Chapter 32
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
FLASHBACK
Dahlia
I crack my bedroom door open and my stomach growls as the mouthwatering scent of Dad’s Chicken Adobo wafts down the hallway. I didn’t even have to ask him to make it tonight. He just knew.
I stand in front of the mirror and adjust the gold locket necklace they got me, admiring how pretty it looks as it catches the light.
“Happy Birthday, Anak.” Mom said, fastening it around my neck. “I can’t believe my baby is already 16.”
I smile to myself.
It really is super pretty.
My parents wanted to throw a big family party tonight to celebrate the occasion, but I insisted on keeping things simple.
I’m sixteen, practically an adult, and if they threw the kind of party they wanted to, they would’ve absolutely rented a jumpy house for my little cousins, which would’ve been totally mortifying.
A quiet dinner with just the three of us is more than perfect.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The knock on my window startles me and I turn to find my boyfriend Christian standing there grinning with his hand pressed against the glass.
I rush to him and open the window.
“Happy birthday, Dollface.” He says, flashing me a broad smile.
I look at him and my heart does that stupid little flutter thing it always does whenever he’s around.
“What are you doing here?” I whisper, my eyes bright. “My parents are right down the hall. They’ll kill us if they find you out here.”
Irritation briefly flickers across Christian’s face before his magnetic smile slides back into place. “It’s your day, beautiful. There’s no way in hell I was going to let them stop me from seeing you. Besides, I’ve got a birthday surprise for you. Come on.”
My parents don’t exactly approve of me dating Christian.
They were open at first, but when my grades started slipping and they found out I was spending almost everyday with him, they insisted I cut it off.
I didn’t, of course. I just started seeing him behind their backs and figured with time, they’d eventually learn to accept him.
“I don’t know.” I hesitate, worrying my lip. “We’re about to have dinner and dad made my favorite. I can’t just—”
“Please Dollface,” he says, cutting me off. “I swear it’ll only take a minute.”
I glance back at my open bedroom door. Mom will be calling me to come eat any minute now. But Christian looks so excited. And he drove all the way over here. The least I could do is go see his gift.
“Okay.” I say, climbing out of my single story window. “But only for a minute.”
His smile widens. “That’s all I need.”
I’ve snuck out this way dozens of times, but as I follow him away from the house, a sinking feeling settles over me.
“Why don’t you just bring it over here?” I ask, stopping a few feet away from my window.
Christian’s smile falters.
“I just, want to be able to hear, if they call for me.”
“Come on, Doll.” He says, grabbing my wrist. “Trust me. You’re going to love it. ”
He leads me down the lengthy driveway and when we reach the road, he releases his grip and turns to face me.
“Dahlia Nocon,” he says, his face contorted into a pained smile. “I love you so much it hurts. These last six months have meant everything to me, and I honestly can’t imagine spending another day without you by my side.”
“I can’t either, baby.” I whisper, smiling up at him.
Christian sighs and smiles back at me. “I was hoping you’d say that. Now, I know this may seem crazy, but…” He pauses, reaching into his pocket to produce a tiny blue velvet box and lowering himself to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
I stare at the thin solitaire diamond ring nestled inside in utter disbelief.
No.
What was he thinking?
I love him, but I’m not ready for that. Neither of us is.
Christian searches my face, and the weight of his stare suddenly feels suffocating. He’s waiting for an answer, and I still haven’t said anything.
“It’s beautiful, but—”
“But what?” He asks, cocking his head. His smile doesn’t waver, but there’s a shift in his gaze.
“We can’t,” I manage to choke out. “I… I can’t.”
His smile falters, and he stands up to his full height.
“Why not?” He asks, his tone sharp and demanding. His hand reaches out to touch me, and I instinctively pull it back.
The air between us crackles with tension.
“My family…” I stammer, grasping for any excuse that might stop whatever this is from escalating. “My parents would never allow it.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.” He says, and something about the confidence in his words makes my brow furrow.
“I can’t just not worry about it, Christian. They’re my parents. I’m not getting married without their blessing.”
“Trust me, Dollface.” He murmurs, closing the distance to gently cradle my face. “You won’t need it. Now please, make me the happiest man in the world and say yes.”
I wrinkle my nose and glare at him, trying to decipher his words. “What do you mean? Why won’t I need it?” I ask, searching his face for answers.
“Because it’s already been taken care of.” He whispers, his mouth curving into a wide smile. “I took care of everything, doll. Now answer my question.”
Dread twists in my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
His jaw ticks and he presses his lips into a thin line.
“Christian, what are you talking about?” I ask again, my heart slamming in my chest.
He sighs and slowly shakes his head. “See for yourself.”
He nods his head towards the house, and I whip around and nearly collapse at the sight in front of me.
My house is on fire.
I try to rush forward, desperate to get to my parents who must still be trapped somewhere inside, but Christian is faster. His arms wrap around me and pull me against his chest in a suffocating grip.
“Let me go!” I scream, fighting against him. “Let me go!”
I try to fight him off. I try to kick and claw with every ounce of strength I have, but it’s futile.
He’s too strong and I’m too goddamn weak.
“It’s pointless.” He hisses, his voice chillingly calm as he presses his lips to my ear. “I slit their throats before I even lit the match.”
My legs give out underneath me and if Christian wasn’t holding me, I’d collapse.
They’re dead. My parents are dead.
Christian killed them before he came to my window.
Before he fucking smiled at me.
Before he proposed.
He killed them and then came to claim me, like some kind of prize.
A guttural scream tears from my throat, raw and threaded with pain, so much pain.
“Shh. It’s okay.” Christian says, trying to console me. “You don’t need them anymore. You have me.”
I try to stop screaming, but the sound only intensifies as I stare at the bright orange flames engulfing my home. It’s as if what’s happening is too much for my brain to process, so my body’s natural impulses are taking over.
Christian curses under his breath and clamps his hand over my mouth, but my screams still persist.
“Stop.” He hisses, tightening his grip. “Why are you acting like this? Don’t you understand? This was the only way. They would have never let us be together. They were always going to keep you away from me.”
Scalding tears stream down my face as he holds me there and forces me to watch the flames grow higher. Hotter. Consuming everything I love. Everything that made me feel safe.
“I love you, Dollface.” Christian croons, pressing his lips to the top of my head. “And I always fucking will.”