" Do you believe me? "

Leo Blaze Arlotta settled back against his seat. When he had come to walk her to class early this morning, he had been surprised when the heiress asked him if he knew a quiet place for them to be alone.

If he were honest, there had been a smallest part of him that thought it would lead to an assignation, and so he had brought her to the small office the school administration had given to him.

When he had her comfortable in her seat, he had asked her how she was doing, thinking she would tell him about her beach getaway, which the university had been enviously talking about the entire weekend.

Instead, she had given him her life story.

Every painful, incredible part of it.

He said finally. " Yes, I believe you. " This time, because he knew how much honesty meant to Kathy, he only spoke the truth. " I'm not sure why I find it easy to believe you, but I just do. "

" Then you do not think I'm crazy? "

He slowly shook his head. " No, I don't. " He paused. " But you have to give the biker some slack. Everything that's happened seems designed to make you look insane. "

Kathy nodded. " I feel it here, you know. " Her fist banged against her chest, surprising Leo. " Madame Antonia is dead, " she whispered. " but her evil is everywhere, like a parasite on people's souls. "

" Have you talked to anyone about this besides Yuri and your therapist? "

She shook her head. " It would be disloyal, " she said simply. " to talk to his friends about my doubts. Its only because you are my friend that I have told you this. "

He hesitated then asked abruptly. " Is there anything I can do? "

She, too, hesitated and nodded.

" I...think so. " She opened her bag and rummaged through it until she found a business card. She handed it to him. " Could you please contact this man? He is my family's lawyer. Simply tell him I have asked you to help me, and he will assist you. "

He frowned. " I'm not sure what you want me to do. "

" Find out the truth for me. " Her voice caught. " Because right now... I no longer trust myself. I sometimes think... I am under stress and that I have indeed imagined everything. And If I try to find the truth on my own, people might not believe me. "

Ah.

His fists clenched. He wanted to hold her in his arms, just to give her some kind of comfort, but he didn't. There was just something about Kathryn Ice Rewis that was too pure for the likes of him. Or maybe everyone else, including the biker who was taking her for granted.

" Don't blame Athanas for not believing you." He said gruffly. " Based on what you've told me, he's got his own share of scars to heal from. "

" I understand. "

But he saw in her eyes that she was trying but failing to understand. In her eyes, he saw hurt, and it blinded her like a child, leaving her unable to see anything past the pain. He said uneasily. " Don't do anything crazy.." Shit! He realized that right away he had chosen the wrong word. " Kathy, you know... I don't... "

" Of course. " She said politely.

After, when Kathy was long gone, he continued to think about her.

He had to do whatever he could as fast as possible.

The more he thought about Kathy, the more he thought that he hadn't seen anyone looking so damn alone as she did.

When she had been with Madame, she had not broken because she hadn't known what she was missing.

But now she did.

" You are doing what's right, Mr. Athanas. " Dr. Simon Corba said in a low, reassuring voice. " With special patients like Ms. Rewis, it is critical that you do not do or say anything that might upset her. " Having learned from his first and unfortunate encounter with the Greek Scion, the doctor was now careful and circumspect when referring to Kathryn.

" You are also doing a great job, " he continued. " in keeping your worries to yourself. " But in truth, it was the opposite. From the notes he had gathered about Madame Antonia's case, he had found out that silence would further destroy Kathy's confidence.

Silence would remind Kathy about how Madame Antonia treated her as an object, and that was exactly how he wanted things to be between the heiress and her arrogant fianceé.

" Finally, sir... " He took a deep breath. " If she ever becomes violent, I have taken the liberty of notifying my colleagues in your area. They are on standby and will be able to take her to a private clinic where she will be treated. "

With his dick, he thought in cruel pleasure.

He had flown in to Florida as early as last weekend because he could feel it in his bones that the first domino was close, so excitingly close to falling, and he wanted to be there when Yuri Daniel Athanas whole world came crashing down on him.

" I don't think that will be necessary.  " Yuri Daniel Athanas was saying coldly.

Dr. Simon Corba didn't let this affect him, only murmuring. " But she must if you truly love her, Mr. Athanas. Everything that's happening now is because the shock from the late Mrs. Kristina Rewis death has finally worn off, and she finds herself grasping for something stable and familiar. Our clinic can provide her with such as environment. "

Yuri closed his eyes wearily after his call with the doctor.

What do I do, sweetheart? He wished he could ask Kathy about it, but he couldn't.

He remembered the first few days he had with Kathy, and how innocently beautiful they all were.

Kathy, looking up at him as she held his hand, her voice grave as she asked. " This is how we should walk, shouldn't we? "

And he had asked. " According to? "

" The internet. " She had answered simply.

He remembered Kathy introducing herself to the former president. " I am Kathryn Ice Rewis, but you may also call me Kathy. I am the girl Yuri loves. "

He remembered her pointing to his dick. " Make it stop moving and growing. "

God.

It felt like an eternity had passed since those days. Everything had been so bright, and now it was all darkness, and he was lost.

It was the past all over again.

He loved, and he was blinded by it.

Rain played a melancholic melody outside the executive kitchen of the Alcolyte Triad headquarters, fogging up windows and creating an atmosphere that was more lonely than sad. It was bigger than the common kitchen on the ground floor and was more rustic than modern, with overhead wooden beams lining the high ceiling and reclaimed brick walls.

Only one person was inside the kitchen, and her eyes were blind to the beauty surrounding her. All her frowning concentration was focused on the two-partitioned bento box on the worktable, which lacked only the finishing touches.

In the larger section of the box, a cheese cutout forming the shape of a girl, holding a pink umbrella made of cold cut ham, was placed on top of a small serving of vermicelli noodles cooked in aglio olio.

Under the pasta was the " ground " consisting of olives and tomatoes, where the girl stood, while around the cheese girl were raindrops made of minced red onion.

In the smaller partition was a fresh appetizer made of mini carrot sticks, golden potato balls, and cauliflowers.

There was just enough space for a fruit dessert, and this was the last thing that Kathy completed, peeling an apple in such a way that it created a red-and-white checkered pattern.

Pushing the vegetable appetizer to the edge with her fork, she placed the apple inside the box and afterwards leaned back to consider her work.

She waited for the usual flush of pleasure to wash over her, but it didn't come, and it...terrified her.

Squaring her shoulders, Kathy forced herself to focus on her work. She set aside the box and worked on the next. Her lips moved in a feverish, soundless chant.

I. Will. Not. Break.

But before the next day was over, she would.