Skyla watched him with deep-seated sorrow and finally crawled out of bed. She grabbed her bag and put on her shoes. They had been neatly placed at the side of the bed, instead of being scattered around the room. It was him.
Her intimate area still ached but she had no regrets except that this was just a means to an end for him.
She wanted to talk to him, say something reassuring but she had no comforting words. The boy was an enigma, a broken enigma.
She sighed and made her way to the door as she was about to turn the doorknob, his serene voice reached her.
"Calix, that's what they call me. It means 'a protector'. They see me like one too, at least girls. And no, they didn't ask for my consent when they sent me to you. Something like that doesn't exist in our world. But I did want to ease your pain and you didn't force me into doing it. So stay safe, Skyla and don't fret about something which is not in your control."
She halted on her way out and turned her head. He was still facing away from her, the soft lights from above were bathing him in their pristine glow. She saw something he didn't.
Pangs of guilt plagued her. Skyla knew she would not be free from today onwards but he could be.
"I am sorry, Calix. And you are a protector. Thank you for taking care of me last night. I will never forget it."
Before he could turn to face her, she opened the door to exit it. Closing it softly behind her.
She took out her phone and texted Huria. There were a million texts from her and she wanted all the details. But Skyla had ulterior motives so she texted her friend about what she needed.
Huria's family had shares in The Mirage administration. So it wouldn't be difficult for her to get the needed information.
Exiting the club in her red Bentley she received a call from her father's doctor. Her heart sank a bit, his calls were never pleasant.
She placed her phone in the phone holder and hit the speaker so she could talk and drive at the same time.
"Hello! Miss Skyla, it's Doctor Evans. Can you come over?"
"Hi! Is everything alright?" she apprehensively asked.
"It's better if we talk in person. I am waiting at the villa," he informed her and she sped up.
"I am on my way."
For the past few days, she had been so busy with all the paperwork and process to take over her father's company that she hadn't spent quality time with her father. Only visiting him for a limited time. She knew his health was degrading at an alarming rate.
Now with the Doran fiasco and that bruise on her face, she didn't know how to face him.
Reaching her villa she stopped her car in the long driveway and took out her makeup bag. Using a concealer she covered up the now-turned purple bruise on her cheek.
No one had ever raised their hand on her, she had been raised like a princess, shielded and protected. But with her mother's demise a few years ago and now her father's illness had matured her years beyond her age.
When Doran was introduced into her life, she thought he would be her support, someone she could rely on.
Alas! That seemed like a pipe dream now.
Alighting from the car, she adjusted her dress and hair, before making her way inside.
Her father had requested to spend the last of his days at his home. Their housekeeper Madame Maven met her in the doorway and took her bag before affectionately asking.
"Good morning! Miss Skyla. Should I arrange for some breakfast?"
"No, I would like to meet with Doctor Evans and my father."
"Come, they are expecting you." She ushered her inside her father's room. Opening the door she entered and found Dr. Evans standing near her father's bed. The lights were low and he was resting with his eyes closed. Skyla neared them and slowly called out. The man he used to be had been reduced to a mere skeleton now.
"Dad!" His eyes lazily opened and he found his daughter standing near him with hurt glistening in her eyes.
"My child, you are here. Come," he extended his hand and Skyla fervently took it, kissing the back of it. She settled near his head and placed her hand on it. Her eyes drifted up to Dr. Evans. He was watching her with a grim expression, this was not good news.
"What is it?" she quizzically asked, her heart had this uneasiness.
"You can tell her, Evans. It's time," her father solemnly spoke, taking his daughter's hand in his. Dr. Evans cleared his throat to get his bearings right.
"Mr. Adams doesn't have much time left, Skyla. It's any day now," the words rang like doomsday sirens and her whole world crashed down in mere seconds. Tears brimmed up in her beautiful eyes.
"What? Dad!! You can't leave me like this. I thought we had more time, at least a year. I will be all alone in this world," she frantically cried, throwing her arms around her father. She wanted to hold on and never let go.
"Shh, my child. I was worried at the thought that I might be leaving you all alone in this cruel world too. But you have found a good man in Doran, he will care for you. Be a good wife to him and cherish him always," he spoke softly, his hands stroking her hair while she unburdened herself.
How was she to tell her dying father that he was not the man they had thought him to be? He was a devil incarnate.
"Promise me, Skyla. You will stay by his side and let him guide you," he asked again and she didn't have the heart to say no to him.
"I promise, dad. I promise."