Chapter 18

Amelia was caught off guard by Cullen's words. She considered them stupid. How in the world would a man like Cullen want her, when a low-life asshoe like Daniel never did?

Cullen's eyes wavered around her alluring figure after dropping his words. Since Amelia was lost in a trance, she had no idea how his flame-filled eyes roamed around her body.

Cullen shut his eyes, enjoying her hot breath as it fanned over his face. He loves the look of surprise on her face. Her answer to his proposal would determine how well he would help her.

Amelia's eyes were fixed on Cullen's face to read his facial expression. However, she wasn't able to read anything. His expression was blank.

She felt as if he was hallucinating.

She blinked in confusion and pulled herself out of his arms. "You must… you must be drunk," she cursed, her eyes darting between his wine glass and himself.

She guessed the wine was the one doing the talking, and not him. Perhaps alcohol weren't good in him.

"I'm not," Cullen's lips tightened, and impatience covered his expression. He wasn't used to his words being left hanging without immediate replies. Also, he would never take no for an answer.

Amelia let out a surprised gasp. She gazed at him as if he had grown two horns, wondering if this was the man who saved her that night and a few days ago.

Cullen met her torn gaze with his determined ones, "Don't worry, I won't touch you or anything. There's going to be nothing attached, other than serving as my girlfriend in public_"

"In public?" Amelia cut him off, panicking, "What are people going to say?"

Cullen scoffed, mocking her fear. "People? People are always going to say something. Just accept, and I'll sort out the rest of it. Whereas, our deal would end the moment we achieve what we both want," he let out a sly smirk at the end, playing with her logic.

Meanwhile, Amelia frowned, "I have a husband,"

Cullen's expression twisted at her remark. "A scumbag mistaken as a husband, you mean?" he did not even try to hide the mockery in his voice.

Amelia was taken aback by his bold remark. She raised her hand, and without a second thought, she landed a tight slap on Cullen's right cheek.

Cullen wasn't prepared for her bold move. He froze, his eyes filled with disbelief. No one has ever raised a hand on him, never! Not even his biological abusive father. He raised his hand to the spot where she hit and rubbed on it.

Raising her now trembling hand before his face, she showed him her ring finger, "Until I take off this ring legally, Daniel remains my husband,"

Amelia's heart clenched hearing herself.

Cullen nodded in response.

He returned to his seat and took a sip out of his glass, forgetting her whole existence. Meanwhile, Amelia remained frozen where she stood.

She felt worthless, worthless beyond usage.

Slowly, tears escaped her eyes. Cullen's request to help her triggered something in her, and she could not help thinking he was the same as Daniel. She tried to think otherwise, but it wasn't working.

'You can't hit Daniel that way on the cheek and remain this way. He would have broken a bone or two in you,' her inner mind countered her conclusion.

Disappointed, she dropped to the floor and hugged her knees to herself, her tears flowing freely. She no longer cared about what she was wearing.

The reality was too suffocating for her, and it sucked every single light out of her. She buried her fingers into her hair and clenched it aggressively, sobbing quietly.

Currently, Amelia had forgotten Cullen's presence before her. All she needed now was to cry her eyes out to comfort herself.

Cullen stared at the woman before him. The sight of her crumbling and in that position brought back rough memories. He tried to fight them, but the more she sobbed, the more they pushed themselves into his mind.

He ran a hand through his hair and took in a low breath. "Raise your face," He commanded her, maintaining a straight face, even if he was going through emotional turmoil himself.

Cullen's voice snapped Amelia back to reality. She slowly raised her water-filled face to him. She was a bit surprised he was still before her. Her sad eyes were treated by Cullen's cold and chilly ones.

However, in those cold gaze, there was a particular sadness and warmth she saw in his eyes when their gaze locked. She sniffed and waited to listen to what he wanted to say.

Cullen stood up from his seat. He fixed both his hands into his pants pocket and walked towards her with an intimidating stride.

Right there on the floor looking up at him, she looked exactly like his mother whenever she looked up at her father.

It gave him a nostalgic feeling. Not wanting to look anything like that monster, he instantly reduced to her height. He kneeled softly and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Stop crying," he said softly, using his thumb to wipe her tears, "The world isn't a battlefield for tears. It's a battlefield where tears aren't allowed,"

Amelia blinked, releasing more tears.

"You were bold a while ago, and I loved it. You have to remain that way if you know you want to watch people crumble. Don't be sad, your baby won't like it. You should smile," he advised.

Amelia said nothing. Her eyes only glowed in appreciation, but she had no courage to say anything.

Cullen turned his face in the direction of the kitchen, "The kitchen is right there," he faced her, "Goodnight,"

Amelia nodded, "Thank you for not sending me to the hospital," she finally managed to say. Her voice was broken, and almost impossible to hear.

He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, wiped her tears one last time before walking toward the direction of the staircase, leaving her all alone.