Chapter 292: Two Days
[Music recommendation: Ghostly Kisses - Lydian]
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"Right...." Jade began. "I...I actually wanted to ask...if you knew that everything is alright with Aliana and Gavriel?"
"Why? Is something supposed to be wrong?" Cillian questioned, his tone shifting to confusion.
"No, just checking. It’s been a while since I last spoke to her," Jade replied quickly.
"Are you sure that’s all there is to it?" Cillian asked, probing gently.
"Yes," Jade lied. She didn’t want to make a mountain out of a molehill, so she kept the details to herself. Instead, she pivoted casually. "So... I’m guessing work must be crazy busy. You know, with that new company Archon Group just acquired?"
"Yes..." Cillian replied, sounding a bit uncertain about where the conversation was heading.
"That’s great. With the way Archon Group is expanding, I suppose you guys must be eyeing a few more acquisitions."
"Maybe... who knows," came Cillian’s response, as if he were actively reading between the lines.
Jade kept her voice light, asking almost teasingly, "Don’t tell me Ross Real Estate or Van Empire is next on your list?"
That was when Cillian finally understood what she was getting at, and he let out a laugh that startled Jade.
"Is that what this is about? Now, how would I show my handsome face to you if I went after Ross Real Estate? Please, I don’t want it scarred by an angry kitten."
Cillian’s playful remark actually made Jade blush.
Clearing her throat, she pushed forward. "Glad to know you have common sense. But what about the Van Empire?"
"Van Empire? You think my dear sister-in-law would just let that happen?" Cillian replied, sounding almost horrified at the thought. "Hell, leave her alone. Her husband would come after me before she would if I ever dared."
That was all Jade needed to know that her suspicion about Gavriel taking over Van Empire was wrong.
But then... what about that conversation?
"Now, since you’ve cleared up your doubts, how about you start thanking me for saving your life?" Cillian suddenly asked.
"What?" Jade blinked in surprise.
"You heard me. You call me a demon, right? Then you should know nothing comes without a price," Cillian replied playfully.
"W-what do you want?" Jade asked, feeling slightly flustered.
"Hmm, how about dinner? Plus, you checking in on me every day to ask how my day was... considering you dared to ghost your saviour," Cillian said shamelessly.
"Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. It’s the least you can do for a friend, isn’t it?" Cillian replied.
"F-friend?" Jade repeated.
"Yes. Aren’t we friends already? Come on, I thought we crossed that bridge a long time ago. Not to mention, being friends with me comes with major perks, especially when I’m extending a hand that everyone else would jump at the chance to take." He gloated, and this time, Jade couldn’t help but chuckle at his dramatic pitch.
Cillian’s tone softened on hearing her laugh. "So... what do you say, Jade?"
Hearing him speak her name so gently made her heart flutter.
A warm smile touched her lips as she replied, "Alright, Demon. Since you asked so nicely... let’s be friends."
"Perfect! That calls for a celebration. How about tomorrow?" Cillian asked.
"Tomorrow I already have plans," Jade replied.
"Hmm, don’t tell me it’s with that boyfri-"
"Don’t say boyfriend," Jade cut him off quickly. "And no, it’s not him. I’ll be at Ali’s family home for dinner. How about the day after tomorrow?"
"Alright. Sounds like a plan," Cillian agreed.
And just like that, they continued to talk, neither of them realising how easily the hours slipped by as they bickered into the night. Eventually, Jade drifted off to sleep, leaving her worries behind for tomorrow to solve.
And while Jade was fast asleep, unfortunately, the same could not be said for Aliana at the Valentine Residence.
After having a quiet dinner with Gavriel, Aliana simply couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard she tried. All kinds of thoughts were running through her mind regarding her own husband. The kind of thoughts that would probably make any other woman run for the hills.
Yet she did her best to remain still so as not to disturb Gavriel, who lay beside her with his arms wrapped around her from behind, just as he always did.
When the clock neared three in the morning, exhaustion finally began to take its toll, and she slipped into a light sleep.
Gavriel was very much aware of her internal turmoil. Seeing how anxious she was while trying her best to keep a calm facade in front of him was something he truly hated.
A part of him wanted to tell her everything, to reassure her that he would never harm her, but another part of him knew if he confessed everything now, it would be too much for her to handle.
So he pretended not to notice anything, holding her close until she finally succumbed to sleep.
But Aliana was not the only one plagued by tumultuous thoughts. Gavriel was struggling too.
He was afraid.
Afraid that once he told her the truth, which was closer than ever to being revealed, she would never look at him the fearless way she always had. Her beautiful light grey eyes might look at him with hatred, fear or disgust.
Those were the things he feared most.
Even so, he wanted to tell her. Because he knew that even if she tried to run from him, he would never be able to let her go.
So he granted himself two days. Two more days with her being only suspicious of the truth. The day after tomorrow was the full moon, and Gavriel decided he would lay everything bare once it passed.
As her breathing finally evened out, Gavriel lowered his head and kissed her hair tenderly before pulling back. "I promise to tell you everything," he whispered.
With that, he carefully untangled himself from her and rose from the bed. He clicked his fingers, and heavy black smoke immediately engulfed him, dressing him in all-black attire consisting of a black shirt, trousers and a long black coat.
His eyes remained fixed on Aliana’s back for a moment before darkness swallowed him, and he disappeared.
A couple of minutes passed in silence.
Then Aliana’s eyes snapped open.
Gulping hard, she slowly turned around, only to find Gavriel gone.