ter 6 Chapter 6 : 55 vouchers He was gone . Cameron , and Kael as well . Like he did not just touch me in places no one else has in three years . Like he did not just make a fool of me in his bid to humiliate Cameron . Like he did not just taste every bit of me , and drive me to a toe curling climax . In the blink of an eye , I'm alone , sitting on the cold, hard desk . With nothing but my thoughts , residues of his presence and a question heavy on my mind . Did that ... just happen ? Did Kael and I ... I quickly shake the thought away . My skin tingles as though confirming what I already know to be true . It did happen . And I just let it . No ... I did more than let it . A knot forms in the pit of my stomach , nausea crawling in the back of my throat . The room spins and I grip the edge of the table . This feeling ... is all too familiar . It's a feeling I wish I don't recognize so well . It clawed at me every time I welcomed Cameron home , dusting down his coat while ignoring the scent of a perfume we both knew wasn't mine ... This same feeling that consumed me on the night he announced in my doorway that he would be a father , with a grin wider than I'd ever seen on him . His eyes gleaming with such happiness , while my heart shattered within me . This feeling was humiliation ... raw and bitter . Every fibre of my being screams at me to run . To take my son and disappear where the Blackwoods can never find us . But I signed up for this . Breaking my word means death . Kael's made that clear . The pricking sensation in my eyes and the urge to puke grows stronger . I forcefully blink them away . Tears don't solve anything ... not then , not now . I won't cry over another Blackwood . They don't deserve to ruin me anymore than they already have . Slowly , I adjust my dress and fix my hair and makeup as best as I can . By the time I return to the gala , the guests are all seated . A shareholder of Blackwood Co. is droning through a speech no one cares for . Grandfather Blackwood beckons me over . Liam is perched on his lap , fast asleep . The knot in my stomach eases just a fraction and I exhale a drawn out breath . 14:13 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 6 : Our table is reserved for the Blackwood family , which means Cameron , Sarah ... and Kael . ମୂକ୍ଷ୍ମା 52 55 vouchers He doesn't look directly at me but gets to his feet , pulling out my seat . And then his eyes are fixed on the stage . I do not look his way either . " Laila , dear girl . " Grandfather Blackwood leans over , " Kael says you do not feel too well ." I'm guessing that's the best explanation he could come up with for our disappearance . I wonder what Cameron's had been . I dare a peek across the table , only to find that Cameron is already staring at me . The intensity of his gaze startles me and the moment our eyes meet , something shifts in his ... anger ? Disappointment ? I don't care to decipher it . Cameron never cared about me before , he won't start now . The warmth of Kael's hand situating itself on my lap draws me back to reality . I quickly avert my gaze . " It was a long flight . " I murmur , " For Liam and I both . " Grandfather Blackwood nods in understanding . " Then we had best wrap this up quickly . Put my Grandson to bed ." As he gets up to his feet , I reach for Liam but Grandfather Blackwood shakes his head . " You've kept this bubbly one hidden from me too long , Laila . I'm not giving him up just yet , or who knows how long you'll disappear this time . " He takes Liam along to the stage to give his address . The guests are applauding as he speaks , balancing Liam with an arm , and leaning on his cane with the other . I don't catch his words but he must have introduced us because Kael rises and helps me up as well . All eyes are on us and Grandfather Blackwood's smile is wider than a Cheshire cat . We're the center of all the attention now , just as Kael intended for it to be . The temperature at our table has dropped by more than a few degrees . I can practically feel Sarah's glare burning into the side of my face but I ignore it , forcing a practiced smile to my lips . I've had three years to perfect the image of Kael's dutiful wife ... I hate him with everything in me but at this moment , my eyes shine with pride and delight . My husband and I are being welcomed home by the very same family that cast us out ... after all . The silence in the car is suffocating . The seatbelt digs into my skin like shackles intended to suffocate . Kael has been quiet since we left the gala . Not a smile . Or even a glance in my direction . 14:13 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 6 55 vouchers He hasn't even bothered to ask if I'm alright after what happened . I'm pretty sure he doesn't care to know that I am . I'm not surprised . We never talk except necessary . The longest conversation we've had for the past three years was on the night I signed myself away to his cruel contract . Kael Blackwood only takes what he wants . Everything else , he discards without flinching . And tonight has played out exactly as he intended . The moment we stepped out those doors , there was no longer any reason to keep up the facade and that familiar chilly silence that has filled our space for three years creeps in again . I've grown used to it now . I'm grateful for it , even . Because I can only do so much to keep the tears down . My eyes water and I blink rapidly . I didn't think I still cared . I didn't think it would still feel so raw after so long . Sitting here , with the steady motion of the car , the memories of Cameron and Sarah which I've struggled to forget have all begun to surface again , All the pain , disappointment and hurt ... I didn't think seeing him ... them again would be this painful . But it hurts . My chest feels too tight to contain my heart , Nausea churns in the pit of my stomach . The humiliation crawling underneath my skin is so visceral , and I can't tell if it's because of Kael's actions or seeing Cameron witness it . I dig my nails into my palm to distract myself . But the urge only grows stronger . " Stop the car , Blake . " I whisper hoarsely to our driver , " No Kael replies blankly , My heart drops , my hands trembling around the seatbelt . " Kael ... I plead , barely audible , " Stop the car . " He finally glances my way , nodding to Blake with a grunt of displeasure . As the car stops , I unstrap my seat belt , jump out and run for the curb , doubling over . " Familiar sight ... " Kael mutters behind me , leaning on the car . He leaves his words hanging , but even if he doesn't say the words , we both think it . Pathetic ... 14:13 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 6 Many things have changed in three years . But some things never change ...