Page 129 of One Nightstand With My Ex's Uncle

EMILY’S POV.

I looked at Sadie with wide eyes.

“I have to go. It’s up to you to decide.” She said, and turned away.

“Decide what?” John’s eyes flew open.

“None of your business, Mr. Happily married.” She replied, leaving.

“Emily.” John called, but I was still staring at the note, feeling like I might burst into tears.

I could feel a shudder from my chest, rising from deep within, and the feeling was so much like the feeling of a child’s guilt after doing something horrible that cost the people around them a lot.

No, that couldn’t happen! Lucas couldn’t leave. He had been absent for a month, and it felt like my heart was burning… What would be of my heart if he left completely?

I got to my feet immediately, squeezing the letter, as I made my way to the door. No matter what happened, I had to stop him from leaving.

However, before I could pull the door open, John grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going?” He asked, looking at me like I was meant to stick to him like glue.

“Do you need to know? Does the ring still not make you feel secure?” I asked, glaring at him, with all the rage I could muster.

“How can it make me…” He began, but I cut in.

“Then what was the point in everything you did if you still don’t feel secure?” I asked, and it seemed to hit him deep. His grip slackened, and I jerked my arm out of it, leaving immediately.

I ran through the halls, holding my dress up, but stopped immediately I noticed people all around doing various things as they were going to spend the night in the Raymond Mansion.

“Oh, here comes the bride!” A lady said.

Not now, please, I cried in my mind.

“You looked so beautiful today. I couldn’t help thinking of how my own marriage happened.” She began, and I gave a little smile. I really didn’t have the time for any of that.

“She’s so beautiful.”

“And polite too.”

“Honestly, John has an eye for beautiful ladies. My son would love to have her.” I gave a fake smile, wishing they’d just let me go.

“Honestly, you don’t know just how lucky you are. You should have shown your happiness instead of keeping it in. You ought to have let it fly over the top. Do you know how many girls wish to get married to him?” Another asked, and I smiled.

“They’re a perfect fit.” A man said, eating grapes deliciously.

“I’m sure she’s so happy right now. When and where is your honeymoon?” Another man asked.

“Uh, we… we haven’t decided yet.” I said, rushing my words.

“You look in a hurry.” The first woman who had called me said.

“Yes. Someone is waiting for me.” I said immediately.

“Oh my gosh. You should have told us.” The second lady said.

“It’s probably her husband. Of course, they’d love to have some private time together.”

“Aww, I miss being young.”

“Young love. How beautiful.”

What was wrong with them!? They didn’t seem to want to stop talking.

“You may leave.” One of them finally said, and I almost sighed in relief.

“Thank you.” I said, and walked as quickly as I could, across the hall of people wining and dining. Outside, there were even more people, laughing, cheering, and having fun.

“See if I answer.” I said.

“Oh, isn’t that our bride?”

“Emily!”

“You mean Miss Granger!” They laughed, and I pretended not to see them. I couldn’t afford more chit chat. Couldn’t they see a bride walk by and leave her?

I walked briskly, with my gown raised. It alone caused me difficulties, as I kept tripping over it, and also, it was too full and fluffy to help me walk well. Once I crossed over from the Raymond mansion, I ran as fast as I could with my dress blowing in the wind behind me.

If he left before I could find him, it would really be over. Everything would come to an end, and I didn’t think I would be able to deal with the pain.

I got to his mansion, and rushed in. The place was quiet, and empty. Just like it had been on the night John had drugged me, and even though I was already feeling hopeless, I still dashed up the stairs, with my heart pounding electricity. Lucas had to be there. He had to.

I ran across the hall, taking off my shoes, the decorative metal of which kept on clinging to my dress. I didn’t need them.

My hands pushed the dark door open, and I burst in.

“Lu…!” I began, but it was empty. “Gosh.” I dug my hands into my hair. He had packed all he needed, and the less important things he could always find wherever he was going to were arranged neatly in their places.

It seemed like my chest was being squeezed, and I knew nothing would ever be fine if I didn’t try to find him.

I left his room, searching all the rooms, hoping helplessly that I’d see him in any of them, even though I knew perfectly well that he wouldn’t stay in any other room.

I ran to the kitchen where we had laughed so many times, and my eyes filled up with tears. My feet took me stupidly up the flight of stairs, all the way to the rooftop where we loved having dinner, but once again, he wasn’t there, and it felt like a knife to my heart.

Not seeing him in those places we loved to be made me feel terrified. Would he never be there smiling as he awaited me?

All our memories were warm, so warm that I didn’t mind the cold around me. If he went, I’d be cold again. Cold and alone. My tears dropped helplessly.

As I ran across the living room, my dress managed to move a tea cup on a low table. It crashed to the ground, and I stopped, and turned around to see it.

Instead of shards of broken china, on the floor were the pieces of my broken heart. What if Lucas had left while I was caught up in all that jubilation after walking out of the wedding hall?

When everyone was throwing confetti on me, passing me from woman to woman, man to man, who were all eager to dance with the new bride, had he gone silently like a whisper in the wind?

Slowly, I walked away, and outside on the steps, I met Sadie sobbing. I walked to her, and say next to her with a sigh.

“He’s leaving. He’s not staying. Lucas won’t even look at me.” She said, looking at me, with tears in her eyes.

“He’s… he’s not here. I’ve searched. Do you… do you know where he’s going? Maybe we can go there tomorrow?” I asked, hoping he didn’t leave without telling anyone his destination.

“Europe.”

“Eu…” I couldn’t even complete it. Europe? He was leaving the country? Why was he going so far? Did he really hate the idea of me and John getting married that badly?

Did he really leave without speaking to me? Did he not care enough to say a word, or even see my face?

The last time I had seen Lucas, right after John had cheated me into marriage, we hadn’t spoken much, and I had left him standing there holding John’s marriage documents. I didn’t even explain. All because I was angry, and didn’t want to think of it.

Why didn’t I just explain?

It made me feel even worse.

“When you saw him, where was he?” I asked.

“In my mansion.”

“When?”

“Not long.” She replied, with a sniff.

“Not long? He’s there!?” I asked, getting to my feet.

“He’s probably left now.” She said, and I left her, racing away to go to Lady’s Mira mansion which was the last mansion, right next to Alpha Raymond’s.

I ended up bumping into a maid, and the muffins she was carrying on a tray fell to the floor.

I bent, and began to pick them hastily into her tray.

Then she stopped.

“Are you perhaps looking for Alpha Lucas?” She asked, and I looked up at her sharply.

“Yes!”

“Then leave this, and hurry. He left Lady Mira’s mansion before I was sent to deliver snacks to Miss Sadie. He’s likely to pass through the back gate to avoid the people.” She said, and I held her hand tightly to thank her.

I ran with my dress packed up in my arms. Trying my best to run without being in sight, I went on. I couldn’t listen to anyone calling. Not at that moment. My heart pounding in my ears was the only sound I could hear.

It was like holding on to a rope slipping out of my fingers. I was desperate to hold on to it, even though it was likely to slip out of my grip.

I managed to leave all the noise, and people behind, and finally came to Lady Mira’s mansion.

Running past it, I went behind it, and past the large, and lonely garden with beautiful flowers.

And along the path leading to the gate, bathed in the moonlight, I saw a silhouette bending.

Lucas.

My heart wrenched free in relief, and I had never felt freer. I was a sponge ready to squeeze out all the emotions I had sucked in.

He zipped up his bag, and applied something on his hands, before dropping a tall container next to a flower.

It was my hand lotion. He was leaving it behind. Then he began to walk away.

“Lucas!” I called desperately, and my voice sounded hoarse, and mixed with tears.

He stopped, and turned sharply.

I ran to him, and stopped just a few feet away, looking into those green eyes that I ought to have drowned in when I had the time. Of course, the sadness in his eyes was the easiest thing to read.

“Lucas.” I called softly. “Don’t… don’t go. Please, don’t leave me. Please. Don’t. Please don’t go away.” I cried, with my tears rolling down my cheeks seamlessly.

Sorrow filled up his eyes.

“Emily…”

“I’m in love with you.” I said, and a little burden lifted off my chest. “I love you. I’m saying I love you.

Even if it’s stupid, crazy, and pointless, I’m saying it.

Please, just don’t leave. I really, really love you.

It’s been a while now, but I’ve been deceiving myself.

Not anymore. I know what I want. Not John.

No. No one, but you. I can’t help it.” I cried out, letting go of all I’d been burning to say to him, and the whole heavy feeling was lifted off my chest.

Finally… I confessed.