Chapter 72 Manipulation!
|| Author POV ||
Rosa pinched her eyebrows.
A letter?
“Oath of blood?” Rosa mumbled the book title. She tilted her head, confused. The title sounded ominous. She picked it up, but the folded piece of paper slipped from between the pages and floated silently to the floor.
Rosa’s eyes followed it as it floated gently down. “How scary.” she whispered to herself, pouting.
Her heartbeat thudded lightly as she got down the chair. The cold floor met her bare feet. She bent down and picked up the paper. So she was right.
It was a letter.
Was it ok to read someone else’s letter? Will he be angry? But he shouldn’t hide anything from his girlfriend, right?
Curiosity sparkled in her eyes as Rosa unfolded it. Her eyes skimmed the first few lines. The handwriting was neat and clean. It looked like a birthday note. Her gaze moved to the date, then she stilled as her eyes landed on the addressed person.
‘Dear Killian.’
Rosa’s brows furrowed. A letter addressed to him and the date was his birthday. So someone wrote this for his birthday? She narrowed her eyes.
She was about to glance down at the name of the sender but flinched so hard, the paper nearly slipped from her fingers hearing the footsteps.
Her heart raced with sudden fear.
Without thinking twice, Rosalie shoved the letter back into the book and glanced toward the doorway. Her hands were shaking. She hurriedly climbed onto the chair and placed the book back on the shelf.
But little did she know, the letter had slipped out, fluttering to the floor and disappeared under the shelves with the faint wind.
Rosa blinked when Lilia stepped into the library with a warm smile on her face.
“Master is calling you, dear. Breakfast is ready.” Lilia said softly. Rosa bit her lip and swallowed hard, nodding. After Lilia left, Rosa’s eyes drifted back to the shelf.
Who wrote that letter? Was it... a girl?
An unfamiliar ache settled in her chest. She didn’t know why it hurt but it did. Pressing her trembling fingers to the fabric of her dress, she stepped out of the library.
Rosa shook her head with positive thoughts and entered the dining room.
Killian was already seated at the table while casually scrolling through his phone. His sharp eyes lifted when he sensed her presence.
“Come here.” his deep voice called out.
Rosa flinched at the sound. Something in his tone made her skin crawl with uncertainty. Still biting her bottom lip, she walked toward him with small steps. She didn’t know why... but she couldn’t bring herself to meet his eyes.
Killian squinted at her with a sharp gaze, as if trying to read the thoughts running wild in her head. Rosa looked pale. Frail.
Something was off.
“What’s going on in that pretty little head of yours?”
Killian murmured, pulling her effortlessly onto his thigh. His hand came up to cradle her forehead and pressed a cold palm against her warmer skin, checking the temperature.
“You’re fine now, rabbit. Are you still feeling weak?”
Rosa slowly looked up at him, her watery eyes meeting his. His gaze was calm, yes, but cold. Cold enough to freeze her breath in her throat.
Why did it feel like he could see right through her? Like he knew she was doubting him?
Tears stung the corners of her eyes. Shame filled her stomach.
She hated it. Hated herself for thinking things. For questioning him in her mind, for doubting him. But her heart still trembled.
Killian pulled her closer by the waist, tilting her chin up with practiced motion. She hiccuped softly and a tear slipped down her cheek.
“I don’t feel...good.” she choked into a whimper.
Killian looked away for a moment. His eyes drifted to the corner of the room. Sunlight spilled inside through the windows.
He knew. She wasn’t fully convinced.
That night still lingered in her mind like a stain that wouldn’t wash off so easily. She needed more than warmth now. She needed words. Lies dressed as comfort. Manipulation!
A mask over the truth.
His thumb gently wiped the tear from her cheek. “Are you still thinking about that nightmare?” Killian leaned in, his voice dipping into that soft, calm tone that always made her freeze inside.
“You know the brain–” he said, brushing her cheek with his knuckles, “The brain is the cruelest liar when it wants to be. It’s strange. It plays tricks when we’re vulnerable. When we’re tired... scared or sick.”
Rosa blinked slowly with her quivering lips.
“Do you know how many people claim to see things during fevers? Or wake up in the middle of the night screaming from things that never happened?” He tilted his head, eyes catching hers. “Our minds blur dreams and reality. Especially when we’re already fragile.”
He gently tucked her hair behind her ear. “You had a fever over 102. You were dreaming, bunny. Saying strange things. Crying in your sleep.” Rosa swallowed and her gaze faltered.
“Brain twists things. Mixes fear with memory. Especially after trauma, or fever. One moment you’re dreaming, the next you wake up believing it happened.” Killian paused. His voice turned gentle. “But it didn’t.” his forehead almost touched hers.
Rosa blinked her eyes, confused. “But I.. I feel l-like–”
“That’s how your mind is betraying you.” he interrupted gently. “Fever dreams can be terrifying. You have to stop trusting the part of your brain that’s trying to scare you.”
Rosa looked away, biting her lip.
“You think that’s real?” Killian asked.
Rosa silenced for a moment. He exhaled faintly and kissed her forehead.
“You trust your mind more than me...” he sneered “When it’s the same mind that doesn’t even remember how you passed out for two days?”
He cupped her chin, forcing her to look up. His eyes gleamed like polished glass. But they were hollow and sharp.
He pulled her tighter into his arms.
“Your mind is tired. That’s all. You don’t need to believe those dreams.” Killian murmured while stroking her head methodically.
The floral scent of her hair filled his nostrils. His arms closed around her like a cage made of velvet.
He could feel her trembling lessen. Her fingers curled into his shirt. Rosa snuggled into his chest, her lashes fluttering down and she gave a timid nod.
Killian was right. She was tired. And sick. Her body is still weak.
Now that she was doubting him, everything else felt suspicious. It was like her thoughts weren’t hers anymore. Even that letter. She was trying to connect things that didn’t make sense. Mixing memories. Twisting reality.
What a dumb she is, she thought. Shame prickled her skin.
Killian smirked over her shoulder. Not the kind smirk he gives normally. But that cruel, satisfied curve of lips when a trap clicks shut.
“You just need rest, rabbitm” he murmured against her, his voice thick with false tenderness. “No more dark thoughts, hmm? I’m here now. I’ll keep you safe from everything. Even your own mind.”
Rosa glanced up at Killian. Her lavender eyes glistened like a clear amethyst stone. “Y-you will never lie to me or hide things from m-me?” she sniffed at him.
Killian’s jaw tightened but his voice stayed smooth. “No. I won’t.”
“P-promise?”
Killian stared into her trembling gaze. She was testing his patience now. How is he going to lie on her face?
“Promise.”
And just like that, another lie slipped past his lips but guilt never touched him.
Rosa wiped her tears with the back of her hand and slowly moved up, crawling into his lap just long enough to press a soft kiss on his lips as a silent apology. For doubting him. For ever letting her mind betray the man.
Her genius, intimidating professor.
How could she ever doubt him?
“Eat properly. Don’t get sick again.” Killian muttered, pulling a chair beside him before setting her down on it.
Her heart fluttered beautifully. She obediently sat and watched Killian while he filled her plate with eggs, steak and neatly sliced vegetables. Everything was done with meticulous care.
Rosa’s eyes drifted to his hand. The tattoos that stuck across his knuckles and arms. Bold black lines inked into pale skin. Something about them always mesmerized her. Powerful. Dark and permanent just like him.
She reached out without thinking and lightly touched one of the letters of the tattoo.
“What does this mean?” she asked gently with her melodic voice.
“A reminder.” Killian replied simply. “Of what I’ve lost... and what I’ll never lose again.”
Rosa blinked at him in confusion. Killian nudged the plate closer to her.
“Now eat.”
Rosa nodded weakly like she finally understood. Like she agreed.
“Good girl.” Killian whispered, brushing her cheek with the back of his fingers.
As soon as Rosa focused back on her plate, his eyes dimmed, draining of the warmth they held just seconds ago.
The gentleness vanished like it had never existed, turning cold.
He watched her from the corner of his eye. His mind now questioned itself, why was he treating her so much care?
‘Girlfriend’ was a mere title.
A label he threw just to keep her close, to cage her without raising alarms. It never meant anything to him. Not really.
Or at least, that’s what he told himself.
This girl made him say sorry, made him promise to her. Made him lie only to her. The first ever person he lied to.
All to keep her with him, because he wasn’t ready to let her go.
If lying would keep her, he’d do it again and again without a shred of regret.
He wanted to hurt her for making him feel this way. No one had power over him. No one was allowed to. And yet she did. With a glance. With a whimper. With that stupid way she kissed him even after crying and forcing herself to believe him.
She really trusted him again. One touch, one lie, one gentle whisper in her ear and her doubts were smothered like a flame under his palm.
Foolish girl.
He could destroy her with a single word. And still, she looked at him like he was her entire sky. Not her fault though.
He watched her in silence. How her delicate fingers clutched the fork. How her hair fell across her cheek. How unaware she was of the storm inside him.
His eyes trailed down her bare arm. Skin like porcelain and the delicate slope of her neck. The soft rise and fall of her chest. The little breaths she took as if she belonged to a gentler world.
Killian bit the inside of his cheek, fists tightening under the table. He wouldn’t lie to himself. He was obsessed, with her body, the softness of her skin, the gentleness of her voice, her innocence to be precise, even her presence!
His jaw clenched as she ate quietly. Her head bowed like a scared little doll.
Now that he thinks, what is he going to do to her if she finds out?