Chapter 63

Nan’s POV

I see the moment Lionel registers what he is looking at.

The angry sneer at his mouth fades away. His jaw slightly drops. Eyes completely glued on my necklace.

‘How in the world has he come to that conclusion?’ I think. I am mystified by his logic.

Several moments passed quietly between us. Neither one of us know what to say. And I am not inclined to speak first.

But I begin to realize I am still pinned to the bed. That I am pinned beneath him. So close that every point of our bodies touch.

His warm breath fans across my face. The scent of his minty toothpaste reaches my nose. It sends both flashes of warmth and coolness through me.

Then I take in the other sensation. His strong but gentle grip on my wrists. The firm and muscular thigh parting my legs.

It is tantalizing. Tension rises in the room. My previous outrage has long faded.

“I would like to claim my kiss.” Lionel says huskily. That sound and his hooded eyes are like embers in my belly.

The heat in his eyes tells me that he can smell my reaction. It mortifies me. It sends little swoops of butterflies inside me.

‘It would only take a few more inches…’ I observe wantonly. ‘So, so close…’

He must have the same thought…because he goes to close the distance.

But this time it’s me who turns my head away at the last minute. His soft, plump lips brush my cheek. I close my eyes in a self-reprimand.

He pulls back in shock. I feel his gaze. But I only squeeze my eyes tighter.

His hands release my wrists. He sits back into a hunch. No longer touching me.

I swallow. But I also appreciate his silent retreat. I sit up too.

“Nan…” He starts. His normally strong and commanding voice unsure.

I say nothing. My mind is empty of all thoughts. Simply waiting.

“The necklace… did not sell it. How did you get the money?” He asks.

I bite the inside of my cheek. Trying to gather my thoughts. To put them in the right order.

“I did not sell anything,” I admit.

“Then…” Lionel says incomprehensively.

“I pawned my necklace…but I just could not redeem it in time. It is gone.” My voice breaks slightly on the last word.

“What necklace?” Lionel questions. Trying to understand me.

I put my face in my hands. Take a deep breath. Then let my regret trickle out like a stream.

“I pawned my mother’s necklace. It was the only thing I had valuable enough to get the money I needed.” I explain gloomily.

Lionel seems taken aback. He fully sits on the bed. Correctly guessing this will not be short conversation.

He studies my body language. There is concern in his voice as he poses his next question. “This necklace…you said you could not get it back?”

I shake my head. A sharp pain going through my heart as I hear those words aloud again. I had known it for a while and agonized over this face…but hearing it does not ease my grief any.

I bring my knees up to my chest and hug them. Lionel’s concern grows more in the crinkle of his forehead. I am too numb to be irritated that even this does not detract his handsomeness.

I open my mouth. No sound escapes. I try again.

“My parents…they…my childhood was not…it was rough.” I clear my throat. Lionel listens quietly.

“It was not easy for any of us. With me being born the way I was.” I confess.

“Having a weak wolf.” Lionel clarifies. I blink in surprise before remembering my lie.

“Yes.” I lie once more. “The kids in my neighborhood found me…unnatural. Disturbing.”

‘Weak and useless,’ My brain hisses. Unable to sugarcoat the truth in the privacy of my own mind.

“It was especially hard on my parents. But my mom…my mom tried too hard to support me. Even when I didn’t really appreciate it.”

I had always felt unwanted after overhearing my parents’ conversation that day I nearly drowned. It tainted every interaction in darker hues in the perspective of my younger self. Some part even now aches at that memory.

“My mother gave me that necklace for my 13(th) birthday. It was a long-held family heirloom. Centuries old.” I comment absently.

Lionel smiles weakly at me. Not knowing the full truth but obviously sensing the direction my story is going. “That sounds special.”

I dig my fingers into my legs. “It was. It was the last gift I ever received from her before their death a few weeks later.”

He stills. Utterly motionless. I do not look at face for fear of seeing something as terrible as pity.

“That necklace brought me so much comfort afterwards. It was a lifeline in a sea of strife and struggle in our lives after that. I thought…I stupidly thought that by pawning it, I would be able to get it back and fix everything.”

My voice breaks. I hate the sound of my weakness. But I peak to catch his reaction anyway.

He looks…as cold as a statue.

Lionel’s POV

I have always had a guess about the nature of Nan’s childhood.

I knew she had a family. I had my private investigator do a shallow background check before fully agreeing to her moving into my home. All of the information was written on a paper I had only briefly scanned over at the time.

They were facts. Names on a paper. Not quite real to me.

Hearing it from Nan’s own mouth made it all to real. The emotional scars evident in her cracking voice. The way she curled into herself…as though she could hug that sad little girl if she tried hard enough.

It makes me wish I could have protected that little girl. Made her feel safe and loved. Pour my own strength into her.

It also condenses my guilt. I lost my temper with her again. I accused her without facts again.

After we made up, I swore to myself I would protect her. That I would do my best to make sure she never suffered again. And I broke my promise...again.

“Nan, I’m sorry about your mother’s necklace.” I finally say.

“It was my own fault.” She says blankly.

“I am still sorry. You shouldn’t have had to deal with any of this.” I reply fiercely.

She nods. But then she lifts her head up curiously after a minute. “About before…you were so angry…”

I grimace. “I should not have lost my temper that way.” I give her a wryly look.

But the sad look in her eyes is disappearing. I can see the cogs turning in her head. Many micro expressions play across her face.

Blooming displeasure is the dominate one. ‘That does not bode well for me,’ I think. I am unluckily right.

“You were angry…because you thought I sold your birthday gift to me?” Her voice is tightly controlled. Too tense to be truly calm.

A slight bitter tang enters her scent. A warning of her temper rousing once more. Only this time I am not as delighted to face it.

‘I am not ready to reap what I sowed so thoughtlessly,’ I muse ruefully. ‘How selfish of me.’

“Yes.” I admit. “But the evidence I had-”

“What evidence?” She passionlessly interjects.

“My mother gave me some files with evidence that you sold your necklace.” I elaborate. “So I had my private-”

But she cuts me off again. “Evidence that your mother gave you? The one who created a scheme to make me look like a gold digger?”

“Wait, that not what I-” I try to explain. But Nan is too outraged to hear me.

“Moon goddess, Lionel!” She shouts. “Did you really think I would be so callous to give away your gift?”

She stands up. I stand up with her. Uncoordinated explanations falling from my mouth that I do not hear. Trying to get her to understand.

“It’s not that! I just…I have not had time to talk it over with you.” I promise. “I was going to ask you…”

Nan is already walking away. She turns angry, hurt eyes on me one last time before she leaves. “Am I just a gold digger to you after all?”

“NO!” I protest loudly.

“Yet your actions say otherwise.” She whispers.

I am left standing alone with my own guilt.