THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 252: RECONNECTED

Chapter 252: RECONNECTED

Fay felt the need to just breathe in air that wasn’t filled with grief.

The grief was too thick in the room. Even after the funeral was over, and done with, everyone remained seated.

It was just Celine that hurriedly left. The lack of conscience didn’t come as a surprise to her.

She just wished the woman was smart enough to at least pretend to care.

As she walked past the door of the funeral room, her core memory was revived.

Following nothing else other than her instincts, she walked through turns, and staircases, until she made it to the top floor.

It was only when she opened the door and stepped out, she realized where her thoughts had taken her.

It was the secluded spot Ace had taken her, right after they left the room they got married in.

But just as she took curious steps forward, her gaze fell on a stranger’s back.

Her face contorted in confusion. It didn’t seem like there were a lot of people who knew about that spot.

"Hello?" She called.

Ace quickly racked his brain for the best way to navigate almost being caught.

There wasn’t any idea forthcoming. He couldn’t turn for fear she would recognize him.

But God, had he missed her voice! Even her scent was still so captivating.

It took him back to four years ago. Before all of the damages that he mostly caused, occurred.

"Hey, are you lost?" She called again when she didn’t get a response.

He wanted to respond to her. But he couldn’t do that to her.

How could he explain pretending to be dead? Would she even give him the opportunity to do that?

Fay didn’t understand why the person who was clearly a man was refusing to answer her.

Her first thought was that he could be dangerous, but he wasn’t moving like someone who could hurt her.

She tossed that thought aside, and focused on investigating who it was, and why they had refused to move.

"Hey?" She called, walking closer to him.

"Fay no," he thought in his mind.

She wasn’t supposed to be moving closer to a complete stranger she could clearly see was a man.

What if they tried to hurt her? He questioned in his mind.

"You know I’m not going to leave until you answer, right? Or should I just call the security? Either that, or you tell me why you’re here."

Ace made up his mind immediately. With a start, he made to open the door, but miscalculated how close she was.

Fay saw the attempt, and reached out just seconds after to stop the action.

Their hands touched, and a sizzle ran through her.

Forehead creased with shock, she pulled her hand away, and slowly stepped to his side.

The thought that formed in her head was crazy. Crazy because it just couldn’t be real.

She knew she would miss him terribly. But it couldn’t be that bad to the point of seeing things, right?

But she had to know. She had to know she wasn’t already going crazy.

Clearing her throat, she opened her mouth, and said the first thing that had come to her head the second she touched the stranger.

"Ace?"

Ace stiffened on hearing his name. He didn’t think she would know it was him.

It was different with him because she had a scent that announced her presence.

He didn’t think there was anything special to him, that would make her believe it was him in her presence.

But they had touched. Perhaps, that made the difference.

"Ace, is that you? I know it’s crazy to ask that. I mean, we just got done with your funeral. But if it’s you, that would be great. I’m crazy I know, but—"

Ace turned, unable to hear her keep spiralling that way.

Fay’s head lifted up, and her eyes went from shocked, stunned, to overwhelmed.

"Ace?" She called, looking past the bush on his face, and his head. "Ace?" She called, and gasped when she saw the bandage on his head.

Her hand reached out to touch it, and when it did, she shuddered.

"Ace!" She screamed, and went in for a hug.

He wrapped his hands around her, as she buried her body in his.

She held onto him with everything in her, afraid that if she let go, it would be the end.

Scared to death that if she opened her eyes, it would be just a dream, so she kept her eyes closed, and just embraced him.

Ace couldn’t put everything he felt into one emotion.

He felt all of it at the same time. Everything at once, and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

They stayed in that position for some minutes, before Ace eventually tried to move.

"No, don’t move. Let me feel you once more. Is it really you, Ace? Was Dream right all this time? Are you really alive?"

"Yeah, I am. But it isn’t safe for either you, or Dream. I already told Landon to get you, and Dream out of Seth’s house."

"Wait, what?" She pulled away, and stepped back.

It was like a veil had dropped, and she was back to her senses.

"What do you mean Dream and I aren’t safe?"

"I can’t explain everything right now, Fay. I just need you not to resist when Landon tries to get you and Dream out."

"No Ace," she shook her head. "I’m glad you’re alive, but this vagueness isn’t going to cut it. Tell me what is going on."

He sighed, and gave in to her demands.

"Come into the car."

She gladly obliged, as they both entered into the car.

"First of all, how are you alive?"

He smiled, and just kept on smiling as he stared at her face.

"What?" She asked. "Is there something on my face?"

"No. It’s perfect."

"Oh."

She tried to pull her gaze away before he could see the heat that crept into her eyes, but he was one step ahead of her.

He held her chin, and turned her to him again.

"I’ll tell you everything on one condition," he said, still holding on to her chin.

"What condition?" She asked breathlessly.

"Don’t stop looking at me," he said.

"That’s all?"

"Pretty much." He shrugged.

"Alright, I can do that."

"Good. So what do you want to know first?" He asked, dropping his hands.

"Why did you want to run away, and leave me to suffer the burden of seeing your daughter miss you?"

"Oh, we’re starting strong."

"We sure are," she nodded.

"Because I’m a fool. But I think we know that already. In my defense though, as soon as I entered my car that night, I knew I couldn’t do it."

"Couldn’t do what?"

"Leave Dream. I had promised her a lot of things I needed to fulfil."

"Then you should never have left."

"I went to Reign’s house, Fay. To confront her and her father for all they did. I was even going to let it go without a fight. Stupid decision, but in that moment, I just wanted a brief stretch of peace. One that would come with just loving my daughter, and earning your forgiveness. That’s all I wanted. But see how it ended."

"I watched the video," she said, her voice dropping hauntingly low. "He shot you. That bastard shot you," she said, her lips quivering.

"And left me to die. I hit my head on a big stone, as I fell to the ground. Just seconds before, Reign swore she loved me. But she left me to my fate. That’s life, right?" He shrugged nonchalantly, but Fay saw right through his unaffected act.

"Did it hurt?" She asked.

"I saw my daughter’s face when I closed my eyes. Then I saw yours. I think those two images were the reason I survived. Reign, and her father’s actions didn’t hurt. It was everything I was going to lose that hurt," he explained.

Her shaky hands reached up to touch his head again.

"Is it bad?" She asked.

"Not according to doctor Alexander."

She froze on hearing that name, a wave of guilt suddenly washing over her.

Ace knew that face. She was thinking about the kiss, and probably contemplated if it was right to bring it up or not.

"When Grant, who had been following me for a while, carried my dying body away, his first call was to Alexander. He came in a heartbeat. His swiftness saved my life."

"That’s why he didn’t make it to Dream’s birthday even after I invited him," she said, bobbing her head in realization.

"For the past six months, he hasn’t missed a day of checking in on me."

"Yeah, he’s nice like that. But he’s not the one that has me worried, Ace? What’s the gunshot like?"

"Healed. I could show you, but it’s beneath the shirt."

Her mouth instantly watered on hearing those words.

"Focus Fay!" She chided herself internally, despite knowing there was no point in doing that.

For as long as Fay lived, Ace Atticus would be the only man that made her feel desire in any, and every state.

It was a curse, just as much as it was a blessing.