To Love A Villain-Chapter 196: Mine

>>Amber

I stared down at Hael, who knelt on the floor before me, arms raised above his head in a vulnerable posture. The expression on his face was one of regret, and my heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to comprehend the weight of the moment.

It was all still hard to process but the mark on my back was unmistakable.

We did have a passionate makeout session, but as we broke apart, I had this thought that I shouldn’t just let him get away with this.

This joke of his was far too cruel.

"Do you realize what you’ve done to me?" I demanded, my voice trembling with emotion.

His gaze met mine, filled with a mix of shame and sincerity. "Yes... I’m sorry," He replied, his tone soft yet earnest. It was as if he was trying to reach through the tension, but the heaviness of our situation made it difficult to breathe.

"What were you even thinking?" I asked, a long makeup brush in my hand which I was holding upside down so I could smack him if I wanted to.

"I just wanted to see you jealous,"

"You little!" I glared at him

"I had no plans of taking it further." He said, "I really didn’t think it would get this bad for you."

"Why?" My grip on the brush tightened, "Did you forget that I love you?" My voice lowered and he watched me expressions.

I saw his face, and how his expressions dropped.

"Sorry..." He looked down, "I’ll take on any punishment." He let out a sigh, "I shouldn’t have done that..."

Just then, the door swung open, and my breath caught in my throat. Hestia, Hael’s mother and the CEO of his agency, walked in. Her expression shifted from mild confusion to shock as she took in the sight before her.

"Amber!" She exclaimed, eyes widening as she registered the scene—Hael kneeling, looking vulnerable and repentant, while I stood with a mix of anger and something else I couldn’t quite define. My heart sank as I saw her though, because I knew I wouldn’t be able to explain everything to her.

She stormed towards me when Hael stopped her,

"Mom, wait!" Hael started, but I couldn’t focus on anything but the way Hestia’s expression darkened. She looked like a storm ready to break.

"What is going on here?" Hestia’s voice was icy, and I could feel the tension thickening in the air.

I stepped back instinctively, a wave of shame washing over me. "It’s not what it looks like," I stammered, but even as I said the words, I knew they were hollow.

"It looks like my son is being punished," She shot back, crossing her arms tightly over her chest, eyes narrowing as she assessed the situation. "I would have expected better from you, Amber."

Her words stung, and I felt a flush of anger rise within me. "Yes, he’s being punished," I said defiantly, my voice steadier now. "Your son is being punished for what he did."

"What did he do?" Hestia demanded, her eyes narrowing even further.

"He married me," I replied, my voice firm. "And then tried to pretend he didn’t remember me."

...

The silence that followed was deafening. Hestia’s eyes widened in disbelief, her expression morphing from anger to confusion. "What do you mean he tried to pretend? What?" She shook her head, "Marriage?"

I took a step forward, fueled by a mix of anger and hurt. "You don’t get it, do you? He’s playing with my heart. He might have thought it was all a game, but it was not for me. It hurts." I decided to lay it all out, "It hurts to see him acting like I didn’t exist when I know he remembers everything." Even though she couldn’t have understood what I really meant, it will paint a picture in her mind.

"Hael?" Hestia turned to him, her voice shifting to an incredulous tone. "Is this true?"

Hael looked between us, his expression conflicted. "Yes," He gave her a firm reply and we both saw the color from Hestia’s face drain.

"WHAT!?" She grabbed the back of her neck in frustration, "Hael!! What?!"

Hael glanced at me, his expressions screaming, ’Does this satisfy you?’

I knew he was in big trouble for this and it made me smile. I nodded.

"Get up," Hestia told her son and he got up from the floor, "You and I need to talk." She gestured to him and they both walked out the room.

I let out a sigh 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

He and his stupid prank. He should have come to me the day he saw me at the cafe.

I pouted but as I stood there, I realized I was no longer angry. I was actually relieved that he remembered and that he still loved me.

I smiled

Well, I hope he can work it out with his mom.

***

>>Hael (The first day they saw each other in the modern world - In the cafe)

The girls giggled and crowded around me, their excitement palpable. I bent down a little to match their heights for the photos, plastering on a smile that felt more like a mask than my usual exuberance. Yet, as I posed with them, I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. This wasn’t the first time I’d been in this position, surrounded by eager fans, but today felt different. The laughter and cheers echoed in my ears, but all I could think about was Amber.

After the pictures, the girls presented their hands, eager for my signature. I pulled a marker from my pocket—always prepared, just in case. As I signed, I couldn’t help but think of how Amber would react if she saw this. Would she like my fame, or would it only serve to deepen the distance between us?

No, but I need this fame to find her. If my face is everywhere, she can see me and find me.

"Your order is ready," The girl at the counter said, pulling me from my thoughts. I turned to grab the brown bag she handed me, slipping my mask back over my face.

"Thank you," I replied, forcing the words out as I turned to leave. That’s when my eyes landed on her.

My heart skipped a beat.

Amber sat in the middle of the café, her expression unreadable, but I felt a connection spark between us, heavy and electric. Time seemed to freeze as our gazes locked, and I was lost in the depths of her eyes.

But then I noticed something—was that a tear slipping down her cheek? My breath caught in my throat, and the warmth in my chest morphed into an unbearable ache.

I noticed the other people in the cafe.

I turned away, instinctively breaking our gaze. I stepped outside the café, the cool air hitting my face, but it did nothing to cool the fire ignited in my chest. I had seen her.

Amber

Orenya was right there, so close I could almost reach out and touch her. But I couldn’t go back—not with the crowd around me. If I did, the public would swarm her, and I couldn’t bear the thought of them abusing her, taunting her with rumors about us. Teenage fans are the worst in this regard.

They go to lengths no one else will even think about.

But deep down, a swell of elation coursed through me. I recognized her immediately, she looked completely different from her appearance when we lived in Aurelia, but it didn’t matter.

It would never have mattered.

I had made sure of it.

It was the mark—the black crescent moon tattoo just below her nape. The very same mark I had left on her in our past life. It was a symbol of our bond, and seeing it sent a rush of warmth through my veins.

I ran back home, my heart racing, thoughts swirling in a chaotic dance of joy and possessiveness. As soon as I entered the bathroom, I locked the door behind me, my breath coming in quick bursts. The light was harsh, but all I could focus on was the thrill of knowing she was still mine.

I leaned against the sink, gripping the edge as I tried to collect myself. The reflection staring back at me looked wild, eyes bright with an almost feverish delight. I pressed my hand against my mouth to stifle a laugh that threatened to escape.

The spell had worked. It had tethered her to me, not just in this life but in all the lives we were to share.

She was here, that meant we were now bound by fate.

The corners of my mouth twisted into a possessive smile that grew wider, stretching to the point of pain, but I didn’t care. It felt good—no, it felt euphoric. My mind raced with thoughts of her

"Mine," I whispered to myself, my voice barely audible. "Always."

The word lingered in the air, wrapping around me like a warm blanket, filling me with a sense of purpose. I could see it all so clearly: her laughter, her anger, her joy, her sadness—everything belonged to me, and I would do whatever it took to protect that.

And I could tell she recognized me immediately too. She wouldn’t cry when she looked at me if she didn’t.

I would keep her close, shield her from the world, and ensure she always stays with me.

I let out a shaky breath, the weight of my thoughts pressing down on me.

The delight overwhelming me.

Perfect

This was perfect.