♡PROLOGUE♡ My mother has constantly told me not to trust men and to be cautious when they are near me because you never know what they hide behind those lovely smiles they offer every woman. My mother's remarks that men are all ravenous wolves pretending to be good-hearted sheep have been instilled in me from an early age. She stated that men would only be good at the beginning. That they will only show you their positive aspects at first, that they will give you everything you want, show you everything you want to see, say you the words you want to hear, and make you feel special with their love—but only until they have your whole trust and heart. Everything guys do or say is a ploy to get a woman to say yes. And it is only when you ultimately enter a relationship with a man that you will begin to notice and see the truth behind those lovely words, chocolates and flowers, and fleeting pleasures. You will witness a wolf disguised as a sheep, waiting for the ideal chance to bit
KATELYN's POV ♡♡♡The sun's brilliant light woke me up early in the morning. As I opened my eyes, I noticed my bedroom window was open, allowing a fresh gust of air into my room as well as the sun rays that passed through the sheer curtains.I carefully stepped down from my bed and moved towards the window when my eyes had acclimated to the brightness. I pushed the curtain back, stretched, and peered out the window to see the magnificent view outside my bedroom. Then, I noticed the dream catcher hanging just next to my window.It has been a long time since I had this thing with me. This dream catcher was a gift from my mother when I was a child. She kept reminding me constantly to put this on my window or anywhere near my bed, and that is probably why even though she's not here with me, I still have a habit of placing a dream catcher inside my bedroom even though I'm old enough to know that dreams are just dreams and nothing more.I guess old manners do lingers until old age, huh? I
KATELYN's POV♡♡♡Seeing my students enjoying my lesson brings so much joy to my heart, and I feel happier since I teach them the thing I love the most: arts.It is already my second class this morning, and since today is their first day this semester, I started the class with a simple activity: making their own name cards. And so I will also be able to familiarize their names more efficiently since they will wear those name cards after finishing it. In addition, doing this activity is fun for the students, which helps me leave a positive and fun impression on my students.After some time, the bell finally rang, signifying the class's end. It also means it is already time for the student's recess and the teacher's break time."Okay, class, times up! You can bring your name cards to your house and finish them as homework. But make sure that you all have your name cards by tomorrow, alright?" I said to my students.I cleaned my table before stepping out of the classroom. Then, I saw Aim
KATELYN's POV♡♡♡I continued walking in this small kitchen in our old house where I grew up with my parents. I don't know why I am here or how I got here, but seeing this familiar place makes me remember my memories with my mother.While walking around the kitchen, I noticed I was only wearing a plain white silk dress that reached the top of my knee. I also noticed that I was not wearing any footwear, my long hair was neatly loose, and I could feel that I was not wearing anything except this white silk dress."Why am I here?" I asked myself as I continued to walk in this dark kitchen. Then, I noticed a red light coming from the second floor of our house, so I followed the light, hoping to find any answers as to why am I in this old house of ours.I carefully stepped on the stairs as I walked my way upstairs, and with every step I took, a memory of my mother when I was still young flashed through my mind.The same thing happened until I finally reached the second floor, where the red
KATELYN's POV ♡♡♡ I placed my cell phone on top of the vanity table, looked at myself in the mirror, and applied toner, followed by serum and cream. I lightly tapped my cheeks and removed the towel wrapped around my hair. While blow-drying my hair, I couldn't help but think about what happened to me earlier. I didn't know if it was a coincidence or something strange was happening to me. I was also nervous that I might be getting paranoid about everything, or maybe I inherited my mother's illness. "No, Katelyn, you've already had yourself checked, remember? You're perfectly fine, and stay positive," I said to my reflection in the mirror. I couldn't help but fear the events that happened to my mom before. Ever since her behavior changed, she became even more strict with me, forbidding me from getting close to any man. She kept a close watch on me at night and frequently warned me never to be involved with any man. Her paranoia worsened when I reached adolescence. Sometimes, she w
KATELYN'S POV ♡♡♡ I jolted awake as the alarm clock on my side table blared loudly. My eyes widened, and I took a sharp breath, clutching my chest. "What happened?" I asked, scanning the room with wide eyes. I was back in my normal bedroom, far from the room where I usually saw him. I could still feel the pounding in my chest and the lingering sensation he left on my body and mind. I couldn't explain it, but I still strongly felt that thing between my thighs. I swallowed and glanced at my cell phone. It was still early, and I had time to lie back down. I bit my lower lip and looked under the blanket. I looked in every direction, anxious that someone might catch me in the act, but the windows and door of my room were closed. To alleviate the heat in my body, I decided to do something I had never done before in my entire life. I touched every part of my body that he had touched, savoring the sensation, and I could still almost feel the warmth of his palm on my skin. As if every
KATELYN'S POV ♡♡♡ I couldn't believe what I did last night; almost every detail of the party came rushing back to my memory now, especially that moment when our lips almost touched. "What are you doing to yourself, Katelyn?" I asked, my reflection in the mirror. I had just woken up, and the scent of alcohol lingered on my clothes and my breath. I wore the same clothes, so I knew nothing else had happened between us last night except for that close kiss. I took a deep breath, filled my lungs with air, and exhaled as I splashed cold water on my face to wake myself up and start a new day. I decided to go to work early to avoid running into anyone from the high school department. So, I got ready and left home early. When I arrived at school, I quickly headed to our office, relieved that I didn't bump into Gadreel because I wasn't ready to face him yet. "Good morning," Aimee greeted everyone, but I couldn't muster the enthusiasm to return her cheerful greeting. I just kept my head dow
KATELYN'S POV ♡♡♡ My mind is wandering again, lost in thought. It has been over a week since Gadreel started bothering me, and I have no idea what he wants from me. I know it's also my fault why he keeps wanting to talk to me because I repeatedly avoid and evade him. But isn't that reason enough for him to stop pestering me? I understand that he didn't mean for this to happen, and besides, I am also the one who's unpredictable, causing us to be out of balance. So why does he still not leave me alone? As a result, rumors and other ideas are circulating among our co-teachers. Just the other day, Aimee even asked me if something had happened between Gadreel and me that night, leading Gadreel to chase after me. "Ugh, what should I do? I'm still not used to dealing with men, so how should I talk to him intimately?" I asked Eligor, whom I was currently speaking to on the cell phone. "You're talking to me now, aren't you? Don't I count as a man in your eyes? I know I'm incredibly han
♡♡♡They say that when you truly love someone, you'll choose to listen to your own heart and not be swayed by what others say. Many have become foolish, hurting themselves by turning a blind eye to the love they feel, while others are blissful for taking the risk and investing in that special person.Indeed, you can never find answers unless you seek them out. The outcome will forever remain a mystery unless you take the plunge, and the size of the reward will remain unknown unless you dare to bet or take a chance.Life demands that you take risks.You must step out of your comfort zone and find answers using your own feet.Don't let others dictate or impose their desires upon your life. Yes, seeking advice from others isn't necessarily wrong, but you should discern whether it genuinely benefits you or traps you in your limitations.I, too, once chose to listen to my parents even when I knew nothing about what was happening or could happen. I silenced the voice of my heart because tha
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡The climate has become extremely chilly, and as a result, the number of visitors to Brentwood is steadily increasing, all seeking to experience the breathtaking beauty of this place during the winter season.Amidst this cold weather, more and more people are flocking to our cafe. I must say that my parents made a wise decision to venture into this business. The weather is the perfect reason for them to indulge in our warm coffee and delicious food, all lovingly prepared by Mom.It has been five months since we opened this cafe, and the three of us have been quite busy, gradually recouping the investment we initially put in. Mom and Dad purchased this location, and our home is situated above the cafe. I often find myself sleeping here, but now I own our old house, which I sometimes retreat to.On weekdays, I also conduct online classes for my students, and in the afternoons, I head to the cafe to lend a hand. The holiday season is upon us, and with most people off wor
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡The strong and refreshing breeze carried the dry leaves, a sign that autumn was approaching once again. I found myself sitting on the bench where Eligor and I used to have lunch, where we chatted and often teased each other.I often find myself seated in the very spot where he once sat, using it as my refuge while I while away the hours with nothing but thoughts of him on my mind. Gazing at the overcast sky above, I am irresistibly drawn to wonder, "How is he doing now?"Today marked the last day of my teaching career at this school; I had decided to take a break and establish a small café back in our hometown of Brentwood. It had been two years since Mom was discharged from the mental facility, and together with Dad, we made the decision to build the café near a tourist spot, so we could be a close-knit family and take better care of Mom.With my family whole and my parents' relationship restored, I couldn't help but reflect on the tremendous changes in my life. I f
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡"I never expected you'd really come back. I thought you were trapped there." Hmmm... whose voice was that?"I also didn't know that Kate would come to rescue me from that curse. I can't remember what happened, and I have no recollection." That voice must be Eligor's. Wait, where am I?I slowly opened my eyes and saw Eligor and Loraine talking in the living room. The bedroom door was open, and it seemed like we were back in the normal world.I tried to sit up, but suddenly, I felt intense pain all over my body. My legs were trembling with agony, and I couldn't even manage to sit."Kate?" Eligor glanced towards me, and he immediately came over, supporting me and propping me up against the headboard of the bed. Concern was evident on his face, and I couldn't help but break into tears, embracing him tightly."Thank goodness! Thank you for being here!" I hugged him tightly, afraid that if I let go, he might disappear again like a vision vanishing from my sight."Hush, don
KATELYN'S POV ♡♡♡ The sky was wrapped in dark clouds, and the once vibrant garden now exuded a sense of eerie unease. The plants around had withered, rotted, and lost their colors. The surroundings were chilling, and it felt as if it could rain anytime. The garden was completely dark since all the light posts were dead. Nevertheless, I pressed on, mustering the courage to step into the garden. As I walked, the distant growls and screams grew louder, emanating from the end of the garden, where Eligor and I often hung out together, sharing lunches. "E-Eligor?" I called out, even though my voice trembled with fear. I couldn't hide the fact that I was afraid to see him. I'll admit I wasn't ready to witness his current form, but I was prepared to accept him no matter what. I tried to say his name, but my mouth went dry as I caught sight of a large shadow just a few feet away. The only source of light was a red light, and within that light, I saw the image of a man with one wing and
ELIGOR'S POV ♡♡♡ How did I meet her? How did I find myself in this situation, feeling trapped with no way out? As far as I can recall, it was just an ordinary night for me, doing my job as an incubus, needing to feed by engaging in intimate encounters with mortals in their dreams. I used to visit women's dreams, seeking out new victims. But I didn't know how I ended up in your dream. You were just nine years old when I first encountered you, drawn into your dream by another incubus who always kept an eye on you. I wondered why they kept visiting a young girl like you, who only played in her dreams. And that's when I learned about what your parents did and the reason they were there in your dream. At first, I didn't care about them or what they wanted for a young girl like you. But as I spent more time inside your dreams, I found myself getting closer to you. You seemed to have me under some sort of spell, and my curiosity about who you were grew stronger. Your imagination was
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡"So, what you're saying is that you just came back from your vacation trip to Brentwood, and on the spur of the moment, you decided to visit your home. You saw Brother Anthon there, and then you all went to Central City to see Katherina. And now you're heading home right away because... you need to talk to your boyfriend?" Aunt Kaylie repeated, looking at the road ahead while gripping the steering wheel."Correction, he's actually my ex now because we broke up," I explained with a sigh. Now that I know more details about what happened to my mom, I am certain that ELigor had nothing to do with it. I just want to talk to him to clear everything up.And, of course, to ask for his forgiveness because I never wanted to hurt him."So, you're getting back together?" Aunt Kaylie asked, and I nodded. Right now, there's nothing else I want to do but embrace Eligor and tell him how much I love him."Tsk, what's the name of this man, huh? Introduce him to us sometimes," Aunt Kay
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡With a firm grip, my Dad held the sunflower he had bought for my Mom. Aunt Kaylie glanced at it, and I knew she also noticed that Dad was always the one bringing flowers for Mom."What are you two thinking? And how did you even meet? Didn't I tell you, brother Anthon, that you can't see my sister and niece yet? How did you find Katelyn?" Aunt Kaylie bombarded my Dad with questions, and it was evident from my father's face that he didn't want to argue with Aunt Kaylie. So, I took it upon myself to explain our current situation."Aunt, please calm down for a moment. The truth is, I went to Brentwood to see Dad. I went to our old house, and that's where I found him. We've talked, and I know everything now, so please let the two of us talk to Mom." Aunt Kaylie's face revealed surprise and disbelief that I wasn't afraid to confront Dad."Are you really okay? I'm concerned that your mother might be shocked. I don't want sister's condition to worsen," she replied, and Dad a
KATELYN'S POV♡♡♡"I understand, my child. It was my fault that our family fell apart. I was overwhelmed by sadness and problems and sought solace in another woman. But believe me. I didn't stay with her for long. I realized that your mother and you needed me," explained Papa as we sat in the living room. Since he regained his senses, he had been explaining to me about what had happened in the past.I let him explain because I knew I had hastily judged my father. At a young age, I didn't consider his feelings and focused on how I was hurt by what happened to us.I didn't even bother to find out what happened to him or why he suddenly left and went with someone else. All I knew back then was that he was a terrible father who abandoned us, a worthless father who was never there when I needed him.That's what stuck in my mind. That's what Mama ingrained in my young mind."If only I had understood your mother better, if only I had delved deeper into the reasons behind her change, we would