? I don’t see any good in my living with a broken heart for seven years. I don’t see anything good in my 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

love. I’ve experienced it. And I also know that we shouldn’t have done it. But at that moment, we were young, Em. We didn’t know how to handle this matter

closed her eyes for a moment before opening them back, as if not wanting to remember past

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

my core. An urge to reach out to him rose in me, but

of it ever. And when I told

Em. Whatever we did, we did for you.”

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 was right. And now I’ll do whatever I

chin high, I turned

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,”

heart clenched. Gulping the thickness down my throat, I walked out of the kitchen,

***

the knots of my shoulders. But it couldn’t soothe me, the pain in

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

slided down the glass wall of

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

endured years ago. And the irony was, the incident I’ve suffered for so long for wasn’t even real. It was all a sham.

had thrown me to the disgust I’d felt dating so many guys who I didn’t even feel any

he thought it’d be good for me by pushing me away, breaking my

push you away from

thousands of arrows the moment he said those words. The moment I got to know how easily they broke my numerous dreams, intense emotions and years of love in just a moment. Even knowing after

me alone!” I’d snapped at his face when he’d tried to

wide panicked eyes, he’d asked for a chance to let 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 my life the way I’d wanted you. You were my everything.

I’ll make your wish come true for real this time. I’ll go so far away from you

pain in his eyes couldn’t

him and ran away from there. From the man I never knew would hurt

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