Reflection

As my aunt thanked me, a warm feeling of accomplishment washed over me. It was almost laughable how she seemed completely unbothered by the absurdity of following a complete stranger into a hotel room.

But then again, that was likely the effect of my carefully crafted plan, "Knight in Shining Armor" plan.

I watched as she took a sip of the water, her gaze momentarily fixed on me. There was an undeniable connection between us in that moment . It was like a scene right out of those over-the-top romance dramas I used to scoff at.

"So, how are you feeling now?" I asked, my voice soft and caring, even though a part of me couldn't help but chuckle at the elaborate scheme that had brought us to this point.

My revenge plan was turning out to be quite the masterpiece. I mean, why settle for a run-of-the-mill solution like blackmail when I could orchestrate something far more intricate and enjoyable?

Sure, I could just do to her what I did to the pink-haired girl, and blackmail her into submission. But that's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. No, what I had in mind was a performance, a slow burn that would make her question her own emotions.

Imagine this: I become her guardian angel, her confidante, her lover. She'd be drawn to my supposed goodness like a moth to a flame. And just when she least expects it, I'll unveil the true colors beneath my angelic facade. What a genius plan.

"It doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you," she replied in a gentle, almost tender tone.

I had to do a double take – was this really the same woman who used to be my personal bully? Her words dripped with such respect that it was almost unreal. Perfect manners and all that. It's just amusing how someone can be a textbook example of grace while harboring a personality that could rival an evil witch.

"That's good to hear. Let me give you a leg massage; I think they might be a bit swollen," I suggested.

[Suggestion: Success]

"Ahm," she nodded, a hint of embarrassment in her gaze. She was acting as if she were smitten or something. I couldn't help but wonder just how easily I fooled her. I hadn't even brought my A-game, and here she was, looking like she'd fallen head over heels.

As I knelt down to massage her legs, something completely unexpected happened. She raised her hands, and for a brief moment, I was prepared for a slap. Instead, she cupped my cheeks with her soft, warm palms, sending a ticklish shiver down my spine.

"Ah, miss?" I stammered, genuinely caught off guard by this unexpected turn of events. Wait a minute, am I actually the one in control here? It's baffling how I can't shake off the feeling that I'm the one being hunted, not the hunter.

Her eyes locked onto mine, and the intensity in her gaze was seriously seductive. It felt as if she could consume me entirely with just a single glance.

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Allysa POV.

"What am I feeling right now? Why did I follow a stranger to this room alone?" I questioned myself, perplexed by my own decisions. There was an underlying sense that something was off, that I might be making a mistake.

Yet, there was also an inexplicable urge to trust this young man. I had options – I could have fled from him, come up with an excuse to avoid being alone with him. But both my heart and mind seemed to conspire against me, keeping me rooted in his presence.

Was it possible that I had fallen for him? After all, he had saved me from danger. Maybe my judgment was clouded by gratitude.

"That's good to hear. Let me give you a leg massage; I think they might be a bit swollen," he offered, surprising me with his kindness.

Of course , I was taken aback by his words at first, yet there was an odd sense of happiness that washed over me. Perhaps, just maybe, I thought, I could find a way to repay his kindness – even if it meant giving him something more than just gratitude.

I held his face gently as he knelt on the floor, my fingers brushing against his smooth skin. My heart raced, and my gaze locked onto his eyes. It was an unfamiliar sensation, one I had never experienced before.

Not with my husband, not with my lovers – they were nothing more than tools to satisfy my financial and physical needs. So why did I suddenly feel something I had never known before? It was as though my womanhood, my innocence, had started to resurface in his presence.

"Please kiss me," the words slipped from my lips unconsciously, and the shock in his eyes was quite refreshing too look at. It was only natural for him to be taken aback; he looked young, perhaps around 18. Confusion would be a normal reaction.

But I was no longer in control of my emotions. Driven by an overwhelming urge, I acted without waiting for his consent, closing the gap between us and pressing my lips against his.

As our lips met, a warmth spread through my body, igniting sensations I believed were long gone. The taste of his lips against mine awakened feelings I had locked away due to the unfavorable hand life had dealt me.

His youthful, kind, and innocent face triggered a wave of memories, taking me back to a time long past. It was as though I was experiencing a memory flashback, an unbelievable notion that resonated with my current emotions.

I recalled a time when I was an innocent young girl, unburdened by the weight of the world. But circumstances dictated otherwise; my parents' debt forced me into marriage with an ugly bastard with a two-face personality. Bitterness swelled within me, resentment taking root as my purity was taken away against my will. And with time, that resentment transformed me into a monster I hardly recognized.

I'm well aware of my own monstrous nature. Even his innocent nephew, a mere boy, fell victim to my clouded state of mind.

His resemblance to his uncle was a painful reminder, and I directed all my pent-up anger towards him. I knew it was utterly wrong, a transgression that shouldn't have been inflicted on an innocent child. However, in my twisted attempt to cope with the trauma done by his bastard uncle, I found myself unable to resist transferring my pain onto him.

It's quite amusing, actually. This man shares a resemblance with Zyden. It's ironic to think that if I hadn't let my bitterness consume me, he might have had the chance to become a good young man – someone completely different than his monstrous uncle.