4. Not a Confession

Ophelia’s POV

Carrying the bowl, I looked around inside Chaylen’s room.

There are boxes around which contain his things. Clothes hung inside the open cabinet and shirts were neatly folded. I am impressed that he is almost half done fixing his things in his new room. Perhaps because he only brought little.

I heard that he declined having maids to help him rearrange his new place. Certainly, he does not want them to touch his things and see something they should not see. Like guns, knives, poison or even bombs.

If it is true that he brought dangerous weapons like those, I don’t know if I should be thankful or not.

Should I be thankful that he trusts me enough to let me come in?

Or should I regret it because he might kill me here at any moment?

If he is smart, I doubt he would choose the latter.

“You haven’t finished arranging your things,” I said as I turned around and looked at him.

“I hope you won’t feel uncomfortable seeing the mess,” he shyly said.

“Oh no. That’s fine. Do you want me to help you?”

“I am almost done. I appreciate the offer, though.”

“I see,” I said, chuckling.

I placed the bowl on the table next to the window and scrutinized more of his room.

“Your room is great,” I said, sitting on the chair.

Chaylen walked closer to me while replying, “Really? I think my sister’s room is better than mine.”

He pulled a chair across my seat and perched there.

Was it only me? But I wondered why there were two chairs in his room. As if he’s anticipating that I will come here.

Pretending nonchalant about that, I grabbed the towel and gently soaked it in the warm water.

“I don’t think so. You probably notice my position in the house once you visit my room,” I said, getting the towel out of the water and squeezing it.

Steam came from the wrinkled towel. When I looked back at him, he was already reaching his arm for me with a smile on his lips.

It was then I was reminded how handsome he is. His red eyes shone like bright rubies. They are sharp, like wolves. He has an image that will burn in my mind and will stay there for seconds, minutes, hours or even days.

Isn’t it illegal to be this deadly handsome when he’s a criminal?

Just like what the professors always say, psychos tend to use their handsome faces to lure their victims.

After reminding myself how dangerous it is to fall on that face, I lowered my eyes and looked at the bruises on his arms.

There are three patches of bruises on the arm he used to cover himself while Justine was kicking him on the floor.

Although he was acting, I felt a sense of guilt. Maybe because I know how painful it was to get beaten. Nevertheless, I should not forget whom I am dealing with right now.

“I could not believe that sister came here to tend my wound. And even invited me to come on her room if I want.”

I failed to control the scowl which marred my forehead when I heard that. I looked back at him and asked, “I invited you?”

I didn’t remember that.

“When I said that your room is better than mine, you said I might change my mind if I saw your room. Isn’t that an invitation?”

I see.

Not only is he good at acting, but he has talent at word playing.

“Right. You can see it that way,” I said, chuckling. Then I grabbed his arm and gently placed the wet and warm towel on his bruises.

“Ahhh,” he winced in pain.

It is comical to say that he was purposely wincing to show how much it hurts. Even if he is the mafia boss, a pain is still a pain. I just can’t imagine that he chose this way to conceal his identity.

‘I thought I could have found someone who could be my shield. But it was the other way around.’

Well then, I had to think that this is partly just an investment to prolong my life.

“About Justine,” I murmured while tapping his bruises and wounds with the towel. “I won’t apologize in his stead. He did something to you that does not deserve forgiveness. He is a bad man. I advise you not to provoke him.”

“To be honest, there are many why’s in my head right now,” Chaylen said in a low voice.

“Ask me. I might give you the answer,” I replied as I soaked the towel in the water again.

“Why did he hit me? He said it was my punishment for touching what isn’t mine.”

My hands stopped in the middle of his question.

‘Justine said that?’

I bit the flesh inside my mouth before peering straight into his cunning red eyes.

It is clear that Justine beat him because of me. He wanted to say that he is the only one who has the right to mess me up.

“I am sorry,” I apologized, then gently tapped his shoulder with the towel again. “I guess it was because of me. Brother Justine and I aren’t on good terms. When I welcomed you for the first time, the two of us had a small argument. You can say it a unique relationship when a brother hates it when I approach someone.”

It’s the same when we were young. Justine hated it when I asked other kids to play with me. As a result, I became a loner.

“Does it mean Justine will get mad if you and I become close?”

I almost dropped the towel in my hand as I looked into his deep gaze.

‘No. He cannot stay away from me. We need to be close as much as possible so I can guarantee that he will spare my life soon.’

“F-Father already w-warned Justine. So, I doubt he will do the same,” I explained. “But, if that’s true, are you going to hate me?”

Slowly, I reached out his arm and held it gently.

Chaylen didn’t shake my hand off. Rather, he leaned nearer. As he got closer, I had to look up more to see him. Because even when sitting, he’s larger and taller than me.

“I told my sister that I have many why’s in my head. Remember?” he whispered.

Clutching the towel in my hand, I forced a smile on my lips.

“Yes. I remember.”

“Then, before I answer you, I wanted to know this first.”

“W-What is it?”

“Why are you so kind to me?” he asked. Suspicions glinted in his eyes. It was very quick, but I saw it.

My fingers flinched on the towel. I hoped he didn’t see it.

Holding my breath, I looked down and diverted my eyes back to him. With a smile, I detached my lips.

“Because you are my brother.”

“...”

Chaylen didn’t reply. Instead, he kept on staring at my face as if evaluating my answer.

“To be honest, my relationship with my other siblings wasn’t good. So, when I saw you for the first time, I was happy. I wished we could get along together. So, that’s why I took the risk and approached you first.”

I observed Chaylen who was being wordless for a while. His eyelids were half-lowered to look down at me. But with him right in front of my nose, I could tell.

The red eyes had regarded me with suspicion until a while ago, but at one point, his gaze turned into a flame that took my breath away.

Chaylen leaned closer and his shadow overlapped me.

“It’s not good.”

When his deep voice reached my ears, I felt suffocated. I wanted to ask him why he thinks that it is not good. But the words that I wanted to spit out stuck in my throat.

Then, he said, “If you keep saying things like that, I might fall in love with you.”

I dropped the towel on the floor.