Chapter 682 - Auction

Zoey stared at herself in the vanity mirror. Hair neatly tied up, displaying her delicate jaw and naturally contoured cheek. Red stained lips concealing her crack on it, still matching the color of her red dress; A color that perfectly matched her fair, delicate skin. 

Slowly, Zoey raised her gaze, watching Nikolai approach through the mirror. As he stood behind her, she watched him bent over and pick up the necklace he had bought for her on the vanity table, and then he carefully put it around her neck.

"I never realized it, but you have nice shoulders." Nikolai complimented, gazing at her exposed shoulder blades. Her off-shoulder dress highlighted her gorgeous features and he could not help but compliment what he saw.

As he delicately put the necklace around her, Zoey cleared her throat.

"Thank you."

Nikolai glanced up briefly and smirked. Soon, he successfully hooked the lock of the necklace and stepped back. 

"Perfect."

Looking at her reflection in the mirror made his eyes fasten in fascination, nodding approvingly. Zoey, without turning around, fixed her eyes on him.

"You told me you'll leave them alone."

"I did." Nikolai shrugged as Zoey slowly turned around and faced him. When she looked up and caught his gaze, Nikolai added. "It's them who don't leave me alone."

Zoey's breath hitched. Obviously, she knew that. Matthew wouldn't just give up on her.

"What are you planning?" She asked under her breath.

"Who knows? That depends on you, to be honest." Again, Nikolai shrugged nonchalantly.

This time, Zoey rose from her seat, staring at him in the eye as she closed the gap between them.

"Let them go." She muttered.

But, Nikolai chuckled as he shook his head. "That's not how it works, sweetheart."

Zoey placed her palms on his chest, taking deep breaths. She knew Matthew was stepping inside Nikolai's trap. 

Not that she didn't trust Matthew… Well, it was more like she was scared for him. Matthew might be smart, but Nikolai was cunning. The latter does everything to win -- even if he had to use underhanded means.

Matthew was a fair man. The possibility that he may not have foreseen that Nikolai had known all along terrified her. 

"Let's get married." Zoey proposed, taking Nikolai aback as his eyes slightly widened. "If you let them go unscathed, I won't just stay with you. I'll try, Niko. I'll take responsibility for saving you years ago."

"Lies." Nikolai smirked. "Nice try, sweetheart."

"Please." Zoey clasped her hand on his chest tightly, creasing his well-ironed black tux. "I'll put an end to this. After this, he won't bother us anymore."

"You think?" Nikolai arched his brow as Zoey nodded.

"I'll make sure he won't." She affirmed as bits of pieces of her heart kept falling apart.

Nikolai cocked his head to the side, pressing his lips, as he rocked his head back and forth lightly. His eyes on her as a sudden idea flickered in his eyes.

Slowly, Nikolai bent down, inching closer to her just to test her. To his surprise, Zoey didn't move or look away like usual. Yet, she kept her eyes open as if she was prepared to accept his lips.

"Heh," Nikolai stopped and smirked when their lips had an inch gap. "I'm only doing this once, Zia."

He warned, as he drew away without kissing her. Not that he was trying to be chivalrous, but part of him still liked it whenever she struggled.

"Keep your word and I'll keep mine, hmm?" He said, cupping her cheek as his fingers patted her cheek lightly.

Zoey remained silent and only nodded. Pleased at her obedience, Nikolai offered her his arm.

"Let's go? We can't be late." Nikolai grinned.

Still keeping her silence, Zoey bit her inner lip. Glancing down at his arm before she hooked her arm around it. With that, both of them exited the hotel room and headed to the yacht where the auction would take place.

*****

When Zoey and Nikolai arrived at the port, NIkolai turned around to face her.

"I'll help you wear it." He proposed, perking his chin towards the mask she was holding on her lap.

Without a word, Zoey handed him the mask. Nikolai didn't put it immediately, studying her reserved demeanor.

"What?" Zoey inquired seeing his prying hazel orbs.

"Nothing." He said as he raised the mask, masking half of her face. The mask covered half of her upper face, only revealing her blood stained lips.

"I just can't help but think you proposed without a ring."

Zoey chuckled not because she found it funny. Surely, Zoey and Nikolai had similarities as she had said the same words in her previous life to Matthew.

Still, her reaction made Nikolai assume so as he raised his brows.

"I like you smiling." He said and Zoey only then realized her reaction.

"Then, you have to work on your anger issues if you want a happy marriage." Zoey shrugged slightly as he leaned closer, tying the knots of her mask.

"It won't be impossible if you're like this." Nikolai slowly withdrew his hands and drew back. His eyes on her and his gaze slowly journeyed down to her lips.

Slowly, he raised his hand and placed his thumb on her chin. "You know I never intend to hurt you. How can you stay with the trash who cheated on you for two years but not with me? Just let me in, Zia. I won't take your smile away from those lips."

'But you already did, Niko.' Zoey subconsciously replied. Although her heart ached for him as Nikolai expressed his intention sincerely, that didn't change her mind.

Nikolai was talking about Ezekiel. Maybe, if Nikolai showed up before she met Matthew in her previous life, she'd consider him. But… things had already happened.

Zoey was already madly in love with Matthew for two lifetimes. Both may end in tragedy and misery, she prefered this ending instead of having Matthew die in both lifetimes.

She'd rather die twice, than letting him die once again.

"I'll try, Niko." Zoey answered under her breath, offering him a subtle smile. "I won't lie that it would be easy. But I will try, just like what you prefer."

Pleased at her honesty, Nikolai nodded in understanding.. "That's my girl."