Chapter 193: CLAIM ME! (1)
Georgia’s POV
"There you are," Benjamin Knight’s voice cut through the hum of chatter as I slipped back into their circle. He was still standing with Ella and Evelyn, Violet by his side, and from the look on his face, they’d been enjoying themselves far too much.
My pulse quickened. I forced a polite smile. "I’m sorry to disappear like that. My niece called—I thought it was urgent, but she only wanted to say goodnight and chat for a while."
Benjamin’s eyes sharpened as he studied me, every word I said being measured, weighed. "Ah. You seem quite close to your niece."
"Yes, sir," I replied quickly, my voice tighter than I intended. "I’m her guardian. If something ever happens to her... It’s my responsibility." I kept my tone as neutral as possible, careful not to reveal more than I had to.
"Guardian?" His brow arched, his curiosity digging deeper. "And where are her parents?"
A cold sweat slid down my spine. I drew in a breath, knowing there was no way around it. "Her mother passed away from an illness when she was young." I hesitated, then forced the next words out. "Her father is David. My brother."
The name landed like a stone dropped in still water. The faintest flicker passed over Benjamin’s expression—recognition, disdain, maybe even anger. They hated David, and even though it wasn’t his fault.
Benjamin’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile. He extended his hand toward me. "Would you mind sharing a dance with me, Ms. Lewis?"
My stomach twisted. That hand wasn’t just an invitation—it was a command dressed in civility. A private interrogation, away from Violet’s ears.
And I knew—I couldn’t say no.
"Of course, it would be an honor, Mr. Knight," I said, forcing my lips into a graceful smile as I slipped my hand into his.
Benjamin Knight wasted no time. The moment our feet touched the polished dance floor, his grip tightened around my hand—not enough to hurt, but firm enough to remind me who held the power here.
"I’ll get straight to the point, Ms. Lewis," he said, his voice low, sharp, and cutting through the music like a blade. "I don’t want you for my son."
So blunt and direct. Now I knew exactly where Nick inherited that boldness of his—his father wore it like armor.
I kept my smile frozen, careful for the eyes watching us. "May I ask why, Mr. Knight?"
His gaze didn’t flinch. "I believe my wife already told you."
A chill swept through me. So, he knew what Violet had done. He approved—or at least condoned it.
"I think it’s unfair for you to dislike me because of something beyond my control, even though my intention is clean," I said, voice steady but my jaw tight.
"I know it isn’t your fault," he replied, tilting his head slightly, his eyes narrowing. "But this world is cruel, Georgia. And I want only the best for my children."
"I also want what’s best for Nick—"
But I never got to finish. The music screeched to a halt, a deafening squeal of feedback slicing through the ballroom speakers. Gasps rippled through the crowd as every head turned toward the stage.
When I turned toward the stage, my heart stuttered. The live band was gone. Instead, there was Nick. He stood in front of the mic, adjusting it to his height, an electric guitar slung across his chest like he’d done this a thousand times.
On the right side of him, Vicky poised at the keyboard, Oliver cradled the bass on the left, and behind was Liam, twirling a drumstick between his fingers, already smirking like the devil was about to be unleashed.
Eh? What is happening?
My pulse spiked. Why was I not informed of this? I scanned the crowd, but everyone was confused as I was. Except for Ella and Evelyn, who were right beside me. Their eyes glowed with excitement, lips curved into knowing smiles. They weren’t shocked. They were expecting this.
"What is going on? Are they going to perform?" I whispered, desperate for an answer.
But the two only exchanged glances and smiled at me, their silence saying more than words. My stomach knotted.
Nick cleared his throat, pulling every ounce of my attention back to him.
"You must all be surprised to see us up here with instruments, and not the usual tablets, phones, documents, and projector remotes that you see us with every day," he said, his voice steady, confident, and threaded with charm. Chuckle bubbled through the audience, the tension in the air morphing into intrigue. "Well... Surprise!"
The crowd laughed out loud, leaning closer, hooked already.
"This was our hobby when we were younger," Nick went on, strumming a teasing chord that sent a ripple through the ballroom.
"And we still play whenever I’m on land. Tonight, I thought I’d share it with you all. But more than that—We’re going to play something I wrote."
He strummed again, softer this time, the sound low and raw, and the room went utterly silent.
My mouth fell open. He writes songs? I’d never seen a guitar in his cabin, never in his house. How was he suddenly this... rockstar?
I leaned toward Ella and Evelyn, whispering sharply, "Wow, he plays and writes? I cannot believe this."
They didn’t even blink at me. Their gazes were locked on the stage.
And then... his words shattered me. My eyes went bigger than an owl’s.
"I started writing this song," Nick said, eyes sweeping the room before they anchored onto mine, "...when I got stranded on an island with the most unhinged, bold, and impulsive woman I’ve ever met, but smart and sweet at the same time."
My heart slammed so hard against my ribs I thought everyone could hear it.
"She’s my inspiration. She made me believe in myself again when everyone was against me. She reminded me that life is worth fighting for, worth living, when you have someone who sees you, who supports you, who refuses to let you drown in your past."
My throat closed. Oh. My. God.
He was talking about me. He was really doing this—here, in front of everyone. My cheeks suddenly feel hot. No, erase that. My whole body is on fire!
"She’s the reason I’m standing in front of you tonight," Nick continued, his voice dropping lower, the words vibrating with emotion. "She’s the reason I feel more alive than I’ve ever been. And because of that... I dedicate this song to her," Nick said as he gestured his hand towards me.
Every pair of eyes in the ballroom turned toward me, searching, calculating, judging.
"This song," Nick said, strumming the first haunting chord, "is called CLAIM ME."
And then the music exploded to life.
♪♫♪♫
[Verse 1]
Past lives felt by our souls
Searching, yearning, longing
Mirrored hearts finally found
In the storm of fragile skies
[Pre-Chorus]
Destiny written in the stars
Truth engraved in our bones
Claim me in eternal breath
Drifting through echoes of before
[Chorus]
Fated, marked by the universe
Feelings deeper than the oceans
Pull stronger than gravity
Emotions sweeter than the waters
Fated, sung by distant winds
Born beneath different moons
Cradled under distant skies
Emotions sweeter than the waters
Claim me, Claim me
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
[Verse 2]
Unfamiliar at first touch
Till memory awakens us
Like a dream that never fades
Bliss unreal, yet here it stays
[Pre-Chorus]
Winds that sing our souls to life
Moons that birthed us worlds apart
Claim me under distant skies
Your heartbeat cuts through the noise tonight
[Chorus]
Fated, marked by the universe
Feelings deeper than the oceans
Pull stronger than gravity
Emotions sweeter than the waters
Fated, sung by distant winds
Born beneath different moons
Cradled under distant skies
Emotions sweeter than the waters
Claim me, Claim me
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
[Bridge]
Shells will crack beneath the tide
Hope and faith may drift, may hide
Dreams will fade, but still we know
In the shadow, love will grow
[Chorus / Outro]
Fated, marked by the universe
Feelings deeper than the oceans
Pull stronger than gravity
Claim me! Claim me!
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
Emotions sweeter than the waters
To the fire we’ve always burned
Claim me, Claim me, Claim me...
♪♫♪♫
OH. MY. GOD.
I had said that twice now.
He can sing! His voice just made my panties fall to the ground. It undressed me just like that.
My jaw dropped, my brain froze, and I swear my heart stopped beating. I think I stopped breathing, too.
Cheers and applause erupted from the crowd. Nick removed his guitar and jumped off the stage, and started walking towards me with that rougish, devilish, dark smile of his.
What the fuck? Why is he approaching me this way? Every single person in the room was looking at him and me. This is so embarrassing. What is he planning? I just want the ground to swallow me right now...
******
Author’s Note:
I hope you like the song. If you haven’t heard it, please listen to it while reading this Chapter. I uploaded it to YT, FB, or IG for a full experience. Enjoy!
Song Title: Claim Me - Shiroi Nami