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.

you’d an appointment for cake

Mom. I’d to go to a conference with Caleb this morning. It ran

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

that she noticed the tension lurking around

for Em, you need

Tess,

her a cup of steamy tea, Mom excused to talk to Dad regarding something and left us alone. And not wanting to sit with her alone in

the office today. He’s a mess right now,

I stared at her in disbelief. She was accusing me here of being the cause of his misery when she’s the one who should be apologizing to

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

telling

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,

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

pain in 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

moment before opening them back, as if not wanting to remember past

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.

breathing at her revelation. Imagining him in that situation shook me from my core. An urge to reach out to

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 night, he

did, we did for you.” She added, moisture sparkled in

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,

chin high, I turned around

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

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

***

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

someone was physically churning a dagger

my mouth. Clutching the place over my heart, I slided down the glass wall of the shower and hugged my legs

did you do it? Why?” I whispered,

the irony was, the incident I’ve suffered for

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. The

all of this happened just because he thought it’d be good for me by pushing me away,

you away from

moment I got to know how easily they broke my numerous dreams, intense emotions and years of love in just a

try to explain anything. You’ve done enough already! Leave me alone!” I’d snapped at his face when he’d tried to stop me from leaving

his hair desperately, with 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

that’s why you wanted me 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

as if he’d been stabbed with something. But the pain in his eyes couldn’t

calls and pleadings, I’d turned away from him and ran away from there. From the

dug into my palms as