HIS SWEET REVENGE

Celine’s POV

It’s almost half an hour since Paxton and I arrived here and I haven’t stopped grinning from ear to ear since then.

It feels so good to be out, having fun after so many years of dealing with my grandmother’s illness, signing a contract marriage with my boss, running away from him so he wouldn’t know I was pregnant, and taking care of my son alone.

I feel young again. It’s been so long since I felt this overwhelming feeling and a remembrance of my age. I am just 26 years old but with Jason, I feel like an old woman.

Tonight, Paxton is making me feel different. He is making me feel like a sweet 16, making me put off every bad thought out of my head. I don’t want anything to ruin this lovely night. I don’t know when a day like this will happen again.

We are sitting in front of the bar, laughing, drinking, and hitting each other playfully.

I laugh heartily and gulp down the whole content of my alcoholic drink. Paxton is in front of me and we are competing.

I know I can barely hold my alcohol level but I want to prove something. Since it’s been so long since I took alcohol, I want to know how I can hold up.

“Don’t cheat, drink it all”, he squints at me with a proud smirk.

I nod and gulp it all down after he pours more into my glass cup. He did the same as I watch him. We both laugh again.

“One more bottle”, he orders and I wag my fingers in front of him. I am tipsy already and I doubt if I can take it anymore. I don’t want to start misbehaving.

“You are a coward”, he chuckles lightly. I frown with a pout on my face.

“Don’t you dare me”, I warn, even though I know I can’t do this anymore. I begin to feel dizzy and I blink severally.

“Let’s add one more and I promise that will be all for tonight”, he says. I nod vigorously, pushing the pleats of my hair at the back of my ears.

Paxton grabs the bottle from the barman with a sheepish smile plastered on his face. He pours a glassful for me and I roll my eyes.

“You want to get me drunk?” I laugh nervously.

“Nop”, he chuckles richly, pouring the alcohol into his glass cup too. I raise the cup and he is doing the same.

Our glasses hit each other making a clanging sound and we drink it all in one gulp. It burns down my throat and I laugh again, hitting Paxton on his shoulder and shutting my eyes to enjoy the feeling.

I raise my head and say to him, “You can’t beat me.”

He grins. “Really?”

I have no idea where this confidence is coming from, even when I know Paxton will definitely win. I am drunk already.

I nod.

“Let’s finish this up then”, he takes a hold of the bottle. I shake my head without shame. He begins to laugh in mockery of me.

As I watch him, I catch sight of a familiar figure and I blink to be sure I am seeing right. The figure passes by me and I heave a sigh in relief that it is not who I think. But before I can recover, he comes back and I see his face clearly.

“What the hell are you doing here?” He growls, shooting me an angry look as his icy glare pierces into my soul.

He is facing me while Paxton’s back is to him. I see Paxton’s body goes cold with surprise but he isn’t looking back to see who it is.

“Celine!”, Bryan’s voice sounds deadly and it dawns on me that this is surreal. With a mixture of panic and self-pity, I look down, fidgeting with my fingers and feeling exposed as I feel there are a thousand eyes on me.

From my peripheral view, Bryan balls his fist in anger and I shut my eyes closed, waiting for the impact of his fist on my face or body but I feel nothing. I don’t know if Bryan is a woman beater, but I am scared he is going to beat me today.

His angry stare says it all. He is upset with me for leaving my duties and coming here to have fun. If Jason isn’t my son, would I have left him in the care of someone else?

I hear murmurs around me and I eventually flicker my eyes open. I am shocked to realize that Paxton is nowhere to be found and Bryan is still standing in front of me, waiting for an explanation. I have no time to look around for Paxton.

“Do you have any idea what you are doing and the implications?” He demands from me with impatience and a tone dripping with hate.

I shake my head. I have nothing to justify what I have done. I shouldn’t have come. How did he know I am here? Did he ask someone to follow me here? Did Camilla tell him of my absence? I thought Camilla said he is out?

“I… I.. am sorry”, I apologize, with a voice laced with guilt. I brace myself to look at him when I can’t hear his response.

A soft smirk forms on his lips and he taps his fingers on the desk with his left hand on his waist.

“Celine”, he calls my name calmly, glancing around and giving the people watching a deadly look. “Can you please tell me why you are here instead of babysitting my child?”

“I… I…” I stop midway, finding no words forming. I don’t even know what excuse to give. I have been caught red-handed and this is something I never expected or thought of.

I haven’t given the idea of getting caught a thought, talk more of the excuse to give. I have nothing to say, I realize. I can’t lie because Bryan knows when someone is lying.

“I’m sorry”, I find myself saying, trembling with fear as he steps forward with his intense stare.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I am not asking you to apologize!” He yells and hits the desk in frustration. I shift in my seat in fright, chiding myself not to cry in the presence of the large numbers of people who have their eyes on us again.

They must be thinking I am his wife and I am unfaithful to him because of his reaction.

He tightens his fist and sucks in his lower lips, trying to control his anger. He shakes his head intermittently and finally let go of his hand.

With implacable authority, he commands. “Go home now!”

Without hesitation, I scramble to my feet, standing straight and shaking in panic. I find myself frozen to the same spot instead of obeying his commands. I want to move but my legs are stuck in the same place.

His eyes blaze red in anger and he roars, pointing to the exit. “Go home now!”