Chapter 22 Chapter 22.

Chapter 22 Chapter 22.
(Lucian)

Of course, you have no idea what you and your family have done to me...not after everything that’s changed. Now you’re all running around, playing the victim against each other on social media. How ridiculous!

I lit up my cigarette, taking a long drag. The smoke enveloped me, clouding my senses, momentarily muffling the jagged thoughts ricocheting in my mind.

The bell chimed, signaling the start of another round in the game. I pushed myself off the staircase where I’d been brooding, moving toward the couch in the living room.

As everyone gathered, Sia's bright voice pierced through the murmur. “Hello, everyone! Welcome to the next round of the game!”

Just then did she step in from outside, exuding an air of poise and confidence, like she owned the room. Striding over to the couch across from me, she perched gracefully, crossing her legs.

“Miss Rebecca,” Sia began, her tone playful yet commanding. “You’re late for this round and absent from earlier. Care to explain?”

Rebecca hesitated, words trapping her in a painful silence. “I had a bit of an emergency,” she mumbled, trailing off.

“Due to your absence, you and your partner have lost that round,” Sia said with a sharpness that cut through the room.

I couldn't help but smile at the irony; I hadn't even been present in that round because of her disappearance.

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed, but she remained quiet for a moment before finally saying, “I understand.”

Sia shifted her focus back to the group. “On the table before you, there’s a jar containing several notes. Please pick one each,” she instructed, and we complied.

I opened mine to reveal “2A.”

“What does this mean? I’m 1B!” a young woman exclaimed, confusion etched on her face.

“For this round, you’ll be pairing with your corresponding opposite,” Sia explained, her voice steady.

“Corresponding opposite? What does that even mean?” someone interjected, raising an eyebrow.

“1A pairs with 1B, and so forth,” Sia clarified. “The pairs will continue until sunrise tomorrow morning.”

“Hey, hold on, Sia. Not every partner matches up. I’m 2B, but my partner is 5B," a lady raised an alarm, her voice etched with worry.

"You need to pair up with 2A," Sia explained which unfortunately turned out to be me.

"But my partner is 5B, not 2A," the lady countered, a hint of desperation in her voice.

Sia's expression remained impassive. "Now that's where the game comes in. Make sure you and your partner pair up before sunrise tomorrow morning, or else you lose the round."

I glanced at Rebecca and found her eyes already on me. The moment our gazes locked, she quickly averted her eyes, a mix of frustration and concern flickering across her face.

"But my partner and I match, 4A and 4B," a man interjected, his voice tinged with hope.

"You're in good luck for this round then," Sia responded, her tone dismissive.

"So, everything understood? Let the round begin! Good luck, everyone!" Sia declared before the screen went blank.

As pairs started forming all around me, I remained rooted in place, my gaze locked onto Rebecca as I watched her bond with her new partner. A sharp pang of disappointment hit me, but I quickly grounded myself in reality.

A lady approached me, her smile bright but slightly nervous. "Hi! I'm looking for my partner and I believe it could be you. I'm 2B. Are you 2A?" Her eyes darted to the floor as she spoke, afraid to hold my gaze.

I assessed her with an appraising eye; she was chubby yet elegant, with a unique charm that struck me. An attractive toy to play with.

"How many rounds can you go in a row?" I asked, catching her off guard.

"What?" She blinked, confusion crossing her features.

I rose to my feet and walked toward her. As I closed the distance, she instinctively lowered her gaze.

Reaching her, I gently lifted her chin to meet her eyes, filled with both admiration and anxiety. "If you're gonna be with me, then you need to be useful."

"Of course," she whispered, bowing her head again.

I lifted her chin a bit more firmly this time, my thumb brushing against her lower lip. "Keep your head up. I love my partner confident."

I noticed a shiver ripple through her at my touch, her eyes wide, betraying her nervousness.

I offered her my hand, and she took it tentatively, like I was passing her a forbidden artifact. I led her through the crowd, but then Rebecca appeared, blocking my path with an urgency that made my chest tighten.

"We need to talk," she said, her voice low but insistent.

"No, we don’t," I replied, trying to sidestep her with my new partner beside me. But Rebecca stepped directly into my line of sight, her expression fierce and determined.

"You won't like my next action if you refuse me again," she warned, her eyes flashing like fire.

Letting out a heavy sigh, I relented. "Fine."

I turned to my new partner, giving her an apologetic smile that caught her off guard. "Could you give me a minute?"

She nodded, and I faced Rebecca. "I’m listening."

Without hesitation, she seized my wrist, pulling me into a shadowy corner of the living room. "What do you think you're doing?" She demanded, her tone sharp.

"And what am I doing?" I replied, a hint of playfulness threading through my words.

She scoffed, exasperation radiating from her. "You don’t know what you’re doing? Fine, let me enlighten you." I barely stifled a chuckle, always finding her indignation amusing. There was something about her when she got fired up that intrigued me.

"You’re supposed to be cooperating with me to ensure we win this round, not messing around with someone else," she said, the seriousness of her gaze piercing through me.

I shifted my weight to one foot, slipping my hands into my pockets as I considered my reply. "Well," I started, allowing a slow smile to spread across my face, "I already lost a round this morning. The thrill of this one hardly concerns me."

Taking a step closer to her, I added with a teasing grin, "After all, you’re the one in dire need of money, not me."

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed, sharp and unflinching. For a moment, I thought I’d pushed too far...again. But then her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly, and with a breath that sounded more like a growl, she muttered, "You're an asshole."

I smirked, undeterred. "If you want me that badly, then make sure you get me."

A sarcastic chuckle escaped her lips. "Point of correction, I want the money, not you."

But I wasn’t buying it, not when her voice faltered for just a second. Not when her eyes lingered on my lips before darting away.

I leaned in, slowly, deliberately, until the space between us was barely a breath. My voice dropped, softer this time, almost tender. "Are you sure... it's just the money you want?"

She didn't back away. Instead, she stood there, unmoving, except for the visible gulp that slid down her throat.

"You know what your problem is?" she said, trying to keep her tone steady. "You think too highly of yourself. Like you're the only handsome man around."

Her defiance was brave, but her voice trembled, betraying her.

My fingers trailed lightly up the side of her thigh, slow and dangerous. A sharp breath escaped her lips.

"But I’m the only one making you feel unholy things, saint."

Her eyes widened at the word, and like a snap back to reality, she recoiled as if burned. Rage flared in her eyes. She didn’t say another word.

She turned, and walked away.

Silent, but shaken.