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Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

THE LATCH wasn't closed when Dolly attempted to open the door. It creaked loudly in the empty hallway. Dolly didn't like the foreboding fear in her guts. Max was still waiting for her, and it was her decision to talk to Fin alone.

His aggressive mode can last the whole night but after it, he miraculously calms for the day. Dolly can only hope that this time is one of those fortunate days she had.

Fin's crouching body greeted Dolly when she took a step inside. The man was silently massaging his own temples while seated on their threadbare two person sofa.

Dolly felt weird. There were days when she considers this place a home. Those times she had utterly accepted her fate as his nanny. Although she doesn't want to sound ungrateful after he saved her, Dolly doesn't really like to be kept in this small space forever.

Dolly gathered her courage and opened her mouth. "Fin, can we talk?"

Fin's shoulders tensed. A large bulging vein pulsed distinctly on his forehead. He smiled, but his face only pulled a nasty expression. "So you remember coming home to me?"

"You're not yet claimed, I see." He laughed. "What? Did you change your mind and you decided to pick me?"

"I'm not choosing anyone!" Dolly shouted, "You were never really an option for me right from the start, Fin."

"… what?"

Her teeth rattled. Rage started to pour from her heart. She unleashed on him the pain of being burdened all these months that they had been together. "You made it hard for me to live! Everyday! It was not the life that I wanted! I don't care if you don't work— I don't care if you have no family left! But Fin, I wanted you to respect me."

"… to not shout at me at every little problems and ask me whenever I feel uncomfortable or not. I'm just like you— I want mutual understanding. Something you won't be able to give."

Dolly was never allowed to voice out her opinions. She was supposed to listen in everything he wanted just because he saved her life once.

She realized it's stupid. He saved her but he continues to abuse her every minute that they were together. It was messing up her brain.

And now it's messing with her possible mated life. 'Why do I allow this?'

Dolly doesn't even like Fin. Not one bit.

Before, she can picture forcing herself to accept him but now with Max... she can't stomach imagining herself with him. It was like depriving herself with something that can change her life for good.

"Dolly, do I look okay to you?" Fin stood and walked to the other side of the room. "I'm sick. I can't control it myself. It's not something I can get ahold of. I... don't want to hurt you but it's tearing me mad."

"I need someone to help me. Only you can do that. Let me claim you. Only a bite, Dolly. I saved you once, why can't you do this for me? After just one bite, I won't bother you and that vampire ever again. I just wanted to be normal."

Dolly stepped back. "I'm not a fool, Fin. A bite from you means I won't be able to see him again! I'll be stuck with you forever! See, I can help you with another way. We'll find your mate! Your fated mate!"

Red light flashed from Fin's eyes. A dark mist covered his silhouette. It was a bright morning but the apartment was dark and cold. "Fated mate?"

His voice became unrecognisable. It was brute and harsh. Dolly wondered what happened with this throat.

"Fated mate? Oh, I don't have one. I will never have one."

Dolly turned her back to run. Fin didn't move but his eyes followed her. "Dolly, if I ever meet that person, I will kill them myself."

'He had gone mad.' Dolly was scared and horrified with Fin. There's no cure for his sickness. She had no idea what plagued him but Dolly wished that it was a terminal disease.

It's not out of her selfishness, but Dolly sincerely wishing to free himself.

A loud howl made Dolly jump. She breathed heavily. 'Max!'

She will need his help. They need to get Fin out of this town soon or their existence will be shown to public.

"WELL, JEFFERSON told me. There's no other people involved but your favourite nephew— which is a wimp, by the way." Laura Miller closed the distance between them and kissed his cheek. "This is the first time I've seen you naked. And I see nothing good."

"Next time, learn to fucking knock, okay?" Max patted his cheeks. He winced at the sticky feeling on his face. "Didn't I tell you not to randomly kiss a man?"

"But you're not 'anyone', yeah? You're my future husband!"

Max snorted. He sat on the counter table and picked a grape out of the fruit stand. "Quit pushing it. We're now both at our prime, searching for the right man shouldn't be that hard for you."

"If you are as elegant and gorgeous like me, it sure is hard to find someone on my level." Laura sniffed the air and raised a mocking brow. "A rabbit, really?"

"What?" Max didn't pay her any attention and thought about Dolly and Fin. He reached for a new set of clothes to change himself into.

"The reason why you're naked this early."

"I've just taken a bath. That's the explanation." Max blinked. "Anyway, I should go now. I have something important to do—"

"Max, I've not even reached five minutes sitting here and you already had somewhere else to go? Being your fiancee sucks."

"Then stop. Cut the engagement off." Max sighed. "I found myself a mate already. A fated mate. So you can now resign."

Laura became silent. Max raised his eyes in her direction. It was like she wasn't even breathing. He grinned. "Surprised, cousin?"

"Should I not be?" Laura nodded. "Still, you're not claimed yet. What's with the stupid 'waiting' all about? Technically, I'm still your fiancee. Your girlfriend. When can I meet your fated mate?"

The door opened. Maximilian readied his smile. He was excited to see Dolly again. "Hi, sweetheart!"

Dolly didn't look at him and stared deeply instead at Laura. The latter raised a brow slightly before smirking. "Ah, so this is your 'Dolly?'"

"Who are—"

"Not in any way interesting nor exceptionally gorgeous."

Laura picked up her bag and squinted. "Should've remove that lip print on your cheeks, hubby. Or do you like it that much?"

Maximilian can hear violent waves clashing with rocks. He can almost vividly hear his first impression on Dolly cracking apart.

"Laura!" Max tried to explain but Laura cut off his words with a smug grin.

"You signed the papers. Our engagement is valid, Max. There's no point in arguing with me."

Max couldn't do anything as she walked herself out. Dolly stood unmoving in front of Max. He fixed himself up and walked to her side. "Dolly, let me explain."

Tears started to pour out of Dolly's eyes. Max didn't want to see pain in her face. She looked distraught and emotionally unstable. Her tears held more pain than Laura's word.

"What happened?"

"Fin has gone mad. You need to throw him out of this place." Dolly wiped her tears and let Max face her back. "I thought you said, you had no girlfriend? Was that a lie? So you can get me to do what you want?"

Max swallowed his irritation for Laura. "She's my cousin. I won't ever consider marrying her. I signed the papers to show my sincerity."

His family had a feud with Laura's father. When Max's parents died, along with Laura's mother, he made a promise to take care of their daughter, Laura. And the only thing to do that is by marriage. Laura's mom ripped her name off the family registrar. So technically, she's erased from the Adenhart clan. That's why Laura's father thought of the engagement as a way to welcome her back in the coven. Her father's a mortal— but a powerful mortal at that. He's a politician and a known businessman. At that time, Maximillian had no mate or a girlfriend with him... that's why he agreed. It was all for show.

Janette said that someday, that decision will come back and bite him on the ass. It looks like this was the day of his judgement.

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