CH 94

Leyla had to avert her eyes from the betrayed look Kyle held in his eyes. She couldn’t bear to look at him after that, letting tears flow freely down her cheeks at the way her heart was tearing apart in the knowledge she had to hurt Kyle to save him.

Kyle could feel the aches Matthias’ blows dealt him with, but none of them hurt as much as Leyla telling him she loved the Duke…

But seeing her cry in front of him hurt even more, as her tears hit the back of his hands that lied limply in front of him. So with a shaky hand, he went to gently cup her cheeks, futilely wiping her tears away. It was like she was sapped of all her spirit.

He took in her appearance, eyeing bitterly the telltale signs of what they were about to do, like her tangled locks, and her haphazardly clothed torso. He could even feel the way she began to shake in his hands…

“So please Kyle, stop this,” Leyla whispered softly, “I did do it with the Duke, but not because of what you thought.” she continued to say, unable to look at him in the eyes.

Kyle could faintly feel his heart breaking apart, mistaking her avoidance to look at him because of shame at loving the Duke. At that point, Matthias moved forward, ready to pull Leyla away from Kyle’s grasp when the battered man shot him a glare.

He could see the smug look on the Duke’s face, and it made Kyle’s blood boil, but he tampered it down, because he didn’t want to cause any more trouble for Leyla. Which brings him to another concern about their affair…

“You’re already engaged.” Kyle hissed lowly through his cut lips, glaring at the Duke with his remaining good eye. “To Lady Brandt, I might add.” Matthias only shrugged as if that fact held no meaning for him.

Even despite the blooming bruise on his cheek, Matthias held himself up high and composed. One would almost think he was just a passerby in the recent fight that ensued moments prior. How could he remain so nonchalant?!

Wasting no more moment, Matthias scooped Leyla into his arms, pulling her away from Kyle. He made sure Kyle was watching as he pulled out a handkerchief and successfully wiped away the tears in Leyla’s face, trailing kisses over the tear streaks and gently ran his fingers through her hair…

He locked eyes with Kyle’s broken form as he pulled Leyla into a soft kiss.

And just like a final nail to the coffin, Kyle’s heart shattered at the sight of them kissing each other so easily in front of him. He watched as the Duke’s eyes finally closed, and Leyla sank further into his chest…

‘How could this happen?!’ Kyle thought, salty tears now flowing down his cheeks, stinging the cuts on his face and lips but he welcomed that pain anyway. It was like he was on the brink of insanity, but at the same time, all the pieces clicked into place.

He watched as Matthias pulled away from their kiss, and casually unbuttoned Leyla’s blouse, to button them up properly and fix her clothes.

‘How long have they been doing this?’

“Their relationship blossomed right after you left for the capital, Kyle, did you know?” Claudine’s mocking voice echoed faintly in the back of his mind…

“I’ll come back as soon as our uninvited guest leaves you.” Matthias announced softly, and Leyla nodded tersely at him, refusing to make eye contact as fresh tears flowed down her face. Matthias planted one last kiss on her lips gently, before swiftly taking his leave after giving a slight nod to Kyle.

Kyle didn’t know how long he sat limply on Leyla’s cabin floor, the air around them having stilled in place and the silence deafening him. He completely missed the genuine concern Leyla gave him, along with the fear she had just shown.

The next thing he had managed to register was Leyla’s hands reaching out to him, and the muffled question of how he was feeling before all his hurt and anger welled up in him.

“Don’t touch me!” he hissed slowly, making Leyla’s hands stop right in front of him. He didn’t want to look at her, he didn’t want to see the hurt in her eyes when he had so much hurt inside him too!

So he looked down resolutely on the ground, body brimming with pain and resentment over both her and the Duke.

Leyla looked at Kyle’s face in shock, another set of tears welling up in her at the sound of his voice. He’d never spoken so coldly to her before, and it made her freeze.

Kyle didn’t want to stay around Leyla any longer, so despite his limbs screaming at him for rest, he staggered up to his feet, almost tumbling over as the adrenal fatigue came crashing onto him, making him feel every pain in his body tenfold.

“Of all the people I expected this from, not once did I think you could do this.” Kyle whispered, the betrayal seeping out of his voice, “How could you do such a thing, Leyla?”

“Kyle, I’m so sorry, I-”

“Is this why you discarded me so coldly?” he couldn’t help but ask, forcing his shaking fists to stay on his side, afraid to lash out on Leyla despite the hurt she’d just given him, “To be his mistress? Is this the life you wanted all along?” He heaved a sob, failing to keep the tears from spilling once more from his eyes…

He wanted her to deny his accusations, to yell, get mad at him for believing such a blatant lie! But she didn’t, she only stood there, looking so dejected.

“I really am sorry.” She squeaked out softly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you like this Kyle.”

What good was her sorry? It only served as an insult for Kyle. He wanted to lash out, scream and yell until everyone nearby would hear his despair…

But he had more questions.

He glanced around the darkened cabin, remembering every single moment he had passed through the threshold. This was his second home. He felt like he belonged here, once upon a time. He had many good core memories here, like when he and Leyla were children, sitting on the chairs with their legs swinging back and forth as they excitedly chatted with one another.

If the table could make them see its memories, it would have reminded him of all the secrets they shared, the jokes and laughter they had, and the dreams they made with one another.

Unfortunately, it would also remind him of the way Leyla had been in the arms of a man, engaged to wed another.

“Since when did this whole thing begin between you?” Kyle asked softly, eyes still trailed on the table. “Were you just waiting for me to disappear all this time?” He could hear Leyla’s soft denials amongst her sobs.

“So I just unfortunately stumbled upon you, is that it?” Kyle asked, finally looking at Leyla. She looked so ashamed as she shook her head, implying this wasn’t the first time either, but it wasn’t because he was gone. It made Kyle feel ashamed for being so antagonizing with her, but he needed to push through.

He also noticed how thin Leyla had gotten. She was fuller before, healthier too. And it reminded him why he needed to keep questioning Leyla. For her own good.

“Leyla, can’t you stop being with him?” he pleaded softly, heart softening up before he brushed off her tears once more, “You know he’s getting married, who he’ll be married to.” He warned her in a whisper. “I know you know the consequences, surely you don’t want that!”

Because he still remembers how much she shined when she’d tell him about her dreams for the future. Her enthusiasm infected him deeply as she described how she’ll be in a few years or so. She wanted nothing more than researching birds, and traveling to distant places to see them!

Staying with the Duke would only root Leyla in place. She won’t be able to live as freely as she does now, not when the news of their affair would come out.

“You’d have to give up everything just to stay with him, Leyla,” Kyle added softly forcing her to look him in the eyes, gently cupping her face in an angle that would let her, “Do you understand Leyla? You could lose yourself to him.”

Memories of Leyla’s wistful expression when they discussed their marriage, confiding in him how many children she wanted, the type of house they would live in. That much wasn’t fake. Leyla loved him before.

All he wanted was for her to love him again. To choose him again.

‘Please,’ Kyle pleaded in his mind, ‘See me Leyla, choose me.’

“I know.” Leyla finally answered back softly as she gazed at him with pitying eyes, “And I am willing to stay with him despite that.”

“Leyla-”

“I’m sorry, Kyle.” Leyla swallowed down the desire to wrap him in a warm embrace. Instead, she put her hands on his shaky ones, and softly pulled away from him, before stepping back.

“You must leave now.” she softly demanded of him. Kyle searched her eyes for any lie, but there was only stubbornness reflected in them.

After a while, Kyle nodded in compliance at her, before staggering outside of the cabin. As soon as he got outside, Leyla closed the door shut behind him.

With only the moon as their witness, two broken hearts cried for a great love that had finally run its final course, never to be together again.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

Claudine had caught a glimpse of Kyle hurriedly exiting Arvis estate, but there was still no sight of Matthias.

She had been informed moments before dinner that her fiance had expressed his wishes to dine separately for the day, and would be staying in the annex. It wasn’t uncommon of him to do so, he’d done it several times before. Yet, Claudine couldn’t help but wait for any sign of him curiously as she watched the still garden outside.

He had given them the excuse of work pulling him away, but Claudine was no fool. She had a feeling what he’d been up to in the annex.

‘I wonder if the three of them had their own confrontation yet,’ Claudine wondered idly to herself as she stood in front of her window, ‘But if that was true, then why haven’t I seen Matthias surface yet? Kyle’s already left.’

Claudine had always been much too curious for her own good. It was an unfortunate flaw in her she tried to curb, but she must know what happened so far. Immediately she turned to grab her coat, securing it around her before venturing out of her room.

In no time at all, she found herself walking through the forest alone, and giggled to herself at how ridiculous she currently looked like. This was unlike her, but the things she must do to quench her thirst for knowledge had her doing many things others would deem ridiculous.

And right now, her point of interest was Matthias and Leyla’s relationship progress. That and her Brandt pride couldn’t just let their affair off the hook despite their less than desirable reasons.

The forest was different in the light of the moon. In the morning it seemed so full of life and bounty for them, but in the night, there was a gloomy feel in the air. Claudine picked up her pace, nimbly stepping around any roughness on the ground, while white puffs of air escaped her.

Soon, she had reached the riverside. She paused for a while, feeling relief fill her lungs. She looked up at the annex, and saw a lone light coming from it. It made her frown, wondering if perhaps Kyle had missed seeing them, and had gone to Leyla’s instead.

‘He must have brought Leyla here, then.’ She hummed to herself. ‘Though I was so certain he’d gone to Leyla instead.’

Deeming her curiosity satiated momentarily, she decided it was time for her to return, when suddenly the light went out in the annex. Interest piqued, Claudine felt a rush of thrill shot through her as she quickly hid behind one of the willow trees.

She waited for a while, wondering why the light went out, when soon enough, a lone figure emerged from the annex’ entrance.

It was none other than her fiance, Matthias von Herhardt.

*.·:·.✧.·:·.*

When Kyle had finally left, Leyla immediately got to cleaning up the mess in the kitchen, scrubbing blood stains off her floor. She wasn’t really thinking about anything in particular, her mind kept rewinding the horrific events just moments earlier as her hands moved robotically.

Once that was done, she soon found herself curled up on the bed, staring off into space. She left the door unlocked, not wanting to have to rise up to greet the cruel man when he’d return.

And return he did after her silent torment. He’d knocked to let her know he was back, but she made no sound in acknowledgement, the fight in her having long been extinguished along with Kyle’s trust in her.

Besides, if she left him locked out, it would only provoke him to do more terrible things towards her.

He gave another knock, but when even that was left unanswered, he turned the knob open, and let himself in. The floorboards creaked beneath his weight as he took slow, gentle steps towards where her room would be.

With click on the soles of his leather shoes growing closer, the higher the indignation in Leyla’s chest rose.

A third knock came as soon as he came upon her door, and Leyla couldn’t help but chuckle mirthlessly to herself.

‘Always so dignified.’ She mocked him in her mind. ‘Even when it comes to ruining a whole person’s life.’ she finished bitterly in thought.

And then the door creaked open, the chill filling the room before Matthias finally crossed into the space of her solitude. Leyla spared him an icy glare, but Matthias remained indifferent, still dressed in the clothes he wore before, with splatters of blood on the corners of his collar.

She hated thinking it had come from Kyle, but the blooming bruise by the corner of her lips gave her a sadistic satisfaction.

Matthias stopped right in front of her fetal position, looking down at her with an amused expression on his face.

“I trust you both reached a pleasant closure, then?” he inquired, the fists Leyla hugged close to her chest tightened at remembering Kyle’s broken look when she denied him for the last time.

“You really are a monster.” Leyla hissed through her gritted teeth. Matthias blinked at her in surprise…

“What?”

“How could you do that to him?” She demanded from him, “How could you hurt Kyle like that!?” Matthias scoffed at her.

“It was his own doing.” He reasoned out, “If he hadn’t come seeking you out so late in the night, then I wouldn’t have had to hurt him.”

“You’re wrong!” Leyla exclaimed, shooting up from her bed as she rose to meet his eyes with a glare, “You’re the reason why he had to seek me out! You’re the reason for this whole mess I’m in!”

Leyla’s eyes glinted in the moonlight as she tamped down the tears starting to form, refusing to let him see her cry. A while ago it had been different. Her tears had been for Kyle, and she didn’t even think about Matthias.

But even with her harsh words, Matthias kept looking at her in wonder, stepping closer and shamelessly began to pet her on the head like he would an obedient dog. Leyla flinched when she felt his touch on her.

“Say it again,” he whispered, drawing closer to her, before cupping her cheeks to pull her closer to him, “Leyla, say it again for me.”

“What?” Leyla asked in confusion, “Say what again?”

“Say what you said to Kyle again,” Matthias ordered her softly, “Say you love me again.”

Leyla stood there in confusion for a moment, before all the anger and resentment in her faded, leaving only a blank face for Matthias to see. She then sighed out in disbelief before turning her face away from him, when he gripped her tightly to keep her eyes firmly on him.

“Don’t delude yourself Duke,” Leyla huffed out angrily as she met his gaze, “That had been a lie for Kyle’s sake.”

“Then lie to me again,” Matthias grinned, “I want to hear it again.”

“What for?” Leyla scoffed, “There’s no reason for me to repeat such a horrible lie in your presence.”

“Is it really so terrible Leyla?”

“Yes it’s terrible!” Leyla shrieked angrily, roughly slapping his hand away from her in indignation. “Don’t you see the gravity of the mess you caused tonight!? I had to hurt Kyle because of you!”

Matthias stood there in front of her, unresponsive, before something in his eyes turned dark. He lowered his gaze, until the shadows hid them from Leyla’s view. She watched him with bated breath, ready for whatever retaliation he had in store for her.

Suddenly, Matthias began to chuckle. It had been soft and slow at first, sending chills down her spine before she watched him throw his head back and clutched his stomach in a full-blown laughter.

When he looked back at her, that manic glint was back in his eyes.

“Oh! What a wonderful relationship you both have to be able to endure such tragedy for me!” He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes before looking back at Leyla with a toothy grin, “Even I can’t help but tear up at the thought!”

“You’re despicable!” Leyla exclaimed, before squealing in fear when Matthias pulled her harshly towards him by the arm. But she bounced back quickly, having gotten used to his rough treatment of her. “Don’t mock Kyle!” she scolded him…

And suddenly Matthias’ stare got colder.

‘Kyle,’ Matthias thought bitterly, ‘It’s always Kyle this… Kyle that… I’m so sick. Of. Kyle.’

Even the way she tried to throw herself in the middle of the fight to pull him off the man grated at his nerves!

“So that lie was for Kyle’s sake?” he asked her calmly, but the menace in his tone was unmistakable.

“For Kyle’s sake, I’d do anything.” Leyla admitted freely in front of him. Matthias chuckled in a low tone, pulling Leyla’s body to his.

“You gave up your body for old Mr. Remmer’s sake,” Matthias purred, dipping his head low to be at eye level with her, “And you just gave up your heart for young Mr. Etman’s safety from me.”

He stopped right next to Leyla’s ear, his warmth breath sending shivers down her body in an uncomfortable way.

“My, what a martyr you are becoming Leyla.”

“If a martyr is what I should become to keep Uncle Bill and Kyle safe from the likes of you, then I’ll gladly be one!”

“I love him!” Leyla’s earlier declaration rang clearly in the back of her mind.

She wanted to take it back as soon as the words left her mouth, but she hadn’t. She’d done plenty of horrible things for her uncle’s sake, but the lie had hit her harder than she thought. It was like she had been forced to drive a stake into her own heart, and just kept twisting, making herself bleed more than she should.

“What’s the matter? Are you wishing for a martyr for yourself?” Leyla asked him mockingly. She might as well give him more of his own medicine back. After all, he’d been oh so generous with her!

“Have you eaten dinner yet?” Matthias hummed in wonder, quickly changing the subject, and therefore confusing Leyla. “You should eat first, you’ll need your strength for our time together soon.”

“How could you remain so callous about these things!?” she screamed at him, unable to reconcile him with such gentle and kind words of concern when she knew him to be anything but.

“I just watched myself destroy Kyle’s image of me! Do you get that in your rich and snobbish brain!?” she asked him, “I lied about my feelings for you so that he wouldn’t end up dead! And you think I’d still have the stomach to dine with you?!”

“Leyla Lewellin.” He called her out sharply, to get her to remain quiet, but Leyla was no longer listening to him with one of her worst fears having just been realized.

Matthias was stronger than her, sure, but she had the element of surprise, and surprise he was when he found himself being pushed abruptly onto Leyla’s bed. He was further astonished, and equally aroused when she hiked her legs on both of his sides, effectively straddling him.

“Let’s just do it already.” Leyla sighed out tiredly, nimble fingers popping off the buttons of her blouse, revealing more and more of her torso to Matthias’ greedy and lustful gaze.

“I love him!”

She wanted nothing more than to erase that moment in her mind, and losing herself in the sex between them was looking more and more appealing by the second.

“Come on, aren’t you in a hurry to be inside me?” Leyla challenged, bracing her arms on either side of his head after tossing her blouse onto the floor.