Chapter 309 - The Chase
Was it a punishment to live for eternity but love one woman in your life, except, she'll never love you back?
Kaden had always known he'd love Lina with all that he had. He had a feeling, far before their first encounter, he had already fallen in love with her. When he saw her in their first life, sword at hand, mischief in her face, he knew there was no other woman for him. Yet, across all three lives they've lived, was Lina truly his?
Lina's heart was always torn between another man. Embraced in Kaden's arms, she always had one man in mind—Atlantis.
Even now, as Kaden stalked Lina down the hallways, he felt like she was thinking of another.
"If I hadn't stopped you that day, would you have gotten married to him?"
Lina paused. She was glancing down at her phone to search for the artist's contact. What the hell was Kaden blabbering about?
"I heard your 'I do.'"
Lina slowly lowered her phone. She glanced over her shoulder. Was the great tyrant of Ritan wavering? When she saw him, her heart trembled. He was alone.
Kaden, with all the wealth in the world, was lonely. He stood at the end of the hallway, a desolate expression on his face. His shoulders were broad and powerful, shouldering the weight of his people. He was a vision to behold, the kind of man that people always envied.
"I would have."
Lina said what she must. She needed Kaden to go away. Good for him to chase her, but she no longer wanted him in her life. Lina was happy as she was. She had everything she had ever wanted. Everything but a family. But she had the rest of her youth to create one.
"You would've gladly become Mrs. Medeor?"
Lina wondered where this conversation was going. Why did he want to hear things that only hurted him?
"As gladly as I would've been to be called Mrs. DeHaven."
Kade's eyes flashed. He could barely hold himself back from grabbing her. When will she ever reassure him that she was his for certain? Did he always have to share her with Atlantis? She'd deny her involvement with Atlantis a thousand times, but he'd never believe it.
Atlantis had her first. Atlantis would always be Lina's first love.
"If I take you by force, would you love me?" Kaden humored her.
"Well, considering the last time Atlantis did that, we've entered a messy divorce dispute. You tell me."
Kaden's lips curled upwards. Immediately, he began to approach her. Lina took that as a cue to run for her life, again. She headed for the elevator, furiously pressing the button, even though they were on one of the highest floors in the building.
"I wouldn't have just stopped at a wedding. I want all of you, heart and soul, dove."
Lina let out a small laugh. She turned to face him and tilted her head. "Yet, you received none, for you didn't know how to properly treat me."
"A single mistake and it ruined us both. Will you never forgive me for that day? For a past that can't be changed? I'd go back to that moment if I could and undo all of my mistakes, but there is nothing we can do to change time," Kaden remarked.
Kaden stopped right in front of her. She had to crane her neck to look at him. God, even under the shitty hallway lightning, she was beautiful. Her silky black hair was tied into a bun and she was no longer sporting a dress. Perhaps she learned from her mistake last night.
Lina licked her lips. They were one of a kind. Kaden's gaze followed the dart of her pink tongue. He was willing to follow her into a great unknown. Anywhere she'd want to go in the world, he'd take her to. Anything she wanted, all she had to do was say it.
"I gave you space," Kaden said. "I didn't bother you for five years, for I knew you needed time to heal."
"You didn't give me space," Lina said to him. "You were a coward. You were afraid to chase me. You were a stalker watching me from the shadows. Don't make yourself look heroic."
"Was I the only one in the wrong? Why would you sleep with the report, have it opened, and then expect me to not jump to conclusions? You went with him," Kaden snarled. "You begged him to save you."
"A consequence of your actions, was it not?"
Kaden's eyes flashed. His nostrils flared. He gritted his teeth and tightened his hands into fists.
"I'm sorry," Kaden seethed.
"No, you're not."
"Dove—"
"You're sorry your actions led to punishment. You're sorry you lost me. You're not sorry for manipulating my thoughts. You're only apologizing because you were caught red-handed. And for that, I will never forgive you."
The elevator doors finally dinged open.
Lina stepped inside and turned to face Kaden. For the first time in her life, she witnessed a new expression on his face.
Crestfallen. What a beautiful word, reminding her of the lonely half-moon. Kaden appeared defeated, his shoulders dropped in disbelief. He was surprised by her revelation.
"Let us never meet again."
The elevator doors rolled shut.
Within the metal walls, Lina nearly collapsed. She let out a shaky breath that she held in for the longest time. Clutching her hand to her chest, she could feel her heart threatening to break into thousands of pieces by the floor. Leaning against the elevator, she painfully squeezed her eyes shut.
So this was it.
This was where their love story ended.
- - - - -
Lina had recalled the exact moment she realized this relationship would never work. Lina's mistrust in Kaden's relationship with Priscilla, and his mistrust in her relations with Atlantis. Together, they were each other's ruin.
Lina and Kaden weren't meant to be. It was written in the stars. Everyone above the clouds knew it. The entire world might as well think the same. Lina should've known her fate was forever entangled with people she shouldn't love.
"In the end, you still didn't chase."
Lina quietly walked out of the skyscraper building. She waved down the nearest taxi, but they drove past her in a hurry. She glanced at the time and saw rush hour was at its peak. It'd be impossible to hail a car right now.
"Think again," a voice said from behind her.
Police sirens blare down the streets. Firefighters raced down the pavement. Ambulances swerved through traffic. Cars honked. The streets were filled with passersby. The bustling life of the city was at its all-time high. Yet, amidst all the panic and hurry of the people, Lina heard his voice and only his.
Kaden had just started the chase.
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