Chapter 22
Chapter 22
Arietta quickly shoved her hand into the open doorway.
“Take your hand out. I’m closing it.” Isaac said, reaching for the doorknob on the other side.
Arietta wasn’t about to listen. She simply blinked. ‘Is he really going to close it?’
“I’m really going to close it. Take your hand out if you don’t want to get hurt.” Isaac warned. Instead of heeding the warning, Arietta pushed against the door again with her body.
“I said I’m closing it!” When Arietta refused to listen, Isaac yelled in frustration.
But he didn’t actually close the door. He just stood there, gritting his teeth, holding it open.
Arietta’s prediction was correct. He hated her intensely, but he couldn’t hurt her.
Why? Because Arietta was Seia’s daughter. The daughter of the trusted witch whom Maud frequently summoned to the meeting room for her insights.
If he dared to hurt her, he would face consequences far worse than being scolded for messing up the bio-core processing.
Realizing this, Arietta’s eyes gleamed mischievously. Her lips curved into a sly smile. Her expression clearly indicated she was up to something.
“Hey, what are you…” What are you going to do?
The moment Isaac sensed the danger…
Arietta gripped the doorknob tightly, and instead of pushing…
Yank!
She threw her weight backward and pulled with all her might.
Her arm was still wedged in the doorway.
“!”
Agony shot through her arm. Her skin twisted and pinched. The sudden impact reverberated through her bones. Arietta lost her grip on the doorknob and landed hard on her backside.
Her entire arm throbbed. She’d never felt such pain. The blinding agony left her unable to even cry out. She simply collapsed backward, trembling.
Isaac’s expression was a mixture of shock and bewilderment. He couldn’t open the door, nor could he close it. He just stood there, frozen, staring blankly at Arietta through the inch-wide gap.
“…Ha.”
Tears welled in Arietta’s eyes. Her red lips trembled, and damp breaths escaped her. Her injured arm lay limp on her lap. Isaac’s face paled.
“What was that? Are you crazy?” He asked, dumbfounded. Arietta looked up at Isaac, tears streaming down her face, and smiled.
“I’m going to tell my mother you did this.”
Isaac pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling dizzy.
“And then, you’ll be fired. Back on the streets.”
“….”
Isaac couldn’t argue.
He’d worked tirelessly to become valuable to Maud. Even at a young age, he’d taken on dangerous and dirty tasks. He’d finally climbed his way up. For a fifteen-year-old with no backing, it was a significant achievement.
But if Arietta said a single word to Seia, all his efforts would be wasted.
‘This girl hasn’t worked for anything… and yet, just because of who she’s related to, she can control my life like this?’
Helplessness and frustration crept up his legs.
Unsure how to react, Isaac simply continued to stare at Arietta, his expression blank.
“I told you I hate you, didn’t I?” Arietta pushed herself up with her uninjured arm. Taking Isaac’s hand, she pulled him out into the hallway. Then, she turned her head and tapped her cheek.
The same cheek Isaac had slapped years ago, before running away.
“Kiss me here.” Arietta commanded in a sweet voice, flashing a foxy smile. Isaac felt his vision blur.
Arietta’s breath hitched with pain, but she felt no regret. She wanted the same obedience from Isaac that he showed Maud.
Unlike her younger days, when she had nothing to lose and therefore nothing to fear, Isaac now feared falling. Sometimes, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. That’s what happened when you had something to protect.
His dark eyes gleamed with shame and hatred.
Isaac groaned softly. He couldn’t afford to ruin everything here. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was walking into a trap, but he lowered his head towards Arietta.
Arietta’s cheek was smooth and pale. Isaac wanted to claw at it. But instead, he obediently lowered his eyes.
His hot, dry lips brushed lightly against her cool, soft cheek. The contact was fleeting.
Arietta touched her cheek, dazed. Isaac’s lips had felt like a branding iron, leaving a burning heat on her skin. Her eyes widened. Her heart skipped a beat, then began to pound.
“I’m going to kill you someday. I really am.” Isaac whispered in Arietta’s ear. “When I reach the top of Downstream… I’m going to slit your throat.”
Secretly, like a lover’s whisper…
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