Bound by lies, Trapped by Desire - Chapter 92: Chapter 92

Elena’s POV:
He grinned wide, stepping forward with a bounce in his step like he hadn’t just materialized out of nowhere.
“In the flesh.”
I blinked. My jaw hadn’t quite dropped, but it was damn close. “What... the hell are you doing here?”
My mind went back to the embarrassment and drama back at the gala. I wasn’t sure if I should have apologized for the ruckus caused or just act ignorant. Because technically it wasn’t my fault. It was Sergei and Nikolai’s, right?
Malakai tilted his head and offered a wink, casually removing his sunglasses. His eyes—green, flecked with amber—locked onto mine with an easy kind of familiarity that should’ve comforted me. Instead, it made me feel… off-balance. Like the ground under my feet wasn’t quite stable.
“Nice to see you too,” he added, his smirk softening around the edges.
For a second, I was too surprised to answer. Then he frowned, his gaze scanning my face with subtle concern as he tucked his sunglasses into the collar of his sweater.
“You okay? You look a little pale there.”
I exhaled, dragging a hand down my face. The excitement—or maybe anxiety—at seeing him wore off just as fast as it had appeared. My limbs felt heavier now. Everything felt like it had just caught up with me.
“I’m alright,” I lied, brushing my hair back beneath my cap. “Was just gonna... get something to eat.”
That was true enough. Suddenly, the nausea from earlier had shifted into a dull, nagging hunger. Made sense since I hadn’t eaten since last night.
Malakai’s grin returned, slow and bright. His teeth were almost too white, but his smile didn’t feel fake. “Perfect,” he said, motioning casually to a sleek silver Aston Martin parked by the curb like it belonged in a commercial shoot. “Then join me. Lunch, snack, tea, whatever you’re calling it.”
I blinked again, raising an eyebrow.
I wasn’t sure what bothered me more—that he showed up so suddenly, that he clearly still had an interest in me, or that a couple of students passing by were already whispering while glancing our way. I hated this feeling. Like my life had become a circus act on public display.
“I’m sorry,” I said, tone soft but firm. “I’m not really in the place to do this right now.”
His smile faltered just slightly.
I glanced around, uneasy. “Look, Malakai, what’s this really about?”
I wasn’t trying to be rude, but drama followed me like a shadow lately. And I didn’t need another rumor about me floating around. Not when Nikolai’s name was still attached to mine. Not when I had no idea what the hell I even was to him anymore.
Malakai looked around, clearly noticing the attention we were already getting. “Are you sure you want to do this here?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
I let out a dry laugh. “Well, I mean, kind of hard not to draw attention when you show up dressed like that.”
He raised his brows in mock offense.
“And you’re talking to someone who’s currently married to the city’s most talked-about billionaire,” I added.
His lips quirked into something between amusement and mischief. “Currently, huh?”
I sighed and shook my head, forcing a tired smile. “What do you want, Malakai?”
He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face like he hadn’t expected to be interrogated so directly. “You’re a tough one, aren’t you?” he muttered. Then added, “I’m not here for me. It’s not... personal.”
I frowned.
He met my gaze seriously for the first time. “My sister wants to meet with you.”
I stared at him. My brain scrambled for a second, and then it clicked.
“Seraphina?”
He nodded. “Yeah. I don’t know what she wants with you exactly. I just offered to drop by since I was already close. So if you’re interested... you’re gonna have to agree to a lunch da—meet-up.”
He smiled sheepishly. “Almost said date. Didn’t mean that.”
I let out a huff of a laugh despite myself, but my stomach was twisting again. Seraphina Legacy. The woman who’d looked at me at the gala like I was some kind of puzzle. Or worse—like someone with great potential. What could she possibly want with me? Even if she did act like she liked me, I wasn’t stupid enough to believe famous people like her didn’t wear masks. She probably thought I was full of myself after the chaos. Was she asking for me to interrogate about what happened at the gala and make me apologize? That’s the only thing that made any sense.
I glanced down at my outfit—jeans, oversized hoodie, sneakers. Hair pulled back under a cap. Not exactly meet-the-socialites chic. “Can I at least go change before—”
Malakai cut me off gently, waving a hand. “You look fine. Trust me. My sister’s not getting dressed up either. We don’t want to attract attention.”
I raised an eyebrow and gave him a once-over.
“This is your idea of not attracting attention?”
He laughed, sheepish. “I just came from a shoot, alright? Didn’t have time to change. But it’s not some fancy restaurant. Just a low-key cafe.”
I hesitated, glancing down at the sidewalk. I was tired. Emotionally fried. But avoiding every corner of life because of drama wasn’t living—it was hiding.
And besides… I was graduating soon. My reputation? My marriage? Everything felt like it was hanging by a thread anyway.
And Seraphina...
Whatever she wanted from me….she was still someone I looked up to and respected. After what happened, I definitely owed this to her.
I sighed and nodded. “Alright. Okay.”
Malakai’s smile brightened again as he held out his arm like a gentleman in some historical romance. I blinked at it, confused.
Then he chuckled and pulled it back. “Sorry. Force of habit. Come on.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and gestured toward the passenger side of the car.
I climbed in, settling into the buttery leather seats. The door closed with a satisfying click. I pulled on my seatbelt as Malakai slid in beside me, pressing the ignition. The engine hummed to life, smooth and rich.
As we pulled out onto the road, I found my gaze drifting to the car’s dashboard, admiring the design—the gentle slope of the center console, the sleek control panel, the brushed aluminum trim around the air vents. The carbon fiber inserts. The growl of the V12 engine purring under the hood.
God. It was stunning.
My heart kicked up a notch. I’d always had a thing for car interiors. Their build, the intricacy of their mechanics, the artistry of their design. This one? It practically sang.
Malakai must’ve noticed my attention. “First time in an Aston Martin?”
I nodded. “Yeah.”
He side-eyed me playfully. “I’m surprised Nikolai hasn’t shown you every car in his damn double story garage. He has a whole collection, I actually got this car from him.”
My smile faltered. I looked out the window.
“We didn’t get much time to explore,” I said quietly. “It’s only been... less than two months.”
Malakai hummed, his tone light. “So... you guys didn’t know each other before the marriage or something?”
He laughed like it was a harmless joke.
But I didn’t laugh.
I turned my head, expression blank, jaw clenched. My gut twisted.
I stared straight at him, voice flat.
“Haven’t you heard the rumors?”
That shut him up.
His hands stayed on the wheel, but I saw the way his posture shifted.
And somewhere in the back of my mind, I wondered—
Was Nikolai watching right now? He was my stalker after all…