Chapter 6 Almost Broken

• Raquel’s eyes darted across the menu, searching for the perfect dish to satisfy her hunger. She had been craving something rich and decadent, something that would melt in her mouth like a symphony of flavors. But with so many options to choose from, she was feeling overwhelmed.
• Gavin’s voice pierced through her thoughts, breaking her concentration.
• “What would you like to eat?”
• Raquel glanced up at him, her eyes flashing with irritation.
• “I don’t know yet,” she snapped. “Can’t you give me a minute?”
• “Should I wait for hours for you to make a decision for your dinner?” Gavin asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
• “Umm, ravioli pasta, I guess,” Raquel said with a shrug, drumming her fingernails on the laminated menu.
• Gavin’s eyes darted between the book menu and Raquel, his expression unreadable. Finally, he turned to her, his gaze as sharp as a knife.
• “And what would you like to drink?” he asked, his voice cold and clipped.
• Raquel folded her hands tightly, lips pressing into a thin line.
• “I’m not sure, but I definitely want something chocolate-flavored,” she said evenly.
• Gavin’s impatience simmered like a cauldron of boiling water. “Stop beating around the bush and just tell me what you want to drink!”
• “Nuttela latte?” the five-year-old boy interjected.
• Raquel glanced at him for a moment and then commented, “Sounds good.”
• Gavin’s sigh heaved out like a weight off his shoulders, his hand shooting up like a traffic sign to summon the waiter. The waiter, as if on cue, appeared at their table with the alacrity of a hummingbird.
• Raquel’s eyes darted to Damian, who was seated across from them. His face was as handsome as a Greek god’s, but his features bore little resemblance to Gavin’s.
• Damian’s hair was a vibrant reddish-brown, a far cry from Gavin’s golden mane. It was unusual for a son to look so much like his mother, but Damian was the spitting image of Gavin’s ex-wife. His eyes were the same deep blue, and his nose had the same delicate curve. Even the way he smiled was identical.
• Damian’s big, curious eyes darted to Raquel, his head tilted to the side.
• “So, Auntie is Dad’s friend?” he asked.
• Raquel felt a bead of sweat trickle down her back. She scratched her neck, even though it didn’t itch.
• “You could say that,” she replied, her voice tight.
• Damian’s eyes widened in surprise as he looked at his father, Gavin.
• “But Dad rarely has female friends,” he said, his voice tinged with confusion.
• Gavin leaned closer to Damian’s ear, his lips brushing against Damian’s soft skin. Damian held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest. Gavin whispered something in his ear, and Damian’s eyes widened in surprise. A smile spread across his face, and he couldn’t help but giggle.
• Raquel’s phone buzzed relentlessly, like a swarm of angry bees taunting her. She glanced at the screen, her heart sinking at the sight of Nina’s name followed by a triple-digit number in bold. Jonas had also sent her a few messages, but their urgency was eclipsed by the sheer volume of Nina’s.
• Gavin’s jaw clenched as he snatched Raquel’s phone from her hand. His eyes flashed with anger as he glared at her.
• “Put your phone away if you’re with me,” he growled.
• Raquel’s lips curled into a snarl as she glared back at him.
• “You have no right to do that at all,” she replied fiercely.
• Gavin’s eyes narrowed into icy slits, as piercing as shards of glass. His gaze bore down on Raquel like a heavy weight, threatening to crush her. His lips curled into a cruel sneer, revealing rows of sharp teeth.
• Raquel felt a shiver run down her spine. She had never seen Gavin so angry before. It was as if he were a different person entirely.
• “Is that so?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.
• Raquel swallowed hard. She knew that Gavin was capable of great violence. He just like psycho.
• Raquel’s voice was like a whip as she said, “Don’t try to control me.”
• Damian watched Raquel and Gavin eat in silence, his eyes darting between them like a ping pong ball. The only sound was the clinking of silverware against plates.
• Raquel’s appetite was ravenous, her fork shoveling food into her mouth like a machine. Her eyes were focused on her plate, her expression blank.
• Gavin, on the other hand, ate slowly and deliberately. He cut his food into small pieces and savored each bite. His eyes met Damian’s briefly, but then he looked away.
• Damian felt like a third wheel, intruding on a private moment. He wanted to say something, to break the silence, but he didn’t know what to say.
• The tension in the room was thick, like a heavy fog. Damian felt like he was suffocating. He wanted to get up and leave, but he couldn’t. He was drawn to Raquel and Gavin like a moth to a flame.
• The meal concluded, and they swiftly departed the restaurant, making their way back to the car.
• The clinking of silverware and laughter faded away as Raquel and Gavin exited the restaurant. They stepped out into the cool night air, the moon casting a silvery glow over the empty street.
• The direction Gavin’s car seemed to be taking appeared to be towards Emma’s house, bringing a sense of relief to Raquel. At last, she would also be transported home.
• Gavin’s car glided through the quiet streets, its headlights slicing through the darkness like twin knives. Raquel watched as the familiar landmarks whizzed by outside her window. Her heart swelled with relief as she realized that they were heading towards Emma’s house.
• Raquel glanced out the window, spotting Damian climbing into another vehicle once more. As usual, his loyal butler followed close behind to attend to his needs. Meanwhile, an uncomfortable silence fell over the car where Gavin and Raquel sat side by side. Between them, a tense atmosphere grew, leaving both lost for what to say in the awkward moment.
• Gavin’s hand hovered over the ignition, ready to start the car. Suddenly, a blur of motion caught his eye. Damian was sprinting towards them, his face flushed and his eyes wide with excitement. He was followed closely by a butler.
• Raquel rolled down her window, revealing her elegant and poised features. “Damian, why are you—”
• Without a word, Damian withdrew a small plastic case from his pocket, opened the clasp and revealed a perfectly sculpted miniature brown cat no bigger than his palm. Raquel’s brow furrowed as she peered down at the detailed figurine, its painted green eyes peering back up at her inquisitively. Before she could inquire further, Damian gently placed the cat in her hand and back to his car.
• “That’s his favorite figurine,” Gavin commented as he drove the car.
• She held the figurine in her trembling hands, her heart pounding in her chest. “Um... if this is his favorite figurine, why did Damian give it to me?”
• “Maybe he likes you.”
• Raquel’s heart pounded in her chest like a trapped hummingbird as the car rolled to a stop in front of Emma’s house. She bolted out of the door without waiting for Gavin to open it for her, leaving him standing on the sidewalk, his hand outstretched in a futile gesture of chivalry.
• “Thank you for the ride,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible.
• Gavin leaned against his car, his arms crossed over his chest. He watched her walk away, his expression unreadable.
• “I’m sure you’re also opposed to this arranged marriage,” he said, his voice carrying through the night air.
• Raquel fidgetted with her fingers, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she had to tell Gavin, but she was terrified of his reaction.
• “I love someone else,” she finally blurted out. “And he might find out about this arranged marriage.”
• Gavin’s eyes narrowed.
• “Do you love that snotty brat so much?” he sneered.
• Raquel’s eyes welled up with tears.
• “His name is Jonas,” she corrected. “And he’s not a snotty brat.”
• Gavin smirked, his sharp teeth gleaming like daggers in the moonlight.
• “Whatever, but you couldn’t even persuade your dad to find another alliance that could inject funds into your company, right?”
• Raquel’s eyes narrowed to slits and her lips curled back in a snarl as she spat out, “You’re taking advantage of the chaos in my family!”
• “Yayaya... whatever your clear accusations are, the business marriage will continue. It doesn’t matter who you love or who loves you.” Gavin shrugged and walked away, leaving Raquel drowning in a sea of despair.
• ***
• A week later, on Raquel and Gavin’s wedding day, she couldn’t stop crying. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her mascara ran like rivers down her cheeks.
• The MUA sighed and shook her head. “Raquel, honey, you need to stop crying. Your makeup is going to run.”
• Emma, standing near Raquel, watched as her niece’s face crumpled in despair. Without hesitation, she swooped in and enveloped Raquel in a warm hug, her arms like a gentle cocoon.
• “Raquel,” Emma murmured soothingly, her voice a balm to her friend’s wounded soul. “Calm down, my dear. Everything will be okay.”
• Raquel’s heart sank like a lead weight as she shook her head.
• “This is really difficult, Aunty. I’m going to marry someone I don’t love at all.”
• Her voice was as empty as a dried-up lake, and her eyes were as dull as the sky on a cloudy day.
• Emma brushed Raquel’s hair back from her tear-stained face. “Everything will be fine, sweetheart. Don’t let Jonas find out about this, okay?”
• She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
• “I won’t,” she whispered. “But I’m so scared, Emma. What if he finds out? What will he do?”
• Emma’s arms wrapped around Raquel’s shoulders, pulling her close.
• “I won’t let him leave you,” she whispered. “Don’t worry.”
• Raquel’s eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks stained with tears. Her sadness was a storm cloud that hung over her head, threatening to rain down at any moment.