CHAPTER 20
The morning was sunny and chirpy, the soft rays of sun in-filtered through the large floor-to-ceiling window into the dining area.
The table that last night was filled with deserts and delicious food, was now empty as Amara, Kaelith, and Rafael sat around it, but the atmosphere was far from warm and inviting.
Tension hung heavy in the air, like an unwelcome guest.
Amara's gaze flickered between the two men, her expression a reflection of her emotions. She didn’t know how or when she ended up in her bed, covered with warm sheets.
Someone even changed her clothes. She somehow thought Martha had something to do with it.
But she could not shake the ghost of touches on her skin.
She had a vivid imagination of some tall and muscular man picking her up, and she snuggled closer to his hard chest.
Just thinking about that made her cheeks flush as she lowered her head. Another reason she couldn’t meet Kaelith’s eyes.
Rafael looked at her with a heavy heart and cleared his throat. With much-needed courage, he finally called. “Amara.” Amara stilled, thinking if he was talking to her.
When she raised her head, she found him looking at her. His light eyes and a soft smile that he forced. Amara quickly averted her gaze from him remembering what happened last night. She couldn’t shake the image of him forcing her.
She was so hurt and disappointed in him that she couldn’t look at him. Rafael’s smile fell as she ignored him.
She picked at her food, her appetite subdued by the storm of emotions brewing around her.
She could see the hurt in Rafael's eyes, and she felt a pang of guilt for the hurt she knew she had caused him. But at the same time, she couldn't ignore the hurt she was feeling. No matter what past she had with him, she trusted him, she never expected him to do this to her.
Rafael cleared his throat, his voice hesitant as he attempted to break the ice. "We are going home today.”
Amara's heart raced, and she instantly looked up at him, her eyes filled with uncertainty as her actions stilled. Home? Like her home?
The reality settled in as she instinctively looked at Kaelith. What was she even thinking about? This wasn’t her home. This was never her home, so why did it feel like she was being taken away from her home?
Kaelith clenched his fists, his jaw tense as he glared at Rafael.
“The fuck you’re talking about?” Rafael continued, "I... I want to apologize for everything, and I want to make things right. I love you, and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for whatever happened last night. I did not mean to be…forceful. It’s just…
I was drunk and…” he stopped fumbling through his words.
“And I didn’t know why I did that. Now I want to make this right, so I am taking you to our home today. ”
Amara's eyes widened as she proceeded with Rafael's words. She knew he was her husband and there would come a time when she’d have to leave with him but her heart had been pulled in a different direction now.
Kaelith scoffed. "She is not going anywhere." Amara glanced at Kaelith who reciprocated the very devil she knew was ruler of hell. Dark fuming eyes and clenched jaw. His fists fisted on the table and she could practically see smoke coming through his ears.
Rafael glared at Kaelith, the softness in his replacing with utter rage. “Let her make the decision.” “I-I don’t know—"
“You know Amara. You very well know.”
“Look at me and tell me who is your husband? Tell me who was with you when you opened your eyes? Tell me who you should be with right now—your husband or him?”
Amara wanted to yell, to tell him that it was him, and him all along. The person who was her husband, the person who she saw when she first opened her eyes. The person she should be with right now—both logically and morally.
But then, a hidden part of her wanted to whisper in the wind, to let all the world know, to make flowers whisper among themselves.
Rafael might be her husband, but she felt closer to Kaelith. Rafael might be the person she first saw, but Kaelith now resided in her eyes. Rafael might be the person she should be with, but Kaelith was the man who was with her in her worst and lows. In and with her nightmares.
Yet, she couldn’t speak the words. As if the words were suddenly less to express what she felt. Or she just simply didn’t want to say anything.
Kaelith sensed the dilemma in her eyes before she could avert her eyes to lower her head. His heart ached, but more than that his fists twitched. He wanted to beat Rafael to the pulp.
Rafael pushed. “Answer me, Amara. You wouldn’t choose someone you don’t know over your husband you loved to death, would you?”
“I…I…”
“You said I was your moon, Amara. You told me you would die for me.” Rafael pressed as Amara’s head throbbed. She forced herself to remember how life was before she lost her memories. How life was supposed to be before this? But she couldn’t. All it brought was pain and throbbing sensations.
Amara felt her breaths getting deeper and her heart throbbing.
“I…will go with you,” Amara muttered into thin tension. Kaelith felt his heart dropping, his fists clenched tight.
His reality and dream came into one frame; she was his sea and his thirst. The restlessness in his heart yet the peace. In the heartbeats of his heart, she was there. But how does he tell her? How does he stop her? He’d fight the whole world for her, but her…he could never fight her.
Fifteen years ago, he let her go. When the world brought them together once again, Rafael was already engaged to her. Now two years later, fate decided to play with him again. But this time, Kaelith was adamant and determined to make her his.
His furious eyes moved to Amara who had her head lowered. He could see her contemplating. He hated how much hold Rafael had on her. The fucker manipulated her with his words. Kaelith took a deep breath, thinking and slowly unclenched his jaw when a thought ran across his head.
A small smirk adored his sinful lips as he casually leaned back. Rafael threw a confusing and infuriating glance at his elder brother.
Kaelith resembled the devil Rafael was always afraid of. His father. Same pale eyes and dark features. He hated his father to the core, but now he hated Kaelith for looking like his father too.
Amara swallowed hard when Rafael said. “Then I’ll ask someone to prepare for your arrival. You’ ll love our new house.”
“New?”
“Yes, I want us to start anew. New home, new life.”
Amara bit her lips and slowly glanced at Kaelith who seemed startlingly unbothered.
Her heart suddenly burst into flames of sadness.
Was he not bothered she was leaving? A sudden silence engulfed her as she swallowed hard.
Was she reading into things longer than she needed?
Did he not care for her? All of a sudden irrelevant thought swayed her.
Kaelith looked relaxed, slowly sipping his coffee as he casually waved to the guard. “Pack her stuff and bring it down.”
The guard bowed and left for the stairs. Rafael narrowed his eyes. “What are you playing at now?”
“Playing? Oh, believe me, little brother, if I decide to play, you won’ t have to remain in this game for much longer.” Kaelith’s eyes darkened. “I’m just doing what I should’ve.”
Amara took a deep shaking breath as tears blurred her eyes. What he should’ve done a long ago? Like letting her go….
Amara shook her head. Why was she even bothered about this? Kaelith was not her husband, he was not the man to whom she was married. Then why?! Why was she feeling like being rejected by someone who never cared for her?!
Amara shakily pushed back her chair as the wood scratched over the floor snatching the brother’ s attention. Kaelith could see the tremble of her hands, the red puffy cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. His heart flipped yet he kept his emotions at bay.
Rafael quickly followed after her, springing to her side and grabbing her arms. “Amara, are you alright?” His voice was laced with concern; unlike the coldness he had when he talked to Kaelith.
Amara slowly pulled her arm out of his reach taking a step back.
“I-I will be outside.” She mumbled, her voice raspy and shaking.
Kaelith watched as she stumbled to the door.
Just when she was near the door, she stopped, Kaelith’s heart stopped momentarily.
He waited, waited for her to look back, to grace him with her beautiful eyes.
It felt like the sweet fragrance was upset from the flowers.
Some grief hid under the veil of her eyes.
However, Amara contemplated. Should she look back?
What if he wasn’t looking at her? What if he was?
What if he didn’t care? What if he did? What if he was waiting for her?
What if he wasn’t? She shook her head. What if he was, he did not have any right to wait for her. He wasn’t hers and she wasn’t his.
With a heavy heart, she walked out without looking back into the garden.
Kaelith nibbled on the inner tissue of his cheek. Stubborn little vixen. He knew she was upset with him. Even more than that. When she was out of his sight, he looked at Rafael.
“You breached our deal, don’t overreact when I’ll breach mine.” Kaelith’s words stirred Rafael as the latter snapped his head.
“What deal?”
Kaelith scoffed his eyes resembling coal. “Feigning innocence, huh?”
Rafael’s words faltered and hands lingered in uncertainty. There was a palpable tension as he seemed caught between conflicting emotions, each decision and gesture weighed down by a reluctance to commit fully. He remembered the deal—fresh and clear.
He gulped, trying to keep himself calm averting his eyes to the side. “That was impulsive, I thought…I did not deserve her—"
“And now you do? After everything?” Kaelith’ s gaze, sharp and unwavering, seemed to cut through the Rafael’s soul. “You don’t. Neither do I. But if it comes to us, then I’d pick me as the better brother.”
Rafael’s hesitancy was removed with frustration. Who the fuck was he to tell him what he deserved or not? “You’re being cocky—"
Kaelith clicked his tongue. “That’s called being strategic.
Keep my words in mind, Amara will remain a De Luca, she will be called Mrs. De Luca forever.
But with a different middle name.” Rafael clenched his jaw and slammed his hand on the table knocking over the cup of coffee.
Martha flinched in the kitchen hearing the brothers arguing.
“She will not marry you!” His eyes flamed.
Kaelith chuckled visibly unbothered. “She will. She will marry me. She will be my wife. She will carry my children. And she will love me.” There was a hidden promise in his words. Rafael felt a chill running down his spine or did Martha. Now she understood why Kaelith was so concerned about Amara.
“Over my dead body!” Rafael growled, Kaelith tilted his head, his sharp eyes piercing.
“I don’t think your death is necessary, I’ll make her mine in front of you, and you won’t be able to do anything. Do you know why? Cause she will be with me willingly.”