Substitute Wife for the Mafia King R18-Chapter 223: Lust and Attachment
I understood well enough what he was trying to tell me. Those weren’t questions at all but words to guide me to think the way that he wanted me to. I dropped all pretense of politeness as I felt my mood darken. Elaborate words aside, Desmond had just told me that I didn’t have a choice. I bit hard on my lower lip while feeling like he had managed to corner me once again.
“I’m not sure if I can do this...” I murmured honestly.
I resisted the urge to chew on my own lower lip in extreme exasperation. Since there is only one king and he was going to be crowned the next king very soon, he was right that I had no choice but to involve him in my plan.
But still...
“I need some time to think about this,” I replied softly.
“Sure. There’s still time but I can’t wait forever,” he said lightly.
I nodded to show him that I understood. If I wanted to help him out, I knew that we had to start very soon. The latest would be sometime soon after his coronation. Maintaining the line of succession and balance of power in the country is extremely important and that is why not much time is allowed between the funeral of the past king and the coronation of the new one.
“Why don’t you just get married?” I asked what had been nagging me at the back of my mind.
Back then the prince didn’t want to get engaged and now he still continued to avoid it. Desmond looked at me with a pensive look on his face in silence and it slowly became clear that he wasn’t going to give me an answer to my question.
“Don’t get attached, Dahlia,” the prince warned suddenly after a moment of silence.
“I’m sorry but I’m not sure what you mean,” I replied as I felt my heart clench uncomfortably in my chest.
Perhaps I did know what Desmond was trying to point out but I had been too busy trying to deny that possibility to myself because it just seemed too impossible. How could I ever feel attached to him of all people?
“Don’t get confused by your emotions and don’t get attached to Bradon. He’s not Anthony and he’s not who you think he is. Don’t confuse lust for love. Don’t make closeness grow into attachment, Dahlia. I’m telling this for your own benefit,” the prince warned sternly.
I could tell that he was giving me advice because he was genuinely worried about me. Perhaps Desmond was in the position to give me that advice because we might have gone through exactly that a few years ago. However, I wasn’t as young and green as I was back then.
“I’m not confused but thank you for your reminder and warning,” I replied coldly.
“He’s not Anthony and you’re not Diana. You may be living with him and you’re probably sleeping with him, but he’s not your husband. Your relationship isn’t real and doesn’t have a future. Bradon is also a very dangerous man,” Desmond continued lecturing me.
It felt like I was hearing my mind speaking out loud to me in another person’s voice and I wondered how many times I have told myself exactly that before.
“I am well aware,” I said in a surprisingly calm tone.
“Is that so?” he asked while sounding not at all convinced.
“I don’t think you’re any less dangerous,” I openly expressed my opinion.
To me, these two men were predators in their own right. Perhaps the way they hunted and treated their prey may be different but that doesn’t change the fact that they are vicious predators. Even if they may belong to different species...
“Maybe you’re right,” Desmond replied smoothly.
“If you help me out with my plan and everything comes to an end, I’ll leave this country again for good. Thanks for the offer, but even if it is possible, I can’t imagine myself returning here as Dahlia,” I replied firmly.
“Well, he’s not going to like that...” Desmond mumbled.
“You mean, Bradon? Why wouldn’t he like it?” I asked blankly.
Just when it looked like Desmond was about to reply to my question, the door to the room opened with a loud bang. Clearly, Bradon had lost all his patience with us, if he even had it from the beginning.
“Time’s up,” Bradon declared emotionlessly.
The prince shot a regretful look my way before he smiled. I quickly stood up along with the prince before walking along with him toward the door. Bradon clearly wasn’t going to invite the prince to dinner so I figured that it was now time for Desmond to leave. The conversation that I had with him turned out to be grudgingly troublesome and complicated, and I wouldn’t mind taking time to think about my next move before I did anything rash.
“Thank you for coming to see me today...” I said before deciding that I shouldn’t say anymore.
I wanted to tell him that I will contact him soon to give him my answer; however, I couldn’t say that with Bradon standing there so close to us.
“I’m happy that you’re back. We’ll meet again,” Desmond said it like a promise before he smiled sweetly at me.
Before I could thank him again, he suddenly held my wrist and pulled me towards him. My eyes widened and my heart leapt in my chest when I found myself in his embrace. Desmond’s arms were around my body as he held me close and buried his face in my hair. My body felt as stiff as a rock as his hand moved to stroke the back of my head. His embrace was firm yet gentle at the same time.
Oh no...
I felt a shiver run through my body and when I glanced up, I saw Bradon staring right at us with his piercing blue eyes. Dread filled my body and I cursed Desmond silently for doing something that might get both of us killed right on the spot.
Why did he have to do this right in front of Bradon?
Of course, I knew immediately that Desmond had chosen to hug me in front of Bradon intentionally. Perhaps in his mind, another game of Gomoku had already begun. I clicked my tongue in annoyance when I realized that I would have to spend many days or even many weeks trying to patch things up with Bradon and it was all because of Desmond.
–To be continued...
