CHAPTER 25

When she had been with Madame, she had not broken because she hadn't known what she was missing.

But now she did.

" You are doing what's right, Mr. Athanas. " Dr. Simon Corba said in a low, reassuring voice. " With special patients like Ms. Rewis, it is critical that you do not do or say anything that might upset her. " Having learned from his first and unfortunate encounter with the Greek Scion, the doctor was now careful and circumspect when referring to Kathryn.

" You are also doing a great job, " he continued. " in keeping your worries to yourself. " But in truth, it was the opposite. From the notes he had gathered about Madame Antonia's case, he had found out that silence would further destroy Kathy's confidence.

Silence would remind Kathy about how Madame Antonia treated her as an object, and that was exactly how he wanted things to be between the heiress and her arrogant fianceé.

" Finally, sir... " He took a deep breath. " If she ever becomes violent, I have taken the liberty of notifying my colleagues in your area. They are on standby and will be able to take her to a private clinic where she will be treated. "

With his dick, he thought in cruel pleasure.

He had flown in to Florida as early as last weekend because he could feel it in his bones that the first domino was close, so excitingly close to falling, and he wanted to be there when Yuri Daniel Athanas whole world came crashing down on him.

" I don't think that will be necessary. " Yuri Daniel Athanas was saying coldly.

Dr. Simon Corba didn't let this affect him, only murmuring. " But she must if you truly love her, Mr. Athanas. Everything that's happening now is because the shock from the late Mrs. Kristina Rewis death has finally worn off, and she finds herself grasping for something stable and familiar. Our clinic can provide her with such as environment. "

Yuri closed his eyes wearily after his call with the doctor.

What do I do, sweetheart? He wished he could ask Kathy about it, but he couldn't.

He remembered the first few days he had with Kathy, and how innocently beautiful they all were.

Kathy, looking up at him as she held his hand, her voice grave as she asked. " This is how we should walk, shouldn't we? "

And he had asked. " According to?... "

" The internet. " She had answered simply.

He remembered Kathy introducing herself to the former president. " I am Kathryn Ice Rewis, but you may also call me Kathy. I am the girl Yuri loves. "

He remembered her pointing to his dick. " Make it stop moving and growing. "

God.

It felt like an eternity had passed since those days. Everything had been so bright, and now it was all darkness, and he was lost.

It was the past all over again.

He loved, and he was blinded by it.

Rain played a melancholic melody outside the executive kitchen of the Alcolyte Triad headquarters, fogging up windows and creating an atmosphere that was more lonely than sad. It was bigger than the common kitchen on the ground floor and was more rustic than modern, with overhead wooden beams lining the high ceiling and reclaimed brick walls.

Only one person was inside the kitchen, and her eyes were blind to the beauty surrounding her. All her frowning concentration was focused on the two-partitioned bento box on the worktable, which lacked only the finishing touches.


In the larger section of the box, a cheese cutout forming the shape of a girl, holding a pink umbrella made of cold cut ham, was placed on top of a small serving of vermicelli noodles cooked in aglio olio.

Under the pasta was the " ground " consisting of olives and tomatoes, where the girl stood, while around the cheese girl were raindrops made of minced red onion.

In the smaller partition was a fresh appetizer made of mini carrot sticks, golden potato balls, and cauliflowers.

There was just enough space for a fruit dessert, and this was the last thing that Kathy completed, peeling an apple in such a way that it created a red-and-white checkered pattern.

Pushing the vegetable appetizer to the edge with her fork, she placed the apple inside the box and afterwards leaned back to consider her work.

She waited for the usual flush of pleasure to wash over her, but it didn't come, and it...terrified her.

Squaring her shoulders, Kathy forced herself to focus on her work. She set aside the box and worked on the next. Her lips moved in a feverish, soundless chant.

I. Will. Not. Break.

But before the next day was over, she would.

Andreus and Yuri met in the hallway early in the morning. One of them had just come out of the bedroom, the other having just gotten back home.

They eyed each other warily, both of them unable to forget the last time they had spoken and nearly came to blows.

" You look like you haven't been sleeping. " Andreus said finally.

Yuri relaxed slightly. He hadn't wanted a repeat of their altercation any more than Andreus seemed to.

" I haven't been taking my meds. The last time I did... " His lips twisted. " You know what happened. "

" But nothing happened. "

He shook his head. " Something could have... "

" And that's why you're torturing both of you? " Andreus shook his head. " I learned from Helios you've extended your leave and you've made the same request for Kathy. So what's the plan now, Yuri? You'll lock each other here and just let yourselves die slowly at how miserable your lives have become? "

Yuri didn't answer.

" Look, I know I'm the last person that should give you advice. "

His tone was both stiff and weary.

" But you know what they say. People from the outside see more, and right now all I'm seeing is that you, not Kathy. YOU are the one causing both of you pain. You're letting the shit in your past color how you look at her, brother. I hope you realize I'm telling the truth before it's too late. "

Yuri leaned against the wall and closed his eyes as he heard Andreus slam the door behind him.

God. Damn. It.

It had been two weeks since the incident at the beach and another week since he had decided to forbid Kathy from leaving the headquarters, not even for her backing classes, while he tried to figure out what to do.

Problem was, no matter how much time passed, he couldn't seem to make any decision.

His heart only wanted to love Kathy, but his mind told him he was making the same mistake again.

Pushing himself off the wall, he made his way into the private kitchen, thinking he would find Kathy working on a breakfast bento, but it was empty. Frowning, he went back to their suite, but she wasn't there either.

Shit!

His blood ran cold.

What if she had left? What if she had jumped to her death? Anything could have happened to her.

Anything.

He skipped the elevator and tore through the stairs, knowing he would get to the lobby faster that way. He headed straight to the common room, knowing he would find everyone there. He would tell them Kathy was missing, and they would make a plan.

But when he reached the doorway, he froze, his plans crumbling, because she was there.

Kathy.

And all her bentos.

Fifty bentos.

One for each biker making up the Alcolyte, and seeing how intricate the art was, he knew she had probably worked on them the entire night.

Their eyes met and everyone in the hall fell silent.

Her face was beautiful and composed, her slender, graceful body still as a statue.

But her eyes.

God, her eyes.

How they pleaded with him.

Every bento was a plea from her heart.

Please look at me again. Please talk to me again. Please love me again.

He strode forward and, cupping her face, he kissed her hard, but his voice was hoarse and uneven as he whispered. " I love you. " He realized now that would never change.

Kathy didn't answer, but she didn't have to. The tears seeping into their kiss, the way her fingers desperately curled against his chest and the way her body fitted against his, wanting to be one with him.

They said it better than the words itself.

She loved him.

It was perfect after that.

They looked at each other, talked to each other like they used to. They held hands under the table. They smiled. Or at least he did with his lips, and she did with her violet eyes.

She presented him with a special bento made especially for him. " Because you are the man I will always love. " She had told him quietly.

She opened it.

Yuri stared. " It's quite...green. " For once, his impressive vocabulary and beautiful manners both failed him.

Mung beans. Bitter gourd. Green pepper. Pickles.

Too. Damn. Green.

" Andreus told me you love vegetables, and these are your favorites. " Kathy explained.

" I see. " God damn Andreus Fin Economou. No wonder the other man had been almost nice to him this morning. Ignoring the half-pitying, half-amused looks from his friends. Yuri forced himself to eat.

" Oh, wow. Brother! " Hallie was fascinated. " Your face matches the color of your bento. "

Yuri almost threw up but managed to swallow it back.

Kathy peered up at him. " You do look... "

" I'm okay, sweetheart. " He said immediately. If she said the G-word, he might end up puking after all.

It was perfect.

Or almost perfect.

Until Kathy excused herself to go to the toilet and not long after, they heard the screams.

Kathy!

Everyone ran towards the sound, but Yuri was ahead of all of them.

The first thing he saw was Kathy standing outside the toilet, pale-faced and breathing hard, and in front of her was Lily Anne Smith.

" She tried to kill me! " Lily was screaming.

He paid her no attention, cupping Kathy's face and demanding. " Are you fine? "

Kathy nodded, but her eyer were wild.

" She tried to kill me! Can't you hear what I'm saying?! " Lily said.

He was going to fire the bitch! Yuri thought coldly. Turning to face the volunteer which is Lily Anne, he started to tell her that when he saw the marks on her neck. The words died.

Someone had tried to strangle Lily, and those marks were practically same shape as Kathy's fingers.

Kathy whitened when Yuri faced her again. " I did not doing anything to her. "

Yuri said between bloodless lips. " Stop lying Kathryn Ice! How do you think those marks got to her?! A ghost fucking did it! Huh?! Is that what you want me to believe now!? The same ghost that wrote the message on the mirror, the same ghost that whispered Madame's name in your ear?! Tell me! " Yuri shouted to Kathy.

" That's enough, Yuri. Could you please calm down. " Hallie said.

" Shut up, Hallie! " Yuri said.

While the other side, Lily smiled a little watching Yuri yelled at Kathy in front of us. It's my revenge time, bitch! You will pay what you've did to me! Lily thought when she smiled.

Kathy jerked. " B-But Yuri... " Her voice caught, and she looked like a child that had been slapped by the person she trusted the most. " You know I don't lie, Yuri. "

" You're lying right now. " Yuri heard himself about.

The strain and agony of all the nights he had lain sleepless, thinking about them and seeing no future, finally got to him, and he could no longer keep everything bottled inside him.