Crimson Rain

chapter 3

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Aries already knew who Isla was — Mrs. Mira’s daughter. He didn’t dislike her; in fact, there was something about her that drew his attention. But deep down, a quiet ache stirred. His parents’ eyes had never truly been on him. He might be the young master of the house, yet he had never felt the warmth of being loved.

Why can’t they look at me the same way they look at her? The thought lingered bitterly in his mind.

Later, he noticed the room prepared for Isla on the third floor — right across from his own. Curiosity got the better of him. He checked the door handle; it wasn’t locked. Slowly, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

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The room was softly lit, the air carrying the faint scent of lilies. On the bed, a small, petite figure lay curled under the blanket — Isla. Aries felt an odd urge to wake her up, to see her eyes, to ask her why she was here. But as he moved closer, he stopped. Her face was streaked with dried tears.

Something twisted quietly inside his chest. For the first time, he saw not a stranger taking his parents’ attention — but a little girl who must’ve been just as lost as he was.

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Isla murmured softly in her sleep, her small voice trembling.

“Momma… Papa… Isla misses you…”

Her words broke the silence of the room, and even in her dreams, a flicker of fear crossed her face. Aries froze for a moment, watching her expression shift between longing and pain. Something stirred inside him — sympathy, maybe, or a feeling he couldn’t name.

He quietly sat down on the edge of the bed and reached out, patting her gently, his hand moving in a soft rhythm like a lullaby. Slowly, Isla’s breathing calmed, and the tension on her face eased.

When the nanny returned after reporting Isla’s condition to Mrs. Linda, she paused at the doorway. The sight before her made her heart soften — the young master, sitting quietly beside the little girl, guarding her sleep. Without saying a word, she closed the door gently and walked away to inform her mistress.

- -

By noon, Isla finally woke up. The weariness from the long trip had faded, replaced by curiosity. Everything around her felt new — the house, the people, even the air seemed different.

When I was sleeping… I felt someone patting my head, she thought, rubbing her eyes. Was it Nanny? Or Aunt Linda?

Still wondering, she stepped out of her room and wandered toward the living room. There, she saw Uncle Jason and Aunt Linda sitting together on the sofa, their bodies leaning comfortably against each other, sharing a quiet moment

_ _ _ _

They soon noticed a tiny figure standing near the staircase.

“Baby, what are you doing here? Do you feel okay?” Aunt Linda’s gentle voice carried both worry and love.

Seeing the concern in her eyes, I nodded quickly. “Yep… I’m fine,” I said softly.

Both Uncle Jason and Aunt Linda smiled. “Come here, sweetheart,” they said together.

I ran toward them with small, careful steps, my heart feeling strangely light. Uncle Jason scooped me up easily and set me down on the sofa — right between the two of them. I sat there quietly, surrounded by their warmth. For a brief moment, it felt as if they really were my parents.

“Just like I told you, let Aries take care of Isla,” Aunt Linda said softly to Uncle Jason.

I blinked, a little confused, and turned to look up at Uncle. He smiled at me, his voice kind and patient.

“Little one,” he began, “you know Uncle and Auntie have to work hard to make money so we can buy you pretty, good things, right? So sometimes, we have to go away from home. While we’re gone, Aries will take care of you, okay?”

I stared at him quietly for a moment, trying to understand. My chest felt heavy, a tiny ache forming there — I didn’t want them to go. But at the same time, something warm flickered inside me. At least… I won’t be alone, I thought. Aries will be there for me.

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Just like that, the day passed quietly, the two of them spending time together until Uncle Jason and Aunt Linda had to leave.

The nanny, hoping the children would grow closer, smiled and said gently, “Isla, dear, could you go and call the young master for breakfast?”

Isla nodded eagerly and hurried out of her room. As soon as the door opened, she ran across the hall to the room opposite hers and knocked.

When Aries opened the door, he looked around in confusion — there was no one at his eye level. Then, as he glanced down, he spotted a tiny figure standing before him. Isla looked up at him with wide eyes and said earnestly, “Brother, shouldn’t we get ready for school?”

For a moment, Aries just stared at her — then a quiet laugh escaped his lips. The sight was unexpectedly funny and a little endearing.

He already knew his parents wanted him to take care of her, and that she’d be attending the same school as him. Still, seeing her standing there, so serious and innocent, stirred something gentle in his heart.

Aries leaned against the doorframe, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Oh? And how exactly should I get ready?” he asked, pretending to be confused.

I blinked at him, completely serious. “Well… first we brush our teeth, then we take a bath, and after that, we eat breakfast and go to school!” I said proudly, as if I’d solved a very hard puzzle.

Aries raised an eyebrow. “So after bathing, you’ll go straight to breakfast without dressing up?” he asked, his lips twitching. “Why are you so dumb?” he added with a playful flick to my forehead.

“Hey!” I pouted, rubbing the spot and turning away with a sulky look. But before I could walk off, Aries chuckled, scooped me up easily into his arms, and started heading downstairs.

I crossed my arms stubbornly, pretending to be mad — but inside, I couldn’t stop the tiny smile forming on my face.

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To be continued.......