Chapter 56
I bit my lip, trying to push the thoughts away, but they kept creeping in, sharp and relentless. The sight of Lorcia’s hand brushing against Lorik’s arm was like a dagger twisting in my chest. My mind raced, questions flooding in. Had Lorik lied to me? Was this what he considered “business“? Spending time with Lorcia while I was here with Shadow?
I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder, pulling me back to reality.
It was Shadow. I lowered my binoculars and turned back to Shadow, who was looking at me with
concern.
Witnessing the betrayal with my own eyes made the pain in my chest unbearable, like someone had stabbed a small, sharp knife right into my heart.
My vision blurred, I felt dizzy, and my body trembled. My knees were weakening as well, the shock of the image I had just seen was just too much to bear.
This was the same man who had been so close to me yesterday, vowing to love me forever.
And yet, now he’s at an amusement park with his ex–girlfriend. The same amusement park that he didn’t even take me to even once.
Shadow’s voice broke through my thoughts, soft but urgent. “Shirley, what’s wrong? Is something wrong?”
I nodded and shook my head at the same time, unable to form words. My chest heaved as I tried to steady my breathing, the emotions swirling inside me too intense to manage. After what felt like an eternity, I felt my face slowly returning to its normal color. I forced a smile, but it felt hollow, as if I were trying to convince myself that everything was fine.
“I just didn’t want you to see that,” Shadow sighed, his voice laced with regret. “But hiding it from you would have been cruel.”
His words were gentle, but they cut deep, confirming what I already feared. Lorik’s actions weren’t just a figment of my imagination. They were real, and they hurt more than I could have anticipated.
But then, Shadow’s demeanor changed. He suddenly grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Want to get back at those two?” he asked, his tone playful yet serious.
I blinked, trying to comprehend his sudden shift in attitude. “What do you mean? What are you up
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Shadow’s grin widened. “Just wait and see. You’ll find out when the Ferris wheel lands.”
My heart pounded with a mix of curiosity and nervousness. I had no idea what Shadow had in mind, but something about his confidence made me nod in agreement. Maybe this was exactly what I needed–to take control, even if it was just for a moment.
The Ferris wheel began Its descent, and my anxiety grew with each passing second. When it finally stopped, Shadow took my hand and pulled me out of the small glass box. We rushed through the amusement park, the sights and sounds blurring around us. My heart raced, not from the run, but from the anticipation of what was about to happen.
We soon arrived at the entrance of the park, where Lorik and Lorcia were still standing. They hadn’t moved, still keeping a certain distance between them. They didn’t seem as close as I had feared, but That did little to ease the pain in my chest.
Just as I thought I might be able to hold it together, I saw Lorcia’s body go limp, and she fell into Lorik’s arms. She looked up at him, her eyes filled with a desire that made my stomach churn. I watched in horror as she raised her head, clearly intending to kiss him.
My heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles. The sight of them so close, so intimate, was more than I could bear. But before I could process the emotions swirling inside me, Shadow did something that shocked me to my core.
He cupped my chin, turning my face towards his, and without warning, he kissed me. It wasn’t a gentle, comforting kiss–it was bold, purposeful, and filled with something I couldn’t quite understand. My mind went blank, my body stiff with confusion. What was happening? Why was Shadow doing this?
Across the way, I saw Lorik push Lorcia away, turning his head just in time to see Shadow’s lips on mine. His eyes widened in shock, his expression darkening with anger.
“Narik, what are you doing?!” Lorik growled angrily as he rushed towards us, punching Shadow hard enough to knock him to the ground and pulling me to his side by my arm.
I was too stunned to speak, my mind still reeling from the kiss. But one word echoed in my mind, over and over again.
Narik.
What was Lorik talking about? Narik–his own brother?
