Five

Zyrielle's POV.

Uncle?

What the hell was going on here?

The world around me spun while my face flamed in humiliation as all eyes fell on me.

It was one thing to have a drunken affair; it was another for the entire world to know that I had an affair after being accused of seducing my ex-husband.

"What is he saying, Zyrielle?" Lucas demanded, echoing everyone's thoughts even mine. The thought that we were live on TV made me wince.

"I don't know this man." I tried denying but no one seemed to buy my story.

Rain raised a brow but didn't say a word. Lucas chuckled darkly. "When I called you a slut, never would I have guessed that you slept with my uncle? Just how shameless can you be?!" He yelled while glancing at his uncle.

“Uncle, I’m so sorry that this happened …” Lucas began and I couldn’t help but wish to disappear.

“I’m sure she did this to get back to me, I didn’t even know you were back… I would have kept my slut of an ex-wife at bay…. Just like she did me, I'm sure she seduced you, right?!" He asked.

What?

Who was this man and where was the man I had married for years. I went through five stages of grief, which I didn't even want to acknowledge.

The air was still and poignant, waiting for the ball to drop. I didn't even have the guts to defend myself.

“Where are the fucking guards! Get this cheap…”

“Ragazzo, attento al tono” Rain ordered before walking closer to where I stood.

I froze, as his breath fanned against my neck as he spoke… a vague memory of our late night dancing flashed and I turned bright red.

“Don’t you dare say another word to my wife…”

I stilled in shock.

Who was his wife?

Judging from how everyone was staring, I was certain I was the one he was referring to and I could feel the panic setting in?

What the fuck was going on here?

To my surprise , he added pulling me closer to his warmth and holding my hands in his so the ring I had found on my hand was on display.

“Mine!”

I hear a gasp but I was more focused on controlling my rapid breaths to see who it was.

“I don’t want you spitting lies about my wife in that manner." He repeated, confusing me more…. I had woken up with a ring but when did we get married?

I thought of asking him when we did get married but seeing how he had stood up for the reputation of a woman others would have called their one night stand…. I thought otherwise.

"Give us a minute," I said before dragging him away.

I was lost, so I needed some clarification. I dropped his hand when we crossed the threshold and were out of earshot.

“Is this a game?”

“What the fuck is going on? Who the hell is your wife?”

“Why did you come here?! Do you realize what you've done? You've made me a laughing stock not only to them but in front of the whole world!.”

“If I was a slut in their eyes, you've made the world see me as it, and to top that a cheat! One that goes for people with social standing!”

“Like from Lucas to his FUCKING UNCLE!”

“You know that it was only a one-night stand. Are you happy now?!" I flung at him.

“Breathe” He whispered as he inched closer, causing me to take some steps back. His fingers snaked out and arranged my hair, causing me to inhale his cologne again.

“I am not your enemy here piccolina”

'Focus, that's not why you're here,' I scolded myself.

“Yeah, you can go ahead,” he whispered, and I stared at him angrily. “You spoke about me giving you a bad name,“ he began but I found my self staring hard at his lips.

Fuck you, Mr. Rain!

Images of what transpired last night poured in torrents like a broken dam, and I gasped before pointing at him. "You took advantage of me!"

I knew he didn't.

He rolled his eyes, folded his biceps, and stared at me intently. "Those weren't your words last night if I clearly remember." He smirked.

As if it had unlocked another phase in me, other images poured in, and I saw myself saying things that I would never dare utter on a normal day.

My cheeks flamed, and I knew that this was all a mess.

"You know what? Never mind. I'll ask for only one thing." I began.

He nodded curtly. "Leave me the hell alone. You've destroyed my reputation, and I need to go somewhere to start my life again. Thanks to you, dear stranger." I added sarcastically while avoiding his intense gaze. He was staring at me as though I would disappear any minute.

He grabbed my arm, and I felt intense shockwaves run through my spine.

"You are not going anywhere because you're my mine”

“You are legally bound to me." He added this in case I didn't understand.

I sneered.

“How!”

“How can I be married to you and at the same time married to you... Nephew, right? Lucas is your nephew, right?" I asked to be sure because my brain was working at a mile per minute, I feared that the organ would collapse from heavy usage.

I prayed that he wasn't related to Lucas but was only someone he regarded as an uncle.

"Yes, That bastard that made you cry is my nephew," he answered coldly, and I ran a palm over my face.

This was so embarrassing. “

Why are you panicking? You're my wife in every sense of the word and deed," he said the last part, his eyes roaming all over my body.

Why wasn’t he panicking!

I felt naked under his gaze. "You're delusional, but I won't stand here and entertain more lies. You'll leave and never return. If you do, I'll get a restraining order against you; trust me, it won't be pretty at all." I threatened him.

He chuckled softly.

“You can’t even afford it Poccolina? You told me last night that you had lost all your funds to my nephew unless you lied." A deep emotion crossed his eyes after he said those words.

"I don't need to impress you. Whatever you think is true is true." I told him defiantly.

He tipped my chin upward, reminding me of our height difference.

“I’m not your enemy Poccolina, Channel your anger toward my nephew, not me. You stood there and watched them insult you, but you're rattling off at me.”

“Don't you think there's a bit of a problem here?" He spoke gently, but I heard an undertone of firmness behind his words. "You're not a coward, are you?"

"I don't know what you mean, but I'll tell you I'm not a cow..."

He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. "You're going back in there and demanding your freedom. No girl of mine would be a toy for anyone," he muttered darkly, causing me to halt my complaints.

"Right..." I muttered before blinking in anger. I didn't want him to order me around. "You are not my boss," I spoke before cringing at how childish that sounded.

"Oh, but I am; I am your husband."

I huffed. There he went again with his mantra: "There you go again. Why the hell are you claiming to be my husband? I'm still married to Lucas."

His eyes hardened, and I felt a bit afraid. "Not for long. Quickly go in and be a badass, poccolina," he muttered before dragging me along like a grouchy toddler.

“Why?”

“Why what Mi Cara?”

“You are going against your nephew by helping me so why are you helping me? You don’t even know me?”

His eyes suddenly turned cold, “Lucas made me bleed and I’m here to teach him a LESSON!”

For a moment I was scared of the murderous look in his eyes until he added with a light peck on my forehead, “Now close that chapter and I WILL MAKE HIM ALONGSIDE EVERY FUCKING PERSON THAT MADE YOU CRY PAY!”