"Did you ever see which one of us was infertile?" Lina nonchalantly asked when he attempted to feed her again.
Kaden was floored. In his shock, Lina directed the fork back towards his mouth and gestured for him to eat. They were on the 5th-course and she was beyond stuffed because he insisted on giving his share to her.
"It has to be me," Lina suddenly said. "Immortality cure all wounds."
Lina lowered her gaze and quietly played with the thick napkin on her lap. She always had that inkling it would be her, but never admitted it.
"That curse you saw in your dreams only allowed you to have a child with Atlantis."
It was enough said.
Lina's hands trembled. The miscarriage in the first life… it was not Prince Kade's child. It was Atlan's. The thought shook her entire core. She didn't think that far until now. Nibbling on her bottom lips, she couldn't bring it in herself to look at him.
"You were a young girl, easily tricked by the one you trusted," Kaden murmured. "I have long come to terms that had you survived, I would've pretended to not see the lack of similarities."
"Kaden—"
"I would've raised your first child as my own and made him the Crown Prince. I would've not accepted any suspicions about you, dove of mine." Kaden placed his fork down, for human food seldom intrigued him. He could go days without it.
"I'd like to say that would be my reaction, but one day I would succumb to the madness, for the truth would always linger in the back of my mind," Kaden admitted. "I guess that is the only good use for my mortal heart. It makes me human only at that moment."
"You'll raise the child only to resent them?" Lina asked, her voice cracking.
"I'd love the parts of them that'd resemble you."
Lina's heart fell. There was no use in discussing the what-ifs, for it was never going to happen. What truly mattered was the present.
"Do you know why I've forgiven you for the immortality?" Lina mumbled.
"I had my suspicions."
"Being Pure-Blood would not have healed my infertility, but being immortal could." Lina awkwardly played with the plate of sliced steak resting on a small bed of leaves. She wasn't hungry, no matter how delectable the scent was.
"Even if there were other means of having a child, whether it was adoption, surrogacy, I've always felt insecure about it. I've admired the people who've embraced this quality, but I wasn't selfless enough to do so," Lina admitted.
It was one of the rare moments Lina finally opened up. "That was why I refused to forgive you when you stormed off and then erased my memories afterward. You didn't trust me to not have opened the paper. You didn't even give me a chance to explain, for you thought it could've been you, but I know that possibility was long ruled out."
Lina settled her plate down. She turned to face him and saw his aghast expression. "In the back of my mind, I always knew I was the infertile one."
Lina revealed a pained smile that came out as a grimace. "I was hurt by your actions, Kaden. It took me five years to understand that I was also despising myself. Everything snowballed."
"We were both at fault," Kaden confessed in a rare and collected voice. He reached out and stroked her cheek, for they had endured far too much.
Lina couldn't help, but feel as if she had wronged him. But he had done the same to her in nearly three lifetimes. They were a love that wasn't supposed to last. Destiny made sure of it with the obstacles it threw their way. If Lina had stayed with Atlantis, if she ended up with her fated lover, there would be no tragedy. There would be no calamity.
"It is the consequence of defying destiny, but here we are. Everything will be fine, dove of mine. Nature should be smooth-cruising from here on out," Kaden softly reassured her.
Lina could do nothing, but reach and hug him. He was surprised, but she tightened her grip. Lina buried her face into his neck, her entire body trembling from the conversation. She felt like this had to be addressed. History was bound to repeat itself, but at least, they've learned how to remedy the situation.
- - - - -
Once the lunch ended, the two went their separate ways, knowing their paths would always intertwine.
"Kaden, wait."
Kaden raised a brow, for he had just held the doors open for her. Where could he go if he didn't guarantee her safety? Suddenly, Lina pecked him on the cheek. Before he could respond, she slid into the car and quickly slammed the door shut.
"You—"
Kaden had been frozen with shock, for her kisses were rare. Children from unaffectionate households always found it difficult to show their love. Lina was one of them. He momentarily touched the spot where her mouth lingered. By the time he tried to grab the door to kiss her, the car drove off.
"T-to this address," Lina murmured, sliding a piece of paper to the chauffeur. Her face was still red from planting a goodbye kiss on Kaden's cheeks. Even with the car speeding down the street, she was certain he was still standing there.
Lina could imagine how cute his flabbergasted expression would be. His aloof expression would be stiff with shock. She touched her lips and smiled, feeling like a giddy high school girl. Leaning back in her seat, she could only imagine what he could look like.
"M-Madam, I see the Boss."
Lina blinked. She turned her head and sat up. She nearly screamed when she saw a man running at an inhumane speed.
"What are you waiting for? Step on the gas!" Lina shouted, her heart thundering in her chest.
This man was crazy! He was running after her car, with legs that only a Pure-Blood could muster. Even the vampires and civilians on the street paused to look, but by then, he had already kicked up dust in front of them.
Kaden was a blur of black. He ran with the speed that human eyes couldn't muster. He dashed after the car, a determined expression on his handsome face, and his hair sweeping in the distance.
"Let me return the favor, Lina!" Kaden shouted from outside the vehicle, but she quickly locked it. He was huffing and puffing.
Lina gulped, for he was only inches from catching up to them. And they were driving!
Lina was certain if she rolled down the window, he'd only wrestle his way inside. The next thing she knew, the driver stepped on the gas, for he was also frightened by the inhumane man.
"LINA!"
It was no use, the car was already speeding down open traffic. Lina hid her face in her hands out of embarrassment, for everyone had seen this obsessive man. Just what was she going to do with him now?
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