Chapter 24 - Intruder (1) (1/2)

Chapter 24 – Intruder (1)

Leah felt her face flush from anger as she listened to the insults Blain spat at her. She huffed out angrily and straightened up her posture, fixing up her disheveled state of dress before shooting him a sharp glare.

“Don’t worry, brother,” she hissed, “Even if Byun Gyongbaek scares me, I won’t do that,” she reassured.

Blain’s face had winced momentarily at the mention of Byun Gyongbaek, before schooling his features into a scowl as he stared down Leah with a manic grin.

“You’re good.” he said, “Very good at denying, even hiding in the gardens with the King of Kurkans, no less,” he whispered. His face drawing near until his mouth was a breath away from her ear.

He let go of his grip on her hair, hands trailing down, caressing her cheek. His long, slender fingers patted her cheek gently, quirking his head at her with a mocking concern.

“Did he tell you he’s in love with you?” he asked, pouting at her, which made Leah clench her jaw, “Tell you to sleep with him?” Leah forced her mouth to keep shut.

She wanted to tell him that he did, but she thought otherwise.

“Nothing happened between us,” she told him, “He was only interested in me because I am Byun Gyongbaek’s fiancé,” she finished explaining. Blain only stared at her silently, observing her for any signs of dishonesty. He didn’t trust a single word, but for now, he’ll let it be.

They were close before, him and Leah. Back when they were still young. They’d take care of each other, as much as they would with a real sibling.

And Blain had absolutely adored Leah, gave her what she wanted and more, granted her every wish. And Leah was the same, due to her lonesome nature, she found a company with Blain. Eventually, people often mistook them as siblings with exactly the same parents, and they never bothered to correct them.

But like all families, with time, they eventually grew apart.

As Leah grew, he watched her discover her many talents, growing further and further successful, needing him less and lesser. And it tore at Blain, made him feel inadequate of standing beside her. Slowly, his admiration turned into jealousy. His love turned into hate.

He didn’t like how she was flourishing. He wanted to crush her at all costs.

And as their relationship crumbled before her very eyes, Leah learned a valuable lesson, which led to completely breaking off their once strong bond.

Her mother’s death was the key. When she realized the real reason, she couldn’t keep up with the pretenses anymore, and finally left Blain. She couldn’t reconcile what she knew of him now, to the person he used to be.

And when Leah broke away, Blain’s true colors began to shine.

After staring into his angry cerulean orbs, and seeing he had nothing else to say, Leah shrugged off his grip on her chin, jerking her head suddenly and pushed past him to leave. Blain stepped back when she did and called out.

“Leah,” he said, and she paused. His voice made unpleasant shivers run down her spine. His fingers once more found purchase in her hair, as he tucked in some strands behind her ear, the callouses caressing her skin softly.