Thorn's Obsession

Passionate Kiss

　The cicadas screamed through the humid night as moonlight gleamed on the pale stone walls of the Thorn estate. Five stories of European grandeur loomed behind security fences thick enough to stop a tank. Atop the slate roof， a wrought-iron emblem twisted like a poisoned arrowhead—the infamous crest of the Vespera Thorn Group.

　　This wasn’t a home. It was a fortress. Motion sensors glinted in the hedges. Cameras tracked every shadow. Yet all this was merely a vacation plaything compared to their Manhattan headquarters， where billion-dollar deals bled out in boardrooms thirty floors above the city.

　　Footsteps echoed in the silent corridor as the butler， holding a bottle of wine， walked steadily toward the innermost room and raised his hand to knock on the door.

　　“Come in.“

　　A lazy voice came from inside as the butler opened the door. The lights were off， and it was a bit dark， but the moonlight still filtered in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There， on the desk， a chair was tilted， and a figure was sprawled lazily on it.

　　The butler put down the wine and did not dare to stay long， silently leaving the room， leaving only one person behind.

　　The man took a sip of the wine， his eyes dark and unfathomable. Suddenly， as if he had thought of something， he curled his lips into a smile， murmuring a name， growing more and more excited.

　　A figure slowly rose， standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window， the moonlight casting down on his cynical face; who else could it be but Kael Thorn?

　　Thorn recalled everything that had happened in the restroom during the day， feeling a bit regretful..

　　What he wanted to do the most at that moment was not just to talk; there was a washbasin in the restroom， with a mirror... the source of the desires he had suppressed countless times for three whole years.

　　He recalled Iris's stubborn face， clearly afraid yet forcing herself to meet his gaze in defiance， and he couldn't help but..

　　pushing her directly against the sink， tore off her clothes， pressed down on her， watching the corners of her eyes turn red， her fingertips turn white， and the way she bit her lower lip in pain， pleading for mercy..

　　Yeah， I'm just a freak.

　　Thorn clearly knew that he had been ill for three years， and the only medicine could be Iris Shae.

　　He wants to sleep with her， and he had thought about it for three years.

　　For this， he could resort to any means， disregarding everything.

　　Dear Iris， this time... you are destined to lose..

　　...

　　“How could this happen?! He’s out? And tangled with the Thorn Consortium? Jesus Christ， they’re practically royalty!““ The roar of Selene Voss came from the other end of the phone， revealing her disbelief.

　　Iris leaned against the wall， her brows slightly weary， and in the most neutral tone， she briefly recounted what had happened today， truly surprising Voss.

　　“Dr. Voss，Listen to me - radio silence until this blows over. Promise me you won’t reach out first. I can’t drag you into this.“

　　Voss felt uncomfortable upon hearing this and was about to say a few words， but was interrupted by Iris.

　　“You think this is some white-collar lawsuit? The Thorns own governments. They make warlords look like boy scouts.“ Iris said in a low voice.

　　“Sweetheart… you think he’ll let you walk away?“ The other person's voice was a bit choked; she really saw Iris as her own little sister.

　　Iris raised her eyes， and in their depths lay the indifference and determination she usually concealed， her voice gradually growing colder as well.

　　“Let him come for me. But if he touches one hair on any of your head..“

　　“I’ll carve him a new throne. In hell.“

　　The next day， Iris went to school as usual， trying to act as normal as possible， deliberately ignoring Thorn's presence. She could clearly feel the uncomfortable gaze behind her， a feeling that didn't seem like that of an enemy， and Iris couldn't quite put her finger on what it was.

　　Thorn lazily leaned back in his chair， easily able to look down at Iris's desk.

　　Iris's fingers were gripping a pen， writing something， and one could also observe a very small mole on the back of her neck， her earlobe had a lovely contour， and it was uncertain whether it would turn red...

　　Thorn licked his lips， leaned in， and got close to Iris's ear， his warm breath making her shiver.

　　“Do you know what you look like?“

　　Thorn's laughing voice pierced through her eardrum， carrying a hint of indulgence in its tone.

　　“Like you're begging te get laid.“

　　In a single sentence， Iris's gaze instantly turned cold and serious， her hand gradually tightening， a raging fire of anger in her heart， which she quickly suppressed.

　　“Are you f*****g crazy?“ Iris's voice was very low， but her tone was furious.

　　“Yo，Look who’s got fangs now?“ With slow clap，“That ice queen act’s slipping， princess.“ Kael's taunt with undercurrent of arousal.

　　“Let’s stop pretending. We both know what lurks under those cashmere sweaters.“ With Intimate menace，The more Thorn laughed recklessly， the colder Iris's gaze became. He didn't care at all and continued in possessive whisper only the two of them could hear

　　“That night in the woods… you liked playing God too.“

　　Iris let out a light scoff.

　　“Save your mind games for someone who cares.“ She curled her lips and glanced sideways at Thorn.

　　That gaze was naturally unfriendly， but to Thorn， it was full of charm， stirring his already restless desires once again.

　　He fell back in his chair， laughing; this is what makes it interesting..

　　After school， Iris was unexpectedly stopped by Adviser Vale， who usually wouldn't call her for no reason.

　　In the office， Vale picked up the thermos with a somewhat unnatural smile. In her impression， this child was outstanding in both academics and character， but was rather low-key. How did she end up with that person?

　　“Iris， the teacher has been teaching you since ninth grade， knowing that you are a good girl， completely different from that little rascal Zane Cole.“ The teacher smiled kindly， and Iris listened quietly without interrupting.

　　He looked around and lowered his voice， asking，“Um... child， have you offended anyone recently? Do you remember?“

　　Iris's gaze shifted for a moment， then instantly returned to its original state， revealing a perfectly measured expression of confusion. After thinking for a moment， she shook her head.

　　“Uh... it's nothing， teacher is just concerned about you， that's all， go home， and be careful.“ She turned around and left with her thermos.

　　Iris looked at his back， her hand slowly tightening into a fist， the setting sun casting its light on her face， not gentle at all.

　　After coming back from the restroom， the classroom was already empty. Iris packed her things and went downstairs. Suddenly， she smelled smoke. Looking ahead， she saw a figure leaning against the wall， their face obscured. The person held a cigarette in their right hand， as if waiting for someone.

　　Once the lively school fell silent， it seemed terrifyingly quiet. Iris stood in the empty stairwell， staring straight ahead， and after a moment's pause， she walked forward.

　　Her hand was suddenly yanked hard by someone， and Iris almost fell over， but someone caught her and steadied her body.

　　A wave of nicotine invaded her nostrils， and Iris felt a bit dizzy; the acrid smell made her feel even worse.

　　Before she could react， something immediately blocked her mouth， the taste of nicotine flooding her oral cavity. Her lips were fiercely bitten by someone， and Iri felt a metallic taste of blood， followed by a sharp pain that stimulated her brain; she was actually being forcefully kissed.

　　Iris's painful eyes began to redden and moisten， feeling as if she were suffocating and unable to breathe.

　　The man seemed not yet satisfied， grabbing her wrist and pushing her against the wall. Her back slammed hard against it， causing her to frown in pain. The force of the person in front of her was so great， and the desire so strong， as if he were a beast that had been starving for days， savagely tearing into his prey.

　　Iris was powerless beneath that person， forced to endure， and tears flowed down， wetting that person's face.

The man suddenly stopped， moved his mouth to suck the tears from Iris's face， and then gently kissed her eyes， a tenderness completely different from before.

　　After a long time， he finally released his hold on her. Iris slid down the wall， exhausted， sitting awkwardly against it， gasping for breath， staring blankly at the cigarette butt on the ground， which had only a faint spark left， still unable to come to her senses.

　　Iris not only felt humiliated， but she also felt frustrated. After so many years of physical training， she could hold her own against Zane， yet in front of this guy， she had no strength to fight back at all.

　　Against the light， Thorn looked down at the figure on the ground with eyes full of desire， licking his bloody lips; it was an addictive poison， the best remedy for his restless heart.

　　Iris had not yet recovered from her discomfort when suddenly her chin was roughly grabbed， and a mocking voice seemed to come from hell， instantly awakening all her senses.

　　“As I said， you really do look like...begging te get fuck.''

　　Iris completely calmed down， waved away Thorn's hand， and propped herself up to stand. Her weary body leaned against the wall; even without looking directly， she could feel the other person's fiery and crazed gaze， which made her feel utterly nauseous.

　　Iris let out a cold snort， her tone dripping with sarcasm，“Pathetic. You really think playing house will break me?“

　　“playing house...“ Thorn laughed even more perversely.

　　Iris's eyes flickered， unreservedly releasing her anger; there were no outsiders here， and she no longer had to pretend to be the obedient student she usually was.

　　Thorn felt the killing intent in Iris's eyes， a gaze he hadn't seen in three years but had always missed; not only was he unafraid， but he was even more excited.

　　“We’re grenades with the pins pulled， Kael. Keep this up， we’ll both burn.“

　　We are all monsters.

　　Thorn remained noncommittal， the narrow staircase just like the confrontation of years past.

　　He calmly extinguished the last flicker of the cigarette butt on the ground and turned to leave.

　　Yes， we are all monsters. In this life， you can only bite and tear with me， and it is in the cage I made.

　　——

　　In the dimly lit house， no lights were on， only the sound of water flowing and the girl's panting could be heard.

　　Iris stood in front of the sink， spitting out a mouthful of blood， raising her gaze to the reflection of herself in the mirror. She dared not turn on the light; the metallic taste of blood lingered in her mouth， a flavor she both resisted and found impossible to suppress.

Everything was beyond her control， which made her irritable. She knew she was unwell again; she had been managing it well， but unexpectedly， because of that guy， she was so easily shaken.

　　Iris entered the room in the dark， hurriedly took out a bottle of medicine from the bottom of the cabinet， poured a few pills into her hand， and swallowed them immediately to calm herself down.

　　In the dark room， the phone suddenly lit up. She put down the medicine and walked over， finding several new messages.

　　Iris clicked in expressionlessly， and two resumes appeared on the phone screen， causing her pupils to contract; it was indeed her parents' work resumes.

　　Iris tightened her grip on the phone.

　　Kael Thorn， do you really have to cross my bottom line?

　　Iris quickly called back; she didn't expect the call to go through， but to her surprise， the other party answered personally.

　　“Name your price!“ She had already made an effort to control her tone， not allowing her emotions to leak out.

　　Thorn laughed over the phone， and Iris could imagine the other person's infuriating expression.

　　“You’ll move into my estate tomorrow. My driver collects you at three.“ Like issuing Mafia prince edict.

　　“Have you lost your goddamn mind?!“ Iris's anger had already spread， and she really didn't know what Thorn was trying to do.

　　“Iris，This place eats at me when I’m alone. You’ll make such… entertaining company.“

　　Iris listened， gritting her teeth， and mocked，“Buy yourself a goldfish. I hear billionaires make great pet owners.“

　　The other party was not angry and replied lazily，“Don't bother packing， my penthouse has everything but the one thing I want-you in it.“

　　Before Iris could mock again， the call was disconnected， and no matter how many times she dialed， she couldn't get through.

　　That night， Iris could hardly sleep， feeling angry yet powerless in the face of Thorn's threat.

　　In fact， her parents not only treated her poorly， but their relationship had also already fallen apart. If it weren't for her being a burden， they might have divorced long ago. This home， which was barely being held together， would completely collapse; it was just a matter of time.

　　Iris sometimes couldn't understand why， despite being disheartened by this family， she still wanted to maintain it

　　Perhaps beneath the layers of tough exterior lies just an ordinary child longing for parental love.

　　What puzzled her even more was Kael Thorn's intentions.

　　Moving to his house was for what purpose? Was it just to make it easier to torment herself?

　　Indeed， perhaps for some reason at school it was inconvenient for him to take action， so if he were to move right under her nose， he could act recklessly without any scruples.

Iris sneered; to take revenge on herself， she really went to great lengths.

　　The next morning， Iris dialed her father's number again and again， but no one answered. She then tried to contact her mother， who picked up quite quickly， but was interrupted before she could speak.

　　“Didn't I tell you not to call unless it's necessary? Do you know how busy your mom is? If you need something， go find your dad. He went out looking for women again yesterday.“

　　Her tone was gentle and ordinary， as if she were a true virtuous wife and good mother， but the content of her words was enough to chill the heart of any child.

　　“Mom， how 's work treating you and Dad'?“ Iris's voice was gentle， devoid of any of the past indifference or the sharpness she had shown towards Thorn.

　　“You don't need to worry about us， just focus on your SATs. Money's in the account. Call your father if the card declines.“ The woman's tone was flat， a bit impatient， as she casually instructed a few things.

　　“Mom， if you need anything-“

　　She clearly clicked her tongue and let out a harsh laugh:，“What could you offer? Manage your scholarships.I've got a merger closing.“

　　Before Iris could say much more， the call was disconnected， leaving her standing alone in the bedroom.

　　Iris looked around; this place where she had lived for over a decade was devoid of any joyful sounds of home， only an endless， unreciprocated longing. It could hardly be called home， lacking even a trace of vitality.

　　She turned around， picked up her school uniform jacket， put it on， and walked out the door with her backpack.