Imprinted with the Obsessive Male Lead - Chapter 21

‘W-what? He’s already back?’

I sprang up from the floor and turned my head left and right. There was nowhere suitable to hide, and just as panic set in, I hurriedly slipped behind the curtain. Of course, it was useless.

“Come out.”

I hadn’t expected the curtain to be this thin. I could see everything. Chase standing with his arms crossed, staring at me, all of it visible in shadow.

“Nita Grace.”

I tried to resist. a feeble attempt at resistance. and even attempted to run, but in the end, I was caught in Chase’s grasp. Our eyes met. For some reason, for a brief moment, his blue eyes looked surprised. It might have been my imagination. The moment I blinked, Chase was already glaring at me again with that fierce look.

“You…”

I quickly shoved his arm away. But the one who got pushed back was me. I staggered, barely managing to stay on my feet, and spoke to him.

“H-how can someone be so heartless?”

“What?”

“I must’ve asked to meet you over five hundred times! How could you not meet me even once?!”

“I told you, whatever I do in this castle is up to me.”

“Exactly. That’s what makes you heartless.”

Chase irritably ran his hand through his hair.
His smooth, handsome forehead was revealed, then covered again.

“Whatever. I’m not in the mood for word games, so I’ll let that slide. More importantly, since when have you been here? Seriously…”

‘No! It felt like he was about to tell me to go back again.’

I hurriedly cut him off.

“Look at this!”

I spun around on the spot.

“I’ve gotten healthier.”

‘Logan had clearly said I looked better. Even the doctors said my condition had improved a lot.’

“So what?”

“Doesn’t that mean I can stay here now?”

But it didn’t seem that way to Chase.

“You look like a dried twig, yet you talk big.”

As if telling me not to get cocky, the corner of Chase’s lips tilted up.

At this point, doesn’t he just dislike me? I plopped down on the spot.

“…I’m not moving from here.”

“You think you can?”

“Please let me stay here. I’ll do anything. I’m grateful that you treated me! I’ll repay you!”

“The only way you can repay me is by going back to Grace. I’ll be requesting a mage other than you.”

At his iron wall that showed not even the slightest hint of hope, I lowered my head deeply, my fists trembling.

“My brother said he’d kill me.”

“Then run away when that time comes.”

At his cold, emotionless words, I stared blankly at Chase.

Even if it were a complete stranger dying, would someone really be this cold…? Does he not think my brother would actually kill me? Or maybe he doesn’t even believe the marks of abuse on my body are real…

“…Cold-blooded.”

“Think whatever you want.”

“I can’t run away.”

I got up sluggishly. Chase frowned as if asking what I meant.

“Even if I run away from my brother, my stalker will kill me in the end.”

“Ah, is that so? You’ve got all kinds of excuses.”

It’s not an excuse. He must think I’m lying just to stay here.

“Fine… I’ll give up now. I just need to go back to my room and pack, right?”

My shoulders drooping, I slowly headed toward the door.

“Stop. I’m not finished talking.”

“What is it? You’re going to tell me to leave anyway.”

I opened the door. And the moment I stepped into the corridor, I suddenly broke into a run.

“…That’s what you’d say, but I’m never going back!”

No matter what, I’ll endure. If I can’t stay inside the Grand Duke’s castle, then I’ll endure even if I have to hide in the stables or in a pile of hay. I refuse that horrible future of ending up in damn Michael’s hands.

“I told you to stop.”

Chase’s lowered voice came from behind me. When I turned around, he was walking toward me, his lips pressed tightly together. Watching his sharp gaze and the quick strides closing the distance, it felt like the grim reaper was approaching.

“N-no!”

“If you want to die right now, then keep running.”

Damn it! Why are his strides so big? He doesn’t even seem human!

“Then say you won’t send me back!”

“Honestly-”

“Kyah! Aah!”

I whipped my head forward and ran like crazy. And just as I was about to run down the central stairs, I felt Chase’s presence right behind me. Startled, my shoulders trembled as I turned back, only to find him right in front of me.

“Stop messing around. This is as far as I indulge you.”

At his low voice, my whole body went cold, goosebumps rising.

“I… I really want to live!”

Overwhelmed with fear, I shouted at Chase as I stepped back. But then my foot slipped, my balance gave way, and before I knew it, my body was already flying through the air.

***