CHAPTER 99
Celine’s POV
I wake up to see myself in Bryan’s arms and I move away slowly, making an effort not to wake him up from his deep slumber.Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
Today is Thursday and Bryan is here sleeping in my room instead of going to work.
I don’t know how I feel about what has happened between Bryan and me when I am supposed to be making plans on how to leave.
I have given myself to him again after everything and I begin to wonder why this has to continue happening.
All I have ever shown Bryan was love but he gave me pain instead. Is it so easy to let go of everything?
I thought I have forgiven him for everything he has done to me but what broke the camel’s back was what he did the last time. How he sent me out like a prostitute and how he made me cry.
As much as I want to pretend as if all is well, I can’t let go of everything. I am confused about what to do.
Remembering that Bryan talked about how we signed the original certificate instead of the fake one, I sigh loudly as I sit on the edge of the bed to wear my clothes.
Just then, a knock comes on the door and I turn to the door. Bryan is still sleeping soundly without stirring so I rise and walk to the door.
I open it slowly, thinking it is Camilla but I am surprised to see Bryan’s mother by the door with a big smile on her face.
“Mom?” I call and quickly close the door a little bit so she won’t enter the room because her son is sleeping on my bed.
What is she doing here? She came to check up on me in the hospital last night.
“Hi”, she waves at me, raising a curious brow. “Can I come in?”
I shake my head, unable to find my voice. I can’t let her in.
“Is there someone in?” The smile on her face disappears and I wonder what she is thinking.
She tries to peep in but I block her way again and fake a smile.
Suddenly, a smirk descends on her face and she backs away.
“Is Bryan in there?” She demands, making me blush red in the face. How did she get to figure it out? Was it obvious from my face?
I look down without giving her an answer.
“I will come back later to visit you. Enjoy!” She twirls around and leaves me standing by the door with my mouth agape.
I sigh and close the door, relieved that she didn’t insist on coming in to know if it is really Bryan or not.
When I move back into the house, I am startled by the sight of Bryan sitting up in bed. I gasp and look away.
I decide to ignore him as I stroll to the sofa before slouching in. I hear him move out of bed but I am not looking to see if he is coming toward me or not.
“Are you still mad at me?” His hot breath fans my face and I jerk up. I didn’t realize he was close by.
I don’t just know how to face him after what happened between us a few minutes ago. We were arguing and then we had sex.
How do I look at him now? Am I supposed to send him away since he is in my room? Is he going to send me out like he always does?
Bryan pulls me up and sits on the sofa before letting my back rest on him. He pats my hair, pecking my forehead and rubbing his hands over my cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Celine.” He apologizes again for the umpteenth time, making me doubt if this is indeed Bryan. In just a day, he apologized to me more than once.
He ought to be forgiven already because he rescued me from the hands of Paxton and his brothers who were bent on making me suffer. If he didn’t care about me, he wouldn’t have risked his life to come to save me.
I just don’t want the forgiveness to come so easily. Bryan takes easy things for granted.
My heart still beats for him despite everything and I think this is my fate. He has earned my forgiveness by coming to save me but I don’t want him to know that.
It will be nice to make him suffer a little for his actions.
I get up from his hold and face him. We stare at each other for a while and then he flashes me a smile.
I raise a brow in question. “Why are you smiling?”
He shrugs nonchalantly while answering. As I stare at him, I can see the difference between the man I met five years ago and the man I am sitting beside right now.
The Bryan I am looking at right now doesn’t look like the hardcore, grumpy, stubborn, and cruel man I met five years ago.
Bryan has changed a lot over the years and I attribute the changes to myself. Celine.
“You have always been grumpy and not the smiling type. I don’t think I have ever seen you smile before”, I say to him, exaggerating a little.
He does not reply, instead, his smile widens.
I shake my head and turn away from him.
“Am I forgiven?” He asks, trying to touch me but I get up immediately before his hands can land on me.
I am still not ready to let him in. Just because we had sex doesn’t mean I have to forgive him right away or make him believe he has been forgiven.
I amble close to the door and open it. My stomach rumbles at that instant and I know I need to eat something since I haven’t eaten since morning.
This is noon already.
I should go to the kitchen later to check what I can eat.
About leaving, I still need to give it more thought. I need to think about it thoroughly and consider the advantages and disadvantages of leaving now.
I am going to weigh the possibilities and come to a conclusion on what to do. I won’t let anyone influence me. I will do what my heart wants.
I throw the door open and face Bryan. “Leave!”
“What?!” It is obvious he isn’t expecting this but I need him to go out of my room. He has never spent so much time in my room the way he has done today and I wonder if he will go to work anymore.
“I said leave. I need to be alone”, I say to him firmly, my gaze unwavering.
After a while, he nods his head and gets up. He walks closer and my heart begins to thump wildly in my chest.
He gets to the door and hesitates. Looking up at me, he asks. “Are you still leaving?”
I bite my lower lip and nod.
He sighs again, a deep frown appearing on his face. Without making an effort to try to convince me once more or to plead with me not to go, he takes the door out.
I slam the door shut behind him and expel a deep sigh as a feeling of guilt fills me up.