Chapter 5
534words
Until Aaron appeared—an unexpected ray of light piercing my airless cage.
He was president of our school's art club, a young man as bright and warm as summer sunshine.
He would blush to his ears when I glanced at him a moment too long in the library.
He'd get so nervous sketching me that his brush would tremble, leaving my mouth crooked in the final drawing.
On a rainy day, he took off his denim jacket—his only dry clothing—insisted on draping it over my shoulders, then ran into the downpour with a goofy smile, instantly drenched.
His world was simple and pure.
Most importantly, his heart and eyes held nothing but me.
Unlike Carlos, whose every action calculated my ultimate "flavor."
Aaron was different. His eyes held no calculation, no predatory hunger—only pure admiration and genuine affection.
That was something Carlos could never give me.
One afternoon, he waited outside the art studio, clutching his drawing board, cheeks flushed and gaze darting nervously.
"Evelyn, um... there's an Impressionist exhibition at the city museum this weekend. Would you like to go? With me?"
He asked carefully, bracing for rejection.
Looking at his nervously clenched fists and the hope in his eyes, I hesitated before finally nodding.
"Sure."
In that moment, I felt a desperate longing for the ordinary life I'd never have.
In the end, I never made it to that exhibition with Aaron.
The day before our date, Aaron dropped out of school.
I overheard classmates gossiping in the hallway.
"Did you hear? Aaron from the art club dropped out. His father's company went bankrupt overnight!"
"Seriously? Wasn't his family doing well in import-export?"
"Apparently they pissed off someone powerful. Their funding dried up, and they're drowning in debt. The whole family skipped town last night."
I stood frozen, blood draining from my face, extremities turning to ice.
Like a madwoman, I rushed from school and ordered the driver to take me home immediately.
As soon as I entered, I saw Carlos on the living room sofa, leisurely reviewing business documents.
Afternoon sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden halo around him like some divine being.
But I knew better.
"You did this, didn't you?" I rushed toward him, my voice shaking with rage and fear.
He didn't even look up from his documents, merely offering a faint "Mmm" in response.
He admitted it so easily, so matter-of-factly, as if he'd merely crushed an ant beneath his shoe.
"Why? Why would you do this?!" I screamed, tears welling in my eyes.
He finally turned a page, then looked up, those beautiful crimson eyes utterly devoid of emotion.
"Evelyn, I've warned you before. I don't like my possessions being tainted by irrelevant insects."
"It affects the purity of the food," he said in a flat, conversational tone that chilled me to the bone.
"Besides, I'm saving you from unnecessary trouble. A penniless boy from a ruined family isn't worthy of you, my master. You should thank me for sparing you a messy breakup."
His elegant smile never wavered, but it sent ice down my spine.
