LEO

"Life is cruel, isn't it? I am sorry, baby, but I can't return your feelings." I looked at her; she had passed out in my arms.

She drank today. She came here alone, and I know exactly the reason.

The reason is ME. And I hate myself for that. But I am sorry; I really, really can't return your feelings. I am way too much older than you, Lara. A 13-year age gap isn't a joke. Even Riv, my friend, had a daughter when he was 15.

And moreover, YOU'RE THE DAUGHTER OF MY STEPDAD, AND I CAN'T DENY IT.

I tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear before kissing her forehead.

"But I promise I will protect you forever, even with my life," I whispered.

Suddenly, she started murmuring and crying. I wiped her cheeks and tried to listen to what she was saying, but I couldn't understand a thing, so I leaned my ear near her mouth.

"I am such an evil spirit, such bad luck. Everyone leaves me: first Mom, then Leo, and now Daddy also doesn't care about me anymore. I am so lonely, Mom." Tears were continuously falling from her eyes.

"No way, you're a gem, sweetheart. You're not bad luck; you're our lucky charm," I whispered near her ear. She nestled her head in the crook of my arm.

"Sir, the car is ready," one of my men came to tell me, and I nodded before scooping her up in my arms in a bridal way.

I don't know how to make her forget me without hating me. I can't tolerate her hating me, but this stubborn girl doesn't even hate me no matter what I do.

"You're way too good for our cruel world and for a devil like me. I would never dare to put my eyes on you, baby." I caressed her head as she was lying with her head on my lap.

"Go to my penthouse," I ordered. Mr. Jones can't know about this—that she drank, or he will lash out, and they will have a huge fight.

"Was that your pain that deep?" I whispered, still caressing her head.

But I can't commit the sin of getting into a relationship with her. She is young; she needs to explore things. And I am just a freaking old bastard to her.

I clenched my jaw before looking out of the window.

I need to find a solution soon. I can't see her destroying herself because of me. I took my phone out and dialed someone's number. How could I forget that one person?

"Hello, Stella. I need your urgent help. Come to my penthouse."

After ending the call, I looked down at her.

"I am sorry, baby. Maybe after this, I am going to be a villain in your eyes. But I need to do it to save you from my monster side. I am sorry, Lara." I kissed her forehead before rubbing my face harshly with my right hand.

Finally, the car stopped in front of my house.

"No one should be inside the house tonight. And make sure there's heavy security outside," I ordered Lucas and picked her up in my arms before walking inside.

"How's the condition of the guest room?" I asked one of the maids who was just going outside following my order.

She stopped in her tracks before bowing and then replied, "As per your order, we didn't enter the guest room, Master. If you want, we can clean it immediately," she said, looking down.

"No need. You may leave," I said, and she nodded before walking outside.

All this time, her face was hidden in the crook of my neck. No one can see her; no one should know she is related to me. I don't want to get any threats related to her, at least.

So there's no way I can put her in the guest room. I took her upstairs, to my personal space, to my bedroom, and slowly put her on the bed, adjusting her dress.

Just as I was about to remove my hand, she looped her arms around my neck.

Now what!? F**k!!!... The more I try to go away from her, the more she pulls me closer.

"Leo, I truly love you; it's not just attraction, trust me!!" Her eyes half-closed, I kissed her forehead, and my lips stayed there for a long moment.

She will forget everything tomorrow, I know, and that's why I pulled that stunt.

"I know," I replied.

"Then why can't you love me back? Why can't you return my feelings?" Her eyes welled up.

"Because I am bound to fate, Lara... I can't, even if I want to. It's better if you forget me completely," I said, giving her a bitter smile.

"You want me to forget you this badly? Then when I truly forget you, don't beg me to remember you. I won't do that then," she cried, making me pull her into my embrace.

Why? Why is my fate like this? Why was I born like this? I never wanted this... I never... I am sorry, Clara.

"Leo..." she called.

I looked down at her.

"Kiss me. For the last time. Maybe I will forget everything in the morning, but for now, kiss me. I swear I won't disturb you anymore after this."

She put her head on my neck before attaching her lips, sucking there until a red mark appeared. Her mark...

She trailed her tongue up before kissing the corner of my mouth and pressing her lips against mine for a good moment before pulling away and looking at me. "Why aren't you kissing me back?" she whispered, still drunk, her eyelids half-closed.

I don't know what to say; she was looking at me, hoping for an answer, but what she got was complete silence until she looked down, saying, "Sorry... Sorry for disturbing you... mmmmh..."

I pulled her by her neck before attaching my lips to hers, her soft, plump lips. I didn't move, just attached for a few moments before moving like a hungry beast who has never eaten before and is eating for the first time in his life. She suddenly pushed me by my chest, and I stopped immediately.

"Let me kiss you for the very first and last time," she pleaded, making me nod. But we didn't know how wrong we were. "For the very first time" is correct, but "for the last time"? This is brutally wrong.

She cupped my face before moving closer, her eyes staring at me. "I love you, Leo, and I hate the fact that I love you. I want to move on, but... silly me..." She didn't complete her sentence before kissing my jaw; every muscle in my body tightened. She has that power, that fucking power, which can make me numb under her touch. And the funny fact is she is only just 16. I hate myself for that.

"I won't appear in front of you after tonight," she said before kissing my cheeks.

"What the fuck are you saying?" I shouted. I literally shouted.

"Don't worry, Leo. I will go far away from you. I swear. You don't have to see my face every time, every day. You don't have to live in this penthouse alone. You can live peacefully with Mom and Dad," she said before kissing the corner of my mouth.

Peacefully? She doesn't know where my peace lies; she doesn't know that I only live here because I don't know how long my inner beast will control himself around her.

"What are you talking about? You're not in your right mind," I said, looking at her.

She smiled, a sad and bitter one.

"Even if I am not, this decision was made when I was sober, not drunk." She caressed my cheeks before attaching her lips to my Adam's apple.

Damn, not there!!! Not fucking there!!!

I gripped the bedsheet hard; she was literally sitting on my lap, sucking my Adam's apple, and I was here, letting her do whatever she wanted.

She cupped my cheeks again, saying, "After tonight, I won't say the 'LOVE' word ever again, I swear." She attached her lips to my neck again, sucking slowly as if she were savoring every single moment before grazing my pulse with her teeth.

Suddenly, I couldn't form words; her hot mouth against my neck made it impossible.

"Ohh, Lara," I moaned. I fucking moaned.

And she sucked hard, letting her tongue do the work in the middle.

I grabbed the back of her head, fisted her hair in my hands, still unable to grasp how overwhelming it felt.

Suddenly, I pulled her away, saying, "It's not right. We are committing a sin. I am way too much older than you."

"Then I want all of your sins. I don't care if your hair turns gray or your teeth fall out; I want you, your heart, your sins—everything," she said, holding my collar tight.

Gosh, I would have devoured her right now if we were in a normal relationship. But I can't. I just caressed her face, saying, "Sleep, Lara."

"NOOO!!! YOU DIDN'T KISS ME. I SAID TODAY IS THE FIRST AND LAST TIME!!!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs. I knew it; I knew that she would do that, and that's why there's no one inside the house today.

I grabbed the fabric of her shirt, fisted it in my hands, and pulled her hard, smashing my lips onto hers.

"I love you, Leo," she said between kisses, and my lips became more desperate, more needy. I want nothing but her. I gripped her waist tighter, sliding my hands through her dress and caressing her thighs.

Suddenly, my senses kicked in, and I almost threw her away from me.

"We should stop," I said.

"Do you hate me that much?" she asked.

How can she say that? I can never, at least not her.

"Stay still; I am bringing you something to eat." I got up from the bed; that's when she grabbed my wrist.

"Leo, I am not hungry. I-I just wanna sleep," she said, making me nod, but her next words made my eyes widen.

"Sleep with me, Leo," she said.

"What the fuck are you saying, Lara?" I shouted. What does she think? I will sleep beside her and still be able to control my inner beast?

"It's hot," she said, unzipping her dress.

I jumped on the bed, holding her hands tight.

"Don't..." I said, breathing heavily.

"It's damn hot, Leo. I-I feel like it burns," she said, rubbing her neck. I zipped her dress back.

She held my collar. "Leo, it's hot; please don't zip it back."

I picked her up before going inside the bathroom. Turning on the cold shower, I made her stand under it. "Nooo, it's way too cold... Leo, please, I am cold," she cried, hitting my chest continuously. But I held her hand tightly, keeping her in place. "I know... I know, but bear it a little," I said. We stood under the cold shower until she started shivering. "I hate you," she said, making me smile because, yeah, that's what I wanted—the word "hate" from her mouth directed at me.

I wrapped a towel around her before tying a cloth over my eyes with my tie. I unzipped her dress, and it fell with a small sound. I unhooked her bra and opened her panty, all while keeping my eyes closed. I reached out for the oversized t-shirt of mine that I had prepared beforehand and made her wear it. Suddenly, her body hit mine as she fell unconscious. I untied the tie from my eyes before picking her up and heading toward the bed.

I caressed her hair before kissing her forehead and walking out of the room without taking a single glance at her because I knew if I took one, I would never be able to walk out of this room.

"I LOVE YOU TOO, CLARA JONES. IT'S JUST THAT THE SITUATION IS NOT IN OUR FAVOR."