Chapter 4

I leaned against the door, slowly sliding down onto the cold floor, hugging my knees in utter despair. What was going to happen next? What would he do to me?

My head was filled with all those brutal punishments the book used on the evil female side character.

I couldn't just sit here and wait for my doom. I had to get out of here.

I jumped up and started searching the room for an escape route. I hurried over and peered down.

Damn, that was at least three stories high, and the ground below was a rock-hard lawn. If I jump, I'd either die or end up crippled.

Wait, I could make a rope out of the bedsheets and climb down. Hope flickered in my chest. I was such a genius.

Just as I was about to start pulling the sheets off the bed, the door suddenly clicked open.

Edward stood in the doorway, holding a glass of water, his face as dark as a thundercloud. He walked toward me, his eyes cold enough to spit ice shards.

I stumbled back in panic, my back hitting the icy window glass.

He slammed the glass down on the table, water splashing everywhere.

"Drink," Edward ordered. He fixed his icy gaze on me, words forced out through gritted teeth. "It's not poisoned."

I looked at the glass, and then at him, frozen in fear, unable to move.

'Not poisoned? As if I'd believe that,' I thought, 'Is he gonna drug me? If I drink it, will I turn into his puppet, doing whatever he says?

'How ruthless! These rich guys are cold to the core. I'd rather die of thirst or fling myself out the window than drink a drop from you.'

Inside, I was screaming, but on the outside, I looked like a scared little bunny. "N-no, I'm not thirsty. Thank you, Mr. Grant," I stammered.

A vein throbbed at Edward's temple. He squeezed his eyes shut, as if struggling to hold himself back.

When he opened them again, his eyes were bloodshot, and there was a wild, almost crazed look in them, like I was driving him insane.

"Sophia," he said through gritted teeth, his voice barely hiding his anger. "Can you just let your brain take a break for once?"

I was completely stunned.

'What's he even talking about? Is he seriously bothered by all my inner drama?' I wondered, 'Dude, you're the one who activated the mind-reading cheat.

'Now you're whining that I'm too loud? Come on, how is that even fair? Go ahead, turn it off if you can.'

"I can't turn it off!" Edward practically roared. It felt like my nonstop mental commentary had pushed him right to the edge.

He paced the room with his hands on his hips, frustrated, like a wild animal trapped in a cage.

I watched him, not daring to breathe. What was going on here? Was he falling apart?

After pacing around a few times, he finally stopped and gave me a look so complicated I couldn't even tell what he was thinking. There was anger, helplessness, shock, and sympathy.

Was he actually feeling sorry for me? Wait, was I seeing things?

"Sophia, I'm going to ask you a few questions, and you have to answer me honestly," Edward said, his voice unusually serious.

I swallowed hard and nodded nervously.

'Here we go, the interrogation,' I thought, my heart pounding.

"Why did you run away five years ago?" Edward asked.

"Because... Because I was scared you'd cut me off once you woke up," I whispered. Honestly, that was the truth.

'I was scared you'd do me in like the book said, seriously,' I screamed in my head.

Edward's body went rigid. "Book?" He zeroed in on that word like a hawk. "What book?" he pressed.

My stomach dropped.

'Shit. I just blurted it out,' I freaked, 'I can't spill about being sucked into a book. He'll think I'm insane and dissect me for science.'

I shook my head desperately. "N-no, it's nothing. I meant... Textbooks. Yeah, I totally bombed a class and was scared you'd make fun of me, so I ran off."

Not even I could believe that excuse.

Edward stared me down, his eyes so intense it felt like he could see straight through me.

The silence in the room was terrifying. And I could only hear my heartbeat thundering in my ears.