Bound by Fate & Power

Chapter 5

The elevator suddenly became unbearably quiet. Kayla’s breathing turned uneven as Roland stood directly in front of her. Her fingers tightened around the resignation letter in her hands while the rest of her body trembled slightly. Then his deep voice echoed quietly inside the elevator. “What’s your name?” For a second, Kayla’s mind went completely blank.

Her throat tightened.

Her heartbeat pounded violently against her chest.

He remembers.

That terrifying thought instantly filled her mind. She slowly opened her mouth, trying to answer, but before any words could leave her lips, the woman standing beside her suddenly spoke first. “Blossom.” The young woman nervously straightened her posture. “My name is Blossom, and I work in the marketing department.” Roland looked at her calmly before giving a small nod. Then his gaze slowly shifted again.

Kayla froze.

For one terrifying moment, she truly believed he had been asking for her name. Blossom seemed to realize the misunderstanding immediately. “Oh,” she added quickly, “and her name is Kayla. She works in the same department as me.” The moment Roland heard the name Kayla, something strange flickered across his expression. His fingers twitched slightly at his side. A sharp pain pulsed through his head before disappearing just as quickly. “I see.” His voice remained calm and unreadable. Then unexpectedly, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Have a good day.” The employees inside the elevator quickly greeted him politely. “Goodbye, Mr. Qin.” As the elevator doors slowly began closing again, Roland’s gaze lingered for a brief second longer. Not on Blossom. On Kayla. And for reasons he couldn’t understand, every time he looked at her, a strange pressure built inside his chest. At the same time… The pounding inside his head grew worse.

Tia stared at her cousin in surprise. Even after the elevator doors completely closed, Roland still hadn’t looked away. A teasing smile slowly appeared on her lips. “You find her interesting?” Tia asked playfully. “Do you like her?” Roland finally looked at her coldly. But Tia ignored the warning in his eyes and continued speaking. “Even while the elevator doors were closing, you kept staring.” Then her expression slowly changed. “Actually…”

“Kayla looked more frightened than nervous.”

Tia crossed her arms thoughtfully. “She looked scared of you, cousin.” A brief silence followed. Then she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Did you do something to her?” Roland frowned slightly. Confusion filled his eyes.

Why was she afraid of him?

He had never even met her before.

At least…

That’s what he thought. But the moment he silently repeated her name in his mind—

Kayla.

A violent pain suddenly exploded inside his head.

Blood.

A cage.

Tears.

And a cold, possessive voice

“You’re mine.”

Roland’s expression darkened instantly. His breathing became uneven as another sharp pain shot through his skull. For a brief second, his vision blurred. Tia’s playful attitude disappeared immediately. “Roland?” Seeing his pale face, she quickly signaled to the bodyguards nearby. “Get him to the car. Now.”

The moment the elevator doors fully closed, Kayla finally released the breath she had been holding. Her legs almost gave out beneath her. Beside her, Blossom looked completely excited. “Oh my God,” she whispered loudly. “The CEO just talked to us.” Kayla forced an awkward smile. Meanwhile, Blossom continued rambling excitedly. “He’s even more handsome up close.”

“And scary.”

“But mostly handsome.” Despite everything weighing heavily on her mind, Kayla almost laughed a little. That carefree attitude… It reminded her why Blossom had become one of her closest friends in her previous life. Blossom always somehow managed to lighten heavy situations without even trying. “Kayla?” Blossom’s expression slowly softened. “You really scared me back there.” Without thinking, Kayla suddenly grabbed onto Blossom’s arm tightly, almost like she was grounding herself. Blossom blinked in surprise before gently patting her hand. “You’re okay,” she said quietly. Only then did Kayla realize they were the only people left inside the elevator. A small embarrassed laugh escaped her lips. “Sorry…” Blossom smiled helplessly. “It’s fine.” The elevator doors opened shortly after, and the two women walked toward the empty lunchroom together. The moment they sat down, Blossom suddenly noticed the paper still clutched tightly in Kayla’s hands. Her brows slowly furrowed. “Wait…” She leaned forward slightly. “Is that a resignation letter?” Kayla lowered her eyes quietly. “I’m planning to leave.” Blossom stared at her in disbelief. “Why?” Then suddenly realization hit her. “Hold on.”

“You promised to help me finish the Harper project.” She pointed dramatically at Kayla. “That project lasts another two months." “Are you seriously abandoning me?”

Despite everything happening around her, Kayla almost smiled slightly at Blossom’s dramatic expression. “I just…” Kayla hesitated before quietly admitting, “I don’t feel safe here anymore.” Blossom’s expression changed immediately. “Did someone do something to you?”

“Are you being harassed?”

Kayla quickly shook her head. “No. Nothing like that.” At least… Not yet. She simply wanted to leave before history repeated itself. Blossom stared at her silently for a moment before speaking again, this time much softer. “Please don’t leave yet.”

“At least stay until the project is finished.”

“After the two months are over, you can quit if you still want to.” Kayla froze. Because deep down… She knew staying longer meant staying closer to Roland Qin. And that alone made her uneasy.

Meanwhile…

Inside the black luxury car parked outside the company building, silence filled the atmosphere. Roland sat quietly in the back seat with one hand pressed against his temple. The pain still hadn’t gone away. If anything… It had gotten worse. Tia secretly studied him from beside the window. “You’re thinking about her again, aren’t you?” Roland slowly opened his eyes. “Who?” Tia rolled her eyes dramatically. “The terrified employee in the elevator.” Roland frowned slightly. Terrified. That word bothered him for reasons he couldn’t understand. He still remembered the way Kayla looked at him. The trembling hands. The lowered eyes. The way she looked at him as if she already knew him. His fingers slowly tightened. Then suddenly another violent pain exploded inside his head.

Blood.

Chains.

Crying.

A trembling voice

“Please let me go…”

Roland’s breathing became heavier. “Tch.” He shut his eyes tightly as another unfamiliar image flashed through his mind. A woman dying in his arms. Blood staining his hands.

Then

“No one will ever love you.”

Roland’s eyes snapped open instantly. His chest tightened painfully. For the first time in years… Fear appeared in his eyes. What exactly was happening to him?