The pair of eagle eyes stared at the watch on his wrist. Countless times he did that in just one hour. Even his employees were surprised by his boss's uncharacteristic behavior.
With wide footsteps, Kenward led himself into his company's underground parking lot. The important client had come unexpectedly to renew the cooperation, so Kenward couldn't turn away someone who had come from another country to wait for tomorrow.
He only came to deposit his face as the owner of the company, but it was his right-hand man who took over all his duties as he could only stare pensively while swearing as this impromptu meeting did not end.
Kenward put the flat object in his hand to his ear. "How is Callista doing? Did she eat her dinner and take her medicine?" Kenward asked as he got into his car.
Hearing an uncomfortable answer from the other person made Kenward even more anxious. He turned off the phone unilaterally. He quickly drove the car out of the parking lot.
His hands gripped the steering wheel firmly. 'Miss Callista locked the door and wouldn't open it even though we knocked repeatedly. She didn't answer our shouts'. The butler's words rang in his head, making his anxiety soar.
Kenward's hand moved to raise the car's gear and increase its speed to more than the normal limit.
"Wait for me, Illis."
***
The elevator doors opened revealing Kenward with the butler behind him. In a hurry, Kenward ran through the hallway. The worry in his chest was suffocating. He was afraid, afraid that the girl would do something reckless.
The maids at the door of the room hurriedly stepped aside, allowing the master to be at the door. They bowed their heads in a show of politeness.
"Why not open it with the spare key?"
The butler shook her head with a bow. "I'm afraid I can't, sir. The room key from inside is still attached to the doorknob."
Kenward let out a frustrated breath. He hurriedly racked his brain for the quickest way. His restless eyes accidentally fell on the fire extinguisher hanging on the wall. He hurriedly picked it up and hit the doorknob with it.
Brake!
Kenward smashed the doorknob and the door in front of him was now slightly ajar. A bit of relief came to him. He didn't have to painstakingly destroy the door with various tools. He had even thought of opening the door with a chainsaw.
"Go!" His order was immediately carried out by the maids. They brought back the trolley of food that had not been touched in the slightest.
Kenward stared at his dark surroundings. Since he was from outside the room with maximum light, his eyebrows knitted together due to the darkness. His hand rummaged around for a power outlet and quickly turned on the lights in his room.
The lighting illuminated every corner of the room. His heart leaped out of his body when he saw someone lying on the floor. Kenward hurriedly ran over. He was confused by the girl whose face was completely covered by hair.
"Illis, wake up! The floor is cold."
Kenward was about to help Callista to sit up. But the touch of his hand made her jump in surprise. Callista in alert mode immediately sat up and moved away.
"Don't touch me!" shouted Callista her body fluttering.
A thousand arrows seemed to hit his heart at once. Kenward lowered his head for a moment as guilt gnawed at him. Slightly messy hair, puffy eyes, pale face, and reddened nose, his girl's condition was not okay.
Kenward was about to cup Callista's small face, but the girl quickly avoided him. Kenward was forced to pull his hand back.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd be so scared."
Not wanting to answer, Callista rose to her feet. She stepped away even though she staggered a little because her head felt dizzy. Seeing that, Kenward hurriedly preceded Callista's steps. He stopped the girl with his body.
"Get out of the way!"
Callista's single word made her whole body throb with pain. "I won't hurt you and show you any more tragic events. I-I promise. I'll try to protect you in a way that won't cause your trauma to recur," Kenward explained with a pleading look.
"Since when did he know I had a trauma?" Callista wondered. The longer she stayed by this man's side, the more she realized that there was much she did not know about Kenward.
Callista avoided Kenward who was blocking her path. But her restrained hand made her turn around.
"Let go, Kenward! I don't want to be with you anymore! You're a murderer! You're a cruel psychopath! You have no compassion! You should be in prison!" Callista's temper exploded. She punched Kenward lightly in the chest as she was running out of steam.
Kenward looked down, he admitted that everything Callista said was true. However, he could not live without this girl beside him. It was too painful for him to live separately.
Kenward pulled Callista's hand and embraced the cold body. Callista rebelled with tears flowing again. But what power did she have left?
"Let go, Kenward! I don't want to come into contact with a crazy psychopath like you! Let go!" shouted Callista in a trembling tone. As soon as she said that, her body slumped down onto the marble. Kenward, who realized it, immediately held Callista's body to the floor slowly.
Kenward tightened his embrace even more. He wanted his girl's body to be warm again, not like this time which was so cold as if it wanted to freeze.
"Sorry, sorry to scare you, Illis. I just wanted to protect you."
Callista chuckled. "Protect? That's what you say protect me? Protect by killing? Ah, there must be some hidden intentions too, right?" Callista smiled sadly with tears falling one by one. She felt her chest was very painful and tight as if it was being crushed by an object.
"I just want to protect you, Illis. Please believe me." Kenward closed his eyes, a single tear drop falling from the socket. As that happened, Kenward realized. 'Ah, it turns out I'm not a monster' was what was on his mind at the moment.
"If you don't release your embrace, you won't see me forever."
Suddenly Kenward let go of his embrace. He looked at Callista who was staring at him angrily. Those puffy eyes turned red again. He was a fool! He was such a fool to make her cry!
"Now, tell me what you want. Do you want my life? I'll gladly give it to you right now," Callista said as she wiped away her tears.
"I want your love!" shouted Kenward loudly.
Badump!
"I only want your love. I love you, Illis. I love you so much," Kenward said softly.
Callista's body froze listening to the sudden declaration of love. Her lips were too weak to reply.