Chapter 202
SADE
I stared at the clock like I’ve done every night for the pact work, warking in are the wuth sharing
He hasn’t been here for a week now. He didn’t even come late at night and safe candy The surther latest and for on
were evidence of that,
So every night, I sit in front of the clock, marching fome go by and wondering whe
the same answer.
But… a large part of me was relieved he didn’t come back
I was relieved because this space between us would give me some time to s or the fiquing geng Yon next I face him, I want to make sure I have no indecent thoughts
And that… that has been hard. I had to do a lot of self–reflections I had to ar myself doom at den Itunes fuer I didn’t like what I was seeing in myself.
So this week has been hard.
When the time struck midnight, I stood up. I’ve gotten better at saying up as I’ve been doing they ge would wait for him until midnight, and when he didn’t come. I would go up and go bed
This night was the same.
Except… as I turned to head up to my room, the elevator pinged open
I jolt in shock, turning to see Mr. Varkas step out.
He halted in his steps when he noticed me, raising his head, and our eyes met. He lacked tranent
“You’re awake,” he said, his voice flat, and I nodded. “Why?”
“I was… I was waiting for you, sir.” I answered, suddenly nervous.
He watched me with that drained and flat look in his eyes, looking like he was debating whether or may name decided to speak his mind. “You’re a puzzle, Sade. A puzzle I wish to leave as in in
“I–I don’t understand you,
sir.
He looked away from me, loosening his tie. “Good. Let’s leave it that way I going up
I frowned, wondering why he had to announce that, but then it hit me that I was washing the edge of the stu
This man was truly considerate. And that’s why I mant stop having these impure sough
He stared at me, and I stared back, my hands clasped tightly together. When har saw I want going ahead and walked towards me.
I inhaled deeply, telling myself that he was only to walk past me. But past as he was about to do just that. I grabbed his hand softly.
He froze, his eyes widening as he turned to look at me with an astonished expression “What?”
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Chapter 202
1 quickly let go of his hand, looking away from him. “H–have you had dinner, sir?”
He was silent for a while. “I haven’t.”
“Would you like to eat then?”
“Yes,”
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I nodded, climbing down the stairs, but then I paused, my back facing him as I said, “And you can vent if you want to. I can tell you have a lot on your mind.”
I rushed to the kitchen after that, hoping he didn’t notice how red my neck was.
I planted my palms on the counter, bowing my head and inhaling.
What was that?! Why did I sound so bold? Where did that come from?! But it felt unbelievably good. I talked without stuttering, my voice was bold as I offered to listen to him. I wasn’t nervous, and that… that felt so good.
I was finally realizing that Mr. Varkas wasn’t a threat to me, that I could be myself because he would let me.
I heated the food and set the plates.
When I was done and carried it to the dining room, he was already seated, his jacket and tie off, the top two buttons undone, and his sleeves rolled up.
I looked away from him as I set the plates in front of him, and he thanked me.
sat across from him, no plate in front of me, and he raised an eyebrow. “You’re not eating?”
I shook my head. “No, sir. I already had dinner.”
He nodded and started eating. I looked away from him to avoid staring at him as he ate, looking everywhere but at him.
He ate in silence, his head down, and I couldn’t help but sneak a peek at him, and my chest tightened.
He seems lost in his head, deep in thought as he eats. I was about to ask when he spoke, “My father collapsed today
My eyes widened. “Really?! Is he… is he okay?”
He still kept his eyes fixed on the food as he answered, “Hmm–mm. But he won’t last long
Is he sick?”
“Yes. A sickness so serious that our healing power can’t cure it. That means death.” A pause, long and heavy. “I hope it’s soon.”
I was so stunned that I couldn’t say anything, my mouth open.
He looked at me, an eyebrow raised, that flat look back in his eyes. “Judging?”
I quickly shook my head. “N–no! But… how could you say that?”
“Because it’s stressful,” he answered without hesitation. “A burden I don’t need. Taking care of him is a responsibility I don’t need, don’t want, but I have to. Why? Because of this damn sense of responsibility he has instilled in me. He forced me to grow up faster than I should have. He forced me to become something even before I had time to decide what I wanted to be. He forced me to be cold and calculating in everything in life. He placed this weight on my shoulder, and now he’s adding to it. So don’t judge me for wishing he would be gone soon so I can have one less weight off my shoulder.”
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Chapter 202
So Ichors
He said all this in a rush, his chest heaving, a wild look in his eyes, but I couldn’t help myself. “But he’s still your father”
He scoffed, no humor in the sound, just bitterness. He dropped the spoon, stood up, and left without a word.
I stared at his back as he walked away, gazing at his tense shoulders and the tension that was crowding around them.
I looked away, sighing deeply. I had offered to help, but I only made it worse,
I could barely sleep that night, and that’s why I woke up at the crack of dawn. I was thirsty and I was out of drinking water in
my room.
So I left my room, still wearing the clothes I had slept in, which were barely anything, rubbing my eyes as I moved downstairs and yawning sleepily,
peeked into the kitchen when I heard a beeping sound.
opened my eyes to see Mr. Varkas standing in front of the coffee machine.
What?! He was still home?!
But that wasn’t important. What was important was that he was naked. He wore nothing but his boxer briefs, his whole body :xposed!
stood there, too shocked to even blink as I stared at his body, at the smooth planes of his body and his hard muscles, at his biceps that flexed as he operated the machine absentmindedly, at his strong thighs as he moved.
He was so lost in his thoughts that he didn’t notice me, and I used that as an opportunity to stare and stare, that feeling eturning to my body.
He picked up his coffee and turned, finally noticing me.
Good-”
His breath hitched, his words dying off as his eyes trailed over my body, and his… his scent changed.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
