Chapter 9%
“Mr Thorn you were already sick after standing in rain for hours and now your shoulder has been torn open. If you are not careful, an Infection can spread in your body
Even the burns from the hot liquid are quite severe so we must conduct a surgery as soon as possible.” Xander heard the waming but at the end chose to ignore the doctor’s advice or to take a rest
Because tonight he was going to propose Jessica Valcruz.
He had decorated the entire Serene Palace with blooming lilacs and fairy light and transferred this entire estate to her name along with an art gallery in Paris where the only photos that were hung were commissioned for Jessica.!
Everything she liked he was ready to give it to her.
His body screamed in agony, but Xander stood tall, his eyes glued to the gate.
“Sir, your stitches…you are bleeding through your shirt.” whispered the florist in panic, making Xander order a new shirt immediately for he did not wish to worry the softhearted” girl who ruled his heart.”
“But sir, your face is pale-“8
1 said I am fine! She will be here any minute “3
Tonight he had memorized every note of the waltz he intended to dance with Jessica and to confess his undying love
She would walk in, stunned….maybe even tearful.
And then he would kneel.
He checked his watch and messaged her again.
- Ten minutes passed.!
Then thirty.8
Two hours passed just like that and yet instead of being angry he quickly called Jessica in worry.
The line rang once before Jessica picked up. Her voice was soft, distant. “Xander… I can’t come tonight, my arm. my arm twisted–1
“I will come to you!” he said without hesitation. “Tell me where.”
“No! Don’t be ridiculous.” She gave a breathy laugh. “You’re already hurt. Please just rest. We will do this another time, okay?“! Before he could reply, the line went dead but Xander was restless when he thought of her in pain. When he called again there response.
And just like that his 57 calls were left unanswered.8
was no
Rain poured in heavy sheets as he drove for half an hour before parking outside the Valcruz private residence, the place Jessica often used for private gatherings.
Despite the throbbing pain in his leg, he forced himself up the marble stairs. His soaked shirt clung to him, blood mixing with rainwater.
“You told him that your hand was injured?” Laughter bloomed from inside making Xander freeze.
Jessica rolled her eyes, smirking. “Please. I just didn’t want to walk out in this weather. That man would leap off a cliff if I coughed twice. A friend leaned in. “But tonight was supposed to be huge, right? Didn’t he rent out a grand place to propose to you?”
Jessica sighed “Oh, he did. He even made an ice statue of Lola, that pregnant stray dog Athena rescued but father snatched it away from her and gave that mutt to me….his ‘thoughtful gesture‘ almost made me gag;})
Laughter bubbled around the room making Xander freeze in horror.!
“He called you several times after that.what if there was an emergency?”
“Haha don’t jest, even if there is an emergency what can I do? He is the one paid to guard me, not the other way around.3
I am going to marry the heir to the Thorne empire so to be confessed by a mere broke servant. how stupid, can you imagine the bridal photos of me standing beside such a lowly man? Her voice dropped to a venomous whisper.
Outside the door, Xander’s knuckles whitened against the wall. Blood trickled from where his reopened shoulder wound bled beneath his soaked shirt. But that pain was nothing compared to what twisted inside his chest
“A nich heiress..that’s the life I was bom for. Madam Jessica Valcruz–Thome. That has a beautiful ring to it, doesn’t it?“Her eyes sparkled as she tapped her fingers against the champagne
“Jess isn’t that too harsh” One girl chimed in “If you don’t like him just reject him outright-”
“If I reject him then how would I be able to take pleasure in seeing the man that Athena loved kneel at my feet?” Jessica leaned forward, voice turning colder. “I saw it every time Athena looked at him it was like he was the only thing anchoring her. And now? He zips my boots..
That bitch made was too fierce and made my mother unable to enter the Valcruz family! Only by snatching everything she has will I be happy!”
“Jess calm down, you already took your revenge by killing Athena’s mom didn’t you?“)
Xander entire body trembled hard as his blood ran cold.
“What are you talking about….I didn’t kill that woman…I just.. helped.” Jessica said, smiling viciously. “I whispered things to her. That her husband hated her. That Athena thought she was ugly. I replaced her meds with just enough hallucinogen to make her crack.“}
“Even if I gave her some medicines that I stole from grandmother’s purse and made her vomit blood that wench died on her own.”
10:01 AM ď ď
Xander stumbled, his eyes widening in horror as he recalled how he took away the dresses I made for my mother and gave it to her murderer &
Bile rose his throat as he could not help but freeze in the spot. The girl he loved was such a vicious monster?%
“Jess but now that Athena is gone, how will you manage her brothers…the twins that your father love even more than you?” A friend asked curiously making jessica laugh.
“Oh come on, when Athena’s mom finally had that breakdown in front of her twin children? Athena was only seven. Guess who comforted the boys while she stood there frozen?” Jessica smiled wickedly. “Me.”
Her voice dipped, thick with fake sweetness. “That’s when they started calling me the better sister so they will always follow me.”
Xander’s entire body trembled as he could almost see me- the little girl with wide, terrified eyes, watching her world fall apart and he felt as if a dagger was twisted in his heart.!!
Jessica sipped wine before continuing. “When Father was angry at Athena for failing her violin test, I told him I saw her sneaking out at night with men. He grounded her for a year. But it wasn’t true. I just wanted her to stop playing so my recital would shine brighter“} Xander’s heart dropped lower with every word as his heart was so trampled that he clutched his heart unable to breathe.
Rain still pounded against the windows behind him, but he felt nothing–only the weight of betrayal sinking deeper and deeper in his chest.
Jessica had stolen my entire world.
And at the end he had foolishly let Jessica steal him too.
Inside, Jessica let out a laugh that sounded like glass shattering.
And outside Xander was standing like a man whose soul was shattered, my broken eyes now reflected in his eyes and he could not breathe.
“No..No!“”
