She Lied
Sting didn't bid anymore. I stopped him. Natsu got the piece for three million. A security of ConFAP or Caelum Convention even went to us to ask if we're okay.
"We're fine, thanks for asking..." I assured.
The security here is tighter than what I remembered years ago. Maybe because of what happened three years ago plus the fact that the parties involved are both here.
After the bidding, the tycoons declared the donation for the foundation. Then the four course dinner started.
I stayed quiet while eating. My eyes didn't wander to Natsu's table anymore. Since there is a foreign feeling that arises whenever I see Natsu and my sister, then I'd rather stick my eyes somewhere else.
"Do you want to dance?" Sting asked in a worried tone.
I was about to say no when his phone rang. I fished his pocket for it. I nodded to tell him that it's okay to answer it.
"I have to get this. I'm sorry..."
I nodded, "No problem."
I let him leave our table. I looked at the leftover dessert on my plate. I was already full so I'm not sure if I'll still finish it.
"Your father's busy, I guess?" Aunt Leandra who's now in front of me asked.
She just got home from Alakitasia for this event. Sting and I talked to her earlier during the dinner but she left because she's busy with the whole programme.
"Yup, he's out of the country with Loke right now, Auntie"
"And your mom? That Layla! She doesn't attend events anymore. She'd always send Ashley..."
"I don't know about mom. Maybe Uncle Apollo forbids her since daddy and mom can bump into each other here," I said.
"For goodness sake, they're too old to get jealous!" Aunt Leandra rolled her eyes and smiled at an acquaintance of hers.
She turned her whole attention to her friend and stood up to join the dance at their spot. I looked at my dessert again when my eyes caught a glimpse of a person standing beside the table. At first, I thought it's Sting. But when I turned to confirm who that is, my eyes almost popped out of its sockets when I saw Natsu beside me.
I quickly straightened my back because of shock. My eyes wandered around the place to look for Ashley. Where's my sister? His supposed date? And what is he doing in front of me?
I cleared my throat and took a sip of my wine. I saw that some people around us noticed us. I think even them are confused by this.
"May I have this dance..." he bowed a little.
I almost stopped breathing. His hand is presented in front of me waiting for my acceptance.
"I don't think it's a good idea to dance-"
My palm which was resting on my thigh suddenly found itself being clasped in his warm and huge hand. He tugged me to the heart of the dance floor, away from the judging eyes of people who are too curious for their own good.
My heart jumped. I don't know if my heartbeat started to race because I'm nervous of the fact that we're dancing or because of Ashley. My sister likes him so much.
"Natsu, I still don't think it's a good idea to dance..." I said, I couldn't look at him.
He grabbed my waist to pull me to him and tightly held my hand. The familiar warmth of his hold introduced themselves to me again and I couldn't bring myself to reject him.
"What's your good idea, then?" he sarcastically asked.
I threw him a sharp look. What does he mean with that? If he's dating Ashley, then obviously the good idea is to dance with her.
"Where's Ashley?" was my slow but firm question.
"She's in the powder room."
"So..." I tried to stop myself but it was too late, "You're dancing with me because she's out. The good idea is to dance with her, Natsu. She's your date. This is cheating..."
He chuckled like he finds everything funny, "Cheating is what your husband is doing."
I didn't talk. I don't want to say anything about that anymore. I can't do that to Sting. He deserves to be free from this kind of responsibility.
I avoided his eyes but he managed to catch it. His lips pursed, "You're still as blind as before, Lucy."
"Don't stick your nose to my life..." I courageously said.
"Right. I have no right except that you were once mine..." his hold on my hand tightened.
I wanted to break free. It's suffocating. I bit my lip and forced my hand back but failed. He moved his face to my ear. His hot breath on my ear makes me shiver in delight.
"I... am the one who got you first... You were the innocent Lucy... The sexy innocent Lucy of Natsu Dragneel years ago. Right now? You lost your innocence..." he seductively whispered.
My lips almost bled because of my bites. I don't know why I cannot push him away. His hot breath and seductive whispers drained my energy to break free.
"Still damn sexy but you lost the innocence, Luce... You gave up everything to a man unworthy of you, huh? And you'll pretend that everything's okay? Like before? Like before you became mine? You'll go back to that life? Huh?"
"Let me go, Natsu..." I warned.
"No... I want to know..."
Our bodies are touching each other, giving no space for air or even light to pass through. The heat that his body emits makes me shiver. The material of our clothes felt nothing as I can imagine our skins touching. My eyes got heavy and dazed. It has been years since I last felt this. My knees trembled. I need to get out of his hold, fast!
"Stay still..." he whispered, I felt his chapped lips lightly grazing my ear while he commanded my body to do as he pleased.
I almost called every saint as I successfully stopped a moan before it came out. I'm getting dizzy and I feel like I'll get sick because of the hotness I'm feeling right now.
"I want to know... You'll let your husband be with other women? That's fine with you? You'd... settle for that? Huh?"
I stayed quiet. I no longer have control over my feet. He's the only one who's dancing for the both of us. I feel like I'm floating in the air.
"Didn't you get married overseas? File a divorce..." he warned.
A bucket of cold water seemed to drench me because of what Natsu said. I'm nervous not just because his assumptions were wrong but also because I don't know what to answer to his command.
"Natsu, I need to go. Ashley will see us. Sting will go back any time soon."
"He's cheating on you and you can't dance with me? You are one hell of a martyr, Lucy..."
"Natsu, please..."
"File a divorce..." he ordered.
I forced myself to look at him. His eyes are holding a heated stare like he won't back down to any challenges. Like he won't let me go until he heard the answer he's looking for come out of my lips.
"File a divorce," he repeated.
"You have no right to talk like that..." I said.
"Why?" His eyes were pitch black.
He's like a predator hunting his prey. But I never showed fear. He won't get the answer he wants all the time.
"This isn't your relationship, Natsu-"
"Is that not included in your choices? Divorce isn't an option to you, huh?" he raised his eyebrow and I felt his hand stroked my back.
The hairs on my neck stood up as I felt his large wam hand rest on the lower part of my hips.
"Is it because you believe in marriage too much, Lucy? That when you're married, you'll stay that way. You're willing to forgive... Is that it?"
There's a smile on his lips. It's not because his happy. His smile is laced with taunting and sarcasm. I don't like it. My heartbeat raced because of that smile.
"Or..."
My eyes widened and I tried to take my hands back but he tightly intertwined our fingers. We stopped dancing.
"Because you're not really married..."
I quickly forced myself to take my hand back but failed because of his tight hold. It's like he would never let my hand go. His strong hold is starting to hurt me.
"Let me go, Natsu!"
"You're not married..." that's not a question.
"Let me go..." I said in a hushed voice to not gather attention.
"Why would you fucking make me believe you are?" He angrily said.
"I never said anything about me having a husband. You... You believed! You assumed! But it doesn't matter!" My heartbeat is fast.
"Is it that stupid lapdog's idea? To make it look like you're married?"
I saw someone already noticed us arguing. But instead of calming myself down, I just got more heated because of nervousness.
"This isn't Sting's idea-"
"Well then, it's yours? And you... you let him go to your house every fucking night?"
"Natsu? Lucy?" Ashley's voice stopped me from replying.
Natsu's eyes on me are still sharp and piercing. I straightened my back and took steps backward to get away from Natsu. I didn't notice that I broke free between our heated argument.
"Ash..." I managed to smile, "We just had a catch up. I need to-"
"Sting's looking for you..." Ashley frowned at me, her eyes unreadable.
"Okay," I said and took my leave.
I managed to get out despite the crowds gathering at the exit. Sting quickly went to me as soon as he saw me. It was only when I realised the fact that Natsu already knows the truth!
"Sting, we need to... to go..." I said, panicking.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"It's Natsu... he already knows we're not married..."
Sting looked at my hand. I'm still wearing the ring that I bought myself. Maybe he's thinking that I removed it so we got busted but it's not it. How he knew is beyond me.
"How did he know? What?" Sting's still confused while grabbing my purse.
Many thoughts filled my mind. What if he got me followed? What if he found out that I have a son? Or worse, we have a son? I'm not ready to include Beau in this mess! He's not the answer of all these! I am protecting him!
"I don't know. I don't know how-"
"Maybe it's because of Aunt Layla? You told her, right? What if she told Ashley and your sister told Natsu? That's possible!"
I shrugged. Sting and I went to the basement and he quickly called for a valet to fetch his car. We waited for a while before the lift made a sound. Sting's car was making its way towards us so we walked towards it instead of just waiting.
But before it stopped, I heard Ashley's voice.
"Stop getting your revenge to her! If what you said before that you have no feelings left then you should just let her be!" she shouted.
I don't know who's she talking to. I am too horrified to know who it is!
"She lied to me, Ashley! I am not going to stop until we're even..." it's Natsu's voice.
I froze in my spot. A cold hand touched my waist. Sting tugged me inside his car.
I'm getting dizzy with everything I learned. I don't know if I want to cry or get crazy.
Sting quickly drove to get out of the parking lot. We were already far when my tears went streaming down my face.
I don't know what particular thing hurt me the most. I can think of many. The way he called Ashley. The way he accused me. And the thought that he wants his revenge. I sobbed hard. I've never cried this much for three years.
I heard Sting hit the steering wheel when we stopped because of traffic.
"You should've told him that we're together! That we're married and we have a child!" Sting said, irritated.
I shook my head. I don't know what to tell him first.
I'm so, so sorry Beau. Natsu wants to hurt me back. He wants me too bleed because maybe he's bled too much years ago. Baby, please forgive me but I can't bear being civil around your daddy. I got hurt before. Yes, I hurt him more. But I'm so... so tired.
"Lucy, come on! He thinks you're lying? You should've just make it true! Lie!"
I shook my head and wiped the new tear on my cheek, "I don't know anymore how he wants me to pay. I get that he got hurt. And if he wants to hurt me back, yes, I'm hurting so much! So damned much! And if he still wants to hurt me, then... I'll let him. I'll let him until he's done with me! I'll let him till I'm so broken! I'll let him hurt me until I stop all these regrets every night! I'll let him hurt me until I stop thinking that what if I didn't leave him? Because I an tired! So damned tired! I badly wanted to stop loving him! I wanted to stop feeling anything for him!" My voice cracked.
Sting went silent. He just tightly hugged me while I cried hard in his shoulder.
"I want to stop. If he already hurt me so much, maybe it's when my heart would stop. I will never look back again. I will never regret I left him. Never again!"