Hateful Games: (An arranged marriage billionaire romance) (Arranged Games Book 2)

Chapter Ninety

(Three months later)

My palms are sweaty and the blood is rushing to my head, making me feel like I’ll faint.

I can’t believe I’m about to do this.

I’m nervous but for the first time, it’s the absolutely thrilling kind. The one where you know something amazing and life-altering is about to happen. You want to freeze time yet at the same time want to see which exciting journey it takes you on.

“Oh my god, Ro!” squeals Iris in awe. “There are so many people outside. A huge freaking line.”

“Do you think they’ll catch you if we throw you on top like rock stars do?” suggest Bianca wiggling her eyebrows. “I’m so tempted to try it.”

Iris rapidly nods her head. “Yes, we should totally do that.”

“Ugh… Why did I bring you two?”

Bianca snorts. “Like we’d let you do this without us.”

“I’m your assistant, remember?” reminds Iris.

I roll my eyes at their antics and take a peek around the corner. I have to clutch the wall to stay steady. Iris wasn’t exaggerating about the number of people, except the part that they’re all here to see me.

Ever since I decided on taking control of my life, there was one thing on my bucket list and that was to reveal my face to my readers. I no longer wanted to stay hidden and proudly look the world in the eye and say I’m a romance author.

The universe was obviously on my side because about two months ago, I was invited to the first-ever exclusive romance book signing in Mumbai. I swear I had read the invitation over and over before taking the plunge.

I called Bianca and Iris right after and asked them to come with me so I don’t get cold feet. However, the fear never came. Even now, as I stare at the crowd. I’m just eager to meet them all. My stomach somersaulting in exhilaration. I wonder if the other authors are also feeling the same.

Surrounded by my girls, I miss Nova. Wishing I had told him.

The last three months have been surreal. He’s inserting himself into my life deeper, carving a home for himself once more with sweet little gestures. The day he came by for our breakfast date to divert my mind from my dad’s case, he stayed until the news broke out of my father being imprisoned for life. Nova had held me as I cried in pure relief that my nightmare was finally over.

Since then, he’s come over daily to have one meal together.

It soon turned to coming over every morning to take my dogs for a walk. He even talked me into giving him a key to my apartment so I could sleep in without worrying about opening the door.

He’s been patient, taking things at my pace and never once pressuring for more. It almost feels like we’re dating. Even though I still wear his ring and we’re very much married.

The faces before me blur, the sounds becoming white noise as I ask myself: what the hell am I doing? What exactly am I waiting for? I haven’t stopped loving him. Not even for a second. I want what we had before the catastrophe hit.

I want what he told me that day.

I want to be in his arms, day and night. I want to tell him how much I love him and that he’s mine just as much as I’m his. That my life is incomplete without him. He’s the other half of my soul. My light in the dark. The future father of my kids.

He’s everything.

The visceral need to call him slams into me. However, before I can call or text him, one of the organizers of the event enters our private room and informs us to go to my table. They’re going to start letting people in, in a few minutes.

“Let’s go, Ro,” says Bianca.

After the signing, I’m taking the first flight home.

Braving a smile, I step out of the shadows and enter the brightly lit room. I’m confused when I only catch sight of one author table with all my books on display.

Hmm, strange.

Perhaps they’ve given separate rooms to each attending author?

Reaching my table, I stare in pride at my books. Sometimes, it feels like a dream that I wrote all of them. So many words, so many stories. Each character having a little trait of mine. I hold back tears.

“This is fantastic, Rosa,” murmurs Iris. “I’m so glad you’re doing this. The world deserves to know just how talented you are.”

Bianca hugs me. “We’re so proud of you, Ro. Now, let’s rock this day.”

“Thank you for being here, both of you,” I tell them. “Love you guys.”

As soon as we pull apart, the crowd rushes in and walk straight to my table. At the front is a pair of girls closer to my age and the moment they’re before me, they start to talk at once.

“Oh my god! I’ve been your fan for so goddamn long.”

“I’m completely obsessed with your books!”

“I love your writing. Your characters are so easy to connect with.”

I laugh, smiling wide and blushingly say, “Thank you so much. Makes me so happy to hear.”

“Please. I want a signed copy of all your books.”

“Me too!”

My hands shake when I flip the book and sign each copy. Still feeling on cloud nine as I hear the love in their voices. It’s such an incredible feeling that I can’t put into words. Pun intended.

Before I know it, the line keeps moving and never ending as I meet each of my lovely readers. Grateful for every single one of them. Hours go by as Bianca and Iris help me along. Packing bags and swag while I interact with the readers.

During the chaos, I miss the tall podium at the head of the large room along with chairs being brought in and spread around. One of the organizers clears their throat into the mike and tells the guests to grab a seat as they’re pausing the signing for a few minutes.

I glance in confusion at Bianca and Iris, who act innocent, but I don’t miss the secret smiles they exchange. I ask, “What’s going on?”

“No idea.”

“Who knows?”

I face forward when the same organizer says that the main sponsor of this event would like to say a few words. However, she moves aside without revealing the name. I follow her gaze and my lungs lose all the oxygen as I stare at Nova confidently walking toward the podium. A hush falls around the room, like everyone knows they’re about to witness something heartwarming.

Our eyes lock across the room and I’m pinned by their intensity.

The world disappearing when his voice grips me in a trance.

“My beautiful Rose, don’t look so surprised. I could never miss the most important day in your life, especially since I’ve been waiting for a very long time to see you shine like this. But I’m also here for a selfish reason,” he admits with a small smile, making my breathing pick up. “I wrote something for you. Though, I should let everyone know I’m nowhere near as good as my wife, but for her, I’m going to try.”

Collective sighs of awe go around the room.

But our locked gazes never stray.

It’s just me and him.

“I was a man who never believed in love. Until one day, I sneaked into a fiery and the most stunning girl’s bedroom. She had eyes that snared me and red lips that slayed me. With every barbed word, she cast me under a spell and I knew I had met my match. Like a boy crushing on a girl he didn’t want to admit his feelings for, I made her cry. Except, she wasn’t a girl you messed with.” He chuckles low, our mind traveling to the past. “And a week later, she taught me a lesson. In that moment, I decided she was going to be mine forever. For years, I secretly obsessed over her, I watched her, I ached to learn everything about her. The real her that she kept hidden.

“The world saw a hardened girl with a closed heart, I saw the daydreaming girl with her nose buried in a book. The emotionally scarred girl who was hurt by the ones who were supposed to protect her and yet she was still fierce. I saw the girl who wanted to be seen and loved. I saw my future. I thought I wanted to make her bow, instead she brought me to my knees. I fell in love even before I knew what love is. She just didn’t know it yet but, in her eyes, I saw she felt the same but was too stubborn to admit it. She called me her villain and for the longest time, I was. Little did she know, every time we were together, I felt like her hero who wanted to slay the demons for her. But nothing in our story had ever been conventional. In the end, it was my fiery Rose who fought and slayed mine.”

He pauses with a deep sigh, voice breaking as if it’s too much while his handsome face is blurry as tears fall down my cheeks.

“I am so glad you didn’t listen to me and said no when I stupidly asked you to call off our wedding, Rose. If you had, I would’ve missed out on the best thing to ever happen to me. I would’ve lost my single chance at love and a family. You’re my soulmate. I love you so much. Take me back because I can’t stay apart from you anymore. Please, Rose. Please.”

I run across the room.

He meets me halfway, catching me in his warm embrace.

I crush my lips against his and it’s like coming home. My tears mixing with his.

“I love you, baby. I was always coming back to you. You will only ever own my heart.”

He sighs, his strong arms a brand around my waist as he slants his mouth to kiss me deeper. I never want to come up for air.

Catcalls and hoots fill the room, but I pay them no mind as I gaze into Nova’s loving gaze. “Heroes never excited me. I want a villain. My villain. One who will ruthlessly fight the world by my side. One whose world begins and ends with me. One who loves every part of me, lifts me up and fucks me like there’s no tomorrow,” I whisper for his ears only. “Be my villain, Nova. Be mine.”

“I don’t want to be your villain anymore, Rose. I just want to be yours.”

“You’ve been mine since I was sixteen.”

One hand seizes the back of my neck, and he vows, “This—us—is forever.”

“Forever.”