Love Doesn't Matter

Chapter 41 – Is It Because Of Him?

She wondered what he had in his hand, but she didn’t ask. He also didn’t seem to want to explain in detail.

“I’m close to the deadline I promised you. Decide now. Whether you will keep Beppy Dilson or not.”
“What?”
“If he feels like a lookout, I can’t keep him around you anymore. I kept my promise to save Laura, so don’t feel burdened.”
“N-No. I didn’t mean that.”

Emilia quickly waved her hand.

“He is a really nice person. He was really good to us. My family really thinks of him as part of the family now. Even my brother Mitch…”

As she mumbled, she suddenly stopped speaking.
It was really weird. Deciding whether or not to keep Mr. Beppy…

“Then keep him by your side. Beppy will also want to live with your family. Laura is going to get married soon anyway.”

Astonishment was added to the surprise. He glanced at Emilia, who couldn’t close her mouth.

“You didn’t know?”
“No…”
“I guess he didn’t tell you.”

Rather than not telling her, she didn’t ask him.
Emilia was always wary. She was afraid that her family, including herself, would become too close with Mr. Beppy.
That’s why she always made her family members not talk about it. And not ask questions about personal matters.

“The wedding is going to be held in two months. She fell in love with a worker from the vineyard.”
“That’s… A really good thing…”
“It’s good for Beppy Dilson too. He will be able to stay with your family without feeling burdened.”
“No, I have no intention to keep living with him. Of course, it’s not because I don’t like him. If you’re thinking of using that as an excuse to sell him to some strange place…”

He laughed. It was a dry laugh.

“Don’t worry. I promised I wouldn’t force you like that. He will get another suitable job at the end of the contract period. Just a few more months.”

A few more months? Was the duration that important?

Emilia, who was thinking with a blank look on her face, realized that she had completely forgotten the purpose of coming here.

“Anyway, congratulations. You got what you wanted. I’m glad you look happy. The truth is, I… I’m here to talk about something a little uncomfortable.”
“… Tell me.”

Emilia wet her dry lips with her tongue and opened her mouth without hesitation.

“Are you planning to visit or meet me after the breakup?”
“… Why are you asking such a thing?”
“Because I’m never going to allow it.”

Only the soft melody continued for a long time. The moment when Emilia could not stand her frustration and was about to say something.

“The reason is?”

He asked. Emilia clenched the ring tightly and opened her mouth.

“That day…”

Naturally, she had no choice but to say, ‘that day’.
However, contrary to her intention, the atmosphere began to change. The loosened atmosphere felt tense again, and a strange feeling came up her spine.

“Yeah, that day.”

‘That day’ that she tried so hard to forget came rushing in like a tidal wave.
An intense dance, a man who suddenly stopped, a soft lick, and a very deep push…

“Do you regret it?”

The moment he asked that question, the ‘Der Lindenbaum’ reached its peak. She couldn’t believe Hadius, who was playing the piano without interruption even amid this.

But that man is just… That kind of man.
A person whom you can never know what he’s thinking because he is wrapped in infinite layers of masks. The boy who said he liked The Prince and the Pauper the most, the pain of being watched, and the cold solitude that must have ruled his life.

What else is hidden?

Somehow, it hurts her heart to know that he is hiding so many things in his indifferent attitude.
Nevertheless, Emilia did not waver.

“Yes, I regret it.”

The melody that seemed to last forever suddenly stopped.

“I really regret that we did that. So, I can’t continue seeing the Young Master.”

Hadius turned his head and their eyes met.

Dizziness rose. It was only then that she realized that the thump, thump, she had been hearing since a while ago was the sound of her heart beating.

“You know what the problem is? It’s too late to regret it. From now on, I am not going to endure it.”

Hadius’ gaze fell directly on her lips. She realized it in a dizzying shock. What is that burning feeling clawing at her lower abdomen, at this moment?
It’s not like it hurts. It’s desire. Not knowing what it was, Emilia was caught up in desire.

“I’m warning you. If you keep looking at me like that, the thing you regret…”

The man’s face slowly approached. Her heart pounded. Everything was about to go back to square one.

“I’m going to repeat it until I get tired of it.”

Hadius lowered his lips toward Emilia, who was frozen like a stuffed animal.
Emilia couldn’t escape. No, it may be that she didn’t want to escape.

Slowly, their lips touched. It was a light touch like a feather, but her whole body trembled once again. His hand grabbed her slender wrist and pulled it up over his shoulder.

Once again, their lips met. A little deeper this time, until he dug into the soft skin.

Emilia continued to lean back. It was a meaningless move. Then, for a moment, she lost her balance and staggered.

The man’s arm gently supported her back and he started weighing himself down on Emilia. The moment her back touched the chair cushion, Emilia was pinned down. Completely crushed, she accepted the man.

It was completely different from when he licked softly. Hadius, who was on top of her, completely pried her mouth open, revealing the man’s desire.
Once again, his tongue broke in. He bit her soft tongue, which kept running away, with his lips, and then greedily sucked it in.

A-aah, hhmmm, nnhg…

An obscene moan hit the ceiling. When her lips tingled and were almost numb, Hadius finally let her go.

He tilted his head back and looked down at Emilia, who was panting. Then, suddenly, he reached out and gently tucked her messy hair behind her ear.

Even amid the shock, Emilia had no choice but to admit it.
The feeling that was boiling in her lower abdomen was delightful. It wasn’t unpleasant.

“Do you still regret it?”

The hand that ran down her hair wrapped around her blushing cheek. The man’s fingertips caressed her cheek, passing through her cupid’s bow and towards her lips. Like a sensitive tentacle, her lips were closed tight before they could even touch it.

Hadius lightly rubbed her moist lips with his fingertips, not paying attention. She could clearly feel it in his touch. He wanted to do it again. Repeat it until he got tired of it.

“Let me go.”
“What if I don’t want to?”

Emilia stopped the hand that was touching her lips.

“I really hate it. Stop it.”
“Should I beg? Do you want something like that?”

The startled head shook violently.

“It doesn’t matter whether you beg or threaten me. I do not want to see you again after the breakup.”

At that moment, the eyes looking down shook slightly.

“I know what the Young Master is thinking. You’re planning on setting a trap again. You’re thinking about what kind of trap you should set this time, and how you should make it so that it goes how you want it to.”
“…”
“You might even say you’ll send Laura back to the brothel. Isn’t that so?”
“I’m not sure.”

As soon as he answered, he suddenly grabbed her wrist. She couldn’t stop it this time.

“It’s a good idea, but unfortunately I can’t use it. Because you saw through my strategy.”

Hadius squeezed her wrists on both sides, as if they were handcuffed. She became helpless. Like a prisoner that was tied up.

“Let go.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you.”
“I don’t know. Who knows, maybe I’ll hit you if you don’t.”

Hadius laughed. The corners of his lips that were curled up were full of self-deprecation.

“I’m disappointed to actually hear that. No wonder you don’t trust me.”
“Don’t pretend to be weak. No matter what you do, it won’t work. I don’t care what tricks you use now. Let go.”

Emilia twisted her whole body with all her strength. But he was still on top of her, and Emilia was pinned down.

“Listen to my offer seriously. Then I will let you go.”
“An offer… What does that mean?”
“Not a threat, not an intimidation, an offer you can’t refuse.”
“No, something I can’t refuse… There is no such thing.”
“You have a family. Your stepmother that works at the factory, your crippled sister, and your ambitious brother.”

Her heart dropped.

Emilia stared blankly at the lattice ceiling, over the pure white shirt. One by one, her sensations started to come back.

“Trust me and rely on me. Then you can make your family a little happier.”

For a moment, Hadius let go of her wrist. He gently caressed her reddened skin, as if to compensate for the tight grip he had held. A hot feeling rushed through every blood vessel with her blood circulation.

“I don’t know why you are so angry but stop it now.”

Emilia thought of Reina. It must have been for her family too. Besides, this kind of immoral pleasure existed as a bonus between a man and a woman.

She is different. She will never live like that.

Pleasure is short and vain. Didn’t she experience enough at the tavern?
It is like a firecracker. When it explodes, only a stinky smoke remains, which hurts the eyes and throat. As the atmosphere rapidly cooled down, instead of excitement, only discomfort remained in her lower abdomen, where the blood was not flowing.

“No matter what offer the Young Master makes, I won’t change my mind. Please move… It hurts.”

The last carefreeness disappeared from the man’s face.

Emilia got up and straightened her messy hair and fixed her clothes. Then, without hesitation, she took out the ring.

“Please take it.”

Hadius immediately recognized the nature of the small metal reflecting the light.

“The reason I came here is to give this back.”

Emilia put the ring down somewhere on top of the piano. He looked at Emilia with unknown eyes.

A long silence followed. All she could hear was the ticking of the clock’s hands.

Hadius picked up the ring, hiding himself in ambiguity. Emilia started taking a step backwards, hesitantly.

“I’ll send Mr. Beppy off when his time is over. It will take time to say goodbye. Not all of the time we spent together was bad. I won’t deny that there was also something to be grateful for… And even good feelings. Then, goodbye.”

Emilia, who had arrived at the doorsill, was planning to leave without delay. However…

“Is it because of him?”
“What?”
“Nathan Malvin.”

Emilia stiffened as she heard a name that made her doubt her ears.

“No… How… I don’t know what made you think that… I… This… It has nothing to do with Young Master Malvin…”
“Did you call him that?”
“… What?”
“Young Master Malvin.”

He muttered, as if he were enduring something.

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