Killian’s Pov
After I finished taking my bath, I didn’t go downstairs right away. I sat at my desk instead. Maybe working would help me. clear my head. Maybe I could bury myself in files and forget what just happened between me and Lilith.
I opened my laptop. Checked my emails. Looked through some documents. But my mind wasn’t fully there. I kept pausing, thinking, going back. I worked for like an hour or so before I finally stood up and decided to go downstairs for breakfast.
As I walked toward the stairs, my eyes shifted in the direction of her room. I wondered if she had already left for her father’s place. She said she wanted to go. Maybe she was serious.
But when I got downstairs, there she was.
Lilith.
Sitting there, eating breakfast.
And Nolan was sitting too, not close to her, but in the same space.
I paused for a second.
Nolan and I nodded at each other. Just a silent greeting.
But my eyes were on Lilith. She didn’t even look my way.
Her face looked calmer. Her eyes were clear now, not puffy or red. Like she hadn’t just cried her eyes out less than two hours ago. She was just eating, like nothing happened. Like nothing at all.
I sat down and Rose brought me my breakfast.
But I wasn’t really hungry anymore.
I kept glancing at her. Watching her. Trying to read something on her face.
Wasn’t she supposed to be torn apart? Her mom just died. But she was eating like everything was okay.
Maybe I was right after all. Maybe she was faking it earlier. Maybe she really didn’t care.
So, while eating, I decided to ask casually, “Where’s your friend Emily? And Maya? What about my parents?”
Lilith answered simply, “Emily went out with Maya. I don’t know about your parents. They should be in their room.”
That was it.
No extra words. No sarcasm. No fake attitude.
Just a straight, calm answer.
I was surprised.
I just nodded and said “Okay,” then continued eating. But my eyes stayed on her.
She finished eating soon after, wiped her mouth, and stood up.
She turned to Nolan and said. “Thanks for the kind words today. I really appreciate it.”
Nolan smiled and said, “Anytime.”
Then she added, “I’ll go paint… or maybe go for a swim. I feel a bit tired.”
She didn’t even glance at me. She just walked away like I wasn’t even sitting there.
Not one word. Nothing.
And she said she was going to swim?
Swim?
After losing her mother?
I turned to Nolan.
“What’s her problem?” I asked.
Nolan blinked, confused. “What?”
“I mean, she’s supposed to be bawling her eyes out. Crying. Looking miserable. Not talking about swimming.”
He sighed. “Is that what you want? For her to be broken and begging for your pity? She told me everything you said to her.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh God, spare me the lecture. So now you two have teamed up against me?”
I pointed at the seat she just left. “Look at her, Nolan. She’s happy. Laughing inside. She’s a narcissist. Self–centered. And you’re falling for it.”
He frowned. “I’m not having this conversation with you.”
“Well, that’s on you,” I said, standing up. “If you want to be under her little spell, then fine. But don’t expect me to play along. I see her for what she really is.”
He didn’t say anything. Just nodded.
I left my food half–eaten and walked away. My appetite was gone.
As I climbed the stairs, I heard a splash of water from outside.
I paused and looked out the window.
There she was.
Lilith.
Diving into the pool.
Her hair soaked. Her body gliding through the water like she didn’t have a single worry in this world.
What the hell?
Her mother just died… and she’s swimming?
What kind of person does that?
But still, I didn’t move,
I stood there.
Watching her.
Her wet hair.
The way her skin glistened in the sunlight.
She looked beautiful. So damn beautiful.
How could someone this beautiful be so heartless?
Why did I even care?
Why was I standing here, staring?
No. No, I won’t let myself care.
Look at her.
Having the best time of her life while pretending to be broken earlier.
I was right all along.
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