Scared

The terrace was the most beautiful part of the mansion, so Reina went there after dinner.

She sat alone on the terrace, cradling a cup of coffee in her hands. The darkness enveloped her like a comforting shroud.

"How happy we were for our wedding, but you left Allen. You leave me alone." Reina looked at the night sky, it was pitch black like her heart

"You were the first man that I loved, but look at how it ended. I don't know how to describe my feelings, but I'm becoming increasingly emotionless with each passing day."

Reina's expression turned cold as she punched the wall, her fist turning bloody. A bitter smile formed on her face.

"I hate how normal life becomes like you were never here. I hate myself for that."

Reina was lost in her thoughts when she sensed someone nearby. Footsteps echoing softly against the cool night air. She turned to find Xavier standing beside her, grabbed her injured hand then looked at her with concern-filled eyes.

But Reina pulled back, not wanting him to touch her. Her pain felt too raw to share with a stranger

"Did you cry? What happened? Why hurt yourself?" Xavier's voice was gentle, his attempt to comfort evident as he reached for her hand again, only to meet her resistance.

"Don't touch me. And It's nothing, I accidentally hurt my hand, not crying" Reina's response was sharp and her tone defensive. She brushed aside his concern and concealed her pain with a cold demeanor,

but Xavier persisted.

His sudden closeness startled her, her instincts screaming for distance as he encroached upon her personal space.

"Who are you thinking about?" Xavier asked.

Reina was terrified when she felt his hand around her waist.

"What are you doing?" Reina's voice trembled and she was trying to maintain some distance.

"In whose thoughts were you lost?" He asked again

"None of your business." Xavier's grip tightened, drawing her closer until their breaths mingled in the night air.

"This is my business. Now tell me quickly whose thoughts were you lost?" 

"I'm not telling you anything. Leave me." Reina said sternly 

"I will not leave you until you tell me. So quickly." He pushed her more closer to him. 

Reina hated his stubbornness 

"I was thinking about Allen. "

Xavier: Who is Allen?

He said while controlling his anger and holding her more tightly.

"He is someone I love, My fiance." She whispered while looking straight into his eyes with coldness.

His grip on her waist weakened, and he turned around, walking away from the terrace.

Reina became scared by his sudden change in behavior.

*

In the heart of a clandestine hideout, where shadows danced in secrecy, a man sat in the dimness, his features obscured by darkness.

Thick curtains blocked the windows, keeping the room hidden from curious eyes. In this hidden room, the man was in charge. He was like a puzzle, full of mysteries and hidden plans.

With an ominous authority, he addressed his visitor in a voice as chilling as the night itself. "Did you uncover his weakness?" His words hung in the air like a whispered threat.

The visitor, cloaked in uncertainty, hesitated before responding. "He's on the brink of marriage, yet his bride seems far from his vulnerabilities. There's a void of emotion between them," his tone laden with unease.

"Then dig deeper," the man commanded his voice a low growl that reverberated through the room like a sinister echo. 

*

"Why am I feeling so much pain? Why?" Xavier muttered to himself, his voice strained with confusion. "She's not my fiancée, nor my love, not even family. So why does it hurt like hell?"

Grappling with his emotions, Xavier struggled to understand the intensity of his anguish. Despite the rationality of his thoughts, an inexplicable ache gnawed at his heart, leaving him bewildered and vulnerable.

"I don't know the man you love," Xavier whispered into the empty room, his words tinged with a mixture of determination and despair. "But I will never let him close to you, Reina. I don't know why, but I will never allow any man close to you."

--

In the cold light of morning, Reina sat in her office, her mind still clouded by the events of the previous day.

She pondered the unsettling encounter when Sara approached, offering a distraction in the form of work.

"Ma'am, check this design," Sara said, presenting a file for her review. "And tell me if you need any changes in this design, and I will notify the team"

Reina waved her off with a weary gesture, her thoughts elsewhere. "Leave it here. I'll check it later," she replied, her voice tinged with sadness.

Concern etched across her face, Sara paused, studying her friend. "Are you alright?" she asked gently.

Reina forced a smile, masking her inner turmoil. "No, just a little bit upset. I'll handle it. You go..." she reassured, though her words belied the weight of her emotions.

With a nod, Sara retreated, leaving Reina alone with her thoughts, the echoes of Xavier's words lingering in the air like a haunting nightmare.