She looks around, then answers. “Uncle killed his father. Then his relatives, who were literal snakes, treated his mother terribly. She broke under their torture and diedfrom complications of severe trauma. He wanted to take revenge on uncle by giving you the same torture.”
My eyes widen. “Did he do that to you?”
“He tried,” she says, but grins. “I’m a tough cookie, you know.”
“Why didn’t you tell everyone this?”
She stares out at the ocean, lost in thought for a few minutes, then sighs. “I don’t want them to find him.”
I watch her for a long minute. She looks the same, yet entirely different. “Don’t tell me you fall for your kidnapper.”
She chuckles but doesn’t deny it.
“Fucking hell. Is it Stockholm syndrome?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know.” She looks at me. “But it doesn’t matter. The feeling is not mutual.” There’s a clear layer of hurt in her eyes.
I hug her shoulder. “You could break our pact. You could fall for someone else once you forget him.”
She chuckles, but it’s more filled with heartache than humor.
“How can you even fall for that weirdo who sends someone back home in a coffin with a rose? What happened to your claim of falling for a man whose brain actually stays in his head?” I try to lighten her mood.
“Rose?” She looks at me, puzzled.
I nod. “Mama told me there was a red rose in your hands.”
“Where is it?” she frowns.
“I don’t know.”
“Help me find it.” She turns and walks back toward the mansion. I follow her.
I sigh. She’s fallen far too deeply for that smirking man for her own good. Falling in love with a man your family is hunting is worse than falling for youradopted brother.
chapter 35
Avira
Mama and Daddy left for DC this morning after staying here for two weeks. After Wen came, I stayed at her place at night, before that, I had slept in Mama and Daddy’s room for ten nights. In that mentally shitty state, I didn’t realize anything and just slept there like a child afraid to sleep alone, or in my case, a child whose parents were too scared to let her sleep away from them. But now, thinking about it, I realize I did a nice job of third-wheeling between that romantic couple.
We used to go to bed in a pattern, Mama and I on the bed, and Daddy on the couch. But in the middle of every night, Daddy would come to check on us. He would tugmy blanket, pat my head lightly, and then reach Mama. He would sit beside her for several minutes, watching her, kissing her.
I witnessed this for ten nights. At the time, I was overwhelmed with the stress of losing Wen, but now it brings a smile to my face.
After Wen came back, I spent days and nights at her place. She has become a lot less talkative, and I don’t like this change in my sister. Now I understand what she must have felt during my distress era, she wants to stay alone, but I’m afraid to let her.
Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, and we will go back to our little heaven, our grandpa’s house. I bring out my luggage bag from the closet and put it on my table. I don’t need to travel with much when going between Pa’s house and Zoan’s house, just some important gadgets. I sit on my chair and look around the room, my mind drifting back to those days when Wen was kidnapped. I spent all those days with Zoan.
He used to explain everything to me, keep me updated. When I felt my favorite emotion—guilt—he would hold me close, coaxing me and telling me it was not my fault.
I smile, putting my head on the table. How much of a pain in the ass I have been in that guy’s life, and still, he wants me. I close my eyes, feeling the blissfulness of his love.
In the last four days, I haven’t seen him much, and by “much,” I mean not at all. He had a lot of work piled up because of Wen’s kidnapping, so now he is working constantly. He comes home late, after I sleep, and leaves for the office before I wake up. During his stays at home, I stay at Wen’s place. But every night, I call him before going to bed.
A touch of warm fingers on my forehead makes me open my eyes. Zoan is standing in front of me, tucking my hair behind my ear. He’s in a suit, looking like he just came home.
I sit up straight in my chair. “Did you just teleport into my room?”
