Chapter 50

His name struck a chord in me, one I could not quite place.
“Are you okay?” he said noticing how I froze a bit.
“S...sure, why would I not be?” I rolled my eyes, trying to pass of the feeling I felt as nothing
“you’re tearing up” he said, giving me a pointed look.
“oh... a lash got into my eye” I lied, thankfully, he did not say anything.
“your name seems unique” I smiled, taking my hands back from his hold as I cold feel the warmth of his skin, even through his thick leather gloves.
“yours too.”
“..” I nodded, standing awkwardly as I waited for him to say other things. I looked around, hoping that my ma would save me from this horrible and awkward nightmare but far from it. She sat, sipping a glass of wine and smiling at me as if to encourage me to go on
**
I felt his eyes on me. There was an intensity to his gaze, like he was trying to piece together a puzzle, just as I was. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all wrong, that we shouldn’t be sitting here.

his eyes locked onto mine. My heart raced as I tried to read his expression. It was the look of someone seeing something familiar but unplaceable, he was starting to creep me out

“Valerie, honey, are you sure you’re okay?” My mother’s voice broke through my thoughts, her concern genuine I was not a people’s person and never did well with new people.

I blinked and forced a smile, my mouth dry. “Yeah, Mom. I’m fine. Just... tired from the drive.”

“You’ve raised a remarkable daughter,” he said, his voice smooth and composed. But as he spoke, he kept glancing back at me, like he couldn’t quite keep his attention from wandering. Each time our eyes met, it felt like a spark ignited between us, ‘or maybe I was starting to go crazy’ I thought, looking at him
Yes, that could be the only reason why.

My mother beamed at his compliment, clearly smitten. “Oh, she’s always been exceptional. So creative, so independent.” She reached over to squeeze his hand affectionately, her happiness radiating from her. “I’m so lucky to have found someone who appreciates that.”

He squeezed back, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. “I’m the lucky one,” he murmured, but even as he said it, his gaze flickered to me again, just for a second. It was as if he was searching for something

The fire crackled softly in the background, filling the silence that followed. I shifter my gaze from him as he had caught my gaze again, for the thousandth time
“So, how did you two meet?” I asked, desperate to fill the void with something, anything that wasn’t the electricity humming between us.

My mother launched into the story with enthusiasm, recounting how they had met at some charity event, how he had charmed her with his wit and kindness. I tried to listen, I really did, but all I could focus on was the man across me. His eyes ...
His gaze burned each place they settled on, on my skin.
“I knew he was special from the moment I met him,” my mother was saying, her voice full of affection. “He’s so thoughtful, so attentive. I never imagined I’d find love again, especially not like this.” She said, finding his hands across the table.
The sight was making me sick. Quite literally
“I really am happy for you ma” I said, even though that was far from it. I felt bad for lying. I wanted to be genuinely happy but this man.
He made me feel in ways that did not feel normal.
“Thank you” she responded, Still oblivious to the whole thing.
“I....” I took in a deep breath. “ give me a moment, I think I left something in the car” I smiled, making my way out before anybody could say anything


I couldn't take it anymore. The air in the study was suffocating, My mother was still lost in her world, so she did not completely mind or bait an eye when i stood up abruptly.

I pushed open the French doors leading to the entrance where i came from initially and stepped into the cool night air.
I Noticed a garden I Had missed earlier
The garden was beautifully manicured, with neat rows of flowers and a stone pathway that wound through the bushes and trees. The moonlight cast a soft glow over everything, I smiled at the sight, mum was not the patient type for these sort of things so we never got around having them.
“the stars are beautiful are they not?” he said from behind causing my soul to leave my body from fear for a moment. .
“They are” I said a while later, after composing myself.
“So, you like to garden?” I said after an awkward silence passed.
“no” he said, lighting a cigarette.
“then...”
“I don’t know. It just felt right to have it in my home.” He said barely looking at me.
“..” I might have been over thinking it, but what was I to say to someone that was soon to be mynstep dad.
I felt that feeling again.
The one of discomfort as I thought of the fact that this absolute stranger, this man that i felt drawn to for some reason would be married to my mum. i sighed, massaging my temples 'just how fucked in the head waw I?'
“You really love my mum, don’t you?” I said, looking into the distance.
‘what the fuck was wrong with me! Why was I feeling this way?’ I thought as I looked away so he could barely see my face.
He said nothing, taking a drag if his cigarette. “You better treat her right okay? She deserves the world and...”
“you stink” my Jaw fell to the floor.
“What!!” I looked at him, absolutely shocked that he could say such....