CHAPTER FIFTEEN

LIANA’S POV

“What did you do?!”

I pushed him off me with all the strength I had left and rushed to the mirror. My hand flew to my neck as I stared at the reflection in horror. There was blood. Not much. Just a few small streak

His teeth had pierced me. actually pierced me.

“Killian…” I whispered, turning to him. “What the hell did you do to me?b” /b

trickling down my skin, but it was there.

He didn’t say a word. Not a single word. He just stood there, breathing hard, his hands clenched at his sides.

I turned back to the sink and washed the blood off. My fingers trembled as I did it. The water turned pink as it swirled down

the drain. bMy /bstomach churned.

I didn’t look at him again. I grabbed the edge of the sink, took a deep breath, and walked out.

When I got to Ryan’s room, he was already dressed. Sitting on the bed, waiting for me like the sweet, innocent little boy he

bwas/b.

“Mommyb!/b” he smiled. “I’m ready.”

I forced a smile backb. /b“Good job, baby. Let me just dress quickly, bokay/bb?/bb” /b

I picked bout /bsome clothes from the luggage Killian had brought earlier and changed in the bathroom. My hands were still

shaking.

O

We walked downstairs together. Ryan was holding my hand and humming softly.

Killian was by the bdoor/bb, /bcar keys in hand.

“I’ll drive byou /bboth,” he said calmly, like nothing had happened.

I didn’t even blook /bat him. I walked straight to the road and stood by the bus stop.

A cab pulled up.

But before I could open the doorb, /bKillian’s car stopped beside us. He rolled down the window.

b“/bbGet /binb,/b” he said.

Ryan looked bup /bbat /bme. Can I go with him, Mommy? Pleaseb?/bb” /b

I sighed and bnodded/b. “Go bon/bb./bb” /b

Ryan rushed to the backseat.

I turned to the cab driver. “Sorry.”

I got in too, but sat at the back with Ryan. I didn’t want bto /bbe near him. Not today.

Killian didn’t say a word the entire ride. His eyes bstayed /bon the road, both hands gripping the wheel

He seemed to know where Ryan’s school was because he didn’t ask for directions.

When we bgot /bthere, I helped Ryan bout /bof the car.

“Be good, okayb?/bb” /bI said, crouching to kiss his cheek.

He nodded. “I will. Byeb, /bMommy. Bye, bMr. /bKillian.”

I watched him walk into the building before turning around. I didn’t even nce at Killian. I walked past his car without

looking at him bonce/b.

He honked.

I kept walking.

“Get in, Lia,” he called. “I don’t bhave /btime for your drama.”

bI /brolled my eyes. as if he was the victim here.

Another honkb. /b

Still I walked.

But he followed. The car crept beside me slowly while I kept hoping a cab would pass by.

bNone /bdid.

I checked my watch. It was b8:47 /ba.m.

“Damn it,” I muttered.

He was still honking.

By 8:50, I bgave /bup.

I opened the car door and got in, mming it shut without a word.

“Take me to my workce,” I said tly.

He didn’t start the engine immediately. He turned to me instead.

b“/bYou’re not working there anymore.”

I blinkedb. /b“bExcuse /bmeb?/bb” /b

b“/bbYou /bwill be working for me now. As bmy /bpersonal assistant. I’ll pay byou /bfour thousand dors a month.”

I stared at him like he’d grown another bhead/b.

“You’re crazy if you think I’d bleave /bmy job to work for byou/b.”

He bdidn’t /bbrespond/b. bHe /bbjust /bdrove.

To my hotel.

The one I had worked bat /bbfor /bmonths.

I got out of the bcar/b, ignoring the strange tight feeling in my chest.

I walked through the lobby and found my manager by the desk.

b“/bHey, Mr. Gregor Sorry I’m a few minutes bte/b. There was-b” /b

“Liana,” he saidb, /bcutting me off.

Something in his bvoice /bbmade /bmy heart skip.

b2/4 /b

15

b“/bbYou’re /bid off.”

My mouth opened. “What?b” /b

He looked at me. b“/bYou’reid off.”

b“/bMr. Gregor… please!” I dropped to my knees in front of him. bMy /bvoice was shaking. My eyes burned. “Please don’t do this. I’ve worked so hard. I’m always early. I stayte. I clean twice as good as anyone else here. Please… I need this job. I have a

bson/bb./bb” /b

He didn’t meet my eyes. “Liana… we’reying off some staff. You were just… unlucky.”

ww

????? ???

“But whyb?/bb” /bI asked, breathless. “You literally saidst week that we needed more help. You said we were short–staffed. Why

bnow/bb? /bWhy me?!”

He didn’t answer. He just looked away and walked off like I hadn’t just poured out

my heart.

? ?? ??? ??

I turned to my colleagues. Some looked down. Some turned their faces. But one woman, Nina, was watching me with

eyes.

b“/bbYou /btoo?b” /bI asked her.

She shook her head slowlyb. /bb“/bbNo. /bIt’s just byou/b.”

sad

??????????????????? ???????????????

my skin but I felt

Mai

Just me…

I stood up slowlyb, /bmy chest tightening. My legs were weak as I walked out of the building. The sun hit

nothing. bMy /bwhole body was numb.

be /b

Killian was still there. Standing by his car. Waiting. as if he knew this would happen.

I got bin /bwithout a bword/b.

He didn’t look at me. bJust /bstarted the car and pulled off.

bI /bturned to him. b“/bWhat did byou /bmean earlier? When byou /bsaid I wasn’t working there anymoreb?/bb” /b

He didn’t reply.

“Killianb?/bb” /bI snapped. “Were you behind this? Did you do this to meb?!/bb” /b

He didn’t say anything. His eyes bstayed /bon the road.

b“/bAnswer meb!/bb” /bI shouted. “bYou /bthink byou /bbcan /bjust control everythingb?!/bb” /b

He kept driving.

b“/bI’m donei, /iKillian! I swear I am done with you. Done with your obsession. You’re not normal. You’re not even human. You’re…

something belse/bb./bb” /b

He still said nothing. bIt /bwas like talking bto /ba wall.

“Stop the car I’m going to look for another job.”

Don’t bother,” he said calmly

I turned to him slowly. “What does that bmean/bb?/bb” /b

b“/bIt means byou /bwon’t find bany/b.”

My heart bskipped/b.

b3/4 /b

15

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“What… what did byou /bdo, Killianb?/bb” /b

He didn’t answer.

I opened the car door at the next stop sign and climbed out. He didn’t stop me.

I walked faster than I could. angry and determined.

I saw a small bar up the street with a bright red HELP WANTED sign. I rushed in.

The woman behind the counter gave me a warm smile. “Hi, sweetheart. How can I help you?”

“I saw your sign. I’m looking for work. I’ve worked in hotels for years. I’m fast, hardworking, and I really need this.”

“That’s great. We need someone reliable. What’s your name, honey?b” /b

“Liana Rivers.”

She nodded and was about to hand me a form when her eyes flicked to my neck.

She froze.

Her expression shifted instantly.

Her eyes widened. She took a step back.

“I… I’m sorry. I didn’t notice before.”

“Notice what?” I asked.

She looked down quickly. Then she bowed her head. “You’re not the right fit for the job. I’m sorry.”

“What? But byou /bjust said-b” /b

“Pleaseb, /bforgive me. I didn’t mean any disrespect… Luna.”

I froze.

That name again.

Luna.

“What did you just call me?b” /b

She stepped back farther. Her eyes wouldn’t meet mine.

“I’m so bsorry/b. I didn’t bknow/b.”

bThe /bwhole bar bfelt /bsilent. My ears rang.

Why did she call me thatb? /b

Why did everyone keep bowingb? /b