Chapter 60: Chapter 60

I woke up around 4 am and started packing my stuff, knowing that I might have to face Alex in the morning. It's not like I had a choice. I had to leave.

I had to leave him and go back to Terry where I'll most likely be used a pawn to draw Alex in. Their plan was too simple. Yet, it seems to be working every time. But not again.

"What are you doing." It wasn't like a question, but more like a demand.

"Packing." I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Why."

"Because we can't be together." I said but a crack in my voice made my knee tremble nervously. Will he be see through my lie?

I stiffen when his arms find mine.

"I was right,"

I held a breath, waiting for the long lecture of how he was right all along, that I was an ungrateful bitch who left him for no particular reason.

"You are really a bad liar." He turned me around to face him. It was so sudden, I didn't know what to say.

"I have to go."

"Go where?"

"I have to go to my parents and-"

"I called your parents. They have no idea about your little plan of running away. you never reach out to them for over two weeks, so tell me the truth, Rina." I flinched as those accusations left his mouth.

"I-I plan to surprise them."

"Where are you going?" he grew impatient. I closed my eyes a little, contemplating to whether I should tell him the truth or not.

"You really can't accept the fact that I am leaving you-"

"I am really done playing the nice guy, Katy. I already have a idea of what's going on, so I'll take my chances and do as I please." he suddenly cupped my cheeks and my eyes widened, completely mesmerized into his blue eyes.

"I'm going to ask you this again for last time, and I want the truth, am I clear?" he spoke softly, as if he knew that I was already under another compulsion besides his compulsion.

"By any chance, did-" he paused "Did Terry threaten you in any way, while I was gone?" I opened my mouth and no words came out.

"Rina, tell me the truth, now." He compelled me.

"Yes." As soon as those words left my mouth, he backed away. I can't believe it. He really broke the compulsion. How? How was it possible?

"I want you to finish that." he raised his eyebrows towards my plate of food.

"You didn't say please."

"Finish your damn food." I made a face and was about to dig in when he sat down next to me on the table.

"Thank you. For breaking the compulsion."

"I didn't do anything much. My powers are stronger than him. So, his compulsion is bound to break over mine." he explained and I nodded. I explained everything to him, starting from how Terry threatened to kill everyone if I disobeyed him. However, I did leave out Rihana I decided to leave the worst for the last. I'll tell Alex tonight, when everything is set. The Ivanov brothers are on the look out for Terry . Rihana had coincidentally left the mansion for a couple of days.

Oh don't worry, she won't be able to play hide and seek for long.

"Were you planning to kill Victor?" he asked and I literally started choking on the water I was drinking. He gently rubbed my back as I struggled to catch my breath and I looked at him, only to find him staring back at me.

"I-I wasn't exactly-"

"Danny told me."

That rat.

" I was. Why?"

"Why? Because you can't hurt a damn fly even if you wanted to, Rina, that's why." he leaned in his chair and I ripped my eyes from his bare chest.

"Stop. I don't want you to say that,"

The memories of Terry's torture played across my mind and I bit my bottom lip angrily.

"I hate him. I hate him and I will make him pay for what he did to me. I can't take it anymore, I really can't-" I stopped when his hands wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug.

"I know. But you won't have to. Leave that to me. You don't need to stoop down to his level. I can't let that happen to you, ever. And I won't." I couldn't help but feel relieved and happy with the way he was comforting me.

"You're being extra nice to me." I teased as he pulled away .

"Because I'm glad. You didn't really wanna leave." he pulled me into his arms.

"I don't know what I'd do if you weren't under his compulsion. Never have I ever been more relieved about something than I was today." His words made my heart melt and I was genuinely surprised to see this side of him. He was so sweet, gentle and kind .

"I like this sweet side of you." I wrapped my arms around his neck and watched one of his eyebrow lift up.

"Never mind." he started untangling my hands and I Iaughed before pulling myself closer. An hour or so passed .

Alex and I cleaned up the place a bit, unpacking my things along with him, making several phone calls to his brothers every now and then. Everything was great, we hadn't fought for one whole day.

"I gotta take this." he said as I nodded, slightly feeling uneasy for some reason.

"Hey Rihana, Where've you been?"

"I thought I asked you to stay put and not go out--Katy? She's with-" before Alex could finish the sentence that could ruin all our lives, I jumped right at him, snatching his phone away and threw it to the nearby wall.

"What the hell, Katy?!"

"Don't call her. Don't talk to her. Just stay away from her!" I snapped. My fingers were trembling, my heart still pounding against my chest .

"What's gotten into you? You-"

"She is the one who plotted against me with Terry." I blabbered out .

"She was there, the night Terry threatened me. She was there, she was since the beginning. Everything she told was a lie, she wasn't kidnapped, she probably ran away with him after cheating on you and--"

"Stop."

"I am telling the truth! I know it sounds crazy but it's all-"

"You're right." I stopped .

"Alex, how could you just--do you really think I'd lie to you?" I blurted out, not knowing where to begin.

"I think that you're tired. I know that you want answers, Katy. But this is not the way to go. I told you to let me take care of it. I told you to not stoop that low and--"

"I'm not...why, how can you say those words so easily and-" I forced to swallow a lump in my throat. It was hard to hear these words from him. It was hard to see him defend her like this and not me.

"Rina, listen to me. She wasn't behind any of this. I know that it's easier to blame this on her but we both know that it was Terry behind--"

"Enough," My eyes stinging as the tears threatening to spill any second. "I know that I have no reason or solid proof for you to believe me, but my words, my words should be enough for you at this point. I'm not desperate enough to pin anything against anyone and I could never frame an innocent person like that. So stop accusing me of stooping so low when you're the one who's purposely dragging me down to that level even when I am telling the truth." I let the tears fall, finally not able to keep it in.

"She really was there. I saw her. She forced me to be with you that night when you got drunk, she mixed vervain in your drinks and drugged you that night. I was there. I am not lying." I brushed more tears, crying into my own arms as I broke down on the floor. I finally looked up at Alex, who has an unreadable expression now plastered on his face. Confusion, hurt, anger, betrayal, suspicion, all sorts of emotions flashed inside those icy blue eyes as I brushed away more tears.

"I don't have to prove anything to you. You are supposed to believe me. You believe and trust the person you claim to love, not like this." I got up angrily.

"Rina, wait." I turned to face him. "I do believe you, I want to believe you. I just--I need time. You didn't tell me any of this before."

"Because I was scared. That you'd react like this. We don't have time. She is out there, conspiring against us for god knows what reasons and here we are, falling right into her trap once again." Alex stared at me.

"It's-it's just so hard to believe that she would-- that means she's been faking the entire." he trailed off

"If you really want to know the truth then compel me and get the truth out of me like you did before."

"Not planning to do that."

"And why not?"

"Because I love you," he paused. "And I don't want to use my power against you like that anymore. If you say that she was behind this, then I do believe you." I almost broke down at his words.

"Where are you going?"

"Out."

"Out where?"

"To find Rihana, of course. Or Terry. "

"Can't you stay for the night? We got together today and I really want to spend the rest of the night together too." I lowered my eyelashes .

"Hmm? Spend the rest of the night doing what, exactly?" he asked slyly.

"Spend the night just doing stuff."

"What kinda stuff?"

"Alex." I warned.

"Yes?"

"I would love to. But I still have to talk to Rihana . I want to find out the truth. I want her to say it. I want to confirm it tonight, right now and--" He turned and stopped when I grabbed his hand.

"I know, and so do I. But I really wish you'd stay for the night. We never got to spend a day like this, Alex. Not even once, and who knows what's going to happen tomorrow? I just wanna spend the night with you. I don't want you to leave me."

"Katy, it's killing me to not know.-"

"Please? Only for tonight." I begged harder and smiled when he finally let out a sigh, giving into me. The rest of the night went fine, except that Alex would occasionally drift off into his own little world but I couldn't blame him.

"Are you still thinking about it?" I questioned as we settled in bed and he shook his head, closing his eyes and mumbling a quick goodnight. Knowing that there was too much going on in his mind, I decided not to bother him and go to sleep myself. Tomorrow we can find answers. Answers to all his questions. But tonight, he needed the sleep. We both did. And with that thought, we drifted into a sleep.

When I saw Alex already sitting up, leaning against the headboard, I asked him.

"You are still thinking about it."

"Give me a break, Rina." he groaned helplessly .

"Alex, talk to me."

"It's just fucked up, alright? This whole thing is-"

"So you are still thinking about her?"

"Can you blame me? This whole time, she's been plotting against me. I honesty thought that she loved me at some point and now that there's a chance that she was lying this entire time--it, it's just so much shit to process." he spoke softly and I nodded.

"I understand. But you'll find out the truth yourself. I'll help you if I have to and-"

"No. You're not getting involved anymore. I just want to forget about her-" he said in a frustrated manner. He really was hurting right now.

"Then forget about her," my voice turned all soft and low. "I can make you forget about her once and for all, if you let me." I drew in closer. His eyes met mine for a second before he turned away again.

"You should sleep." his voice was barely a whisper.

"Why?" I leaned closer, brushing my lips against his jawline. This was probably the first time I am making a move on him first, and I was more than enjoying it. His body stiffened for a minute as I slowly guided my lips down to his neck.

"Katy, stop-" he breathed, grabbing my shoulders and yanking me away from him. "Not tonight." he turned away and my cheeks heat up in embarrassment. I was rejected.

"Sorry, I'll leave you alone then. Guess you still need time to process the fact that she tried to kill me." I spat with venom in my voice.

"It's not like that-"

"It is. You don't believe me, Alex. I understand that this is hard for you but it's harder for me..." I blinked away some tears.

"I-I want you to believe in me like you believe in her--" I paused when a hand grabbed my own, pulling me closer.

"You really need to stop doing that." he pulled away . " She's not the one I am worried about, you are, Rina. I didn't ask you to leave because I wanted to think about her , I wanted you to leave because I was hu--" he stopped and I flinched , curious for him to finish.

"Hungry. I haven't had anything in a while and since I don't travel with blood bags anymore, it gets harder to deal with the thirst." his eyes wavered .

"You could have told me." I said while pulling my hair to a side, exposing my neck.

"No." he said firmly, turning away,

"Why?"

"Because I am going to learn how to control and deal with it." he persisted and my eyes trailed down his shirtless body. He looks so pale, so exhausted. I hadn't even notice it till he mentioned how hungry he was.

"Can you really control yourself? You said my blood was special." It ticked me off when he brushed me away without any hesitations.

"You really don't want any?" I asked softly, purposely seducing him. His body tensed up under my touch and I am glad that I had this much affect on him.