Substitute Wife for the Mafia King R18-Chapter 259: Lingering Memories
After all that we’ve done together and all the time that we’d spent together, despite our hearts failing to connect, it seemed like the time that I spent with the Prince made him know me quite well. It did occur to me that he might understand me more than I understood myself at that moment because he seemed to sense my fear. Perhaps I have changed as a person because I found myself feeling uncomfortable and detesting what I could have so easily done in the past.
“Come over here, Dahlia. I want to get a closer look at you,” the prince instructed as he gestured with his index finger for me to approach him.
His gray eyes stared at me before flickering slowly down the length of my body and then up again until our eyes met. Despite the dark situation that was going on regarding his father and the associated political instability of the country, there was an unmistakable look of desire in his gray eyes. The look in his eyes sent a chill down my spine along with my realization that the Prince sitting in front of me wasn’t the stereotypical benevolent prince. He was the prince that always did things his way to get all that he wanted, and that very prince is about to become the next king of this country.
“Why are you hesitating? I told you to come over here,” the prince repeated his instruction and his tone left no room for any arguments.
There were times like these when he would remind me ever so subtly that we were not on equal footing. Regardless of how close we were, he was still royalty and I was just nobody. I approached him the way that he wanted before taking a seat on the sofa opposite where he was seated. It felt like too much time had passed since the last time that we sat opposite each other like this in this place.
“Doesn’t this just make you feel like it’s the perfect time for us to play a game like we always used to play?” he asked before he smiled warmly at me.
Once again I was amazed at how fast Desmond’s emotions could change. In a blink of an eye, he could go from a warm and friendly ally to a cold and violent foe. I reminded myself that I needed to be careful with my actions and also my words whenever I was around him. If I handled him right, I knew that I could get him to do what I wanted him to. He was another man that was hard to control but that also made the reward much more worthwhile.
“It surely has been awhile. I really missed playing games with you...” I replied quite naturally.
“Then what are we waiting for?” he said before he beamed a bright smile my way.
A very short while later, Desmond returned with a board of Gomoku and the associated pieces required for the game. My eyes widened when I recognized the rainbow colored stones that he had custom made for me based on my silly and random request.
“They’re still here?” I exclaimed in surprise.
I was genuinely glad to see that he still had the rainbow pieces that I used to play. It made me think that perhaps he had waited for me to return to play this game with him and that brought a stinging sensation to my chest.
“Of course. You need these pieces to play with me so why the hell would I ever throw them out?” he replied with a small laugh.
Desmond had begun talking to me casually just like he did so often in the past. At times like these when he would laugh and smile innocently, I was reminded of the simple joy of spending my time in his company. There was a time when I truly believed that things were simple between us and that we could be friends and allies. However, that peace did not last long between us before we began unknowingly digging our own graves.
“Do you think you will manage to win this time? the prince asked challengingly.
I have never won a game of Gomoku against the prince before, and he knew that very well. On top of that, it had been years since I last played the game because I never played it with anyone else besides the prince. I didn’t even know anyone who knew how to play the game besides the prince, now that I thought about it.
“I haven’t played in years. I honestly don’t see how I could possibly win. Also, whatever skills I had must have gotten rusty. Actually, you might find it boring to play with me now because my skills are probably lagging far behind yours,” I replied with a hint of regret.
“Don’t say that, Dahlia. My skills might have gotten rusty as well. After all, I haven’t played a single game since you left,” he replied and for a moment he sounded so sorrowful.
My eyes widened as I felt a troubling sensation in my chest. I would be lying if I said that his words did not have an impact on me. I honestly never thought that he would stop playing a game that he liked so much simply because I was no longer around to play it with him. Since I could also tell that he wasn’t lying to me, I didn’t know what I should say to him.
“I’m sorry...” I apologized because I somehow felt that it was my fault.
“Why are you apologizing? Also, there’s no need for you to look so sad. I didn’t tell you that for you to make such a face,” the prince said with a smile on his lips.
Playing Gomoku with the prince surely used to be fun and I did wish that I would get the opportunity to play with him again; however, at that moment, I felt like I had lost all passion for the game. Perhaps it was because of the sense of guilt that had started to gnaw at my heart.
–To be continued...
