CHAPTER 18
1445 Words
“You see, Emman needs a legitimate father,” Meave said.
Her voice was calm, almost distant, as if she was only stating a fact.
She did not even look at him.
Her eyes remained focused on the book she was reading, her fingers gently holding the page as if nothing important had just been said.
Earl stood there for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly.
“Okay,” he replied. “I will follow what you want me to do.”
His voice was simple.
No hesitation.
No argument.
Just acceptance.
Meave gave a small nod in return, still not lifting her gaze from the book.
The room became quiet again.
But Earl did not leave.
Instead, he stayed where he was.
Standing.
Watching her.
There was something about Meave that he could not explain.
The way she sat.
The way she held herself.
The way she looked so calm, yet so distant at the same time.
She was not like anyone he had ever met before.
Not like Kennah.
Not like anyone in his past.
She was different.
And that difference made him curious.
Made him drawn to her.
Earl’s eyes remained on her longer than he realized.
He did not notice how obvious it had become.
But Meave did.
At first, she tried to ignore it.
She continued reading.
Turning the page.
Holding her calm expression.
But the longer it went on…
The more she felt it.
That gaze.
It was not uncomfortable.
But it was… unfamiliar.
Slowly, Meave lifted her eyes.
And when she did—
Their eyes met.
For a second, both of them froze.
The moment felt longer than it should.
Neither of them spoke.
Neither of them moved.
There was something in the air.
Something quiet.
But heavy.
Meave was the first to react.
“Uhmmm…” she let out softly.
Her composure slightly broke.
It was rare.
Very rare.
“I… I don’t know why but…” she said.
Her voice was no longer as steady as before.
Earl looked at her more closely now.
Curious.
“But you have a significant effect on me.”
Earl’s eyes widened.
He was not expecting that.
Not from her.
Not from someone like Meave Castillon.
For a moment, he could not respond.
He just stood there, processing her words.
“Just you staring at me…” Meave continued slowly, “makes me feel something.”
Earl swallowed slightly.
“Something… what?” he asked.
His voice was low.
Careful.
Meave looked away for a second.
Then back at him.
“I couldn’t focus on my work,” she admitted.
The honesty in her words made the moment even more intense.
Earl suddenly felt awkward.
Very awkward.
He did not know where to look.
He shifted slightly.
Then leaned a little to the left.
Then to the right.
Then looked at her again.
Then quickly looked away.
“O-okay then…” he said nervously.
“I’ll leave you now. I’ll go upstairs…”
He started to step back.
But before he could move further—
“No—no…” Meave said quickly.
Her voice came out faster than she expected.
Earl stopped.
“I’ll leave,” she added, correcting herself.
“Just stay…”
She closed her book and stood up from the couch.
Her movements were still elegant.
Controlled.
But something felt off.
Maybe it was the way her hand slightly tightened.
Or the way her breathing changed.
Earl noticed it.
But before he could say anything—
Meave took a step forward.
Then another.
And then—
Her foot slipped slightly.
Everything happened in a second.
But at the same time…
It felt slow.
Too slow.
Her body leaned forward.
Her balance lost.
And for a brief moment—
She was about to fall.
But Earl reacted instantly.
His hand moved forward.
He caught her.
His arm wrapped around her back, supporting her before she could hit the floor.
Their bodies came close.
Very close.
Too close.
For a second, everything stopped.
Meave’s hand instinctively held onto his shoulder.
Earl held her firmly, making sure she would not fall.
Their faces were only inches apart.
And once again—
Their eyes met.
This time, it felt different.
Stronger.
Deeper.
Meave’s breathing became uneven.
Earl could feel it.
He could feel how tense she was.
But at the same time…
She did not pull away.
She stayed there.
Looking at him.
As if she was trying to understand something.
Or feel something she could not explain.
Earl did not move either.
His grip remained steady.
Careful.
As if he was afraid that if he let go too soon, she would fall again.
Or maybe…
He just did not want to let go yet.
The space between them felt unreal.
Like something out of a dream.
The world around them faded.
No voices.
No movement.
Just the two of them.
Standing there.
Caught in a moment neither of them expected.
And somehow…
Neither of them wanted to break.
“Tha–thank you…” Meave said softly as she slowly pulled herself away from Earl.
Her voice was slightly unsteady.
But she quickly fixed her posture.
In just a second, she returned to her usual calm and elegant self, as if nothing had happened.
At least… on the outside.
Inside, it was different.
Her breathing had changed.
It became uneven.
Faster.
Her chest rose and fell in a way she could not fully control.
A faint dizziness started to spread through her body.
But she did not show it.
She turned away from Earl and began walking.
Each step looked normal.
Controlled.
But only she knew how difficult it was to maintain that composure.
Behind her, Earl remained on the couch.
Frozen.
His body still slightly leaned forward from catching her.
His hand slowly lowered.
His mind was still stuck in that moment.
The way she felt in his arms.
The way she looked at him.
It did not feel like something simple.
It felt… important.
But he could not explain why.
He stayed there, staring at the empty space where she once stood.
Meanwhile, Meave continued walking down the hallway.
When she was far enough from Earl, where he could no longer see her clearly—
She stopped.
Her hand moved to her chest.
She took a deep breath.
Then another.
Her body felt weak.
For a moment, she leaned slightly against the wall.
Her eyes slowly closed.
“This month…” she whispered to herself.
Her voice was low.
Barely audible.
“This will be the greatest test of my life.”
She opened her eyes again.
There was determination in them.
But also fear.
Slowly, she reached into her pocket.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she pulled out a small bottle.
Medication.
Without hesitation, she opened it and took three tablets.
She placed them in her mouth and swallowed them quickly.
Her hand remained there for a moment.
As if she was trying to steady herself.
Her breathing slowly began to calm.
But not completely.
Because the feeling was still there.
That strange reaction.
That uncontrollable response.
She lowered her hand and looked down.
“I have haphephobia,” she said quietly to herself.
Her voice carried a mix of frustration and acceptance.
“An intense, irrational fear of being touched…”
Her fingers curled slightly.
“Causing severe anxiety… panic attacks…”
She paused.
Her breathing became uneven again as she remembered what just happened.
“…and physical symptoms like trembling, sweating, and nausea.”
Her grip tightened.
“It often leads to extreme avoidance behaviors,” she continued.
“Such as isolating from others… or refusing physical contact…”
She took a deep breath.
“…to escape the fear.”
Her eyes slowly darkened.
“Especially… for men…”
The last words came out softer.
Almost like a confession.
Her body leaned slightly back against the wall again.
Her head tilted upward as she stared at the ceiling.
“When could I finally get over with this?” she asked herself.
There was no answer.
Only silence.
But before she could gather her thoughts—
Footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Fast.
Urgent.
Meave lowered her head and looked forward.
A butler came rushing toward her.
Her usually calm expression immediately changed.
“Ms. Meave!” the butler called out, her voice filled with panic.
Meave straightened herself quickly.
Her posture returned to its usual composed form.
But her eyes showed concern.
“What is it?” she asked.
The butler stopped in front of her, slightly out of breath.
“Ms. Meave…” she said.
Her voice trembled.
“Emman is missing!”
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