CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 42

Rhea was snapped from her thoughts by Zeenare’s hand resting on her shoulder.

"Is everything alright? Why are you crying?" His voice heaved, brows furrowed, his eyes darting around the room. "Are you hurt?" he asked, searching for what could have made her cry.

"What? I’m not crying." She reached for her face, tapping her cheeks, and they were wet. "Why am I crying?" she murmured under her breath, wiping it with the hem of her dress.

"Did something happen? Are you hurt?" he asked, squatting before her legs, cupping her face.

"No," she said, her voice low. "So you don’t have to be worried about me." She added, looking straight at him.

"That can’t be, because I will always be worried about you no matter what." He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Not until— Even after we break the curse." He took both her hands and placed his lips on them.

Rhea stayed quiet for minutes. She wanted to say something, but her mind was empty, though her heart was filled.

"But I don’t think that is possible. Loving you... falling in love with you—I don’t think it will happen."

"I think your mind is rotting, but your body isn’t, because you were eating me up for the past two days you were with me in my room." Zeenare stood up, leaned on the bedframe close to her, his arms crossed.

Rhea scoffed, giving him a pointed look, her flushed cheeks gradually fading.

I feel I was just insulted—that I’m dull!

"T-that was nothing! And besides, we were simply working according to the deal. Physical indulgence."

"Then that is a good spot to start." He turned to face her directly, slowly bending to her level. "Since almost all relationships get stronger from physical touch." He brushed his fingers against her arm.

Rhea swallowed, her skin beneath his fingers heating up.

"Nothing like that." She walked to the table opposite the bed, avoiding him.

Zeenare smirked, clearly aware she was running.

Let’s see about that. The future is close, and I’m not stepping away from you. The glue has to be tightened.

"Where is my phone?" Rhea asked, changing the topic.

Zeenare hesitated for a beat, took a deep breath before speaking. "Safe with me."

"I haven’t talked to Tia since I got here, or am I not allowed to do that still?" she sneered, one brow arched.

If I don’t give her the phone, things are going to revert to how it was before, and I don’t want that. I know cutting Tia off would never be possible, but I don’t want her thinking of the outside world. Zeenare’s mind pondered.

"Then come with me," he muttered, heading for the door. They both stepped out, striding toward his study.

That was surprisingly fast. I thought he wouldn’t agree to it, Rhea thought, looking at him, her eyes sizing up his broad back.

"Here." Zeenare handed her the phone.

"Thanks." She took it with a smile, her eyes beaming, then stepped out of the room.

"Hey, babe, what’s up?" Tia’s voice cut through.

"I’m fine. How about you and your parents?" Rhea questioned.

"They are fine, sending their regards. They missed you," Tia replied, her voice light and strangely cheerful.

She sounds cheerful and not concerned like I thought she’d be. What did Zeenare tell her to make her not worry?

"Aw, tell them I miss them more," Rhea answered with the same light voice, not wanting to add more tension to things.

With mischief and playfulness, Tia continued, "So how is your internship going? Any hot guys?"

Rhea knitted her brows, taken aback by her question. "Internship? What internship?" she asked.

The line was silent for a while.

"Babe, stop, you are scaring me. Wasn’t that why you didn’t come to Miami in the first place? Because you were offered an internship at a private firm. Remember, after we were done packing, a call came in offering an internship for the whole of the holiday," Tia explained, unease in her voice.

"So I didn’t go with you to Miami, is that what you are saying? And you were there when the call came in?" Rhea moved to her window, her hands over her head.

"Yeah! I was," Tia confirmed.

What the fucking hell of a circumstance is this? How come it seems we both lived in two different time frames or worlds or something? I’m so confused right now. How can one explain this?

"Are your parents there with you right now?"

I need to ask someone else. Everything seems crazy right now.

"Yeah."

"I’d like to talk with them, I miss them," Rhea muttered.

"Mi corazón!" Mr. and Mrs. Gunther’s voice erupted from the phone. "So you prefer work over your Padre and Madre?"

"Oh no. I’d never!" Rhea hurriedly replied.

"Then why didn’t you come for my birthday?" Mr. Gunther continued. "I had someone I wanted to introduce to you. You break my heart, Rhea. You break my heart."

Them too! What is going on!

"I’m sorry. It wasn’t something I could avoid."

"Leave the girl alone, don’t put her in a tight position," his wife said in the background.

"Rhea, we all miss you, and I hope you come to visit us soon," Mrs. Gunther uttered.

"Yes, I will."

The call ended.

"Okay, what the hell is wrong with everyone?" she said to herself. Then her mind drifted to him.

Zeenare!

She stormed out of her room.

"What did you do to the Gunthers?" She slammed her hand over his table.

Zeenare and Othimise glanced up at her. Her arms now folded, glaring at Zeenare. Zeenare dismissed Othimise, holding her gaze.

"They don’t have memories of me there with them weeks ago." She strode towards him, taking deliberate steps. "What did you do?"

Zeenare said nothing.

But after a minute, he said, "Nothing."

"That can’t be nothing!" She boxed him in, her hands at each side of the chair armrest, staring down at him. "I thought about it while coming here, and you are the only one surrounded by things that can’t be explained through natural and scientific ways.

"Did you alter their brains?" she asked.

Zeenare leaned deeper into the chair, avoiding her gaze.

Oh my God! He can do this too? Then he could seriously alter mine too.

Her stomach twisted as her face was clouded with dark shadows, her eyes wide. Horror in her wake.

"You changed their memories!" she confirmed, stepping away from him.

Seeing the horrified look on her face, Zeenare reached for her hands. "Rhea, look at me. Yes, I altered their mind, but it was to save you. I couldn’t take you peacefully without your friend throwing a fit."

Rhea stared at him, but she was in a daze.

"Rhea." He pulled her onto his lap.

Rhea’s skin crawled, and she immediately stood up. "I’m sorry, but I need fresh air," she said, dashing for the door.

She rushed down the hallway, out onto the courtyard, increasing her pace, running straight to the shore. Vomiting the moment she stopped running, sweating, her breath ragged, her heart in her head.

"The thought of him being able to touch my memory and twist it into something else disgusts me," she said, wiping her lips.

"To what extent can he access a person’s mind? Can he also hear the thoughts of another person?" She turned to the ocean.

If he can crawl into their memories and twist them like he owns them, what more has he done to me? And how can I tell if he hasn’t touched mine?

Rhea felt an odd shiver, like someone was watching her. Her gaze shifted to the building, and there Zeenare stood behind her, silently watching.

I thought I told him I needed air.

"Rhea!" He cautiously stepped forward.

I don’t want things to go sour again, not when we are this close now, Zeenare thought.

"I know how you might be feeling right now, but listen to me."

Rhea remained quiet, her brows creased.

So he continued, his voice low, weighted with a truth he rarely showed.

"Yes, Rhea, I changed their memories. And I’d do it again. I don’t regret it. Because they would’ve taken you from me. And the delay would’ve kept you away, and I... I can’t survive that. Not again." His eyes darkened, a storm caught between rage and despair.

Rhea’s breath hitched, her chest tightening. "So you’ll just rewrite people? Like they’re toys you can bend to your will?"

Zeenare took another step closer. "Don’t you see? This is me protecting what’s mine. Protecting you. If it makes me a monster, then I’ll be your monster." His hand gripped her wrist, not harsh but firm, desperate.

Rhea jerked back, shaking her head, her pulse racing. "And if one day you decide I’m safer without my memories, will you steal them too?"

His jaw flexed, eyes burning into hers, and he whispered like a vow, "Never. I’ll never take from you. I want you to remember every second you’re mine. Every touch. Every look. Every breath."

The ocean roared behind them, but Rhea only heard the pounding of her heart and the dangerous conviction in his voice. She didn’t know if she should run,or believe him.