chapter :4 first day at his mansion

For the first time in years, the Blackwood mansion didn't sleep peacefully.

The servants whispered among themselves while staring at the second floor in disbelief.

The young master had brought home a woman.

Not just any woman.

The woman.

The one he was supposed to kill.

And now she was sleeping in his room.

If someone had told them this yesterday, they would've laughed before arranging that person's funeral.

Yet here they were.

Downstairs, Lady Eleanor was happily planning your future tea parties while Alexander sat beside her questioning all his life choices.

"I still can't believe he smiled."

Lady Eleanor chuckled. "I knew this day would come."

"No, grandmother. No one knew this day would come."

"He kissed her forehead."

Alexander spat out his tea.

"WHAT?!"

"He also held her hand the entire night."

"..."

"He threatened to kill us for her."

"..."

"And he thanked me."

Alexander looked towards the ceiling before whispering,

"Dear God, please return my terrifying brother."

"No," Eleanor smiled sweetly. "I prefer this one."

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Meanwhile upstairs....

I was finally fallen asleep after eating something.

Henry sat beside your bed silently reading some documents.

He hadn't left the room once.

Not even to change his bloodstained clothes.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Young Master?"

"What?"

"The council members are waiting for today's meeting."

"I'm not attending."

Silence.

"...Pardon?"

"I'm staying here."

"The meeting concerns the family's businesses."

"Reschedule it."

"Young Master, it has been scheduled for months."

Henry slowly looked towards the sleeping figure beside him before replying calmly,

"So?"

The servant nearly cried.

WHO WAS THIS MAN?!

Before anyone could argue further, my hand unconsciously held onto his sleeve in my sleep.

Henry immediately turned towards me .

"Henry..."

His expression softened immediately.

The servant outside almost fainted.

This couldn't possibly be their young master.

Without even looking at the door, Henry spoke coldly,

"Leave."

"Y-Yes!"

The servant ran away as if his life depended on it.

Downstairs, he burst into the living room dramatically.

"THE YOUNG MASTER CANCELLED AN IMPORTANT MEETING FOR MISS!"

Everyone froze.

Alexander slowly stood up from his chair.

"...He did WHAT?"

"He said he was staying with her!"

Eleanor smiled proudly.

"That's my grandson."

"No!" Alexander cried dramatically. "That is not my brother!"

Your wounds slowly began healing, and for the first time in your life, you were allowed to simply rest.

Henry refused to let anyone disturb you.

He had ordered the entire mansion to remain quiet around his room.

Even the servants walked carefully through the hallways.

One poor servant accidentally dropped a flower vase outside your room.

The sound immediately woke you up.

Five minutes later....

The entire mansion watched in horror as Henry ordered ten new carpets to be placed throughout the hallways.

"Young Master?"

"Make sure they're thick enough to absorb sound."

"..."

"And no one is allowed to make unnecessary noise."

"..."

Alexander couldn't help but ask,

"Henry, don't you think you're being a little excessive?"

"No."

"She's sleeping!"

"That's what people usually do when they're injured!"

Henry looked towards him coldly.

"And?"

Alexander turned towards Eleanor.

"Grandmother, please do something."

"No."

"WHY?"

"I'm enjoying this."

Meanwhile, none of them realized something.

For years, Henry had suffered from severe insomnia.

He rarely slept more than three hours every night.

No medicine ever helped him.

No doctor could explain it.

Yet ever since you arrived....

Henry had been sleeping peacefully.

Because every night you would unconsciously hold onto his hand while sleeping.

And every morning he would wake up finding your head resting against his shoulder.

He never once moved away.

One night, you slowly opened your eyes finding Henry asleep beside you once again.

The moonlight reflected against his handsome face making him appear much softer than usual.

His sharp features, which always carried an intimidating expression, seemed surprisingly peaceful when he slept.

I couldn't understand him.

I never could.

The Henry Blackwood I knew was ruthless, cold-blooded and merciless. The same man who never hesitated to point a gun at my head during training or mock me after defeating you in a fight.

Yet this Henry was different.

He stayed beside your bed every night.

He fed me whenever my wounds hurt too much to move.

He cancelled important meetings just because i were sleeping.

He threatened his entire family for your sake.

And despite being injured himself, he refused to leave your side.

Why?

Was it because he loved you?

The thought made your heart tremble slightly.

No.

That couldn't be right.

Henry Blackwood didn't know how to love.

He only knew how to destroy things.

Didn't he?

my eyes slowly fell towards my intertwined hands.

Somewhere along the way, holding his hand had become natural to me.

i couldn't even remember when i  started looking for him whenever i woke up.

Or why i  felt relieved whenever he sat beside you.

You hated him.

You were supposed to hate him.

Your families had taught both of you to become weapons against one another.

Since childhood, all you've ever known was violence, blood and hatred.

So why was my  heart beating so fast while looking at him?

Why did i feel safe here?

Why didn't you want to leave?

That question frightened you the most.

Because for the first time in your life, you didn't know where you belonged.

my family would never forgive me for staying here.

His family should've hated you for simply existing.

Yet somehow....

The Blackwoods welcomed you.

Lady Eleanor treated you like her granddaughter.

Alexander always brought you desserts whenever Henry wasn't looking.

Even the servants had begun smiling at you warmly.

This place was slowly becoming home.

And that terrified you.

Because home was never supposed to be Henry Blackwood.

"What are you thinking about?"

i almost jumped hearing his deep voice.

Henry had slowly opened his eyes, his gaze immediately falling on my face.

"Nothing."

"You're a terrible liar."

You remained silent for a moment before quietly asking,

"Why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?"

"Taking care of me."

He looked confused as if the answer was obvious.

"Because you're injured."

"No, Henry."

Your eyes met his.

"Why me?"

Silence filled the room.

For the first time, Henry didn't answer immediately.

"There are hundreds of women more beautiful than me."

"No."

"Henry—"

"There aren't."

my face immediately turned red.

"There are people kinder than me."

"No."

"I literally tried to stab you three months ago!"

"It missed."

"...THAT'S NOT THE POINT!"

A small smile appeared on his face before disappearing once again.

He gently brushed my hair behind my ear before speaking softly,

"Do you remember when we were seven years old?"

You frowned slightly before nodding.

"You pushed me into the lake."

"Because you called me short."

"You are short."

"...I'm going back to sleep."

He chuckled softly before continuing,

"After I fell into the lake, everyone laughed at me."

"I remember."

"Do you remember what happened afterward?"

You remained silent.

Of course you remembered.

The boys from your family had begun making fun of him. Calling him weak because he lost to a little girl.

Before they could touch him, seven-year-old you stood in front of him holding a wooden sword.

"Only I can bully him!"

"If anyone else touches him, I'll break their legs!"

You immediately covered your face in embarrassment.

"PLEASE DON'T REMIND ME OF THAT!"

Henry laughed quietly for the first time in front of you.

"That was the day I fell in love with you."

Your eyes widened in surprise.

"What?"

"You protected me."

"I WAS BEING POSSESSIVE!"

"I know."

"I DIDN'T EVEN LIKE YOU!"

"I know."

"THEN WHY DID YOU FALL IN LOVE?"

He smiled softly while looking into your eyes.

"Because even when you hated me, you protected me."

His expression softened even further.

"You don't realize it, but you've always been kind."

No one had ever called you kind before.

You were called dangerous.

Bloodthirsty.

Ruthless.

A weapon.

But never kind.

"Henry..."

He gently kissed the back of my hand before whispering,

"You don't have to love me back.

my breath caught in your throat.

"You can hate me for the rest of your life if that's what makes you happy."

His eyes softened as he smiled at me.

"I'll love you enough for both of us."

And somehow....

Those words frightened my heart more than anything else.

Because for the very first time....

You weren't sure if you hated Henry Blackwood anymore.

To Be Continued....

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