Chapter 109 - GARDEN DATE

His endless love 

melt her down

where each heartbeat

was for him

with each breath

She held him in.

****

The Ravenwood mansion stood proud and tall under the jeweled sky. It was so big that it resembled a royal palace. The outside of the mansion was already impressive but I wasn't expecting that the inside would surpass my expectations. 

My eyes were mesmerized as it swept over the elegantly decorated room where the party was underway. As I walk down the red carpeted aisle, I feel like a queen. The fact that Ace was beside me made the feeling realistic.

In the midst of my thoughts, Ace suddenly pulled into a stop and so I did. Instantly, I felt his body stiffened beneath my touch. I could tell something was wrong. 

When I followed his gaze to the far end of the room, the woman clad in an exquisite lavender gown caught my attention. My pulse quickened as she moved closer to where we stood.

The Hustle and bustle inside the room stopped as I stood staring at her but she seemed not to notice my presence. Her eyes remained glued to Ace. As if he was the only one that matters to her.

She stopped walking just in front of Ace. At this point all the guests inside the room were looking at the two.

Was the woman Ace's ex lover? A pang of jealousy slammed hard inside me from the thought. It could be possible. She was young and if not mistaken she almost has the same age as Ace.

The woman stood a few inches shorter than me but she has an enviable hourglass figure. Perhaps she was an actress or if not she must be a commercial model.

She was stunning with exquisite sapphire eyes framed with curly eyelashes, a perfectly chiseled nose, and small shapely lips. She looked like a barbie.

Luscious hair in the shade of warm honey gloriously cascades down her shoulders like a waterfall. Who wouldn't admire a woman as beautiful as this. I'm sure that Ace would be quite smitten by her beauty too.

When my eyes shifted back to Ace I was taken aback when it was not admiration but fury I saw blazing from his exquisite blue eyes. My gaze moved lower, shock hit me hard after I caught sight of his fist which was curled into a tight ball.

"Good evening, Lady. Ravenwood." Ace spoke in a chilling civility that sent shivers down my spine.

"Good evening, Mr. Greyson." The woman in the lavender gown spoke, pulled the hem of her skirts and bent her knees into an elegant curtsy.

"Quite a busy night some guests are waiting, please excuse us."

He didn't let Ms. Ravenwood speak. He captured my palms and pulled me to the nearest door before I could open my mouth.

I realized he was taking me to the garden where a few couples were seated on the large fountain for some privacy.

Ace pulled me into a dimly lit corner where there's only the two of us. I should have scolded him for his rude behavior but now we are alone. I finally lost all my courage when his sad, tired eyes landed on mine. 

My heart melted and there's sudden unexplainable urge making me want to burst into tears. Perhaps whatever emotion he was under now, for some reason I'm sharing it too.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and urged him to come closer until the warmth of him was pressed to my own. He didn't protest, instead, his arms slither around my narrow waist and he buried his nose on the crook of my neck.

"Everything will be alright, love." I said calmly. My palms caressing his hair and wondering why it felt so soft against my fingers. 

I never saw Ace that angry before, and seeing him close to pouring his rage almost gave me a mini heart-attack. I was so thankful that he didn't lose his self-control. He managed to hold his temper until we slipped into the garden for a breath of fresh air.

I'm still curious who Ms. Ravenwood is in Ace's life. The best possible answer that I could think of is, she is his ex lover who must have jilted him in the past. It was nearly impossible for her to become his mother. She's extremely too young for that.

Ace's stiff shoulders slowly eased until I felt him relaxed. I gave a huge sigh of relief when he did. It's as if a huge burden had been lifted from my chest.

"Ace's are you alright?"

He removed his head which was buried in my neck and lifted his face to mine. "I'm fine, Phoenix. Thanks to you." He replied then brushed his lips into my own.

His lips were soft and sweet. His eyes looked like molten honey against the glow of the moonlight reflecting on his eyes. I couldn't take my eyes off him as he kissed me.

"I know you needed an explanation," He began when the kiss was over. "I want to I want to tell you everything you want to know—"

I pressed my fingers into his lips while shaking my head. "You don't need to explain everything now, Ace. Let's forget what just happened. Instead, let's make this night memorable."

He sighed, relieved. "Yes, we will make this moment memorable. I promise." He took my palms and lifted it to his lips.

Ace ushered me into the bright side of the garden where a round table stood, pulled a chair for me and let me sit down first before he occupied the seat opposite me.

"Since we couldn't have a date alone….why don't we spend the time away from the crowd and create our own date?" He said flashing me a sexy, sultry smile that made my heart beat like crazy.

A waiter passed in the garden. Ace excused himself for a while and hurriedly made his way towards the waiter to give him instructions. Moments later he returned back to our table with a stem of white roses in his hand.

"For you." 

I took the stem of rose he offered. "Thank you." I mumbled and carried the flower close to my nose. The natural scent of the rose has a calming effect on me. 

"Phoenix?"

I shifted my gaze to his and discovered he was looking intently at me. "Yes, Ace?"

"I have a gift for you. I know that it's not that much but for me it has a great value. I just want to hand it back to you because it was yours."

He fished a velvet box from inside his pocket. When he pulled it open, a diamond solitaire and a wedding band came to view. I noted that the ring he always wear on his left finger was identical to the wedding band inside the box.

Gently, he pulled my hands closer to his and slowly put the engagement ring on my finger. It fit perfectly as if it was waiting for me all along. The diamond glittered beautifully against the flicker of the light from the lamp nearby.

Ace took the wedding band from the box and slowly put it on my fingers too just on top of the engagement ring.

"I, Ace Carter Greyson promise to love you with my whole heart with a passion that can't be expressed in words, only in kisses, glances, and years of adventure by your side. I promise to protect you, cherish you, and treat you like a queen for the rest of my life. I swore to be your honest, faithful, and loving husband for the rest of my days. I pledge to honor you, love you and cherish you as my wife today and every day."

Watching him say the words brought tears into my eyes. I particular memory flicker inside my thoughts. Did he just recite his wedding when we got married years ago?

"That's what I promised you on our wedding day when I slipped our wedding ring to your finger. From now on the ring is yours just like it always did. Please wear it all the time just like way I wear our wedding ring on my fingers."

The engagement ring and the wedding band looked perfect together. I was amazed that Ace didn't throw it away. He must have valued it so much that even after we got divorced he managed to keep the ring somehow.

"Thank you for this, Ace. You don't know how this gift means to me."

"It's my pleasure to give it to you. I'd been wanting to give it back for months now. I'm just waiting for the perfect opportunity."

The waiter arrived, skillfully carrying a huge tray on his left hand. He gently lowered the food on the top of the round table. The dishes served were selected. Ace made sure that only my favorite food would be served.

"Let's eat." He said after the waiter was gone. I nodded and gave him a smile. The food looks mouth-watering. It would be a shame not to eat them.