Chapter 19
"Be careful with that!" Vance exclaimed as I tried to pick up the knife.
I rolled my eyes.
"Will you stop being dramatic? I am a pregnant woman, not a baby." I had moved into his house three months ago after Vincent and Elio's Hearing.
Elio was sentenced to live imprisonment for kidnapping, attempted murder and being involved with an illegal organization. Vincent was sentenced to death for heading an illegal organization, attempted murder, murder and well, a lot of other crimes I never even knew about.
But because of his unstable mental health, he was sent to a rehabilitation center, a real one this time around.
Then there was Aurora, Thalia and Martha. As accomplices, they were to spend fifty years in prison.
To be honest, I was more than okay with that verdict. I would have pitied Aurora if she hadn't tried to poison my Dad. Fortunately, she recovered from the drug I used on her about two months ago.
I had no ounce of pity for her mother though, after all, Martha knew the truth about what happened to Mom, but she still edged her children on and ruined their whole life.
Someone like her didn't deserve to be a mother.
Dad has slowly been learning to accept me and Vance, he even allowed me to move to Vance's. But he insisted that we visited every Saturday.
It turns out that Alfred was actually a retired detective. He and Dad met after he had retired and he became a butler at my house. People from Wings Flame approached him and tried to make him poison Dad.
He pretended to work with them just to know more.
Thankfully he had been there when Vance was kidnapped and he was the one who helped him escape. If it hadn't been for his help, I wouldn't know what to do.
Now his reaction when I told him about Aurora made sense. He must have been disappointed.
Strong arms wrapped around me and I leaned into his sturdy chest. "I was speaking but you didn't hear me, What are you thinking about?" His voice was soft while he trailed soft kisses down my neck.
"I was thinking of how to add garlic into your food so you can stop being a dramatic asshole."
Vance froze. "It hasn't come to that, okay? I am just trying to protect you."
Yep. He is scared of garlic too, said it reminds him of a stern teacher at the orphanage. Her name was Miss Garlic.
I remember almost laughing my baby out when he told me. I resumed cutting the onions without responding to him.
"Come on, Love. I am sorry."
My hand paused. "You know I don't like it when you treat me like a fragile thing."
Vance sighed. "I know, I just don't want you to get hurt." He placed a hand on my baby bump. "You know how disoriented you get when you see blood."
I thought I had gotten over it, but everytime I saw blood, I was always reminded of Vincent's hand on my neck and the feeling of almost dying.
With a spin, I was looking into blue green orbs. Those eyes were the only things keeping me sane whenever I had nightmares. I stood on my tippy toes and placed a kiss on his cheeks. "I know you care for me. But really, I am tired of just sitting home all day."
I needed to get my hands working or I would go insane. Even though I had changed mine and his fatal death, there were still times I woke up covered in sweat after watching him die in my nightmare.
"We already discussed this. Your body is weak right now. You need a lot of rest, at least until the baby is born."
"Fine." I muttered, turning around to continue cooking. Vance sighed but he didn't push it, instead he sat at a corner, watching me cook. I had already sent the cook away for a week.
We had dinner in silence, then I headed to our room.
Not long after, Vance walked in. The bed dipped as he sat behind me. I pretend to still be asleep even when he wrapped his arms around me. " I am sorry, Love. I know you hate being stuck in this house, and I wish for nothing but to see you live your dreams."
"Then why won't you let me do it? Am I to just be stuck in this room, making designs without anyone seeing it?"
Silence lingered between us.
"I know a few friends who have projects they are working on, would you like to meet them?" My eyes brightened and I quickly turned to him.
"Really?" Vance nodded. I kissed him, unable to hide my joy. "Thank you, thank you."
Vance chuckled, then held my wrist. "Is that all I get?" My cheeks heated you at his suggestions. I still hadn't gotten used to how flirty he could be.
"Pervert." I muttered. Yet I still allowed him to toss me around on the bed that night.
A scream tore out of me as I jerked up the bed. Cold sweat rolled down my forehead. " Love, what's wrong? " Vance turned on the lights.
"I-i had a nightmare. " I buried my head in the crook of his neck, breathing in his scent. It was the same dream about my past life and how I died.
Vance held me as I shook and sobbed in his arms. He stayed with me even when I couldn't sleep all through that night. "Do you want to talk about it?" He finally asked.
My eyes fluttered shut. I was silent, just leaning into his warmth. What felt like hours later, after fighting and debating within myself, I finally decided to speak. My grip on his was like that of a new born clutching to its mother.
I let out a long breath, fingers curling into the sheets. "D-Do you believe in dreams?"
"Dreams?"
My eyes fell on the white walls behind us. "I had a dream, Vance. A nightmare that still haunts me until this very moment. In that dream, I had married Elio..." I recounted everything that had happened in my past life for him, my spine straight as though he had already pushed me away.
Once I was done. Vance sat there, staring at me for a moment too long.
I didn't dare look at him, afraid to see the look in his eyes. The silence stretched for almost an eternity.
"This..." He shifted on the bed. "This dream you speak of, w-was I forced to watch you get hurt while I couldn't do anything?"
Stillness spread through me. Slowly, almost painfully, I turned to him. "H... How did you...?"
Vance's held me extremely tight. "What If I told you that I had the same dream?"
My mind went blank. It was as though someone had warped all my thoughts out of my mind. When I finally came back to reality, I could hear blood rushing into my heart. "W-When?"
"The night we told you about Vincent. That was how I was able to recognize the drug."
It clicked. The nightmare.
Neither of us spoke for the next few minutes, the sound of our breath filling the silence. I always thought I was alone in this, that the Vance who had suffered with me in my past life would forever be forgotten.
A shudder ran through me.
It was a lot to take in, too much even. "Do you think... It was real?"
Vance ran a hand through his face. "Honestly, I don't know what is real or fake anymore- it's like my reality has been distorted."
A breath slipped out of me as my shoulders sagged, the tension slowly melting away. I wasn't alone in this anymore. I didn't have to hide anymore.
"Is that why you changed towards Elio?"
At the mention of him, my fist balled. "Yes. Real or not, what happened in the dream had opened my eyes to who Elio really was. I was a fool to have ever thought of loving him."
Vance played with the ring. "So... You no longer love him?"
"Not any more. The one I love is you."
His eyes met mine. " The dream felt so real. I couldn't bear watching you get hurt because of me. And...." He closed his eyes. "That drug you used in Aurora was a source of pain for me. I didn't expect to see it again after waking up."
I also glanced at it. "Do you blame me?"
"I don't." He hooked a finger beneath my jaw and lifted my head so I was looking into his eyes. "You wanted revenge. Against Aurora for killing your Dad, against Elio for hurting you, and against Martha for cheering them on."
"And Thalia, for watching as they burned me to death." We were closer now, his warm breath tickling my face. "If I hadn't handed them over to the police, would you have hated me?"
Veins bulged in his throat, his eyes flickering to my lips. "If it means making them pay for hurting the woman I love, then I will do anything. But not at the cost of your life."
My breath hitched.
The green in his eyes turned blue. "You know. I have loved you longer than I would like to admit. At first, I was scared you would see me as a pervert."
I chuckled.
"Then Elio appeared, and I assumed you hated me. But when you kissed me by the pool those months ago, I was scared. I thought doing anything would scare you away."
"And now?" Our lips brushed.
"Now, you are mine, and I am yours." His lips met mine, in a slow kiss that soon turned into more.
~P-Lia~
Chapter 20
~~~~
"Why are you here, instead of resting at home?" Vance questioned, hurrying over to support me as I stood in his office, a lunch box in one hand with the other hand placed on my budging belly.
I leaned over for a kiss. He looked adorable with his face scrunched up, despite being a decade and half older and dressed in a suit.
"I brought you lunch." I didn't wait for him to invite me before walking in. He stood there for a while, then followed me in, the door clicking shut behind him.
"You don't need to do that."
"Yelp. It's too late." Pouting, I leaned closer. "What? Is it wrong for me to bring lunch to the man I love?"
He inhaled sharply, bright eyes tracing the outline of my face. "I am your Dad's best friend" He finally said.
"And I am carrying your child, who currently won't let me sit in peace." Vance chuckled, taking the lunch box from me and leading me to sit. I was currently in my third trimester, the doctors said the baby would arrive a few weeks from now.
"Have you ever wondered if you could have had a better time with someone younger?"
"Can you forget about that, okay? I only said that because you were playing that vintage song. Besides." A grimace made its way up my face when I remembered my marriage days with Elio. Those horrible days of staying home and waiting for him in that cold, lonely house while he spent time with Thalia. He was even more horrible to be around than an old man with dimetria. "I am content with staying with your old ass."
Winter's language was starting to slip into my words. Vance threw his head back and laughed. "Well, I am glad to hear that."
"You have quite the taste huh." His laugh brought a smile to my lips, my gaze scanning the red and white interior of his office, it matched my room too well.
Vance looked away, ear turning bright. "You designed it."
My feet paused. "You used my design?"
"I found it... Nice."
"Really?" Giggling, I placed the lunchbox on the table. " I drew that design when I was like, seventeen? Didn't you say it looked too childish?"
"You needed encouragement."
"Then why didn't you show me?"
"I was going to, but by the time I was done renovating it, you were busy... Welcome Elio home."
"Yeah." My gaze dropped.
"I shouldn't have mentioned it."
"No it's alright." I cleared my throat and clapped my hands together. "We can make up for lost time now. Since you like this, I can design another one that suits your taste. You love Gold, right."
"Red is fine."
I beamed. "Red it is then. " We had lunch while chatting and speaking about some of my childhood memories. Then I had a little nap. After that, we left for Dad's, since it was a Saturday.
When we arrived, I noticed that the mansion was extremely quiet and dark. My brow snaps together. " Why are the lights off? " I asked Vance, who shrugged. I began to make my way inside, a strange feeling building within me.
My walk soon turned into a sprint. Differenza thoughts raced in my mind. Did Vincent get out of prison? Did someone plot against Dad?
"Dad! " I cried, pushing the door open as something wet rolled down my cheeks. " Dad! Where are-"
The light was turned on, my feet hurt while my eyes tried to adjust to my surroundings. A gasp tore out of me at the sight of the bright candle and the white and blue banner hanging above me.
WELCOME TO YOUR BABY SHOWER.
It read.
Winter stepped out. "Congratulations, girl. I am sorry we had to do this behind your back." I didn't react as she hugged me, not because I didn't want to.
I just.
So many thoughts had been running inside my mind.
"Pumpkin, are you okay?" Dad was dressed in a suit.
"Dad. " I ran into his arms. He caught me.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. I am okay. I am more than okay."
"Then why are you crying?" I used the back of my hand to clean my tears then I offered a bright smile.
"I am just happy." I left Dad's embrace to glance around the large room. The maids were all smiling brightly, Winter was wiping away a non-existent tear. Everything was prepared for me. I wanted to see those green blue orbs the most right now.
"Love." As if on cue, Vance's voice sounded behind me, when I turned around, my hand flew to my mouth. He was on one knee. A platinum ring in the shape of love in his hand.
"Oh my God." I gasped.
"There are many words I want to say." He began. “Honestly, I don't know where to begin." The smell of salt mixed with tears filled my nose. "I just want you to know that, I know your fears. I know why you have been avoiding this topic. I just can't help it. We have been through so much to be here. Not one, but two lifetimes."
I was crying so hard now.
"I would be the happiest man on earth if you are willing to spend the rest of your life with me. Raven Knight, the woman my heart desires. Will you make this old ass happy and marry him?"
I chuckled, then laughed. "Yes, yes. You old ass."
His eyes brightened. The cold ring sent warmth through me as he slipped it into my fingers. I didn't wait for him to stand before jumping into his arms like a koala and kissing him senseless.
Vance grinned from ear to ear, kissing me back.
Winter was the first to come to us, Squealing. "Finally girllll!!! You don't know how hard it was to keep it from you!"
Then it was Dad's turn. "Congratulations, pumpkin. And you too, my friend." Dad patted Vance's shoulder, and hugged me.
Alfred also came. "I am happy you found your happy ending atleast." His eyes sparked with an ancient look.
"You..."
"I couldn't watch you two separated like that. Besides, I owe your Dad my life." I didn't know what else to do, I just held his hand.
"Thank you."
At the corner of my eyes. I finally saw her. My past self, she was smiling, the burnt mark on her body slowly healing until it turned to flesh.
"Goodbye." I whispered. She returned the words, then slowly faded away.
"What are you thinking about, Love?"
I was about to speak, when I felt warm water trickle down my legs. "Oh my God." Vance tensed at my cry of alarm.
"What? What is wrong? "
"I-i think my water just broke."
~P-Lia~
THE END
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