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    CHAPTER 169??


    "Then stay tonight with me." His wish wasn''t something she couldn''t do. She could but then things were required of her.


    "We can''t and you know why." Although she smiled at him, he could still see a hint of sadness in her eyes.


    "I promise not to touch you or arouse you."


    Jade''s smile remained. He looked like a cute kid actually promising his mother something. "It is okay, Xander. You would see meter. Our engagement is tomorrow anyways," she reminded him. They hade to a consensus before they slept off in each other''s arms.


    "As you wish. Thanks as well, love. You made my day."


    "Happy to please." She winked at him before making her way to the entrance of the tent. "This is goodnight honey."


    "Sure. Till tomorrow, then. Just a minute, I would be ready to see you off."


    Jade nodded her response then waited outside for him.


    Once outside, she took a deep breath before looking at the sky. Her day was lovely and this was just only the beginning.


    She refused to stay because she knew Arctic would be on her soon. She needed to be home when next he wanted to deliver a message to her.


    Once things are better then she can introduce Xander to him or maybe not.


    "Ready?" Xander asked stepping out of the tent.


    "Ready."


    ***


    Jade had waited all night for his call toe but nothing actually happened. With that she managed to calm her worried mind and sleep soundly.


    Just as she had expected the next day came by quickly and Arctic had called to inform her of their meeting ce and time.


    At first what he did was to check her location and be sure she was in a ce he could trust and avoid listening ears, just as Jade had predicted.


    "Yeah. I understand. I would be ready."


    "Alright. Do make sure no one is tailing you when you areing alright?"


    "No worries. I am always very careful."


    "Good thing then. Before that, is there anything you would went to tell me?"


    Immediately those words fell out from his mouth, Jade''s heartbeat increased exponentially. She had thought about telling of Xander and how today was her engagement party but then she kicked against it as he may not be in support of it.


    But then she did not think she would be able to stomach staying away from him so she shut her lips.


    Regardless of what she thought, this was Arctic, the one and only male family she had aside from Xander. Could she really keep it to herself and not let him be involved in such a wonderful asion?


    At least even if he may not be there physically since Xander and his friends may recognize him, she would have been happy knowing he was somewhere watching over her once more on her special day.


    She thought on it quickly and shook her head.


    Realizing he couldn''t see her, Jade opened her mouth to speak. "No. I am good. There is nothing to say. I would be there at 3 pm sharp.


    "Alright. Do have a wonderful day in advance."


    "Yeah, you too."


    The call ended and Jade let out an exasperated sigh. Who knew that lying to a loved one or hiding something from them could be so exhausting?


    ''Look at me think that hiding my rtionship with Xander from Arctic is exhausting. What would I say about hiding my entire identity and all that I am from my most loved one? Gosh Jade, you really have be so adept at lying that it looks as though it is a part of you.''


    Even though she was mentally disappointed in herself, Jade could not deny that the will to live out bested the others.


    ''I need to survive and get my revenge, then I can tell Xander the truth about everything. If he still loves me then, so be it and if he doesn''t, I guess we were never fated to be. Phew! Why is it so tiring?''


    She got up from the bed and sauntered to her bathroom. Within seconds, Jade had put on the shower and began to lightly rub the water into her body beforethering her skin with her liquid soap.


    "Aahhhh…. I do not know buy this water seems soothing to some extent today? Is it that my body just feels too good after being treated that way yesterday?"


    She shook her head, as she was not able to figure it out. Who was she toin anyway? So many things ran through her mind, perhaps it was what her body needed in the first ce.


    After taking her bath, she rinsed her body and made her way to the bath tub just to rx and soak her body in the coolness of the water.


    ''Who would have thought that a mini water therapy after exhausting myself so much would feel this heavenly? Butpared to what I felt yesterday, it is not much but it has its spec too hahhaa…''


    Jadeughed at her thoughts. She really was getting into the mood.


    Somehow her mind had begun to y some on her thoughts and bring back to her memories all of the images and disys of the previous day.


    She looked at the wall clock on her wall and saw that she still had up to three hours before her scheduled meeting with Arctic.


    ''I can use some time alone to feel good.'' Jade thought again.


    It was great to say the least and she felt like just touching herself to get a brief feeling of what had happened and be happy.


    If only she had known that she was stoking the fire of her problem even more.


    "Cyril, slow romantic music please."


    Just as she had said, a soft and slow music started to y in the background. Leaning back, she rested her head against the edge of the tub and closed her eyes as her hands began to more in a slow rhythm on her body.