Chapter 23 don't fear you

Chapter 23 don't fear you
Madelyn’s P.O.V. (Continued)

After a short pause of a few seconds, we both laughed aloud. I shook my head while laughing.
That was my first victory over them. Galvin went pale as if he had seen a scary ghost at the same time.
Galvin’s grandfather was a prodigy in math, and his heartfelt wish for Galvin is to see Galvin joining the BrightEye Institute.
And Galvin hated math the most.
Stella once told me that Galvin’s grandfather forced Galvin to join the institute when he was 12, and didn’t let him come back for the next 3 months.
Galvin became traumatized, and just the mere mention of an institute or math competition gave him another trauma.
“But seriously. Are you thinking about joining that institute?” She asked me with a light chuckle, but I knew that she was serious.
“Nope. Not my cup of tea. I like math, but not to this extent.” I replied without hesitation.
Excitement filled my existence when I saw the modified module on the website.
At the same time, a faint aroma of soup also filled my nostrils.
I put the laptop down hurriedly and walked to the kitchen with the phone to my ear.
“Hey, did you see the new modified module that Maximus?” I asked her excitedly while walking to the kitchen.
“Aaahhh, spare me, Maddie. I am not an investment genius, okay?” She grumbled and I laughed.
I removed the lid from the pot and inhaled sharply when the aroma hit my nostrils.
“Are you cooking something right now?” she suddenly asked me, sounding curious.
“Yeah. I felt hungry.” I half-lied while stirring the soup.
“What is it? Can I come there for a sleepover?” She asked me excitedly.
I pursed my lips into a thin line.
“How about tomorrow? You can come here in the morning, and we can have a sleepover too. I have something to finish tonight, and I may be with Lisa all night.” I asked her cautiously, feeling guilty about not letting her come here.
She was the least favored child at home, and that’s why she always tried to find a way to stay away from home.
“Is that work really important?” She asked me in a low voice, sadness evident in her voice.
“Not more important than, sweetheart, but I will be out for almost all the night. If you want to come and sleep here. You can come, but you will not drive on your own, okay? You will have your driver leave you here.” I instructed her after deciding to let her come.
I could just go up and give the soup to Oscar there. He didn’t need to come here.
“Really?” She exclaimed excitedly. I was sure that she would have jumped into her place.
“Really,” I assured her with a faint smile.
I shouldn’t be this soft-hearted, but Stella was nothing like other heiresses.
“Yay. I will be there soon. Save some for me too, whatever you have cooked.” She hung up after I could tell her that I wouldn't be able to save it.
I only made two servings.
I slumped my shoulders down and pouted. Because of the aroma, I was feeling hungry too.
I looked at the thick liquid simmering inside the pot with longing.
“Forget it. I will make her something else. She doesn’t know that I am making herbal soup for Oscar.
“Wow! I didn’t know that soup could smell this good.” I flinched harder, screaming in the process, and almost knocked over the pot.
“What the fk, Oscar?” I yelled at him, glaring hard while patting my chest with the other hand.
He was still standing at the door, looking at me with a grim expression.
“And how did you know the passcode?” I asked him in the same angry tone.
“I saw you entering before. You should have paid attention to safety,” he replied to me grimly while locking the door.
I snorted angrily and moved towards the pot.
The soup would be ready in a few more minutes.
I also needed to change the code. There is no way that I will give him any trust of mine.
“Stella is coming here, and I don’t want her to see you here.” I spoke to him coldly while taking an apple and a cucumber to be cut.
“What are you afraid of?” he asked me grimly.
“To be seen with you,” I replied instantly, but sucked in a breath when I realized that I was too bold in my words.
“Do you hate me that much?” He asked me in a low voice this time.
I glanced at him over my shoulder, fear creeping into my heart, but I remembered what my grandma taught me.
“Predators thrive on their prey's fear and desperation.”
And Oscar was a predator.
“Shouldn’t I be?” I asked him calmly instead of answering his question.
I didn’t keep my eyes in his direction and moved my gaze back to work.
He didn’t say a word, but the silence was suffocating.
I cut the fruits silently, trying hard not to show any kind of fear towards him.
After preparing a plate, I sprinkled some pepper and salt on it, and opened the lid of the pot again.
The soup was almost ready.
I stirred it a few times and then closed the lid again.
I took the plate from the counter and walked to the living area.
“Here. Have some for now. The soup is almost ready.” I asked him nonchalantly while putting the plate beside him on the couch.
To my relief, he had put the laptop on the coffee table.
“It seems that the fear you had for me in your heart has vanished.” He remarked darkly, but I smiled while straightening my back.
“I never feared you, Oscar,” I replied to him calmly.
His gaze darkened, but he waited for me to finish.
I didn't, though.
I walked back to the kitchen. The soup was ready, and I needed to get it off the stove.
“You never feared me, huh?” He asked angrily, but I could feel his disbelief.
“Yeah. I never feared you, because your bullying made me feel noticed. Right…. Not in the right way, but it still made me feel not alone.” I explained briefly, keeping my voice indifferent.
“You guys already know what happened to my family, and I was abandoned by my mother. Th… that fear of loneliness, I know th… that you also understand that fear, but after my grandma’s death.” I couldn't speak further because my voice shook badly.
The silence stretched again, but I refused to express myself more than this.
Showing my vulnerability to him is the last thing that I want to do in front of him.
“Now what?” he asked, breaking the silence. I poured some soup into a bowl.
“I have had enough of physical injuries,” I answered truthfully.
“Do you think that I can’t scare you anymore?” he asked again, his voice low and dangerous.
I glanced at him over my shoulder, my gaze calm and firm.
“Try me.” The challenge was evident in my voice.