12. Glory’s Honor
Chapter 12
Glory’s Honor
GLORY
I t feels surreal that just a couple of days ago, I was boasting about how good my life was and now it’s a stark contrast… I walk along the pier, feeding the pigeons alone. Kind of… of course Fabian and Lawrence are behind me, but they seem to be just as affected by the downed atmosphere in the house. That’s why I had to get out and away. I never knew I could feel so alone in the presence of someone I care about.
Even sewing wasn’t going to fix this. I need some time for myself to think and assess this situation appropriately.
I want to set my insecurities to the side and not be in the presence of Sir who can sway me with a pouty look or salacious command. I don’t need Glory or Princess right now. I need The Glorinda Cross, General Cross’ daughter, who was taught discernment and is smart enough to apply it.
Okay first… I know I put myself in these situations. I knew Axil was married from the beginning, I also knew he had children so I cannot be upset if I wind up with my heart broken… but I never really expected him to get back with his wife considering how volatile every article made their relationship out to be and based on the things he said to me.
He said he’s not going to get back with his wife, but I think my insecurities of not being able to bear children and my trauma of always being dumped because of it is making me think otherwise. It’s making me believe that I’m not worthy of being with him… and thus, I see that this all boils down to me, and not him.
Not once has Sir made me feel unworthy… that was me. In the tub, I told him to lay his intentions out to me, and he did, but I’m constantly questioning him. And it’s not based on his own actions, but my inadequacies, that I feel like I need to save myself before I drown.
I sigh, making my way to the car and get in without saying a word.
“Ms. Glory, where too?”
“Take me to the house… please,” I tell them and they nod driving. I watch the scenery go by, wishing I had Axil here to enjoy it with me.
It’s funny how I came here to find myself and I ended up finding more than I was bargaining for. Axil causes me to push my limits and boundaries and I don’t hate it at all.
When we make it to the house… I’m stunned to see Sir standing there pacing.
“Glorious what took you so long?!” he marches up to me with crazed eyes.
“I was only gone a second…” So long? I only stepped out for a bit to get some fresh air. Why is he making it seem as if I was out the entire month?
“Don’t patronize me, Glory. You were out three hours, forty-eight minutes and twenty-eight seconds longer than usual…” he grits out. “Do you think I’m stupid? Do you really think I’m going to let you leave me?” His chest rises and falls like he’s having a panic attack, clutching at it.
“Whoa…” I reel back, holding up my hands. “First, you need to calm down, and second, if I was planning to leave, I sure as hell wouldn’t have been off feeding ducks. I just needed some time to think, Axil.”
“T’ink about wat?! An’ why are yu lyin’ tu me? Yu were clearly feedin’ pigeons!” he grits, emotions dragging out his accent again.
“I… first off, how did y—” I stop when I turn and see my two shadows behind me. Of course… “Ignoring that… what else would I think about, Axil?! I was thinking about us! And how I feel about dating a married man. It was fine when it was only sex, but… my feelings have grown since then, and no matter how much I care about you, I can’t not protect myself from heartache.”
“What heartache?! If you’d only listened to me instead of storming off, you’d know there’s no one but you!” Calm down… getting angry isn’t worth it .
“Axil, it matters not if I’m the only one. You are still married… in this situation, I’m still considered the other woman. That’s why I asked when your divorce would be finalized. I needed to know if I had to leav—” He snatches me up so quickly I nearly get whiplash as he slams me against the car. Even though he protects my head, his other hand wraps tightly around my neck and is bound to cause a bruise. I’m so shaken I can only fearfully watch like a deer in headlights.
“SIR, WH?—”
“Glory,” he seethes. “I will kil?—”
“Ahem!” Lawrence clears his throat and Fabian steps up, gently removing his hand from my neck.
“Mr. O’Hara, didn’t you come all the way up here to ask Ms. Glory on a date?” Fabian beams as Lawrence fixes my clothes and picks up the bag I’d dropped.
“I…” Sir shakes his head as if trying to clear it. His face falls when his eyes land on my neck. To say the look on his face is anything other than heartbreaking would be a belittlement of what is portrayed. “G-Glory…” He staggers back, clutching his chest, but Fabian catches him.
“She’s okay, Mr. O’Hara. We would never let anything happen to her,” he steadies him, and a sudden realization comes over me.
Wait… could Lawrence and Fabian be here not to protect Sir from other people, but to protect me from Sir? No… that can’t be. But now that I think about it, that’s why they are always with me when I’m here and in the room instead of with him. They never leave my presence… what the hell could he do to me that would make him need guards?
“S-sir…” I step closer to him, but he takes a step back, fear written in his eyes, and it shatters me to pieces.
“Stop, Glory… I don’t want to hurt you again.”
“You’re not going to hurt me, Sir. That was just a mistake… mistakes happen.” I step closer to him, placing my hand on his. He goes to snatch it back, but I grasp it tightly and place it around my neck.
“Glory…” his pupils dilate, voice laced with promise of something sinister.
“You won’t hurt me.” I stare into his eyes, fully trusting him. He swallows hard, eyes traveling from my neck to my lips to my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whimpers.
“I know.”
“Please don’t leave me.”
“I won’t.”
“I love you…” he chokes out in anguish. I take the last step and completely break, shattering the remaining pieces of my old self and falling prey to this imperfect man as I place an all-encompassing kiss upon his lips.
“I love you too, Sir.”