Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Eighty-eight years ago, when the witch cast the dark curse upon her, young Laura had jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat, her chest heaving with phantom pain and terror.

In the present day, Laura snapped awake from the exact same nightmare. Gasping for air, sweat clinging to her skin, she stared wide-eyed out the bedroom window as golden morning sunlight flooded the room.

Across the room, Kevin rubbed his eyes sleepily. "God, you are so irritating. Just go back to sleep in peace. You talk and thrash in your sleep every single night."

Still trapped in the shock of her recurring trauma, Laura ignored him. She scrambled out of bed, hurried to the window, and stared anxiously down at the palace grounds.

Irritated, Kevin walked over and dropped a heavy hand onto her shoulder. "Are you ignoring me?"

Laura shrieked in blind terror, violently shoving him away. Kevin stumbled back, stunned. "What is wrong with you?! Why are you screaming like that?"

She stood frozen, trembling uncontrollably, sweat pouring down her face as panic consumed her.

The commotion drew David to the doorway. Taking in the sight of Laura shaking in fear, he turned an icy glare on Kevin. "What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything!" Kevin defended himself, holding up his hands. "I just put my hand on her shoulder, and she lost her mind!"

David stepped past Kevin and approached Laura. "Hey... what's wrong?"

Looking up into his steady eyes, a sudden wave of safety washed over her. Without thinking, Laura lunged forward and buried her face in his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him while her body shook.

David stiffened in surprise. Though completely unaccustomed to such open vulnerability, he didn't push her away; instead, he awkwardly let her hold onto him.

***

A little later, inside the warm kitchen, David handed steaming cups of coffee to Laura and himself.

"What is actually wrong with her?" Kevin muttered, still shaken. "She scared the hell out of me earlier."

"I think she's genuinely terrified of the person hunting her," David replied quietly. "If she would just tell me the absolute truth, maybe I could actually protect her."

"What if she is telling the truth?" Kevin challenged.

David let out a dry, sarcastic laugh. "Are you an idiot? Listen to yourself."

Laura walked over, setting her mug down. "I'm fine. Sorry for disturbing you."

David pulled out a chair across from her and sat down, his expression serious. "Laura, please. Just tell me the truth."

That was the breaking point. Frustration and despair flared in Laura's chest. She slammed her cup down, splashing coffee over the rim, and sprang to her feet. "I am not lying! I am Laura! The exact same Laura from ninety years ago, and the monster hunting me down is Sean!"

She pointed an accusatory finger at David. "Because of what he did eighty-eight years ago—binding me to that horrific curse—he left me with pain and terror that I will never, ever escape! No matter how much time passes, that memory doesn't fade!"

"Enough!" David shouted, losing his patience as he stood up to tower over her. "Drop this absurd fantasy right now and talk to me about reality!"

Blinded by tears of helpless rage, Laura swung her small fists against his chest. "Damn you! Damn you!"

Her weak, desperate blows barely registered against him, but her tears broke through his frustration.

David caught her wrists, holding her hands firmly in his grip. "The joking is over, Laura. Tell me the truth."

"I am telling the truth, you idiot!" she sobbed, ripping her hands free and shoving him hard.

Tears streaming down her face, she turned and bolted out of the room. She sprinted through the long corridors, burst out of the grand palace doors, and ran blindly away from the estate, desperate to put as much distance between herself and their disbelief as possible.

Sobbing uncontrollably, she reached the outskirts of the neighboring town. In her frantic rush, she collided hard with a young man her own age, tumbling backward onto the cobblestones and scraping her knee badly.

The young man gasped, stepping forward immediately. "Oh god! Are you okay?"

He knelt down and extended a hand to help her up, but Laura slapped his hand away and awkwardly scrambled to her feet on her own.

"Watch where you're going," she choked out through her tears, trying to hobble past him.

Gently catching her wrist, the young man stopped her. "Wait. Look at your leg. You're bleeding badly—you can't walk like that."

Laura glanced down at her torn stocking and bleeding knee. The young man pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket, knelt back down, and carefully pressed it against the wound to stem the flow of blood.

Looking up with genuine concern, he offered a gentle smile. "My apartment is just around the corner. Let's get it cleaned up properly."

"No," Laura whispered defensively.

"Why? You're injured!"

"My father always told me never to go into a stranger's house—especially men who offer on the very first meeting."

The young man burst out laughing, shaking his head. "Fair point. I'm sorry, that sounded terrible. Let's head to the nearby pharmacy instead, then."

"Okay," she murmured.

***

Minutes later, sitting on a bench in the public square, the young man carefully applied a fresh bandage over her treated wound. He looked up, smiling warmly. "There. You're all fixed up."

Laura managed a watery smile. "Thank you. You're a very nice guy."

Hearing the sincere, old-fashioned cadence of her speech, the young man paused, staring at her with a sudden, captivated warmth in his eyes.

Catching him gazing at her, Laura tilted her head. "What's your name?"

"I'm Bill," he replied softly.

"I'm Laura. Laura Winsolat."

Bill's eyes widened. "Winsolat? Are you from the Northern family?"

"I... suppose I am."

"That's incredible," Bill breathed. "That family is massive. You don't usually see people from their estate walking around down here without a terrifying aura."

"I haven't lived among them for a very long time," Laura muttered bitterly.

Bill chuckled softly. "Well, you don't look arrogant at all. You have a very gentle, humble presence."

Laura narrowed her eyes playfully, crossing her arms. "Are you saying my family is arrogant?"

Bill flushed, instantly backtracking with a wave of his hands. "No, no! I didn't mean it like that! It's just that the men from that house always look like they want to murder someone."

Laura laughed—a genuine, light sound. "Don't apologize, I know what you mean. But they have to look intimidating, or their enemies will tear them apart."

"I suppose so," Bill smiled, charmed by her spirit.

From across the square, half-hidden in the shadows of an alleyway, a pair of dark eyes watched them.

Sean had tracked her here. Seeing Laura laughing and talking casually with another young man sent a white-hot spike of jealousy through his veins. Without a second thought, he stalked across the square, his face dark with fury.

"Having a nice chat with another man?" Sean's voice cut through the air like a blade.

Laura froze, the color draining from her face as she whipped around. "Y-You!"

Bill stood up protectively, stepping in front of her. "Hey. Who the hell are you?"

In a flash, Sean grabbed Bill by the collar of his shirt, lifting him slightly off the ground. "I'm her man, kid. Back off before I break your neck."

"Stop it!" Laura panicked, grabbing Sean's arm. "Leave him alone! He's just someone I met today!"

Sean turned his dark glare from Bill to Laura, his voice trembling with disbelief. "You've got some nerve. How could you smile at another man after everything we are?"

Bill struggled against Sean's grip, shouting, "Laura, do you even know this psycho?!"

"He's not my boyfriend, he's nothing!" Laura yelled back at Sean, tears of frustration stinging her eyes. "He's just an obsessive, annoying stalker who won't leave me alone!"

"What did you just call me?" Sean snarled, his grip tightening. "Annoying? Is that really how you view our bond?"

"Yes! I hate you!" Laura screamed, trying to claw at his hands. "Just leave me alone!"

"Not a chance," Sean snapped. "We're going home. Now."

He shoved Bill roughly to the ground, ignoring the other man's cries of protest, and hauled Laura up by her wrist.

"Laura!" Bill shouted from the pavement, scrambling to his feet, desperate to help. "I have to save her..."

***

Back at the opulent Southern Family palace, a sleek black luxury vehicle pulled up to the grand entrance.

Sean dragged a struggling, furious Laura out of the car and hauled her through the heavy double doors.

"Let go of me, you psychotic idiot!" Laura shrieked, kicking and thrashing against him.

The commotion echoed through the grand foyer, drawing Peter, the head of the family, down the sweeping staircase. He paused halfway, watching the scene below with an amused smirk. "Is this the legendary girl?"

"Yes," Sean ground out, refusing to loosen his grip. "This is Laura."

Peter walked down the remaining steps, coming closer to inspect her face with clear admiration. "Well, the legends didn't exaggerate. She is remarkably beautiful, with flawless skin."

Ignoring Peter's commentary, Sean dragged Laura up the stairs toward his private quarters. Once inside, he shoved her inside, locked the heavy wooden door behind them with a key, and pocketed it.

Laura spun around, her eyes flashing with defiance. "What now? What kind of sick game are you playing?"

"Since you refuse to listen, I'm locking you away where no other man can ever look at you," Sean answered coldly.

"You wouldn't dare."

"Don't test me, Laura. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

Laura let out a bitter, sarcastic laugh. "You aren't just a coward who kidnaps women—you're a monster who ruins lives."

Furious, Sean ripped off his tie, tossed it aside, and lunged forward to grab her wrists, forcing her back against the sofa. Laura fought back with every ounce of strength she had, twisting and kicking. "Get away from me!"

"You will never escape me," Sean hissed down at her.

"All you're doing is making me despise you even more!"

"I don't care what you think anymore," Sean shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. "I wanted you to love me as a man, not just a friend!"

"I did love you!" Laura cried, tears finally breaking free. "I loved my sweet, loyal, gentle friend! But that person is completely gone! All that's left of you is a violent, possessive monster!"

"Your precious friendship made me sick!" Sean roared back. "I didn't want your pity, Laura—I wanted your heart!"

Laura looked up at him, a cold, hollow smile touching her lips. "Congratulations, then. You got your wish. I don't see you as a friend anymore. You're just a stalker, a parasite, and honestly... the person I hate most in this world, right after that damn witch."

For a second, Sean froze. Then, blind with rage and heartbreak, he slammed a hand over her mouth to cut off her words. "Shut up. Just... shut up!"

He pressed his hand down hard, but the moment he saw the flash of pain in her tear-filled eyes, his expression faltered. His hand dropped away as if burned.

Laura glared up at him, trembling violently as she choked back a sob. "I hate you..."

Without another word, Sean turned on his heel, unable to look into her eyes a second longer. He unlocked the door, stepped out into the hallway, and slammed it shut behind him.

Waiting in the corridor leaning against the wall was Peter. The family head raised an eyebrow. "Need me to keep her locked up tighter?"

"Keep everyone away from her," Sean ordered coldly. "Especially her Northern relatives if they come looking."

Peter chuckled. "Are you sure? If her family finds out she's here, they'll tear this place apart."

"Let them try," Sean replied, his eyes dark with unyielding resolve. "They've meddled in my life and kept me from living in peace with her for nearly a century. I want them kept away permanently so I can finally have her to myself."

"Consider it handled," Peter agreed with a smirk.

***

Meanwhile, back at the gates of the Northern Family Palace, Bill stood panting, hammering desperately against the heavy iron doors until the chief servant finally pulled them open with a scowl.

"What do you want, boy?" the servant demanded.

Bill caught his breath, his eyes wide with panic. "You have to help! Laura—the young woman from this family—she's just been kidnapped by a dark-skinned man with red hair!"