Chapter 117: STRANGER AT THE BEACH

"Thank you for seeing me out, Grant," Fay said, as she stopped by the car that had driven her to the hotel.

"It’s my pleasure, Mrs Fay. I’m glad to see you’re adjusting to the Atticus," he said, reminiscing about the first time he brought Ace to see her.

She still had her naivety wrapped around her, but on that night, it had been more vivid.

Ace had swooped in, and saved her from what could have been a disaster.

It seemed like it was such a long time ago. But he was glad she hadn’t changed a lot.

"I guess."

"I’m sorry about earlier. I ran away like a scared cat when I should have been protecting you on behalf of Sir Ace," he apologised.

She scoffed internally, wishing she could tell him to keep his apology. It wasn’t like his boss gave a damn about her. He was too busy with his numerous women.

"You don’t have to apologise for anything, Grant. I told you to leave me alone with ma’am Celine. Whatever happened had nothing to do with you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to leave," she said, tired of being around the hotel.

Her first time here had ended with a marriage to Ace. Her second had probably woken her up from her delusion.

Grant moved before her, and opened the door so she could go through. "Take care of yourself Mrs Fay," he said, as she slid into her seat.

"Thanks for your kindness," she replied.

He shut the door, and went over to the other side so he could talk with the driver.

"Hey buddy, drive carefully, okay?"

"I will."

Old Marty also came around to wave Fay goodbye. As she returned their waves, she held onto the tears stuck in her throat.

She had not cried to her satisfaction yet. There were still more tears left to cry. Waiting to get to a more hidden and comfortable place to let it all out, she held herself together.

The driver drove out of the compound, and she quickly released the breath she was holding.

She was finally free of his scent. But unfortunately, still held back in captivity by what she had seen in that room.

"Hello, do you think there’s a park, or just a private place you can take me to? I want to sit with my thoughts before I go home," she questioned the driver.

"Sure, Mrs Fay. There’s a beach close to the house."

"Perfect."

She relaxed into her seat, and just kept the thousands of thoughts in her head flow, until she could get to a place private enough to regulate them.

The road was free, and in no time, the car pulled into the beach. Finding a spot to park, the driver stopped the car, and stepped out to open the door for Fay.

"Thank you," she said, alighting. "Let me have your number. You can go do whatever you want to do, when I’m ready I’ll call you to take me home."

They exchanged numbers, and she gave him a smile as she walked over to the bench that was directly facing the waters.

There was no one around. She had seen a sign that read exclusive. It wasn’t until she sat down that she realised, when the driver rolled down his windows to speak to a staff member, it was probably him asking for a secluded area.

She took a deep breath, as she sat on the bench, and stared at the water.

Water was so interesting to her, she wanted to be one with it. To be able to let one’s troubles float away. She would give anything to not be burdened by anything other than rippling waves.

"He likes blondes," a thought suddenly formed in her head.

"That didn’t take long," she muttered under her breath.

She thought she would be able to keep the thoughts of Ace and everything he was up to away, for at least a few more seconds.

However, the second she sat on that bench, and her eyes hit the waves, it was all thoughts of Ace spurring up in her mind.

He did like blondes. It was an obvious pattern. From Reign, to whoever this new girl was.

She bit her lip, as a strange staggering envy consumed her. She was a pathetic redhead. A loser who he could never settle for.

All the girls he liked had a particular aura around them.

They all looked rich and powerful. She was quite the opposite of all of that. Plain, stupid and naive.

"I could never succeed in seducing him," she began talking to herself. "He would laugh at me for even conceiving that idea. I obviously cannot compete with any of the women he has around him. Look at them, and look at me."

Shame washed over her at the words she spewed, but she couldn’t deny the truth in them. Ace never told her he liked her or anything like that. So what if he kissed her? It wouldn’t be the first time he did it.

But like a fool, she had read some meaning into it. Now she was looking stupid. If she had just focused on herself like she was supposed to, she wouldn’t be in this position right now. That thought repeatedly mocked her, until she couldn’t stand the sight of her own shadow anymore.

She shook her head in self pity. Her eyes found a stick in front of her, and she rose to her feet to pick it up.

As she bent to grab it, she heard footsteps drawing closer to her. Straightening up, she lifted her head and saw an old man approach her.

"Hey, I saw you from the other side of the beach, and thought to come say hello. I hardly find anyone in this secluded area," he said, offering her a smile.

She was unsure how to react to his kindness. He was maybe a little too kind for her liking. Also, they seemed to be the only ones around.

Fear pricked her skin at the thought of being harmed by this stranger, after what she had just witnessed back at the hotel.

But when she looked into the old man’s eyes, she had a strange feeling that she could trust him. Despite the nagging fear in the deepest part of her heart, she decided to stick with the surface feeling.

"I’m Fay," she said.

"Fay. Like the fairies?"

She couldn’t help the smile that consumed her face. She hadn’t met anyone that had swiftly gotten the interpretation of her name that wasn’t nice. Her gut may not have told her she could trust them man, but she was going to anyway.

"Yes, like the fairies."

She moved behind, and sat on the chair. The old man followed suit, and sat beside her.

"I’m Seth," the old man said, and stretched out a hand for a handshake.

She took it, and her smile broadened.

"Nice to meet you Mr Seth."

"No, just Seth," he said, pulling his hand away.

She wasn’t exactly comfortable calling him by just his first name, but she realised she had gotten used to it.

At first, she never thought she would be able to relate with Marilyn, and Alice that way, but it was a thing of the past now.

"Seth it is," she laughed.

"You have a nice laugh. Has anyone ever told you that before?"

"No," she answered in her heart. At least none that she could remember.

Although, she had heard other things. Like how she was the devil’s incarnate, and how she had a lustful spirit controlling her.

"You’re just saying that to be nice. I appreciate the gesture."

"I was actually serious, but I can see you’re the type that doesn’t like to be complimented."

"Nope. It mostly reads as false anyway."

"Why would you say that? Have you had a hard life? I’m sure your parents would protect a child like you with their whole heart."

"I don’t have any parents," she said, her voice taking on a sad note.

She watched as his green eyes that were slightly less pigmented than hers, lifted. "You don’t? What happened to them?"

"An accident when I was younger. I don’t remember anything from it."

"How come?"

She could hear the genuine curiosity in his voice, and that was the only reason she decided to indulge him.

"I don’t know much about them. My Aunt who I grew up with never talked much about it," she started to draw on the ground with the stick. "All I know is I was also in the car when the accident happened . I survived, but they didn’t."

"That’s so sad. You know, I was drawn to you because you reminded me so much of my daughter in law. She had hair like yours too. You’re the first person I’ve ever come across that had her type of hair."

"Really? Does she also hate her hair?" She asked before she could stop herself. "Sorry about that,." She quickly apologised and lowered her head, returning to her drawing.

"I wouldn’t know. I never got the chance to ask her," he answered anyway.

"Why?"

"Because she’s dead."

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read