his deadly sin

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Parking the car beside Ismael's, I killed the engine and tapped on the dashboard interface. The door beside me swung upward and I stepped out of the car before it automatically closed back in a graceful manner when I activated the lock. 

I walked to join the siblings and Naya looked towards the car behind me, shrugging her shoulders, "Seriously, I hate to admit that Aillard has the best taste in cars." 

I turned my head around and gazing at the sleek white Aventador and mumbled, "I guess." 

Perhaps I was too lost in my own thoughts that when I felt a hand on the small of my back, I jumped a little and jerked my head to the side. Beside me, Ismael smiled funnily, "What thoughts kept you so occupied?" 

"Nothing of concern," I gave a small laugh at my own overreaction. 

"That's a relief," Ismael mentioned and gestured, "Let's go." 

The three of us entered through the grand rotating doors of the hotel and moving past the wide red entrance carpet, every step we took echoed resoundingly against the fine marble tiles that lined the ground. Above us, was a large crystal chandelier that sparkled in its own pride in the middle of the ostentatious lobby. Embroidered silk sofas with ornate gold arms were spaced out towards the reception desk as men in expensive suits and ladies in satin and sequins settled around for a casual chat — with the exception that no one would ever figure out what was hidden beneath those smiles. 

A crew of staffs gathered to welcome us and a man clad in a neat suit uniform stepped forward to greet with a polite and courteous tone, "Good evening, esteemed guests. Please follow my lead to the banquet hall." 

We took a separate lift and followed behind until we reached the large twin doors that were coloured in pristine white and embellished with polished gold handles at the end of the hallway. On the way in, we already passed a countless of exquisite paintings and statues that quietly announced in the loudest way possible that this place was reserved only for the society of upperclassmen who possessed high powers and bathed in their wealth. The doors opened with a smooth push and we finally arrived in the banquet hall that was elegantly designed with equally astounding standards. 

Even when I lived my whole life surrounded by these people, it was all part of a job. Now, I stood here in a dress, with long wavy hair and looking all feminine, I suddenly felt small and unbelonging. Beyond the facade required of my profession, I would never fit into this tier of individuals in the high society. 

At least, I was well aware of my place and that Aillard and I stood worlds apart from each other. 

"Mr Illiades," A hotel staff greeted me as he pushed the door open for me to enter the banquet hall. I lifted my hand in response and he lowered his head before closing the door behind me. As I entered, my eyes immediately went towards the lady who leaned lazily against a high cocktail table. She wore an open-back midnight blue halter dress that pressed close to her skin, revealing all the curves on her body. Standing by herself, she glanced towards other tables with an unamused expression on her face. 

I walked towards her and called her name, "Mace." 

Macy turned around and her dark-red lips broke into a wide smile, "Aillard, good to see you. I was beginning to wonder if you had decided to ditch me suddenly." 

"That would be ungentlemanly of me to behave as such," I mentioned with a polite smile, reaching out to grab a glass of champagne when a young waiter passed us by. I looked towards Macy and asked, "Champagne for you?" 

"I'm going to need something a lot stronger if you're seriously staying in this boring place." Macy tugged her earlobe and her fingers fiddled idly with her silver earrings. 

"Trust me, just one glass," I laughed lightly, leaning close to her ear as I whispered in a low voice, "There are eyes in this room, Mace." 

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Macy cussed and the young waiter serving us drinks stunned, almost utterly flabbergasted. She turned to look at him and smiled sweetly, "You heard nothing, sugar. Move along." 

The waiter almost scurried away and I smirked, "You're still the same." 

"I just had enough of all these crap," she sighed, pressing her lips against the rim of the flute as she took a sip. "If I was strong enough to protect Julian myself, would I be begging for your help?

"I know," I replied simply.

"What do you know, Aillard?" Macy's lips drew back into a near snarl. "For someone who doesn't believe in love, you'll never understand my helplessness." 

Raising the glass I took a sip of the bittersweet champagne as Macy pointed in a particular direction and continued casually, "Anyways, there's a new face with the Fayed siblings." 

I assumed that would be Wren, but Naya texted me a moment ago to say that Wren had other plans so she had to find a new date. Always a relief, though. Knowing Naya, she tended to go really overboard at times. The new face that Macy mentioned didn't bother me until she threw out a random question that caused me to still entirely. She asked, "Could she be Ismael's partner?" 

I tried not to flinch as I turned to look towards Macy's line of sight. Regardless of all the different facade she would wear, my heart would never fail to recognise her. The wavy brown curls feathered past her shoulders when she lowered her head slightly and chuckled at something that Naya told her. Even at this distance, I could see all the lively emotions that danced within the pale of her eyes and she would always be the most beautiful presence in this entire place that left me perilously begging for air. 

It was understandable that the siblings knew that Wren's a girl. After all, the four of us grew up together and if I had realised it at some point, I was sure that they did too. Standing where I was, I wondered about her lovely smile and if she would ever show it in front of me. I also wondered about the sound of her laughter and my own desperation of wanting to possess the sweetness of it all to myself. My eyes remained on her, just savouring the sight of her enjoying everything that I couldn't give her. 

It was funny how Wren always managed to magnetise me to her without even needing to try and I kept falling every single time without a single explanation. That was how she was to me. At some point, I was convinced that she was my sin and I was condemned to do anything for her without a care if the high heavens wouldn't take my sacrilegious soul when I die. It was a conviction that I would gladly suffer an eternity in hell if I could keep her safe in this lifetime.

"Aillard." Macy's voice drew me back into attention as I focused my gaze back at her. The tip of her lips lifted into a teasing smirk when she asked, "Interested? I haven't ever seen you stare at a woman for this long." 

"I don't love, Mace," I said simply, concealing all the feelings that threatened to burst through the seams. My voice hardened slightly when I spoke again, "Please don't put me together with such a fragile emotion." 

"I wish you would love," Macy said while taking a sip of her champagne. The small smile in her expression showed her happiness and her brown eyes gleamed when she explained, "I hope you find someone who shows you just how deeply you can feel and how deeply you can love." 

My line of sight went towards Wren almost instinctually and she was still smiling cheerily towards Naya and Ismael. The ache in my chest grew as the words formed at the back of my mind.

Not when my love nearly killed the person I held the most precious.

I caught sight of Aillard the moment he walked into the banquet hall and none of us expected him to attend this social event because I told the siblings that Aillard had a private dinner appointment with the lady of Franchini Corporations. 

It was being within his presence that a feeling of panic and fear surfaced until Naya reminded me that she had everything sorted out and no one would recognise me in the current state. Sure enough, I wanted to laugh at the prickly feelings stinging against my heart when he didn't spare any attention to his surroundings. He was focused on her the moment he entered the vast banquet hall. 

They smiled at each other and he whispered something into her ear as she grabbed onto a glass of champagne, beaming brighter after hearing all that he had to say. A pang of emotions settled like an enigma in the bottom of my heart and I had to constantly pull myself out of that dangerous pool of emotions.

"Are you alright, Wren?" Ismael placed a hand on my shoulder and I was immediately jarred out of my thoughts.

My hands tightened around the glass of juice I was holding and I breathed out an awkward smile, "Sorry, I was just thinking of something."

"You look rather pale," Ismael pointed out.

"Please excuse me while I head to the ladies," I said, trying my hardest to suppress the tension in my tone.

"I'll go with you," Naya offered. "You really look rather pale, dearest."

"I'll be right back, please don't worry about me," I declined, needing some space.

Releasing my crushing grip on the glass, I turned and walked towards the ladies. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone in there when I entered. I stood in front of the marbled counter and reached for the tap to turn the water on high. My hands held a handful of cold water and I splashed it on my face before planting my hands on either side of the sink and breathed sharply. I stared into my reflection as water dripped along the side of my face. I was sure that Naya's make up were waterproofed since they didn't smear at my rash decision.

"Wren," I whispered voice only audible to myself as I warned myself, "Hold it together."

Grabbing a few paper towels, I gently blotted the water away from my face before leaving the ladies. I was a lot more settled than a moment ago but that feeling was a rather fleeting one.

Maybe fates think its funny to play with people's lives.

As I lifted my gaze to look at the person that was in my way, I now stood face to face with Aillard as he stared towards me with his piercing grey eyes.

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a/n:

life hadn't been the most fantastic and the writer's block was real. but i managed this chapter after several tries and i hope to get back on my pace again to get the story going!

i'm sort of late on this but i hope that the new year had been treating everyone well till now.