Page 58 of The Forbidden Villain
Not sure why this entire interaction bothers me, maybe because for the first time, he stopped looking at me, and instead, this perfect girl has his entire attention.
When just seconds ago it was mine.
I rub my forehead since these kinds of thoughts are stupid, just as Raven whistles and chuckles, muttering, “This should be interesting.” Then a dark-haired guy marches toward us, his face expressionless, while coldness emits from him in spades. “My beloved cousin, Braiden, what brings you here?” If eyes could kill, Raven would be dead. Instead, he laughs onceagain. What a strange family they are. He points at the blonde, who now touches Levi’s arm while she continues to tell him something. They seem oblivious to the outside world. Is she his girlfriend? What is this burning in my chest anyway? “That’s Isabella, by the way. I mean, she’s like a cousin to us, right, Braiden?”
Braden signs something to Raven, and the guy grins wider, signing something back, and at this moment, I really wish I understood sign language.
“Do I look like an idiot to you? Contrary to you all, I do not have a death wish,” Raven replies, and they continue to argue some more.
Finally, Braiden snaps his fingers, his posture growing more tense and rigid when Isabella’s laughter fills the air. Didn’t know Levi was so funny! And why do I care anyway? “If you don’t wish to dance, Lavender, how about a stroll outside? I’d love for you to show me around the house. Truth be told, all of this isn’t really my scene. I prefer the labs.”
I stifle back a laugh because, according to social media, he loves a good party. How he has time for his research and groundbreaking projects, I have no idea. He fucks around more than Levi and Wyatt combined.
“Sure.” Anything to take me away from staring at Levi like a perverted stalker and examine my complicated feelings. “Where would you like to go?”
I gasp when he laces his fingers through mine and drags me toward the terrace, choosing the route that makes us walk through the entire room, all the while curious gazes are thrown our way.
What the hell is going on here?
My palm burns from the contact in a bad way, and I pull at it, only to freeze when Levi appears in front of us out of nowhere. “Raven.” Coldness and something else coat his voiceas he greets the guy, and then his eyes fall momentarily on our locked hands. To my relief, Raven loosens his hold on me. Not before gently brushing his fingers over my knuckles, as if apologizing, and that somehow grows the tension surrounding me tenfold. “What are you doing?”
“All this romantic bliss is wonderful, but boring to me, so I asked Lavender to show me around. You know, for scientific purposes.” He bumps my shoulder a little, winking at me. “She graciously agreed.”
“Of course she did.” Somehow, this doesn’t sound like praise, and Levi hits me with his next sentence, the attack coming so unexpectedly that I have no time to prepare for it. “She has nothing else to do. You’re the first person who spoke to her tonight.” He looks me as he adds, “Your scars unsettle people.”
On reflex, I feel the need to explain myself. “My dress and hair cover them.” Rebellion grows within me at my small tone, and I clear my throat, lifting my head, refusing to let this entitled brat think he hurt me even though he did.
I’m used to everyone whispering and staring, so why do his words bring me pain? Did I hope he wouldn’t notice them, and why would I hope for that anyway?
“What a pity,” he replies, and then addresses Raven. “I thought you dedicated your life to seeking out perfection. So what are you doing with Lavender?” Another harsh note in his voice that, for whatever reason, makes Raven chuckle.
“Exactly. I see perfection, and she represents that quite well, don’t you think?”
“I’d have to disagree and question your sight then.”
The hell!
“You can have your opinions, but you won’t call me ugly in my own house.” I can’t believe I said that out loud, and his blue eyes sparkle. Maybe I should appreciate him for his honesty,but somehow it just hurts me, and I wish to avoid it now. “And if you’ll excuse us, we have places to be.” This time, I grab Raven, ready to go outside and hide.
“Raven, Isabella would like to speak to you.” I see the blonde girl waving at us just as Braiden joins her, and she blushes, while he just stares at her.
“She seems busy to me.”
“Still go and say hi. That’s the polite thing to do.”
“Oh, we are being polite now? Where was the politeness just seconds ago when you ripped Lavender to shreds with your fucked-up words?” I blink in surprise at the harshness in Raven’s tone.
“Raven.”
“Levi.”
“Is everything all right?” Wyatt joins the conversation, holding a glass of orange juice. “Hi, darling.” He sucks through his teeth. “You look gorgeous.”
“According to Levi, I look horrible and should dig a hole for myself.”
Levi’s gaze grows stormy, and so much tension pollutes the air that it becomes suffocating. “I didn’t say horrible. I said imperfect.”
He explains this as if it changes everything, and I should be flattered by it?
