Chapter 30: Chapter 30
When their gazes met, her knees weakened. His effect on her only grew stronger each time. She clenched her fist to fight the tears from falling.
He took his necklace as soon as he stopped in front of her. He pulled her hand and put it on her palm. "This is my mom's necklace. I want you to have it. I hope this will serve as a token of gratitude to you for saving my life and for taking care of me."
Esmeralda shook her head. “I’m not asking for anything in return. I don’t think I could accept this. It’s from your mother.”
Esmeralda was taken by surprise when he pulled her into a hug. When she bumped into his hard body, she felt like she was running out of air and strength. “Thank you for giving me another life. I don’t want you to forget me.”
She shut her eyes tight as the warmth of his body crept through her. He was hugging her close as if he did not want to let go.
“Do you remember what I told you? Just give me a little time. I’ll come back,” he whispered. “Wait for me.”
“Richard…” She already told him that she hated promises. That whatever she was going through, he should not worry about her.
“Just give me a little chance.”
She took a deep breath and forced a smile though her heart was breaking. "You have my number. Just call me if something's wrong or if you have returned safely," she said when she finally pulled away from him. She was forced to sound happy while there was a plea in Richard's eyes.
“Sir, we have to go now,” the chopper pilot said when he appeared beside Richard and tapped his shoulder.
Although it was hard, Esmeralda needed to let Richard go. She did not want to hold on to the little hope he offered. She was like a bird who had finally returned to the cage, and all she could do was stare at the distant sky, which she used to fly freely.
"I promise that I will come back," Richard said to her neighbors and waved. He glanced around them, but his eyes lingered on her longer. He was sending her a secret message through his hopeful gaze.
I’ll wait for you, Esmeralda whispered in her heart as she watched Richard get on the chopper.
ESMERALDA automatically caught the necklace hanging on her neck when she saw a chopper flying over her as she stood on the balcony of Aiden’s condo in Taguig.
She quickly grabbed her phone when it rang. But to her great dismay, the message came from Aiden, telling her he would pick her up at seven PM for the party. Once again, she was disappointed because she was expecting a text message from a different person.
“Did Brother Aiden text? Is he coming?” Jeremy asked who had been talking happily to Mylle, Aiden’s staff. The younger staff who had just graduated from college collected them in San Luis the other day.
She smiled blandly. “Yes.”
"Ma'am, are you worried that Sir Amadeus will be at the party? He's arrogant, but I'm sure he'll be nice to you because he had a soft spot for beautiful women," the chatty secretary said. Compared to Alexandra, who was quiet and a little snob, the woman was very approachable and caring of her brother. "He will like you for Sir Aiden."
“I hope so,” she uttered and glanced at the bright city lights from the glass window of the condo.
It had been almost two weeks since Richard left San Luis. She was silently hoping that he would return and fulfill his promise. That he would prove to her that he loved her. But as San Luis slowly recovered and the people getting on with their normal lives, her illusion was slowly shattering.
She did not get a single call or text from him. It was foolishness to wait for Richard. He had forgotten about her. He had gone back to his normal life. She should do the same. She should face her promise to Aiden and save her brother's life. And whatever she shared with Richard only belonged in her memory. A part of her past that should remain a secret. And Esmeralda promised to be faithful to Aiden even if she did not love him.
“You look stunning!” Aiden said the moment he arrived to pick her up. She was wearing a champagne-colored diaphanous gown. Her hair was pulled up and curled, and her makeup was beautiful. It was done by the hair and makeup artist that Mylle hired to style her.
"Thanks. You, too," she said, returning the compliment when he gave her a kiss on the cheek. She felt awkward, but she must get used to it because that was part of her role as his fiancée. "Are we leaving now? Isn't Lexie coming with us?"