I watched Florian as he got out of the car, my mind going back to that one incident that year. I remember just how pissed florian had looked the night I had announced that I had a crush in Matt, who was the geeky science genius I was paired with for group work in high school, and how I wanted to go on what could have passed as a beach date with him and a few others.It felt crazy to me now how I could have missed Florian's possessiveness then, but I was genuinely curious and far too afraid to let myself build castles in the air.When I had brought that dark red bikini with blooming roses all over the bikini, Florian had been just as silent, his brows drawn. I remember it was mum, Ronan, and Florian that night, and mum had said it highlighted the stretch marks on my thighs, and Ronan had plainly said I looked fat in it.Florian, on the other hand, had kept completely silent. It made me laugh now, just remembering him back then, his eyes dark, his lips set in a defiant, straight line.T
"Florian," I said, but he didn't stop. He pulled me towards the car and opened the door, then stepped away and turned to me, his eyes holding mine.I swallowed, then slowly entered the car, my lips parting as I looked up to him. He never said a word even as he closed the door on me and walked around the car. I turned, and I could see Ronan come out of the cafe, his eyes wide as he watched Florian come into the car and close the door.I turned to Florian, whose eyes were fixed on the steering as he turned the ignition on and pulled out of the parking lot, his brows drawn, his hand gripping the steering wheel tight.I thought I had seen Ronan suddenly start running and limping towards another parked car, but he was soon behind me, and I couldn't see anything else."Florian." His jaws clenched before he slowly turned to me. "We will find something else for you to eat.""That's not what I want to hear right now.""What do you want to hear?" He asked, his voice low, with underlying d
FLORIAN'S P.O.V.It all flashed before my eyes. All of the years that I have waited, it all felt like it came down to this one moment.But still, just like all that time that I waited, the ones thing that held me back was right there, behind me, yelling my name.I could see the terror in his eyes, like he knew I hadn't forgiven what he did to my Ellinel. Like he knew that I wanted to see his blood against these streets. Like he knew, I would never let go till one of us was down, and I am not used to losing.But just like all those years ago, just like all that time ago, even when the memories of what had happened to Ellinel were still fresh in my mind, Roxanne was right there.Over the years, I have become convinced that the feral obsession that I feel for Roxanne is nothing but fate's cruel way of painting me as the bad guy even towards Ellinel. Because for as long as she was on her brother's side, I would never be able to make her cry. I will never be able to break her.I can hear h
ROXANNE'S P.O.V.I hesitated by the door of the mansion, my hands wrapped around me. Florian stopped walking and turned to me, his brows furrowed. I hated just how fickle my mind was, and now all I could see when I looked at him was the feral anger he had shown just earlier.I wasn't even sure why I felt the way I did, but I did have a few guesses. Maybe it was because that scene of him was so different from the person I really knew him as. Maybe it was that I knew he was hiding something from me now. Maybe it was because there was a possibility he had done all of those for some other woman.I was leaning more towards the last. Call it demons or the devil himself, but there was something about thevwayche had acted earlier that made me yearn for that sort of reaction. It had warmed me seeing what he did to Damien, but now..."Rox."I bit down on my lips. "I need to know, Florian."He put his hands behind his back, his brow raising. "Won't you come home first?""Exactly. I need to know
I stood by the window, my hand wrapped around me, my eyes fixed on the dark skies. My mind raced, my lips tingled, and my entire being was a raging mess of emotions. Ronan, Florian. Ellinel. Just two weeks ago, I would have sworn I wouldn't make it alive after the heartbreak Damien gave to me. Just two weeks ago, I was preparing to be a bride, and my entire existence had depended on it.Now I am standing here, and I can't even bring myself to think of the man I would have married. It may have been for the best that it happened this way. My own heart has been far too quick, and I have realized just how big a mistake I would have made.The door suddenly opened, and I turned slowly, my heart immediately finding a sense of calm and agitation. The mix of polar opposite emotions made me even weaker in the knees, and it took me everything to not fall to his knees.Florian slowly walked in, holding a tray. On the tray was a plate of blueberry pancakes and a few blueberry and dusted sugar for
I woke up to the soft clicking of the door, and I turned, my brows furrowed. The sun was filtering in through the drapes, and my eyes fluttered open slowly. I gave a small sigh as I turned on my back, then slowly to the right.I suddenly hit something warm, and my brows furrowed even more, my chest slightly heaving. My eyes opened slowly only to meet the edge of neatly folded clothes. I slowly moved, sitting up on the bed, my eyes falling on the foreign clothes. It seemed like a pair of overalls, and when I moved it, there was a white T-shirt under it.I moved the shirt, and under it was a note and a long stem of rose. I immediately pulled the rose to me, a smile lighting me up. The note was folded, and I opened it, my eyes squinting lightly."Good morning, Roxanne. I hope you had a good night. Breakfast is set on the table, and a hot lavendar bath for you. These clothes are for our little date later, and I will be back in two hours as I have a few things to sort out at the company.
I immediately sprang away from the glass tile, noticing in that split second right before the door opened, how it came up, and offered a glimpse of a room down below.I looked up as the door finally opened, and a maid stepped in. Her eyes met mine, and her brows immediately furrowed in confusion. For a long minute, we both just stared at each other, neither of us quite finding the words to address the other with, yet knowing we would eventually have to."Uhmm.." I said, moving slowly. "I was... looking for Florian."She gave a small smile. "Yes, ma'am. Sir Florian left a while ago, and I am here to discard his used clothes. "I nodded. "Yeah, sure. Please, go on."She gave me a look, but her mechanical smile didn't falter. She walked down towards a rack, took out a few clothes, and walked away with a respectful nod towards me.Once the door closed again, I let out a small sigh of relief, my hand on my chest, my body lightly shivering. That was so fucking close and I couldn't imagine
"Mum!" I could still hear Ronan's scream from that night when Florian was sleeping over. I could see the way he had run downstairs, his eyes wide with fear. I had been downstairs with mum setting the dining table for Thanksgiving. It was the first Thanksgiving after Florian lost his parents, and my parents had offered to have him stay with us for the week so he would feel less alone."What happened?" Mum had echoed my thoughts back then, and I had never seen Ronan so scared."Something is happening to Florian. He... he is swollen."I remember the rush that had happened after that. Everyone ran upstairs to the room, where Florian was lying on the floor. He was unconscious, his hair all over the floor, his lips parted. He was an ungodly red, his face twice the normal size, his body spasming every now and then.I remember just how traumatic it had been, as Ronan admitted that the stray cat my mum had adopted just that morning before Florian came had been hiding out in the bedroom, and h
I leaned away from Florian, my hands still loosely wrapped around his waist, my eyes looking up to his. "I meant every word.""Oh, I know," he said, gently stroking my face. "I know you did."I swallowed, then turned towards the room I had just come out of, my anger fuelling even more. I hated that he would have it so damn easy. That he wouldn't see his life flash in front of him like Florian's parents did. That he wouldn't feel the gruelling pain and humiliation that Ellinel felt before she died. That he would simply lie here and get away with everything."Let me treat you tonight," Florian whispered, causing me to turn back to him."Roast?" I asked, and he broke into his breathtaking smile that I knew for a fact that he reserved for just me."Roast, baby girl."He held my hand tight, and I felt my brain shut off as he led me out of the hospital towards his own car. The car that had driven me here was parked next to it, and Florian waved it away.We got into the car, and Florian lean
I walked down the long hallways that led to my father's hospital room. It was in the VIP section, hence it was much quieter than the rest of the hospital, and the only sound I could hear was the clinking of my heels against the tiled floor.I stopped in front of VIP room 8, my eyes cold as I examined the cold door. My fingers tightened around the printed will papers I was holding and all of the information Florian had regarding my father's mistress and her twenty year old son.It made me laugh just thinking about how I thought I was second favourite. I hadn't even been in the equation. Not even Ronan was, but he deserved that. He had been in the equation long enough."Hello?"I turned, and a nurse gave me a small smile. "Hello.""Who are you?" She asked, her voice polite. "I am his daughter," I said, a small smirk appearing on my lips. Of course, I was his daughter. Only one demon can take out another."Oh, sure, then. He has not had any visitors ever since he went into another card
The house was awfully quiet, and I lay in ned all alone, my eyes fixed on the chandelier hanging from it. My mind reeled with all of the inconsistencies that I hadn't noticed all these years.How I never realized just how bad these people were. How shameless they were, fighting for money that was never even theirs.I swallowed hard and turned on my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. It haunted me just how Florian had to stand by and watch it all happen. How he had to watch himself still want me despite everything.I gave a small grunt and sat up, my heart burning with anger. It all felt like it was happening right now for me. Like I was seeing my father threatening Florian's father for money that originally belonged to the latter. It haunted my soul that they could have spent that blood money in me, for something, and it felt like I owed Florian a bigger apology.I got out of bed and slowly went down the stairs. I stopped at the very foot of the stairs, however, as the sound of s
I held unto Florian's waist even as he gently parked the bike, then leaned back and removed his helmet. I reluctantly let go of him and got off the bike, and he got off too, taking my helmet from me as he gently balanced it on the bike. He turned, holding my hand as softly as the subset lights were resting in his hair, his eyes tender. "Is this alright?" I swallowed, my eyes slowly moving to the gate. "Will they want to see me?" He gave a small chuckle. "I am sure they will." I nodded, and he gently led me towards the gate. He pushed open and slowly started to lead me into the long rows of his family that have passed on. I held my breath throughout the short trip that took us to the side by side graves where his parents lay forever, and I immediately felt my heart drop. "Hi, Mum, Dad." Florian's voice was casual, and it reflected just how close he was with his parents, and it extended to even right now. "Sorry, I haven't been able to come around recently. I am all grown up, and I
I watched the sun as it set, while Florian lay in my lap, his body spread on the bed, his bare back tinted a warm light brown by the sun, his hair sprawled all over me. I had my fingers buried in his hair and my other hand running down his back.His fever had gone down after a few pills, and it seemed to have knocked him out. I leaned, kissing the top of his back, before I leaned away, just as a familiar ding reached my ears.I turned, and his phone that was sitting on the bedside drawer to my right was lit up, most probably with a message.I swallowed hard, looking down at him. I wasn't sure if he would have let me read the message had he been awake, but morbid curiosity haunted my mind, and I found myself reaching for the phone.I stopped, however, my chest heaving. Knowing how heavily involved with my family Florian was, there was a very good chance that it would be about them. I am not sure I want to ruin this evening with them. I am not sure I want to ruin this day by discovering
"I am sorry," I said to Florian, reaching to cup his face. "I wanted to make something for you."He nodded slowly. "So why are you fighting with a maid? You can just have her escorted out."I bit down on my lips. "I am sorry. I let my jealousy take over for a minute."He didn't reply but raised his eyes to the maid that was still standing behind us. I turned to her too, my eyes wide, my chest heaving hard as I watched her."You heard me the first time. Leave.""Sir, please. I beg of you. I was simply cooking porridge for you and...""Don't let me repeat myself, Savannah. Please leave."Florian turned to me. "Be careful."I nodded, and he started to turn away from both of us. "You know I can love you better, sir," came Savannah's strained voice, her breaths so loud that it made her voice sound a little muffled. "You know I would never remind you of the things you want to forget. You know I would never be selfish. You know I would never ever huet you. You know that, sir."Florian turn
I gently ran my fingers through Florian's hair, my eyes fixed on his sleeping frame. He was wearing a robe around him, his head resting on my lap, his lips slightly parted. His body was burning up, but he preferred having me sit right here than be Iver him, trying to bring down his temperature with a cold towel.I leaned, my eyes darting across both of his closed ones. He was slightly reddish, and against his layer judgement, I gently moved his sleeping frame, then got out of bed.I walked to the restroom and grabbed a small towel and his first aid kit. I dampened the towel, squeezed the excess water off, and then walked back to the room. Luckily for me, he wasn't awake, and I sat next to him, keeping the towel and the first aid box away.I gently loosened the knot of his robe, then pulled it down to his waist, leaving him shirtless upwards. I then slowly brought the damp towel to his body.The first I pressed it unto him, he gave a small shiver, but then slowly fell back asleep, his
The ride home was quiet, but at least Florian let me hold until his hand tight. I watched his profile, my eyes blurred with tears. I hated myself for pushing him to this point. I hated myself for the blood I carried in my veins. I hated the time I wasted without letting myself go for someone who I knew would absolutely do it for me.We finally got home, and Florian went out, then came around and opened the door for me. His eyes held mine for a long minute before he turned away, closing the car door, before he walked away.I stopped by the door, watching his back as he made his way up the stairs, letting go of the cat keys on one of the stairs and never even looking back.I blinked, my face dropping, the emotions heavy on my heart. I slowly followed him, wondering if he would still come to my room tonight, like he always did. I wouldn't even want him to. I wanted him to be selfish and not spend the night in the arms of the person who reminds him of everything he keeps trying to run aw
ROXANNE'S P.O.V It felt like the wind was knocked right out of my lungs. Ronan? Ronan was a little bitch but... I slowly looked up to Florian.Florian wouldn't lie to me, especially right now. Florian wouldn't make things up right now, and he definitely wouldn't do so much for an anger that wasn't justified."What's that look?" He asked, laughing slightly. "Why would you be surprised? I told you she was dead the other day.""I...""You guarded your heart a little too hard again, didn't you?" He gave a small pause, his brows raised. "You... we both know you asked now only because you still want to guard your heart. That's why you forgot that she wasn't even living competition. That's why everything passes for you like these rain clouds. Because you keep guarding your heart a little too hard. A little too selfishly, Roxanne.""Florian..""What are you going to say to me?" He asked, his voice breaking. I never thought I would see Florian reach this point, and fuck, it scared me. "That