Niko said he would accompany Skyla to look at wedding rings next month. His tone was low, revealing no hint of the joy one might expect before a marriage.
I don't know what Skyla said, but Niko's brows furrowed tightly, and a shadow of malevolence flashed across his clear, beautiful eyes.
"Just take care of your brother. Is he still recuperating at that villa in the western suburbs? I know a foreign psychologist, I'll give you their contact information."
After Niko hung up the phone, I pretended to be nonchalant while analyzing the information from the conversation.
Niko and Skyla are going to get married, and Niko asked Skyla to keep an eye on Jaeden.
As I was pondering this, Niko suddenly placed his hands on my shoulders.
I looked up, and he showed a gentle smile.
Niko didn't used to smile much. When we were together, he often pouted and raised his eyebrows, wearing an expression of disdain and indifference.
But seeing me, he maintained that false, gentle smile.
That smile was too familiar to me. The curve of his lips was just right.
He sat down next to me, put his arm around my shoulders, and pulled me closer to him forcefully.
Then he said, "I was too weak before, but now I'm going to reclaim everything that's mine."
The tone of those words made me even more certain that he was emulating Jaeden.
Jaeden was a domineering man who liked to smirk and always got his way. Niko was imitating Jaeden.
He was a good imitation. If I hadn't known the shy and often passive Niko from before, I might have believed that Niko was naturally domineering and assertive.
When Niko first found me, he would subconsciously avoid my gaze. But now, when I looked at him, I saw only calm and a certain determination to possess.
The current Niko is beyond my understanding.
How should I obtain what I want from this man?
I underestimated him. Before I came to his house, I thought he was still the cold-faced, warm-hearted, remorseful boy from before. Five years had transformed the once fearful Niko, who had abandoned me to avoid retaliation from the Abbott Family, into a jackal lurking in the shadows, one that doesn't let go of its prey.
I feigned a panicked expression on my face.
Niko said, "Jaeden has started investigating my law firm. Will you come abroad with me?"
Before I could nod, Niko hugged me, resting his chin on my hair.
In a sorrowful tone, he said, "I know you hate me, Desi. Once we're abroad, I'll explain everything to you. What you've lost, I'll help you regain, but not now."
I slowly wrapped my arms around his waist and softened my tone.
"Niko, thank you. If only it had been you from the beginning."
After I said this, he cupped my face and asked, "Do you really mean that?"
I said, "Yes, it would have been better if I had never met Jaeden."
My sincerity was too convincing for him to discern whether it was genuine or not.
Niko began handling the procedures and transferring his assets. For these days, I hid in Niko's room every day.
Niko clearly likes blue, but his room is decorated in black, which is Jaeden's preference.
Niko's clothes are also in dark colors. Despite his preference for sweets, he drinks black coffee like Jaeden.
This is terrifying. He's imitating Jaeden.
Niko says he wants to take me abroad, that he wants to start anew with me, and that I will eventually come to like him.
During the day, all the windows in Niko's house were curtained, and Niko instructed me not to open the door for anyone. At night, Niko held my hand tightly as we slept.
If I pushed his hand away, he would immediately open his eyes, staring at me like a snake lying in wait in the darkness.
I suddenly remembered something from my childhood. In middle school, there was a tedious activity that required daily sign-ins and tasks. If you persisted for a year, you would receive a small butterfly made of gold.
It was quite popular in our class, and many classmates participated in the activity.
I casually mentioned that I liked the little butterfly and wanted to participate.
I didn't stick with it, but Niko did.
He completed the task for an entire year, answering nearly 11,680 questions, never missing a single daily sign-in. Finally, he earned the little butterfly.
He secretly placed it in my backpack, which resulted in me getting a beating from my grandfather. My grandfather said I shouldn't accept such a valuable gift and made me return it to Niko.
At that time, I knew that Niko was a very patient person.
More accurately, he was obsessive. Someone like that finds it difficult to accept losing what they have gained.
I will let Niko have me.
First, I will revisit our childhood memories with him, reinforcing the good times we shared.
Those five blank years meant we only had memories, no future. I will help him polish those memories.
Secondly, I want Niko to rediscover himself. I say black is ugly and blue is beautiful. I complain that black coffee is bitter and express a desire for something sweet. I tell him that I hope Niko remains true to himself.
There's no trick to this strategy; the trick is sincerity.
Every morning, I repeat thirty times in front of the mirror, "I love Niko."
Niko's gaze is too piercing. As a lawyer, he is adept at catching every detail.
An insincere version of me would be easily detected by him, leading to suspicion.
Therefore, I cannot make mistakes with any details. I must create the illusion that I love him.
I first deceive myself so that I can deceive him.
