Chapter 182 - Did You Miss Me?
Chapter 182 – Did You Miss Me?
As the night fell deeper, the silence grew thicker. Hugo and I stayed in our respective seats, casting each other a look every once in a while. He had stopped talking since we would end up arguing, draining the both of us each time.
I looked down, my thumb playing with each other. "Were you trying to start an affair with me?" I asked, breaking the prolonged silence.
"An affair?"
"Wasn't that the reason you are here with me and not with her?"
"Mhm… no? I cannot hurt my wife." My brows furrowed as I set my eyes on him, watching him tilt his head back. "She's too kind for that."
"If she's too kind for that, why did you drag me here?"
Hugo cast me a side-eye. "Want to have some drink? It looks like you won't pass out with just one glass now."
I remained silent and looked away. Even when I didn't answer, Hugo poured himself a glass and slid it on the table to me.
"You won't mind sharing the same glass, will you?" he asked nonchalantly.
"We used to share our bodies," came out a sarcastic voice, picking up the glass and chugging the booze down in one go. I winced at the strong taste, but it hit the spot in a satisfying way.
"It's good." I slammed the glass down, sporting a smile at him. "Very nice."
"I know, right?" he shrugged, reaching for the empty glass lazily to fill it again. To my surprise, he slid the glass to me once again.
"You need to catch up."
"Are you trying to make me drunk?" I asked and laughed whilst picking up the glass once again. "I can hold my liquor well now. This is nonsense."
"Then congratulations, if that is the case." He laughed, grabbing the decanter and holding it on its neck. "Don't worry. I don't have the energy to do anything other than have a drinking buddy."
I pressed my lips into a thin line, holding the glass with my eyes on him. Hugo raised the bottle slightly.
"Cheers," he said, before drinking straight from the decanter. I didn't have any reason to stop myself from drinking as well, since I needed to calm down. Also, I could hold my liquor now. I didn't have any reason to be afraid.
And so, the two of us drink in silence. The knot in my stomach contracted with this silence reigning over us. However, I didn't want to speak anymore.
'I hope they will be fine,' I whispered internally, mind drifting to the people in the theater hall. With my heightened senses, I could still hear the faint shouts and cries outside this secluded mansion.
As I dwelled on the chaos outside, I flinched when Hugo suddenly spoke. I carefully shifted my eyes to him, seeing him stare at the table with the decanter still in his possession.
"Do you know? My wife is the most beautiful person I met in my life?" I held my breath when he started speaking about his wife with such gentleness. "She is like a dream, a beautiful dream. Man… I love her."
I bit my inner lower lip. Was he saying all this to make me angry? Jealous? Or simply because he wanted to see if this would hurt me?
"But I killed her." I froze at his last remarks, watching him gaze at me bitterly. "And yet, I missed her."
"What do you mean… you killed your mate?"
"I killed my wife." My brows furrowed, seeing him laugh briefly and shake his head. "Three years ago, when she had to make that painful decision for her husband, she died. My wife, Rinrin, have you heard of her?"
For a moment, my heart stopped beating. What did he say? At this time, I prayed that my hearing wasn't functioning well. Deep within, I tried to twist his words just so they wouldn't touch my heart. Apparently, it already did, breaking my first defense wall.
Hugo peeled his eyes away from me to the ceiling, narrowing them slightly. "I missed her… if only she have any idea how much I yearned for her day and night."
I clutched my hand and looked away. If I stare at him longer, my heart would break. This was the reason I knew staying in one room with him was dangerous. He just needed his tongue and the three-year separation would go down the drain.
"I hated her for what she did. I thought of many ways to ruin her, to make her feel my pain, to rip her heart out just like how she ripped mine," he continued in the same low tone. "She's like my poison; the moon at its shiniest moment. She brings out the worst in me, and yet, I am bound with her forever. There's no escape or exceptions or cure."
"Hugo." I mustered my courage to speak, waiting for him to set his pair of lazy eyes at me. "Did you…" I choked, forcing out what was stuck in my throat.
"Did you… reject…"
"So what?" he asked with a short laugh. "So what if I rejected my mate? Will you come running to me? It's not like it will change anything, correct? You are obsessed with pushing me to a stranger. I can't fucking stand it."
"How did you do it?" I asked in a stern voice. "Hugh, how did you reject your mate?"
Hugo quirked a brow before he crooked a finger. "Come here. I'll show you." He cocked his head, gesturing me to come over. "Don't worry. I won't do anything to you in this state."
I looked at him warily before pushing myself up from my chair. I walked cautiously as I approached and he did nothing, just as he promised. When I stood right next to him, I looked at him with raised brows.
"What?" he asked, tilting his head down to his lap. "Sit."
"Hugh."
"I am telling you a secret. I should get something in return, right?" he arched a brow, tilting his head to the side. "So?"
I ground my teeth and huffed. "Fine. Don't pull any tricks on me." I pointed at him, warning him. But he simply laughed it off.
I shook my head, exhaling sharply before sitting on his lap awkwardly. I sported a brave countenance, raising my chin up.
"How?" I inquired, keeping my mind on the main topic.
"Take off these clothes and you'll know." He shrugged, raising his hand away as if to show he was defenseless.
"Hugo." My eyes darkened as I frowned. "Stop playing games with me. Just tell me…" I trailed off when he batted his eyes ever so slowly.
"You are still beautiful," he commented, moving his hand to caress my cheek. "Rinrin, can I kiss you?"
My breath hitched, wanting to hop away from him but failed because he stilled my waist with his arm. "Are you asking me or forcing me?" came out a panicking voice, knowing where this would lead if I let his words sway me.
"I am not doing anything that can be considered forcing you. You sat on my lap voluntarily and since you invaded my personal space, it's my decision to let you go or interrogate you," he argued with a playful grin, staring at me with those dark red eyes. His smirk gradually disappeared, though, the more he stayed silent.
"Did you miss me?" he asked out of nowhere.
"Hugo, if you will not answer my question, then…" He held my wrist as I planted my fist on his chest to push myself away.
"Did you miss me?" he repeated, making my face wrinkle unsightly as guilt resurfaced in my eyes. "That's all I want to know."
"Will my answer change anything?"
"Did you miss me?" I bit my tongue, catching up to my breathing. "Did you miss me?" he repeated again like a broken record.
I wanted to look away, but I couldn't. All I could do was stare into his eyes at this close distance, discerning all the emotions hidden beneath them. Anymore refusal and I knew… he would die. There was this part of me that knew he was barely clinging on to that little hope, and even if I lied to him, that dim light would disappear as well.
"Why… are you doing this to me, Hugh?" came out a muffled voice as I looked down, trying to hide the tears that formed in the corner of my eyes. "Do you truly want to hurt me so badly? Why are you clinging onto someone you don't need?"
"And who are you to tell me who I need and not?" he lifted my chin so I could look at him in the eye. "I just need my wife back. I just need you, Rinnie. Why is that so hard to understand?"
My heart broke once again, lips quivering as they parted, but no words came out. I had many answers in store for his every question. However, none of them came from my heart.
"I hate you," I whispered, relaxing my tensed shoulders. "I hate you."
Hugo smiled wearily, cupping my cheek, and brushed it with his thumb. "Then hate me as much as you pleased." He leaned his face slowly while I closed my eyes and anticipated his lips.
Upon the taste of his lips, a tear finally leaked from my shut eyes. The warmth my body recognized cradled me gently, making me clutched his shoulder blades lightly.
"I missed you," he whispered into my mouth and I knew right there and then…
I was…. home.