บท 28: Chapter 28: Live Long and Prosper
The hot water cascades over my body, steam rising in billowing clouds around me. As I stand under the shower's steady stream, I can't shake the feeling that I'm forgetting something important. My mind feels foggy, memories slipping away like water through my fingers. I scrub at my skin, hoping the familiar motions will jog my memory, but nothing comes.
With a sigh, I turn off the water and step out of the shower. The cool air of the bathroom hits my damp skin, raising goosebumps along my arms. I wrap a fluffy towel around my waist, using another to roughly dry my hair. As I wipe the condensation from the mirror, I catch sight of my reflection. There's something off about my appearance, but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
I'm still pondering this when I hear a whoosh of air from the living room, followed by the sound of the terrace door sliding open. My heart leaps in my chest, recognizing the familiar cadence of Skye's footsteps.
"Hey," I call out, my voice echoing slightly in the tiled bathroom.
Before I can say anything else, the bathroom door flies open. Skye stands there, resplendent in her Super Star costume, her emerald eyes blazing with an intensity that takes my breath away. In two quick strides, she crosses the room and pulls me into her arms.
Her lips crash against mine in a kiss that's equal parts passion and desperation. I melt into her embrace, my damp skin pressed against the cool material of her suit.
When we finally break apart, both of us gasping for air, Skye's eyes search my face. "Did you see the news?" she asks, her voice tight with barely contained emotion.
I nod, feeling a pang of guilt at the pain I see in her eyes. "Yeah," I say softly, reaching up to cup her cheek. "I wonder who leaked it."
Skye's jaw clenches, a muscle twitching in her cheek. Despite the fury radiating off her in waves, her touch remains gentle as she runs her hands over my arms, my shoulders, my face, as if reassuring herself that I'm really here and whole.
She lets out a long, shuddering sigh, her forehead coming to rest against mine. "I'll kill whoever did it," she says, her voice low and dangerous.
I nod, a wry smile tugging at the corners of my mouth. "I bet you will," I say, moving to step away and sit down. My legs feel oddly weak as if I've just run a marathon.
But Skye's grip on me tightens, preventing me from moving. "No, really," she says, her emerald eyes boring into mine with an intensity that makes me love her even more.
"I believe you," I say softly, gently pulling Skye with me towards the plush leather couch in the living room. As we sink into the cushions, I can feel the tension radiating from her body.
She lets out a long, weary sigh that seems to come from the very depths of her being. The sound tugs at my heart and I find myself reaching out to take her hand, marveling as always at how small mine looks, entwined with hers.
"We're going to have to go on TV," Skye says, her voice a mix of resignation and determination. "To set the story straight."
I nod, feeling a flutter of anxiety in my stomach at the thought of facing cameras and reporters. The idea of having our private life dissected for public consumption makes my skin crawl, but I push the feeling aside, focusing instead on the woman beside me.
Skye continues, "I talked to Sarah. She confirmed there's no actual evidence to back up what they're saying." A hint of a smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, a flash of her usual confidence peeking through. "Our best bet is to just deny it outright."
"Sure, baby. Anything you want." I say despite being nervous about going on TV. "Do you think I should be media trained?"
I imagine myself stumbling over words, sweating under the harsh studio lights, making a fool of myself in front of millions of viewers. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.
To my surprise, Skye lets out a laugh. It's not mocking or dismissive but warm and reassuring.
"No, no, we have final cut on the interview, so no matter what, you'll be fine."
Relief washes over me, as palpable as the afternoon sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I feel some of the tension leave my body, my shoulders relaxing from a position I hadn't even realized was tense.
"Thank God," I breathe out. "That way, I won't look like an idiot."
Skye's expression softens, her eyes filled with a tenderness that makes my breath catch in my throat. In one fluid motion, she pulls me into a tight embrace. The cool material of her costume presses against my still-damp skin.
"I would never let someone make a fool out of you," she whispers into my ear, her breath warm against my skin.
I melt into her embrace, burying my face in the crook of her neck. "Thank you."
As we bask in the comfort of each other's embrace, a sharp knock at the door shatters our moment of peace. I let out a long, weary sigh, my breath ruffling Skye's hair.
"Why does someone always want something from us?" I grumble, reluctantly pulling away from Skye's warmth.
Skye's emerald eyes narrow, her gaze becoming unfocused as she stares intently at the door. I watch in fascination as her irises seem to glow faintly, a reminder of the incredible power. After a moment, she blinks, her eyes returning to normal as she lets out an exasperated "Ugh."
"Get dressed," she says, her voice tinged with resignation. "It's my mother."
I can't help but smile at the thought of seeing Sonia. I bet she's just the same. I quickly pull on a pair of jeans and a soft, well-worn t-shirt, running a hand through my still-damp hair in a futile attempt to tame it.
As I emerge from the bedroom, I see Skye opening the door. Sonia Star sweeps into the room like a force of nature, her silver hair gleaming under the penthouse lights. Her tailored business suit seems to radiate authority, and her piercing green eyes, so similar to Skye's yet somehow sharper, take in every detail of the room in an instant.
A smug smile plays across Sonia's lips as she turns to face her daughter. "Really, Skye?" she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "You killed your fiancé?"
As I look at Sonia, a wave of emotion washes over me. In this moment, I'm overwhelmed by how much I've missed her presence, her strength, her unwavering support.
I walk towards her, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervousness.
Sonia's gaze meets mine, and for a moment, I see a flicker of recognition before her expression hardens into one of barely concealed disgust.
"And you," she says, her voice cool and clipped. "You've made my daughter far less efficient."
Without thinking, I step forward and wrap my arms around her in a tight hug.
"I've missed you so much, Mom."
For a heartbeat, Sonia remains stiff in my embrace, and I fear I've made a terrible mistake. But then, something extraordinary happens. I feel her body begin to tremble, and suddenly, her arms are around me, clutching me with a desperation that takes my breath away.
"Oh, Luke," she chokes out, her voice cracking with emotion. "I've missed you too. So, so much."
I feel warm droplets on my shoulder and realize with a start that Sonia is crying.
Her fingers dig into my back as she holds me tighter, as if afraid I might disappear if she lets go. "I thought we'd lost you forever."
I stroke her back gently. "It's okay, Mom. I'm here now."
From somewhere behind us, I hear Skye let out an exasperated sigh. "Great," she mutters, her voice tinged with annoyance. "You two were close in your world, too?"
I nod at Skye, feeling a lump form in my throat as memories of those Saturdays with Sonia flood back. "Yeah," I say softly. "After you passed, I went out to lunch with her every Saturday. She was there for me when my own family wasn't."
The words hang in the air, heavy with emotion. I can feel Sonia's body tense slightly in my arms, her breath catching. When she pulls back to look at me, her emerald eyes are wide with surprise.
"I was briefed," she says slowly, "but you really were married to my daughter in another world?"
I give her a bittersweet smile "Yeah," I confirm. "In my old world, you were a housewife who ruled with an iron fist," I explain, a chuckle escaping me at the memory. "But you were basically my second mother growing up. You demanded I call you mom."
Skye's eyes flash with anger, the emerald irises seeming to darken like storm clouds gathering on the horizon.
"You've got to be kidding me," Skye spits out, her voice low and dangerous. "She made the you from here call her mom too, you know. It's not some special bond you two share."
The words hit me like a physical blow, and I feel a pang of guilt in my chest. I open my mouth to respond, but Sonia beats me to it.
"I'm sorry," Sonia says, her voice soft. The edges of her usual demeanor seem to have melted away, leaving behind something more vulnerable. "I shouldn't have come in with such an attitude. It's just... this situation is unprecedented, and I was worried about how it might affect the company, but I'm so thankful we're not burying you again."
I can't help but chuckle, shaking my head slightly. "That's how you always are with Skye," I say, a note of fondness creeping into my voice. "Very hard on her, but so easy on me. It used to drive her crazy."
The words hang in the air for a moment, and I watch as a kaleidoscope of emotions flickers across Skye's face. Anger, confusion, and a lot of jealousy all war for dominance in her expressive eyes.
"This is bullshit," Skye finally says, her voice trembling with barely contained emotion. Her hands clench into fists at her sides.
Realizing my mistake of not showing her enough attention, I quickly cross the room to Skye's side. I reach out, gently taking one of her clenched fists in my hand.
"I'm sorry," I say softly, offering her a small, apologetic smile. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... it's all so familiar, yet so different. I'm still trying to navigate this new world."
Skye's emerald eyes soften as she looks at me, the anger slowly melting away like snow in the spring sun. She lets out a long, weary sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly as the tension leaves her body.
"I just don't want my mom to steal you," she admits.
I can't help but laugh at the absurdity of that. To my surprise, Sonia joins in as she chuckles softly.
"I promise she won't," I say, squeezing Skye's hand gently. "You're the only woman for me."
We make our way to the couch. For a moment, we sit in comfortable silence.
Sonia leans forward as she fixes Skye with an intense gaze. "Skye," she says, her voice taking on a more serious tone, "how could you kill Luke again?"
Skye shifts uncomfortably beside me, her fingers tightening around mine. "I wasn't the only one at fault this time," she says defensively, a hint of her earlier irritation creeping back into her voice.
Sonia's eyebrows shoot up. "This isn't going to be a pattern, is it?" she asks, her words sharp and pointed.
Skye looks annoyed. "Of course not," she snaps, her voice rising slightly. "It was an accident. We were... we were intimate, and things got out of hand. I didn't mean to hurt him."
"And you've forgiven her?" Sonia asks, her eyes suddenly focusing on me.
I feel heat rising in my cheeks, a blush spreading across my face and down my neck. My hand, still intertwined with Skye's, feels suddenly clammy.
"I... I accidentally egged her on," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper. The memory of that night flashes through my mind, the heat of Skye's touch, the thrill of pushing boundaries, the intoxicating mix of pleasure and danger. "There's nothing to forgive, really. Plus..." I pause, taking a deep breath before continuing, "I wouldn't mind dying at Skye's hands."
The words hang in the air, heavy with implication. I can feel Skye tense beside me, her fingers tightening around mine almost painfully.
Sonia's eyebrows shoot up higher than before, her eyes bugging out in shock.
"That's... disturbing," Sonia says slowly, each word carefully measured. Her gaze flicks between Skye and me as if trying to solve a particularly complex puzzle.
Suddenly, Skye explodes into motion beside me. She leaps to her feet, her emerald eyes blazing with a mixture of frustration and fear. "That's basically what I said!" she yells, her voice echoing off the high ceilings of the penthouse. Her hands gesture wildly as she continues, "He needs to live a long life! I can't... I won't be responsible for his death again!"
"Yes lets make sure Luke lives a long life." Sonia says awkwardly unable to figure out the tone she should take with me.
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