Chapter 116: HALT THE MADNESS

Ace stepped back forcefully, and pushed Makayla off him. "Second time in five minutes I’ve had to warn you to keep your hands to yourself! What’s your problem? You’re getting married in a month for fuck sake!" he bellowed furiously.

She blinked repeatedly, shocked that he was raising his voice at her. She had known Ace for a very long time- he hardly ever raised his voice.

"No Ace, what is your problem? You didn’t have a problem with kissing me before. We were lovers!"

"Eight years ago. I moved on. You were supposed to move on. Why are you doing this?" He sighed in exasperation.

"Because you’ve never had a problem with me kissing you every time we unite. You yourself said your relationship with Reign wasn’t that serious. Please don’t tell me you’re acting this way because of her!" Her nose flared as she eyed him from head to toe in disbelief.

She had never taken his relationship with Reign seriously. To her, that girl was nothing but a desperate slut that just wanted her claws deep in his heart enough to turn him into a fool.

The very first time she heard of their relationship was the first time she saw the girl. She had drawn her conclusion at that moment. It was forever going to be fuck Reign, and she would make sure of that by kissing him whenever she saw him.

He had gone with the flow up until now.

"No, you’re the one who has never taken no for an answer. I keep telling you to keep your hands to yourself, but do you listen? You don’t! And this has nothing to do with Reign."

"Then what?" She screamed, throwing caution to the wind. "Wait, this is about the marriage rumours?" She scoffed. "You’re not really married, are you?"

"Yes, I am married. My wife will not appreciate you shoving your tongue down my throat."

She burst into a feat of laughter that stretched her skin, as if it was dipped in elasticity.

"You’re what?!"

"Married." He repeated. And as he repeated it, his thoughts went towards Fay.

Sweet Fay. Beautiful Fay. Kind, naive Fay. She had stepped up to help him, despite the awkward situation between them. He was supposed to be learning his lesson after the thing with Reign. Yet, here he was, entangled with another blast from the past.

At least this time he was sane enough to stop it.

"So you’re really married? Who are you?"

He took a deep breath, and rubbed his forehead with two fingers. "Listen Makayla, I’m glad you’re here. It means your mother will also be here in no time. But you can’t keep doing this. It’s been eight years since we had anything close to a relationship. You need to let the idea of us go. Besides, you’re getting married in a month."

She rolled her eyes, and threw her face to the side. "I don’t love him," she confessed in a hushed tone.

"Sorry?" He drew closer to her.

"Do you see how you stopped me from sucking your entire face? It’s because you’re married and you love and respect your wife, right? Well I wouldn’t have mind if you peeled off my clothes and fucked me on the bare floor. Do you know why? I hate that bastard’s guts and I’m only marrying him to please daddy."

"Makayla?" He grabbed her hand into his, concerned etched on the slant of his brows. "Does your mum know about this? You know Christine would stop this madness if she finds out."

"That’s exactly why she must not know. She has sacrificed a lot for us to get to where we are right now. It’s my turn to make some sacrifice."

"Makayla," he held her hand firmly in his. "You’re not a sacrificial lamb for the greed of your father. He has taken enough from Christine. Don’t let him gain more grounds against her by bending to his wills. Not when your mother is doing her own thing."

"Oh Ace," she went into his arms, and he hugged her tightly. "I’ve missed you so much. I mean the sex was great, but it’s these random times you drop your equally random advice I’ve missed the most. Why didn’t you marry me? I wouldn’t have been this miserable."

He laughed, and gently pulled her away so he could stare at her. Tucking a lurk of hair that was covering her face over her ear, he stroked her cheeks. "We were young, and you just wanted me for my body."

"To be fair, you’ve always been hot. Sue me."

He laughed. "Nah, it’s okay. I can at least stand."

"For the record Ace, I fell in love with you. Real love. I don’t think I’ll ever love any man the way I loved you. If I had understood my feelings on time, that Reign bitch would have never stood a chance. At least, you’re with another woman now. Hopefully, a better one," she said in a warning tone.

A sparkle lit up his eyes as an image of Fay formed in his head again. "She’s much better. She’s also supposed to be here with a gift for your mother."

"Really? Then I can get to meet her. Perhaps apologise and confess that I kissed you."

"Nope. Don’t do that. We’re in a weird place right now. I don’t think she needs to know about any of this."

"You really care a lot about her feelings, don’t you?" She asked, unable to hide the envy in her voice.

Whoever she was, she hoped she knew just how lucky she was to have clinched the Ace Atticus. There were very few men like him. He was a lot, and every piece of that lot was a fire just waiting to consume every surface it touched.

She was glad she knew him when she did, and that they had the relationship they had.

"I do," he said. He told himself he was just keeping up appearances.

He tried his best to convince himself that he was only being this way because he needed the world to think that he was hopelessly in love with his wife.

But he was beginning to understand that there was only so long you could lie, until an element of truth began to blossom through that lie.

"Common, let’s go to my office and wait for your mother. I can’t wait for her to receive my gift." He placed a hand around her shoulders, and pulled her along with him.

"So you prepared a bribe for mummy? I can see you’re still at war with the blonde witch."

"Which one?" He asked, the corner of his lips twitching.

"I better not be in that mix," she snickered when the meaning of what he had said finally registered in her head.

"You’re blonde, not my fault." He shrugged.

"Yeah, that’s my cue to dye my hair black or something. What’s the colour of your wife’s hair?"

"Red, why?"

"So you’re with a redhead now?" She teased, poking his arm.

He rolled his eyes, ignoring her as she broke into a feat of taunting laughter.

They arrived at his office, and he opened the door to see Landon pacing.

As he stepped into the office, he paused, and removed his hand that was around Makaylas shoulders.

Discreetly, he sniffed into the air. Even on his deathbed, he would know Fay’s fragrance.

"Was Fay here?"

Landon, who had not been paying any attention to his environment jerked, and came to a stop when he heard Ace’s voice.

"Thank God you’re here," he said, sighing in relief.

"Why? What happened?"

He paused again as his eyes stumbled on Makayla. "Kayla?"

"Hello sexy. I was wondering when you’d recognize me. Why do you look so intense?" She stepped forward, and they hugged.

"Has Christine arrived?" He asked as they separated.

"No, why?"

"Well you’re here."

"That’s because I thought I could snag a few steamy hours with Ace Atticus before mom arrives, so I took an early flight. You won’t believe this guy here turned me down because he’s married."

"Well I’ll believe it, because have you seen his wife? And speaking of wives!" His eyes snapped wide open. "Fay was here!"

"Now you decide to answer my question?" Ace rolled his eyes.

"I didn’t know you asked."

"Wait, why are you so fidgety? Where’s Fay?"

"She le-ft." he stuttered.

"What do you mean she left?" His curious and confused brow rose even higher.

"Don’t be mad," Landon began in a cautionary tone.

"Oh wow, he’s going to be big mad. I have to sit down for this one," Makayla said and took a seat.

"Landon, what happened with Fay? Is it the fragrance? Was she not able to make it? I mean there’s a couple of hours left. I don’t understand."

"Oh she made it alright. That’s not the problem."

"Then what is?"

Landon took a deep breath before finally spilling the beans. "She was accosted by Celine on her way here. I don’t know what happened, Ace, but when she arrived, it looked like she had cried. I may be wrong, but there was something really off, and she insisted on leaving after dropping that."

Ace’s eyes went to the direction Landon pointed, his heart thumping loudly.

"How long was this?" He asked, already turning around.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read