Chapter 7

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Ravi turned around and saw me. I was only wrapped in a towel, and he looked me up and down.

“Ravi?” I looked at him in shock. “What are you doing here?”

“This is my house.”

“I’m grounded.”

“This is my house.”

“This is my bedroom.”

“You’re my woman.”

“That’s my book.”

Ravi’s lips curled up slightly, and he snorted. This was the first time I had seen him smile. Or rather, this was the first time I had seen any expression on his face. He put down the book in his hand, then got up and walked toward me.

I stood still and my hands clutched the towel around my chest.

Ravi stopped ten centimeters away from me and looked down at me. As I avoided his gaze, I took a step back warily. Ravi took a step forward. I took another step back, but the back of my heel pressed against the wall. Ravi stood his ground and didn’t move.

“What’s the matter?” I spoke first to break the awkward silence.

Ravi shoved his hands into his pockets. “Your father is dead.” He kept staring at me to see my reaction.

I didn’t know what to say, and I pursed my lips.

“The funeral is tomorrow morning,” Ravi added.

I looked up at Ravi. “I can’t walk out of this room until tomorrow evening, can I?”

“You have to consider the consequences of attending the funeral.”

“I know. I just want to visit his grave the day after tomorrow.” I looked at Ravi earnestly.

Ravi nodded and walked away. He closed the door without locking it.

I walked to the table and sat down. I felt conflicted. I wasn’t sad about my father’s death. When I was six years old, my mother and I had moved into the big house where my father lived. Before that, my mother and I had lived alone, and my father had occasionally come to see us. He left home early and returned late everyday, and he rarely spoke to me. All these years, I had been physically punished, beaten, and imprisoned for various reasons by Raul, but my father had ignored it. The only reason I would go to his cemetery to pay my respects was that he had been quite good to my mother. At home, Raul hadn’t done anything outrageous to my mother, even though he treated her rudely. It was probably because my father was protecting her.

I went to the bathroom and dried my hair, then carried the book to the bed and continued to read. I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, the book was upside down on my face. I took the book away and changed my position to continue sleeping, but I couldn’t fall asleep because I was too hungry. I covered my stomach as I tossed and turned in bed. ‘I won’t be hungry after I fall asleep,’ I told myself.

At this moment, I regretted not eating the cheesecake yesterday. If I could have a cheesecake now, I would eat it without hesitation.

I couldn’t sleep anymore. I sat up in bed and looked at the clock. It was four thirty in the morning and the sky was still dark. I walked to the table, turned on the desk lamp, and continued reading.

The sky gradually brightened. Sunlight shone through the cracks in the curtains and into the room. I became more and more energetic as I read, and my hunger became more pronounced. I organized the books I had finished and memorized the content.

I smelled hot chocolate. I crept to the door and opened a crack.

Ravi walked to the top of the stairs with a cup in his hand. He set the cup on the table next to the staircase and said, “Maria, come up and take it away.” Then he turned and walked back to his room while muttering, “It tastes like shit.”

After half a minute, Maria came up. I waved at her through the door.

“How can I help you, Irina?”

“I’m… thirsty.”

“I’ll go down and get you some water.”

“There’s no need to trouble yourself. Isn’t there one right here?” I lift my chin and stare at the cup of hot chocolate.

“But you can’t eat.”

“Yes, I won’t eat anything. I’m just thirsty. I need something to drink.”

Maria handed me the hot chocolate. I picked up the cup and gulped it down. I placed the cup on the tray in her hand and wiped my mouth with my hand.

“Thank you, Maria.” I smiled and waved at her as I closed the door.

I finally wasn’t so hungry anymore. I fell asleep on the bed instantly. It was a deep sleep.

When I opened my eyes, it was in the afternoon. The past two days had been a daze. My head felt heavy, and I felt hungry and tired. I had a high bed and a pillow, but the confinement was torturous. I lay in bed in a semi-conscious state.

I saw my door swing open and Ravi walked in. He sat on my bed while running his hand through my hair, and his deep blue eyes were shining. He leaned down and gently kissed my forehead. I could smell the cologne on him.

The kiss was very light. I couldn’t tell if I was dreaming or awake. I said to myself, “Am I dreaming?”

Ravi didn’t answer. He just looked at me with his soulful blue eyes. I couldn’t read his expression. I reached out to touch his face to make sure it wasn’t a dream. My hand felt the warmth of his skin.

When I opened my eyes again, it was evening and the two-day confinement was finally over. I struggled to sit up in bed, and suddenly, I remembered what I saw. Was it a dream? If it was, why would I dream of him? If it wasn’t a dream, why would he act so gentle? I scratched my hair in confusion.

I ignored those confusing thoughts and decided to eat first. I stood up. After taking a few steps, I felt my vision go black and my legs go weak. I staggered to the door and opened it.

I rested my hand on the door frame and it took me a moment to register everything before my eyes. I walked down the stairs with my hand on the wall and saw Ravi sitting alone at the dining table, which was filled with food. My spirits lifted immediately and I rushed to the dining room..