His Crode Clutches

His absence!

|| Author POV ||

Rosa sat quietly, her gaze drifting across the classroom filled with laughter and chatter. Her eyes were gloomy, lost.

Killian hadn’t come home last night either.

Not a single trace of him in the mansion.

Where could he possibly be? He’s always busy.

Rosa pulled in a breath. The emptiness inside her grew as she glanced around at the smiling couples in her classroom. They looked so full, so loved.

“Rosa...!”

Aria’s cheerful voice snapped her out of the spiral. Rosa blinked and turned to look at her.

Aria grinned and placed a small envelope on the desk. A delicate peach-colored letter with a silver seal.

“What is it?” Rosa asked, her voice soft as a feather.

She looked at Aria, who was smiling wide. “Invitation card.” Aria said cheerfully, “My birthday invitation. You’re the first one to receive it.”

Rosa blinked, lips parting slightly in surprise. “Oh.”

She reached for the small envelope, her fingers brushed over the soft colors and tiny stars decorating the edges. It looked handmade, soft and cute

“I made all the cards myself.” Aria beamed in a proud voice. “For my friends. But this peach one, it’s just for you. Took me extra effort to make it look cute!”

Rosa offered a small smile. “It’s pretty.”

“I know, right?” Aria giggled, then added with a playful wink, “But you better come. If you don’t, I’ll be heartbroken.”

Rosa didn’t reply right away. She sat still, staring at the small card in her hand while Aria walked away to invite the rest of her friends.

A few moments passed before she heard Aria’s voice again and turned her gaze. Aria was standing in front of Max’s desk, her arms crossed while Max stared up at her with a mild frown.

“You’re the last one to get this, obviously.” Aria huffed, rolling her eyes before dropping a pastel-colored envelope onto his desk.

“You better show up. I seriously hate being ignored.”

Max looked over Rosa’s direction and noticed her already staring at them. He noticed the envelope in her small clutch.

“Sure.” he said coolly, picking up the invitation without shifting his soft gaze. “Count me in.”

Aria returned to her seat with a satisfied grin, but before she could say anything, the classroom suddenly fell into silence. Rosa was still lost in her thoughts, zoning out completely, until Aria nudged her arm.

“Look, Professor Salvatore is back.” She blinked and looked ahead, and her heart skipped a beat.

Her grip on the invitation envelope tightened.

Professor Salvatore had entered the room.

Every student rose to their feet in silent respect, but Rosa couldn’t look away. Her eyes locked onto him when he walked in with that same unreadable expression, dark eyes like frost.

Where’d he come from?

He wasn’t at the mansion this morning. Not last night either.

Rosa exhaled a soft breath. She felt her heart set at peace. One glance at him was enough to make her day.

Aria noticed the way Rosa’s eyes softened, as if the weight of the world had lifted just by seeing him.

She tilted her head slightly, a knowing smile tugging at her lips but said nothing, just watching Rosa with a quiet understanding.

---

|| At night ||

Rosa tiptoed toward his room, clutching two books tightly against her chest. She stood before the intimidating door and knocked softly.

A long second passed before it creaked open, revealing his tall, broad frame.

Rosa lifted her gaze, but he had already turned, walking back toward the glass table silently.

Stepping in slowly, she swallowed hard, whispering to her frantic heart to stop thundering like a drum inside her chest.

Rosa pulled out a chair near the table and sat, her fingers nervously fiddling with one another.

Her gaze flicked toward him, he was standing by the glass table, his long fingers sorting through a stack of papers with quiet focus.

The moment he turned and walked toward her, Rosa quickly dropped her gaze, staring at her lap.

He sat across from her while Rosa dared to steal a glance, and her breath hitched when she found him already watching her.

His gaze was steady, too intense.

Rosa quickly looked away, pretending to fix the books on the table and aligned the edges that were already perfect.

Killian leaned back slightly in his seat, fingers tapping once on the table.

“Focus.” he said coldly.

Rosa slowly nodded, holding the pen gently in her hand, her heart racing. She couldn’t express the storm inside her, so she sighed, trying to focus.

All the while, her lavender eyes never left him, her gaze kept drifting back to him, soft and doe-like, staring at him.

She hesitated, the words on the tip of her tongue, before finally mumbling, “C-can I ask something?”

Killian didn’t look up immediately. He simply nodded, his eyes gazing at her slightly trembling figure.

Rosa sat up straighter, gathering the courage she so desperately needed. “Where were you?”

She asked, her words stumbling, before she quickly sealed her lips again.

Killian’s sharp eyes flicked to her. He didn’t answer right away and the silence stretched between them.

Finally, his lips parted and his voice cut through the air like ice. “Why?”

The single word left a weight in the air, and Rosa couldn’t help but feel small under his gaze.

He could just answer straightforwardly, right?

She swallowed hard and gave a tiny shake of her head, already regretting asking.

“I had things to deal with.” he said flatly, leaning back.

His cold blues stayed locked on her, catching the way her shoulders eased, the tension in her face melting and a soft smile bloomed on her lips, as if just hearing his voice was enough.

A dark flicker passed through his eyes.

She’s even more fragile than he imagined.

His jaw clenched.

‘So easy to please... too easy to please this little woman.’

---

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴅᴀʏ

Rosa stayed locked in her room the entire day, until she had to leave for work in the afternoon.

Rosa was focused on making coffee. She looked at the clock. Seven o’clock already. After finishing up a few orders, she walked to her manager’s office to request an early leave and a day off for tomorrow.

Her manager agreed without hesitation, offering her a warm smile.

“Thanks.” Rosa murmured, offering a polite smile in return before walking out of the café.

—

“You said it’s your friend’s birthday. Take a look. It’s beautiful.” the elegant saleswoman said, placing a sleek bracelet on the counter with a practiced smile.

But Rosa’s gaze drifted elsewhere, her eyes catching on a different piece inside the glass display. She leaned forward slightly, tiptoeing and her small finger gently tapped the glass.

“Can you show me that one?” she asked softly, pointing to the delicate bracelet tucked near the corner.

The woman blinked, then followed Rosa’s finger. “Ah, you have a good eye. That one’s not flashy, but it catches light beautifully.” she carefully unlocked the display.

“This just came in. Restocked and in high demand. Your friend will definitely love it.”

Rosa nodded slowly, her eyes fixed on the bracelet which the lady placed it gently over the glass. It looked too pretty, a thin, golden piece that shimmered under the lights, a tiny rose engraved at the center.

Her thumb brushed over it. Simple. Soft.

Just like her.

“It’s... pretty.” Rosa murmured, almost in awe.

The woman nodded. “Soft gold, crystal accents, perfect for someone special.”

Rosa offered a small nod. “I’ll take this one.” she whispered, more to herself than to the woman.

Rosa silently thanked God, it was the start of a new month, and her paycheck had just arrived. If it hadn’t, there was no way she could afford something this elegant for Aria.

She had been hesitant about going to the party, her mind flooded with doubts, but then Aria’s cheerful voice echoed in her ear, nudging her to say yes. So she finally decided to go.

Now, she stood near the shop’s exit, the small bag clutched gently in her hand.

Aria was too sweet, too genuine to ignore. And in her quiet world, where Rosa often felt invisible, Aria had made her feel... special.

As if they were besties now?

Rosa stepped into the mall’s spacious corridor with the small bag dangling lightly in her hand. There was a calmness in her face.

But then something caught her eye.

Rosa’s steps slowed when her eyes landed on a sleek wristwatch in the display of a nearby shop.

The watch was masculine, sharp, silver with a polished, luxurious sheen. Clean lines, the metallic shine reflecting the ambient light. It looked expensive, its elegance undeniable.

Rosa felt a small flutter in her chest.

She leaned in, fingertips lightly grazed the cool glass and she admired the intricate design.

‘How would this look on his wrist? It would suit his cold elegance, right?’ she wondered, eyes fixed on the silver piece.

Rosa could imagine it resting on the sharp line of his wrist, the glint of metal against his pale skin.

Something about the thought made her heart beat a little faster.

“Would you like to see it up close, ma’am?” a voice interrupted, pulling her from her thoughts.

Startled, Rosa looked up at the man standing just inside the shop. For a moment, she didn’t answer, her gaze returned to the watch, then back to him.

She gave a small nod and a faint smile formed on her lips.