The Beta’s Regret

1 tore my gaze away from him and looked forward

Instead of walking out the front door, Eros carriedout through the back door, and askedto reach for the

car keys in his pant pocket

1 did as instructed and my hands found the key. My cheek brushed against his jaw when | did that and | tried not

to shiver

due to that.

Up close, he looked even more delicious, more tantalizing. The light stubble on his jawline was too enticing. My

brain began to imagine how it would feel to roam my fingers on it. Maybe not just fingers, but my mouth could...

| blinked furiously and looked down at the key in my hand and pressed it twice. His car was parked in the back,

near garbage bags stacked upon one another by a moss eaten wall and a hugecompound that served as an

extra wall dividing the huge place into sections.

Eros climbed down the small flight of stairs and slowly opened the door while placingon the car seat He

ensured that | was seated comfortably and walked to the other side of the car before getting in it.

Taking the key from me, he turned the ignition on and steered the car in the direction of the road.

The drive back hwas silent, awkwardly silent and tense. He had been talking to me, caressing my back in

the club. bur now he was back to ignoring me

| stole a glance at Eros as he kept his hands firmly planted on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead.

His body posture conveyed that he was unhappy and angry. But he didn’t say a word.

Compared to last time, he was driving much slowly and as | looked out the window. | saw that it was still dark.

The moon was shining through the tree branches that passed by as the car drove down the road.

obvious and so were

| fidgeted with my fingers, not knowing what to say and where to begin. The veins in his throat were obvi those

in his hands, as if he was trying hard not to explode.

| knew he would definitely scoldfor slipping out of the mansion without informing him, but there was nothing

| could do to change the past.

I noticed his arm and saw a few scratches on it under his sleeve.

“You are hurt.” | said, but Eros did not react

A muscle in his jaw ticked, barely, but he quickly pulled down his sleeve and lid it completely.

| could not take the silence anymore and said in a meek voice, “You can shout. No need to hold it back in

Eros cranked the ignition the moment | said that, and the car’s speed suddenly increased | bit my lip nervously

as he hit the accelerator and the car was almost flying instead of being driven on the deserted road.

| could only look at him in shock as he drove through the road, but instead of takinghome, we crossed it and

he kept driving further abead.

| looked back in confusion and then at him again as the familiar scene of the mansion’s huge, gated walls passed

by:

“But, but we just passed by the mansion” | said, but Eros crankedup the ignition by another gap and my

heartbeat began to thud wildly.

10:46 Fri, Oct 25

Chapter 97

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He was gritting his teeth, his body shaking with rage as he took it out all on the car. | did not ask him for help

and this tat series of lanes before the tires screeched to a halt.

| managed to loop in the seatbelt quickly as he drove

| looked at him and he threw his head back, his eyes closed, as he took in a few breaths to calm himself down.

1 only stared at him worriedly when he stepped out of the car and slammed the door, hard. | brought my hands

up on my

drown the noise but the car jolted, almost rising from one side and shaking before the tires settled on the ground

cars

again

The tension was palpable in the way he put his hands in the pockets and went to stand a bit farther away. His

back was facingand | could see him taking a few deep breaths to calm himself.

| felt all of it was my fault. And him not saying even a word towas making it worse.

| took a few deep breaths to find my courage and slowly opened the door while stepping out. The night air was a

bit chilly, and | was glad to have his coat around me.

| looked around to see that he had brought us near slake. The moon and stars were twinkling in the night

sky, while the water held its soft reflection, making it look peaceful and serene.

There were a few trees and bushes around, and the place looked both beautiful and eerie at the stime.

Or maybe it was my mind that was playing tricks on me.

When | could not stand his silence anymore, | went to stand in front of him and asked, “Please, your silence is

killing me. Will you please speak?”

He was looking down, a hard and unreadable expression on his face.

Eros looked up at me, and his golden eyes felt like they were on fire. His gaze was hot and intense. |

subconsciously took a step back when | saw his hypnotic eyes stare deep into my eyes and my very soul

A muscle in his jaw twitched as he tried to find the best response to my question “Will it make any difference?”

He finally asked, throwinga question.

“Yes, it will. I know you are angry, hurt even. So, yell all you want

“What do you think of me? Letknow what your mental image ofis. Eros asked, instead of yelling.

And the way he was looking atmadeshiver in a not so fearful way.