Chapter 3
1147 Words
Adeline’s POV
“AND I WILL never fall for someone as weak as her."
I heard everything they said. It hurt, yes. But if my safety is the price for that, then I can understand. Besides, I wouldn’t fall for him either—even if he’s extremely handsome. So handsome that he could become an actor and get famous with just one minute of exposure on screen.
To avoid trouble, I kept my distance from the other maids who always had their eyes on me. Every move I made was being watched.
They also stopped assigning me to cook for Master Vladimir. I actually preferred that because I was afraid of him too.
All I did was clean the stairs, wipe the vases, and scrub the dirt off the tiled floors.
“There’s no more food,” I said weakly as I stared gloomily at the containers that were supposed to hold our meals.
I held my stomach when it growled.
“Master is here! Line up!”
I quickly fell in line when I heard that. Someone elbowed me, and I didn’t know if it was intentional.
It was already nighttime, and since breakfast, I hadn’t eaten anything. I had only been drinking water.
On top of that, I was still weak because I lost blood—and it was that Master’s doing. The way he fed on me, you’d think he hadn’t been told I was weak.
“What?” he suddenly asked when our eyes met. “Why are you glaring at me like that?”
My frown disappeared when he asked that. The other maids shot me dirty looks.
I swallowed and was about to speak when everything suddenly went dark. My knees weakened. In a blink, I lost consciousness and my body fell against something soft and fragrant.
“Adeline!” It was Vladimir’s voice.
Why is it that whenever I need saving, he’s always the one who catches me? But when it comes to suffering, I’m the one who endures it?
“SHE needs to eat, Master. She hasn’t had proper food since this morning.”
“Okay. Thank you, doc.”
I heard the door close and felt someone sit at the edge of the bed near my thigh.
“Open your eyes. I know you’re already awake,” he commanded seriously.
I immediately opened my eyes and didn’t expect to be greeted by his gaze. His eyes looked slightly tired as he stared at me.
“Why didn’t you eat?”
“They didn’t leave any food for me. And this morning, I immediately started working because they said you were coming down, Master.”
I bit my lip when I saw anger flash across his face.
Is he mad at me?
“I’m not mad at you. Here, you can eat this,” he said as he picked up a tray of food.
There was a plate of rice with a chicken leg, a glass of milk, another plate full of vegetables, and a pancake on a small plate.
“Thank you, Master. But this is too much. I can’t finish all of it.”
“Then force yourself to.”
Every word he says always sounds like an order—but fear still makes you obey.
“Where are your parents?” he suddenly asked, making me pause mid-bite.
“They died a long time ago. About five years now. The ship they were on sank at sea.”
“And then?”
“Since then, I’ve been the one providing for my twin siblings.”
“Oh really? They’re twins?” he asked, almost amazed. I smiled and nodded. He looked kind of cute—like a child.
“Yes, Master. One girl and one boy. I left them in the care of my friend.”
“Is that friend trustworthy?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Oh really?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Can I bite you?”
“Yes, Master—wait! What?!” I asked in shock, making him chuckle softly.
“It’s just a joke. Get some rest. I’ll collect from you tomorrow instead.”
I stared at him. Did he really just laugh?
Where are his parents? Is he happy with his life now?
I was just about to ask when he suddenly cut me off.
“Don’t you dare open your mouth or else I will cut your tongue.”
I could only stare at his face. It turned cold again, especially his voice. It was like he went back to his old self. I suddenly realized he wasn’t ready to talk about it—and I understood.
I watched him walk away from my bed. Suddenly, I felt sad for him. Maybe he really is that lonely.
Vladimir’s POV
SHE asks too many questions. I can also hear what’s on her mind, so I know exactly what she’s about to say—and what she thinks about me.
And she’s right. My life is truly lonely.
When I was young, my parents did nothing but threaten my life.
They said I was a threat—to them and to Night. That’s why they kept my two siblings away from me.
But they never stayed away. They kept coming closer instead.
Even though our parents are gone, the pain and resentment remain—feelings I want to release but cannot.
I’m the eldest among us siblings. Blood is second, and Night is the youngest.
My whole life has been lonely. But I became happy when Luna came into my life. The woman Night said I lost because of my foolishness.
She’s already dead. It’s been five decades since she passed.
I was weak back then. To become stronger, her life became the price.
We all loved her. And when she was gone, so was the happiness in our lives.
It was as if the light had been taken away from us, leaving us to grope in the darkness.
“Hey, bro.”
I stopped thinking when I heard Blood’s deep, cold voice behind me.
I turned to face him and smiled when I finally saw him.
He has changed a lot—from his clothing to the way he speaks.
“Did you already find her?”
He smirked. “Yes.”
For five decades, Blood searched for the woman he loved. She was reborn many times, yet died again and again because of illness. Each time she lived, my brother searched for her—to heal her, and to marry her.
Their house is filled with their wedding photos from each lifetime.
“Uncle!” his triplets greeted me.
They hugged my legs and argued about who I would carry.
I laughed and lifted all three of them so they wouldn’t fight.
“Have you found yours too?”
I smirked.
“Yes.” My blood addiction, maybe.
- Writer
