Chapter 264
Thea
I stayed in my room the entire day and only had company when Cassie and Camilo had come to visit me. They noticed my uneasiness and had asked about it. I made up a weak excuse and I knew they didn’t believe me.
Florentine spent her day at the clinic tending to some of the injured guards. She was the only person I could open up to about what happened between Angel and I. Camilo would have been my first option since she was almost my bestfriend at this point but Cassie was here with her and I didn’t want to raise her expectations.
Knight and Caspian had returned later in the evening from their investigation on Sparrow’s whereabouts and the girls had to go to their partners. Here I was, reminded of my sad love life.
My mind was on Angel the entire day and now that I was alone, I felt very lonely. To think that he was the only one who could take away my loneliness yet I was hiding from him. I was also afraid that he’d come knocking at my door anytime but since he haden’t showed up, he must have been resting from his wounds.
I wondered if I should check on him….
I picked up my phone deciding to call Florentine instead, she was his doctor and Angel’s health was her top priority. He came before anyon else.
“Thea?” Her concerned voice echoed from the other end.
“Hey, Flor.” I answered.
“Is everything alright?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“Yes, I just wanted to know if you were back from the clinic.”
“Oh… Sure. I just finished tending to Angel. Is there something you need to tell me? You could come outside I’m just taking some fresh air after the day’s work.” She said and I sighed. I guess going outside was a better option. Angel had a habit of looking for me in her room and forcing his way through.
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.” I said and hung up. I slid into my slippers and headed straight to where she was. It had to be the garden and I was right when I saw her standing and admiring the sight.
“Hey….” I called walking shyingly towards her. She turned around with a huge smile even though her eyes looked tired.
“Thea… Sweetheart, come.” She beckoned and I went to her returning her smile as well.
“So how was it. How’s everyone?” I asked and she nodded.
“No one was severely injured. They had planned everything well.”
“Oh….” I nodded as well then cleared my throat. I was actually curious about one person.
“How’s Angel?” I found myself almost muttering. I had lost my voice because it was difficult to talk about him especially after what happened. Florentine looked at me and I got uncomfortable. She seemed to be surprised and quzzical at the same time. I could see a curt smile appear on her face as well.
“You know him, he’s strong and is masking the pain well or should I say, he’s handling the pain too good. He’s only at home because I scolded him.”
She announced looking proud. I sighed in relieve, that was good news but then why didn’t he come after me? I knew I said I wanted to hide but I still wanted the chase.
Women… We are that complicated.
“He asked about you Thea.” My jaw was left fallen as she said those words. My eyes widened in surprise as well. He thought about me too.
“Oh… He did.”
“Yes, now tell me why you are here Thea.” Florentine said and tilted with a quzzical gaze. ” I have a feeling it has to do with Angel. You spent the night with him, how did things go?” She asked and I was taken aback by her questions. I blinked nervously, recalling how I woke up on his bed, his intense stare and the little kiss he gave me. I found myself gulping and lost in memory untill Florentine called my name again bringing me back to the present.
“Uh… Um.” I gulped hard again finding it difficult to say what I had in mind.
“Thea?”
“He didn’t say anything to you?”
“No, it’s easier getting words out of you than him. Besides, you don’t expect me to gossip with Angel.” She said and I chuckled feeling amused. My face fell just immediately in sadness and Florentine gave me a worried expression.
My heart raced as I got ready to spill the truth about last night.
“I did something terrible Florentine.” I said increasing her worry.
“What?” She inquired getting more invested in what I had to say. I looked into her eyes letting her know that I trusted her to give a good judgement of my actions.
“I let Angel kiss me before going to the casino.” I answered and Florentine sighed more in relieve. I was confused.
“Oh… And?” She said breathingly.
“I let him kiss me again today.” I confessed and she opened her mouth to say something but was lost for words. This was shocking to her as well. I guess she needed time to digest what she just heard so I waited.
“Do you hate him for the way he makes you feel?” She asked and I chuckled sadly.
“I hate myself for even feeling it.”
“You love him Thea, fighting it would only hurt you.” She said and I knew she was telling the truth. The more I fought my feelings for Angel and my desire to be with him it only made me feel hurt. I shut my eyes briefly and opened it afterwards.
“I can’t just forgive him Florentine.” I said frustrated.
“No one said you should but you can’t deny what you feel Thea.”
“I don’t know what I feel.” I said because I had conflicting emotions. I didn’t know which one to dwell on at this point. Hate him or love him.
“Don’t say that Thea. You know exactly what your heart wants and how you want to feel.”
“I don’t want to feel this way, I don’t want to love him. I need my justice, he needs to pay for what he did to me.”
“Then he will pay but how?” Florentine asked and I paused for a moment. That was the problem, how?. “Can you carry out your revenge? How exactly do you plan to?” She asked and I bit my lips hard while clutching my dress. No matter how hard I thought nothing was good enough to punish him. Anything I could do to hurt him as much as I wanted was beyond my power. Seeing him physically hurt pained me so how could I hurt him myself?
I shrugged. “I don’t know and that’s why I’m angry.”
“All these was a misunderstanding Thea.” Florentine said holding my hands and looking at me in a way that suggested she understood how I felt. Her warm gaze calmed my heart. ” If anyone should pay again it should be Sparrow. He was behind everything that happened, framed you and put you two against each other.”
I took some seconds to understand what she was getting at.
Truly, none of this would have happened if it weren’t for that bastard Sparrow. I wouldn’t have done what I did that night, abandoning Angel due to his threat. Angel on the other hand would have never doubted me and hurt me blindly the way he did. Still….
“Thea, Sparrow came between your love. Angel let him at first but think about what you really want. Do you still love Angel?”
“Florentine don’t ….”
“Do you love him?” She pressed further and I hesitate before succumbing to her pressure
” I do Flor, I do love him.” I confessed and a curt smile lengthened her lips. She squeezed my hand in hers then carresed my cheek.
“Do you want to be happy?”
“I do.” I said weakly.
“You’ll have to forgive first before you can heal completely.” She spoke softly and I blink feeling the decision was too heavy. Healing would take time and a lot of effort from me. If I was to work things out with Angel then I needed to trust him again.
“It’s hard.” I whispered.
“That’s the only way to heal sweetheart.” She said and I swallowed the lump in my throat as I thought about my child.
“What about the child I lost? It was his fault.”
“Then tell him, throw it at his face if that will make you feel better. Bottling up your pain won’t help Thea.” She said raising her voice slightly.
“I don’t know if I have the courage to talk about our child.”
“You have to make a decision Thea.”
“I’m confused. How can I hate him so much and love him with everything in me? After everything Angel has done I’m still in love with him….”
“What did you just say?”
A third voice that sounded masculine echoed behind us and we both startled turning quickly in the direction of the voice.
I gasped as fear engulfed me. Fear that he had been there all along and listened to our conversation.
“Angel….” Florentine called, shocked as I was. I kept gulping down fluid as if that would help my situation.
“What did you just say Thea?” He asked again and I was lost for words. I felt like my heart could jump out of me at any minute. Did he really hear it all?