Chapter 27 Find her!
|| Author POV ||
“Aria.” Rosa’s soft voice broke through the quiet hum of the TV.
Aria shifted her focus toward her, a chip halfway to her mouth. “Hmm?”
Rosa took a breath before speaking. “It’s already afternoon. I should go.” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “It’s almost time for my work.”
Aria rolled her eyes. “Skip it. Just take the day off. You’re not leaving.”
Rosa didn’t answer right away. Her eyes dropped to the floor.
What if Killian gets to know she didn’t return to his mansion?
Will he be furious? Or will he not care at all?
“I’ll visit some other day. I think I should go now.” she whispered, more to herself than to Aria.
————
Rosa stepped into the mansion. She made her way toward the stairs, but as soon as she looked up, her eyes met his. Killian. He was descending the stairs with his hands casually tucked into his pockets.
Her heart skipped a beat. It felt as if he was waiting for her.
Rosa froze in place, feeling like a child caught sneaking around. Killian’s steps slowed, his piercing eyes fixed on her as he reached the bottom of the stairs.
Rosa’s breath hitched, anxiety crawling up her spine. She was supposed to be home by noon, but now it was already afternoon.
She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, like he could see straight through her. She swallowed, the words tumbling out before he even had a chance to speak.
“I-I was... was at my friend’s house.” Rosa stammered, her fingers nervously entwining, trying to keep them from shaking.
Killian gazed at her intensely, making her nervous. She lifted her eyes to meet his.
Rosa sighed in relief when he just nodded his head with a straight face.
“May I go?” Rosa asked softly, trying to move past the awkward tension.
Killian didn’t answer immediately, but after a long moment, he nodded once more.
Rosa slowly walked past him, climbing the stairs with her thumping heart.
Time seemed to slip by unnoticed as Rosa worked at the café, her hands moving with the familiar rhythm of her work. The hum of the machines, the soft clink of cups, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee created a sense of comfort.
It wasn’t long before she spotted Ivan again, casually strolling in as if it were just another part of his day. She couldn’t help but wonder if it had become a habit for him.
Did he really enjoy the coffee that much?
Rosa shook her head, shrugging the thought away. It didn’t matter.
\----
Night fell heavy.
The young man slouched in a bar chair, the dim colorful lights casting shadows across his face and soft musics playing in the background. A scattered line of empty shot glasses stood like fallen soldiers before him. His hair was a mess.
“One more.” Kevin slurred, his voice rough with alcohol.
The bartender quietly took the glass from his hand. Kevin sighed, then let his forehead fall against the cool counter, the weight of something more than just liquor pressed down on him.
Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Hey, Kevin!” Sam’s familiar voice rang out. Kevin’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t turn. He knew that voice.
Sam dropped onto the seat beside him, eyes scanning the counter littered with empty glasses. His brows raised in surprise. “Damn, Kev. Drinking like a madman. What’s going on?”
Kevin didn’t reply. His silence was heavy and thick with warning but Sam didn’t catch it.
“Is it about her? Your sister?” Sam chuckled under his breath. “Did you fuck her already? If you’re done with her, maybe you can pass her to m-”
Kevin’s chair screeched as it scraped back. In one swift motion, his fist collided with Sam’s face, sending him crashing to the floor.
Kevin followed.
He didn’t shout. Just punch after punch, his eyes wild, jaw clenched, breathing sharp through his nose. The bar went silent except for the sickening sound of knuckles hitting skin.
“You Motherfucker! She’s not yours to talk about!” Kevin shouted this time, landing another punch on his face while he groaned in pain.
“You speak about her again, I’ll kill you Bastard!” he looked furious.
“Hey! Stop! stop it!” someone yelled, but he didn’t hear them.
All he could see was red. Sam’s face was swollen, barely even flinched now.
Peoples started gathering around, their gasp filling the place.
Two men from the bar staff rushed forward, grabbing Kevin by the arms and yanking him off Sam’s beaten form.
“MOTHERFUCKER! I’LL KILL HIM!” Kevin roared, thrashing against the staff holding him back. His eyes were wild, filled with pure rage.
“Let me go!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the bar as he lunged forward again. “I swear I’ll fucking kill him!”
Sam groaned on the ground, blood pooling near his split lip, but Kevin’s fury didn’t fade.
“I should’ve ripped his damn tongue out!”
Sam coughed, face swollen and streaked with red. Few peoples helped him stand up as Kevin glared at him.
“Stop guys, explain what happened-” one of the man from the gathering tried to speak but Kevin cut him off with a glare.
“Next time, you won’t be so lucky!” he growled, gazing dangerously at Sam, his voice low and threatening.
He ripped his arms free from the staff with a violent jerk, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. He shot one last glare at Sam, who looked at him with his half open eyes and blood smeared across his face.
Without another word, Kevin turned and stormed out of the bar, slamming the door behind him so hard, the glass rattled.
|| Kevin’s POV ||
I stepped into the mansion, the echo of my own footsteps bouncing off the cold walls. Something felt… off. Deeply wrong.
It was too quiet.
Only two people lived in this massive place, me and mom. And it felt emptier than ever.
I couldn’t get her out of my head. I couldn’t!
The way I lost control. The way she looked at me last time. Her eyes were begging me to spit out the truth!
I was never supposed to be like this.
What the hell happened to me?
It’s all my fault. I know it is.
I climbed the stairs, my body heavy with guilt, shame, and confusion. Reaching my room, I locked the door behind me and sat on the bed.
Nothing feels right anymore. Not this house. Not even myself.
Where is she now?
Is she safe?
God!
That motherfucker. I wish I never listened to him!
The very first time I tried to force her, I froze. I couldn’t do it.
When she looked at me with those wide, terrified eyes, I stepped back. My hands dropped. My heart cracked. I couldn’t go further and force her into something sinful when she’s so pure.
We grew up together. I know her. Rosa isn’t like those girls out there.
But then that motherfucker came along. Whispering filth. Twisting my head with those filthy thoughts once again.
He made me think the wrong things again!
Filled my head with those poisonous words ‘If you want her, force her!’
And now,
I’ve already lost her.
I also can’t just blame him when I was the one to do all those. I’m not a kid. It’s all my fault but today when he spit out those filthy words, I felt my bloods burning with rage. How dare he even think about that!
But again, the thing that’s eating me alive the most is... Mom’s calm nature. How could she be so quiet? So okay with everything? Is she really my mother?
The girl she raised, the one she called her daughter. How could she just abandon her like that?
Like Rosa never mattered at all.
Like she wasn’t family.
I gripped my hair, tugging at the roots as I hunched forward. What the hell is wrong with everyone? With me?
I should’ve protected her.
Not listened to that bastard. Not stand back and see my mother throwing her out like nothing!
And now... I don't even know where she is.
I don’t deserve her forgiveness!
I just want to know where is she?
Where can I find her? I want her back at any cost.
I weirdly desire her, I don’t know what to name this feeling.
I wish I had told the truth. I wish I hadn’t stood there like a coward, watching Mom throw her out like she meant nothing. Like she wasn’t the girl we raised together.
The girl who used to follow me around with messy hairs and tear-stained cheeks.
I should’ve stopped her. I should’ve said something, anything!
But I didn’t.
And now she’s gone.
Thrown into a world she doesn’t belong to. Alone. Fragile. And I-I’m the one who let it happen.
I’m at fault for everything.
The rage of guilt burned inside me. A groan broke through my throat as I threw the flower vase on the floor, shattering it into pieces out of pure frustration.
“I will find her at any cost!”