Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,74
as I am, I keep insisting. “Let me go with you. We can leave everything and everyone behind.”
“Petra, they won’t even let you in.” He pauses for a beat, smiling at my tenacity. “The pilot and crew know very well that you are not supposed to fly with me.”
“I will fly commercial, then.”
“If you go to Singapore, your parents will find out and bring you back,” he explains. “You know that.”
“Even by force?” I ask.
“Even by force,” he replies. And knowing them as I do, I know they are capable of doing so. “It wasn’t an easy decision. I thought about it for many months. I contemplated every possible solution.” He stops for a second, as if talking was hurting him. “If I could do something more, I would.”
“I’ll never forgive you,” I tell him again. But the truth is, I’ll never forget him either. I’m doomed to love him until the end. I gave him not only my heart, but also myself in a way no one can understand.
“I know,” he says under his breath before kissing me on the cheek. “Good night, Miss Van Gatt.”
But I instantly grab his arm and ask, “Can you at least kiss me like before?” He doesn’t say or do anything, so I ask again, “Just one last kiss.”
“Petra…” he mumbles. “I don’t think I should.”
“Just one,” I insist.
He keeps looking me in the eye, hesitating for a moment. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”
His rejection fills me with shame. As Alex stands up and walks slowly toward the door, I don’t try to call him back. I don’t even want to. After all, he is the one who has decided to leave me, to abandon me… again.
And the truth is, while Alex has chosen to settle for peace with my parents, I’d have chosen war.
I don’t know much about breakups. The only time I ever experienced one, I ended up at the hospital in a six-month coma. Surely this time, I’m staying safely at home, surviving in the darkness of my bedroom, curled up in my big, empty bed. I don’t even know what I hate the most about him, the fact that he broke up with me to protect us—me, him?—or the fact that he’s not telling me what my mother has against him and everyone else. Is it that bad? I know Dad will never tell me. After all, if there is one thing my father truly cherishes, it’s maintaining a perfect image of himself in the public eye and in mine. And now that Alex is out of the equation, Mom won’t bother telling me either. I shut my eyes, breathing slowly in and out, wishing somehow I could escape this life—a life I can’t even choose for myself.
Chapter 20
Manhattan, September 19, 2020
Petra Van Gatt
Morning comes faster than I would have thought. Janine, as punctual as always, opens the curtains wide, allowing the sunlight cast into the room to wake me up. But I don’t hear her usual “good morning” to finalize her daily ritual—she most likely knows it’s not a good one for me.
I hear nothing but Janine’s footsteps walking in my direction. After she sits on my bedside, she lets out a rush of air, softly stroking my head. “Miss,” she murmurs. “I’m so sorry about your breakup.” My eyes remain closed, but a tear escapes. I remain mute, devoid of any will to even talk. “I wish I could let you stay in bed,” she says, her tone just as low and soft. “But your dad is waiting for you to have breakfast.”
I sniffle, and, opening my eyes slowly but surely, I mumble, “Oh, Janine.” I swallow through my sobs and add, “Please tell my dad I’m not feeling well today.” Not that it matters anyway, but at least I can stay in bed a few more minutes.
“Alright, I will let him know.”
Janine stands up and leaves my bedroom, only to come back five minutes later. She sits on my bedside again, and, with her voice just as calm as before, she says, “Your dad is demanding your presence. He’d like to talk to you. You can even stay in your pajamas if you want to.” Wow. In my pajamas? What an honor, I think sarcastically.
I knew Dad would insist. He’s such a fucking narcissistic and egocentric man. Trying to sit up, my head feels dizzy like it has been hit by a hammer. “Do you have something for headaches?” I ask her. “My head is hurting so