Page 11 of My Ruthless Husband

“Uh…” I try to justify it, my awkwardness only growing. “It’s my birthday today.” I lift the wine bottle, awkwardly. “I just thought… maybe… we…” I trail, offering a sheepish smile. It falters when he doesn’t return it.

I want to die. Why did I say that? Why did I think he’d want to stay with me when there are hundreds of beautiful women inside? He probably thinks I’m just some silly, desperate girl who doesn’t know how to talk.

Why did I let myself believe, even for a moment, that someone as incredible as him would spare a second for a girl like me? It’s foolish. I should have known better.

“N-Nevermind.” Shooting him an apologetic smile, I bend down to grab my heels before turning away in haste.

The chilly air alongside something close to emptiness penetrates my skin and rattles my bones. I clutch my shoes and the wine bottle tighter, my fingers numb as I break into a run.

As I reach the mouth of the woods that’s spread wide around the mansion, I halt abruptly. The thought that this might be the last time I ever see him, this beautiful stranger who’s already left a mark on me, hits me hard. And it hurts. A lot. I don’t even know why.

Unable to stop myself, I turn my head.

My breath catches when I find him already staring at me. My heart thrashes against my breastbone. I stay rooted on the spot; afraid I would lose his eyes on me if I so much as breathed wrong. And I don’t want that. I want him to watch me.

I choke in appalled horror at the thought. I’ve never wanted or craved anyone’s attention before. I liked being invisible to the world. I preferred it. But now… as I stand here, with a flushed face and heaving chest, I know something has changed inside me.

The way my body reacted to him, with such heat and urgency, it was something I’d never experienced before.

What is happening to me?

Before I could evaluate this foreign feeling, my classmate—a leggy blonde dressed in tight short dress—approaches him. My brows pull together when she touches his arm, probably to get his attention.

The grip on my shoes and the bottle tightens. I wait with a knot in my stomach for his response to her. But he continues to stare at me while she talks to him.

What is she saying? Is she flirting with him? Is she asking for his number? Would he give it to her? He might. Because she is really beautiful. She is the most popular girl in our school for a reason. She is a charmer and has no problem chatting up a handsome stranger.

Unlike me.

When her hand touches his arm again, my grip on the bottle tightens so fiercely I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter. My sullen expression turns into surprise when he shrugs her off. Not so subtly.

Then he is striding in my direction. I’m so shocked by his powerful stance that I stumble a bit.

Quickly straightening, I watch with parted lips as he reaches me.

He doesn’t stop there. My mouth goes dry when his hand connects mine as he takes the bottle from me. Then he starts toward the forest.

“W-what?”

He stops and looks over his shoulder. “You wanted my company.” He says in a flat voice. He sounds pissed. Of course, he is. Because he thinks hehasto babysit the birthday girl.

“Yes… but I…”don’t want to force it on you.

His shadow falls over me. Without any words, he offers his hand to me.

I stare at it. Then up into his night eyes. He is intimidating. And he looks like someone who can’t be forced to do things he doesn’t want to do. So does that mean he wants to come with me? No, no. That’s wishful thinking. He is probably one of my dad’s associates and is worried for my safety.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to—” my words get stuck in my throat as he reaches down and clasps my hand in his big one. My heart skips a beat.

Then he begins walking. As if he knows his way around the forest—my favorite hiding spot—better than me.

As he takes me farther and farther away from the mansion, my heart begins to sing. He rejected my classmate and chose me. Me. I duck my head to hide my smile.

???

This is the best birthday of my life!

I’ve walked through the woods more times than I can count, but tonight, it feels like the very first. Maybe it’s because I’m not paying attention to the path at all. Because all I can focus on is him, the one walking beside me.

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