Chapter 24 - Her Response to His Frontal Attack (2)

WARNING! SPG AHEAD!

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'I need to talk to him alone.'

That was her plan, but Ingrid's eyebrows started to crease after knowing that the man in question was nowhere to be seen.

The engagement party was held in a hotel, though not an extravagant one but somewhere on decent side that offers good services.

The event already ended, but the party is not. Guests still linger around to dance, drink, and be merry, but the couple who was supposed to be the center of attention is not present.

Her feet were starting to hurt from walking too much, and also didn't help that the place was dim lighted.

She roams her eyes again, thankfully, Ingrid sighted Rembrandt's secretary. After wiping away the sweat that started to form on her forehead, she asked, "Where's my brother?"

"At his hotel room, miss"

Figured.

After knowing their room number, Ingrid left the venue, but while walking away, when the party light managed to reach her pocketside, somehow, it produced a glint.

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Ingrid was standing in front of the said room. Her heart was threatening to escape from her ċhėst. She's nervous, alright. But no matter what, she had to do this right now. Or else, she might not have the chance to see Rembrandt again before their wedding.

She knocked. No one answered.

Like a creep, she stealthily entered the room. Although the room is dark, she saw no one, however the sound of running water was distinct.

Ingrid's eyes turned to slits. Is she going to see something indecent right now?

Damn, this made her uncomfortable again.

She took a deep breath to calm her fast beating heart. The best course of action right now is to leave, but her feet won't budge an inch.

Alright, she really can't stomach to see the two of them doing that. It's time to abort mission. She just need to try her best finding the next chance.

As she turned to leave, the bathroom door creaked open. The sound of droplets of water falling into the cold tiles dominated the once stilled room.

Ingrid caught her breath when a heavy pressure enveloped her shoulders. As if she had a stiff neck, she had a hard time turning her head around, or from the very start, she had no intention to.

The lone heavy steps coming from behind scared the living nightlights out of her.

He's alone, but fuċk, it's no better.

Ingrid can't help but squint her eyes when the lights were turned on, then shivered, turnaround in fright when a hot breath whispered close to her ears.

"What are you doing here?" He asked. But Ingrid's mind was blown away after seeing that the man in front of her was only wearing a towel that did little to none help in covering his entire body.

A warm hand covers her eyes before Ingrid can even admire the man's glistening specs.

"I don't like repeating myself, Dana." Ingrid gulp and slapped his hand away, she directed her gaze to a stained shirt that was thrown off the couch, a light pink tint appeared on her cheek.

Ingrid pursed her lips when she remembered her business in coming here.

In a serious yet youthful tone, she told him, "I want to talk to you."

Rembrandt was already wearing a decent clothes--a long cotton bathrobe, but the girl in front of him is still doing its best to avoid looking at his body.

His curiosity got piqued. Another bout of her craziness?

However, his jaw muscles tensed after hearing her opening remarks.

"Can you… not marry?" Ingrid bit her lips, eyes fluttering in nervousness.

Patience running off, Rembrandt replied with a hard tone. "Don't talk nonsense, Dana. Its my marriage that yo---"

"But you are not in love with her at all!" With quivering lips, she shouted with all her might.

"What made you think that?"

"I can see it… your so called love to your girlfriend," Finally, she had the courage to look at him in the eyes. "But why can't I feel it? If you really love her, why can't I?!"

From the little girl's outburst, Rembrandt's corner lip curved to form a grin. "Do you need love if you want to marry?"

Ingrid gasped from his answer. She was just testing the waters. Her earlier words was a total nonsense. Yet… why was his answer like that?

Rembrandt, for the nth time, why are you so hard to read?

Ingrid browsed on her memories of them together. Yes, she doubted their love before, but it was a doubt without much basis, when in fact, their relationship was displayed clearly in her eyes.

But with his words… all of it was bullshit? Maybe, Lu Wen's feelings for him was real, but Rembrandt's was an act?

No, fuċk. Probably he was just misleading her with his uncanny words.

She took a long breath before shifting the conversation.

"I… remembered what happened 10 years ago."

His robe wasn't able to hide the way his muscles constricted by her admission. He looked at her deeply. His scrutinizing gaze made her feel like he was trying to crack her head open to see what her thoughts inside.

"As well as your promise to me…"

The reason why Dana's mom was against the idea of her coming to that place. The reason why Rembrandt chose to maneuver back than to pass that road. The reason why the security around her was too tight that even a fly can't pass through.... is because of a tragedy that happened 10 years ago. A tragedy that was Dana's missing memories.

At the age of seven, Dana was a victim of human trafficking. Yes, Dana has been kidnapped, gone for about 2 days and 3 nights and it was all because of the young Rembrandt.

Rembrandt, after receiving an emergency call from someone, left an unguarded child behind.The scenes afterwards was as you expected, hell was raised everywhere, amidst that, their mom and dad formed a bond strong enough for marriage.

It was about to rain hard at that time, strong winds keep creating clamors to the windows, and teenager full of regret took a vow to a child covered in light wound in front of dilapidated three-story white house--in where the child was kept for days.

It was a promise of a lifetime to protect and ensure the child's happiness. Dana's happiness.

"You can marry anyone, but Lu Wen!" Ingrid is no fool. She guessed it right away that the caller of that night was Lu Wen. And Rembrandt too knew that he can't deny it to her. So she has every reason to say this.

Despite all this favors towards her situation, Rembrandt still chose to be cruel.

"I owe you with my life Dana, not with my soul." He walked towards the door. "Wish anything but that. You can leave now."

Ingrid was rooted on her spot. Why is his word just now seems so deep?

No fuċk, that's not the important thing here!

Rembrandt saw that she had no plans on moving. He grabbed her hand to guide her out.

"No!" Ingrid screamed. A clear-cut sound was produced when Ingrid's hand sundered the air with great force.

In a blink of an eye, a shiny material appeared on her palm.

After turning her wrist around, an ironic feeling crept into her bones... cause it is  indeed ironic, to choose to escape death---by dying.

Then blood bloomed on her view.