Chapter 24

• Adeline's POV
• When I danced, he looked at me, I felt the blood rush in my veins, the excitement of the moment. I could not describe it in other words. It was all about feeling like someone was watching you. I leaned in, completely oblivious to my surroundings, imagining that my hair covering my face was turning him on. I suddenly felt arms wrap around my waist and a body was tightly attached to my bottom. My heart was almost in a daze thinking it was Ethan, until I heard the mystery man get hit hard in the face. I opened my eyes to take in the situation and the man I assumed was Ethan was lying on the floor stroking his bruised nose. Ethan breathed heavily and looked up at me, his eyes darkening. He grabbed his wallet and took out money to give Marilyn a cab. Then he came to me and picked me up and took me away from the place.
• His arms were wrapped tightly around my body and I was afraid he would break my ribs and I didn't know how to put them back together. We got into his car and I leaned my head back against the seat and looked at him, "This is so disgusting." He stared at me for a while and finally said, "Don't you think it's ugly?" he asked, sounding angry and hurt. His hands were on my face, the pads of his thumbs caressing my cheekbones, and my skin felt goosebumps all over. "Why did you do that, Adeline?" He seemed genuinely confused by my behaviour. "I, I want you to see me for the real me but I don't know how to show you…" I whispered, "Yeah? I've called you so many times! That doesn't explain why you won't answer the phone!"