Leanna-Chapter 164: [Your Future] [To Him]
[Leanna’s POV]
[Your Future]
Cain . . .
I ran into the dining room, hoping to find the man, but he was nowhere to be found.
Where did her went?
It wasn’t helping that it was like a maze here!
I rushed into the hallway only to be stopped when a room opened, and a hand peeked out, waving for me to come inside.
Seriously, what’s all with these rooms?
Curious, I sauntered towards it and found it was Lily Fay who was waving her fingers, motioning for me to come inside. I stepped inside and found myself transported in another dimension altogether.
The room was blazing bright, and I was surrounded by piles and piles of neatly arranged . . .
. . . books?
There was only one soft furniture besides the gigantic cabinets full of books –– a large comfy sofa.
"Ah."
I was surprised when Lily Fay jumped into my arms and wrapped me in her embrace. Opposite to Cain, she radiated with nothing but warmth.
But I still prefer Cain nonetheless.
"I always wanted to do this ever since you made my son love like no other." Lily grabbed both of my shoulders and took all of me in her kind eyes.
I didn’t know what to do when faced with this kind of intimacy, so my lips just twitched in an awkward smile.
"Come, come. I want to show you something." She sat me on the sofa before she hurried and picked some books and trotted back to me.
The piles of books turned out to be a photo album!
And it was full of pictures of Cain in his younger years!
My eyes didn’t know which to take in first as I drooled over him. Even as a kid, he was already so handsome –– in an adorable way.
"That one was taken when he was five. Ah. Even as a kid, he was already this haughty and cold." Lily chuckled at Cain’s pictures with the latter’s usual expressionless face.
"I love this one. This was the time when his baby tooth started to fall off. He wouldn’t say a word or even opened his mouth."
I snickered. I could almost see Cain’s annoyed face straight out from the picture.
Then my eyes flicked on a mesmerizing photo.
Under the faint glowing moon, a pale young boy was looking over the dark sky. His frosty eyes glistened. Half of his body was submerged in the lake as his exposed skin glimmered with dripping water.
The picture aroused loneliness and other feelings I was not fond of.
"That was secretly taken when he was ten. That’s the first time he . . . killed someone."
I wanted to hold back my gasp, but it still escaped my mouth.
Sadness was apparent on Lily’s down curved smiles as she caressed the photo of her son.
"He wanted to be alone that night. Whenever he was sad or stress or felt that the world is against him, he would go to this lake in the back of our house and bathe under the moonlight. Drowning his sorrows away."
. . .
. . .
"I sometimes regret it. It was because he was born in this family that he didn’t have the chance to enjoy his childhood." She retracted her gaze and stared at the ground with a better smile.
"My mother raised me to be a strong girl. Devoid of any emotions. Unfeeling. But even so, when you became a mother, you just wanted one thing in this world . . . To see your children happy."
Lily held my hand and looked me straight in the eyes.
"Cain is happy with you. I know I’m unfair in pleading to you like this, but . . . please . . . give Cain a chance. I know you’re probably unsure and scared . . . I’ve been there." She cupped my cheeks as her eyes drew me in.
"Cain he . . . we hurt a lot of people. Kill even. We are not good people. But one thing is for sure . . . we are willing to be the villain and will do it all over again to protect those we love."
. . .
. . .
"H-how did you . . . ," I croaked and cleared my throat. "How did you take it? I can’t even think of killing my child."
Yes, I didn’t like children. They’re noisy and rowdy. But it was an entirely different story when it is mine.
Lily held my face as our eyes locked.
"No one does. And believe me, I was scared too. Even with all the assurance Hynes gave me, I still . . . I still left him."
My eyes widened at her confession.
"Yes, I did what you did. I left the man because the fear of the unknown is stronger than my trust for him."
I bit my lip and shifted my eyes to the floor.
"Then . . . How did you . . . ?" How did you still end up together?
Lily released my face and held my hand.
"It was my mother who convinced me as what I am doing to you right now. All it took was a little advice here and there. A lot of love and a lot of trust."
. . .
. . .
I couldn’t help but think naughty things on the ’trusts’ part, but this was not the time to ruin the mood.
Lily squeezed my hand and smiled, which I returned her kind gestures with the same tenderness.
"Cain will never hurt you. He will protect your happiness –– even from us."
. . .
. . .
Slowly, I pulled my hands from her hold and stood to my feet.
Lily was stunned for a second before her eyes watered and her chin wrinkled, but she still maintained her smile.
"I understand . . . I mean . . . You’re a normal girl . . . To be drag in a family of kill––" She paused and sighed before she forced a smile. "You must be tired. Come, I’ll take you to your room."
I licked my lips.
"Actually . . . I’m planning on taking a swim."
----
[Leanna’s POV]
[To Him]
Under the glowing full moon, the lake glittered like tiny jewels. The leaves rustled, and the gentle chilly wind sang a soothing rhythm for the fast-approaching winter.
A lone figure bathed in the warm waters under the light of the stars. His whole person was standing tall, but he seemed so lifeless as he splashed water on his body again and again –– as if to wash away something else entirely.
"Cain . . ."
I whispered, and the man stiffened.
When he didn’t move and continued to turn his back on me, I went into the waters without a second thought and waded my way towards him.
"What are you doing here?"
Cain’s sharp and indifferent tone grounded me on the spot before I ignored it and continued to move closer to him.
"Leave. I’m giving you a chance to be out of this life."
I pretended that I was not hurt by his cold voice –– his refusal to call my name.
After you made me fall in love with you?
I don’t think so!
I knew I hurt him when I decided to leave instead of trusting him.
"Cain . . ."
"Leave!"
My eyes closed, and my body jolted upon the anger in his voice. His body visibly trembled, controlling whatever it was he was so desperate to control.
Even though it was the first time he shouted at me –– I didn’t feel scared at all. It only made me more determined to get closer to him.
"Cain . . ."
My palms rested on the wet skin of his back before my hands glided to his waist, which made him stiffened.
Like I thought.
He just let me hugged him without any resistance.
"Cain, I’m sorry . . ."
"Why are you apologizing? It was my fault that I drag you into this."
I shook my head. "I . . . whatever it is . . . I wanted to face your family’s secrets. Your darkness. Your past. Your present. Your future –– our future, with you by my side."
. . .
. . .
"Leanna . . . I’m . . . I’m not a good person."
"So am I."
"I’m a killer."
"So am I."
"I’m not joking."
He pulled away from my embrace and turned to face me. He grabbed my shoulders and shook me awake.
"I’m also not joking," I said. "I killed insects and rodents and––!"
"These are humans, Leanna! A human––!"
"Life!"
I cupped his face. "It’s still . . . a life . . ."
. . .
. . .
"I’m giving you a chance to walk out from all of this."
"And I’m giving you a chance to be with me forever."
Cain huffed a wry smile before he pulled me in his arms. My hand wrapped around his lower back as I ran my other hand through his hair.
"Are you alright with me? With all of these?" he asked, voice shaky.
His breath was hot on the crook of my neck. I closed my eyes and savored his warmth.
"No . . . but with you by my side –– I will be."
. . .
. . .
Cain brushed his nose along the length of my neck before he kissed the tender flesh. "I’m sorry. I love you so much."
"I love you more."
Tears pooled beneath my eyes when droplets of warm water fell on my shoulder.
----
A/N
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