Page 105 of The Heart of a Villain

Although just thinking about never meeting Aileen and experiencing the spectrum of emotions she inspires within me sends displeasure through my whole being.

Pressing my elbow to the window and leaning on it, I gaze at the countless lights illuminating magnificent New York City, which once held all my affection, for its beauty and opportunities amazed me in ways nothing else could.

Now, though?

I live here—no, exist—for a hopeful glimpse of her in real life, trying to soak up her warmth just from being in the same city.

Why do people fall in love, if love means such unbearable pain?

“At this rate, we won’t have mugs left for you to destroy.” Rafael’s amused and annoying voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I half-turn to him while he comes closer to me, clicking his tongue at the mess I’ve created. “You might want to wash that and put some antiseptic on it.” He points at the blood smearing my palm, probably leaving yet another scar on my skin, serving as a reminder of my outburst.

Or anguish, depending on how one prefers to look at it.

“I don’t care about that.” I give him the standard reply, focusing back on the view while internally wondering what the fuck I’m doing here in the first place.

After Lachlan was rushed to the hospital, Rafael stayed behind on the island, helping to clean up our uncle’s mess, while I traveled with Aileen.

My twin handled everything like the pro, while I was acting like a caged animal, roaring my displeasure at not being able to soothe my woman, who told me to go to hell whenever I tried to approach her.

Ironically, her “uncles” didn’t say anything, just shook their heads whenever I came, already predicting their niece’s mood.

I intended to beg for her forgiveness if needed and promise her my atonement.

However, it all changed when Valencia showed up at the hospital. She walked through the hallways with lost eyes, despair written all over her features while reminding me of a ghost.

And then as she was passing us all by on her way to Lachlan’s room, she flicked her gaze to me and paused.

We stared at one another while everyone froze around us, fully prepared for her to either jump on me with her fists swinging or erupt into hysterics.

She had done neither of those things.

Instead, I saw no hatred in her eyes, just pain and hopelessness, before she resumed her walk.

Then, it finally hit me.

Lachlan and Valencia, when faced with impossible choices, always chose love instead of letting the darkness consume them. That’s what they taught their children as well.

And me?

I mocked this belief and shattered their world and their daughter with no care, just because of my self-righteous notion that they all owed me.

So that’s why I decided—even though my possessive and obsessive nature rebelled against this decision—to leave her alone and not bother her anymore.

Aileen deserved to be happy without me messing up her life.

Princesses belong to the princes of this world, and us villains should accept this universal truth; otherwise, we are all destined to die in anguish, dreaming about things that were not meant to be.

My bloody hand fists, and I slam it hard on the glass, the window shaking under me, and Rafael whistles. “Let’s not break the window, Rush, shall well?” He grabs my elbow and forcefully pulls me away from it while motioning with his head toward the couch. “Go sit down, and I will bring a first aid kit.”

The thunder rumbles in, dark clouds pouring rain on the ground and slapping soundly against it, fitting my current mood.

It was raining on the day I came to my brother’s penthouse, soaked from head to toe. I walked for hours in the city before my feet brought me here.

He didn’t ask me any questions, just opened the door and stepped out of the way, letting me in, and gave me time to gather myself.

Acquiring property in this city seemed pointless anyway, so instead, I transformed my twin’s penthouse into my stalking headquarters, filling it with the latest technology to give me the best footage of my princess, who wanted nothing to do with me.

And yet my heart would belong to her forever, soaring just at the small glimpses of her.

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