An interest in romance books

"What to do? I don't think there's anything you can do that'll make me hate you, Max."

Max stared at Valerie with surprise in his eyes but then he gritted his teeth, growing angry, and bit her neck. Not much of a bite because it didn't hurt much but it was more of a nibble. Then, he sucked on it.

'What is he doing now?' Valerie wondered, gripping his shoulder tightly. 'Is he a beast? Why would he bite me?'

Max let go and she saw the displeasure in his eyes. It was like he was angry. Was it because of what she said? He wanted her to hate him? She thought he had already concluded that she saw him as nothing more than a worthless person.

So why did he want her to hate him as well? He was so confusing.

Her mind could only go to the fact that he wanted to get more reaction from her. If she hated him, the more he acted out with her, the more the displeasure would show on her face... Was that it?

"I don't want you to have peace of mind." He confessed and hugged her, burying his head. "I want you to think of me every day, every hour, every minute. Let your mind be filled with that guy you always considered a 'disgrace' and 'unworthy'. I want to be the only thing on your mind, so let's hurry up and get rid of all the nuisance."

Valerie felt uncomfortable with his words. It was like he was falling into the depths of what she could not understand.

'What happened to you, Max?' She thought, her grip on his shoulder tightening up.

After that day, Valerie saw less of Max. She thought he would pester her continuously and torture her mind as it was, but he didn't. He actually gave her some space, resulting in her finally having a peaceful vacation... Not very peaceful since she saw his face and listened to his weird talk once or twice a day.

He also instructed the maids to make her stay comfortable, providing her with whatever she needed. But the only thing Valerie ever really needed were books. Novels, actually.

She had some crazy romance editions she liked to read to pass the time.

And while the peace was short, she decided to dive into the world of fiction once more, reading to her heart's content and feeding her imagination.

Valerie started reading books when she sought out references on how to act like a villainess. And then she discovered she had quite an interest in romance books. And for a while, she would wonder... if she were raised by her parents with love and affection, and was happy... Would she end up with the happily ever after that the protagonists always had?

But those were just fleeting thoughts that she knew would never come true. Besides, she blew her chances of a sweet romance the minute she was born with such sharp senses and crazy indifference.

She could not feel or perceive love the way others would. Even if she understood it, she could never implement it on herself. Her way of loving... It was never another confession and shy blushing... She had been firm. And this... It made Max believe she never really loved him.

Valerie woke up, alarmed, as she felt something sitting on her bed, only to discover it was Max who was reading her novel.

"Are you awake yet?" He asked and flipped the page of the book. He was sitting on her bed with his legs stretched out and crossed together.

He was also wearing glasses, one she had never seen before, and they made him look a bit different from his usual appearance.

"No," Valerie answered and dropped her head on her pillow to sleep more. She was exhausted and wanted to sleep more but for Max to be in her room, he probably wanted to tell her something.

"Your funeral's tomorrow." He said, and she opened her eyes. Couldn't they talk about this once the sun was up? "So we're leaving tomorrow."

"What's the hurry?" She asked, finally sitting up and he looked at her.

The thin nightwear she was wearing was already transparent enough, and now it was exposing most of her skin.

"Hah, are you trying to seduce me?" He asked, putting down the book and a confused Valerie tilted her head to the side.

What did she do to seduce him?

"I wouldn't mind taking you right now." He said, leaning closer to her. "But I'd prefer we keep this till our wedding night, don't you agree?"

Valerie finally looked down at her nightdress and discovered what he was referring to. She sighed. Honestly, she couldn't be bothered.

"Glad that you're being a gentleman." She exclaimed in a silent voice and with no excitement in her tone Rather, from Max's perspective, her silent mutter, coupled with her appearance, made her sound sensual.

Her hair which was always in a neat wave, and out of her face, now covered her left eye and fell comfortably on her shoulders.

"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" He pinned her down on the bed and got on top of her. "Do you know what situation you're in right now?" He asked but she was clueless and simply looked at him with lazy eyes.

"I wonder." She said and he pressed his lips on hers, kissing roughly and hurriedly like his life depended on it.

Valerie didn't expect her provocation to lead to this but she did not fight it either and went along with the kiss, swirling her tongue after him since she had little to no experience.

Then, he bit her lip till it bled and raised his head.

"That's for provoking me." He said. "You don't know the lengths I can go to to get what I want, so I advise you to banish any childish thoughts."

"And what if I don't?"

"What?"

"What if I want to see how far you can go? We signed the contract so you can do whatever and I won't complain." Slowly, she fluttered her eyelashes and Max frowned.

To think he was being swayed by her now.

"I won't do what you want." He said and got down from her.

"What a shame." She said and closed her eyes, immediately losing herself to sleep.

Max was stunned. How did she fall asleep so fast? And were those words said out of sleep deprivation as well? She didn't mean them, he knew it.

He clicked his tongue as he stared at her wheezing away softly. How was she so defenseless when there was a predator next to her? Was that how much she believed in him?

Now, he really felt like breaking her belief and doing something bad to her. Yet, he refrained himself and got up.

He glanced at the novel.

"Is she getting influenced by the books she is reading?" He muttered and left with the book in his hand. He would read it and see if she was really getting influenced by it. And then, he would know how to act.