Caesar leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
Throbbing pain was felt in his head. It hasn't gone yet. His manic episode was still lurking somewhere there, ready to blow up any moment like a dynamite with its fuse already lit up.
When he's like this, his mind would be filled with nothing but darkness. He absolutely hates it. It constantly whispered to him to do something. To wreak havoc. To go crazy with bloodthirst.
A petite body trembling in the dimly lit room, outlined by the light coming from outside the window. The innocence on her face was as pristine as the untouched snow atop a high mountain, unblemished by the cruelty and harsh reality of the world.
Crystalline-like tears slid down those pale and soft cheeks with eyes that stared back at him without hostility.
Despite being the villain who intruded on her life, she didn't look at him resentfully.
The darkness enveloping his mind was abruptly intruded upon by that face.
'This is everything I own.'
The small wooden box lay beside him, thrown aside pathetically. But the sensation of their hands touching briefly seemed to sear into his hand. The crescent-shaped marks that had torn and bled on his wrist from her nails digging into his skin were still there.
His anger flared, receded, and then rose again in a restless manner. Like waves of water in the ocean failing to reach the shore, his emotions were a jumbled mess he himself couldn't untangle.
How could her smile, full of something he couldn't understand, lessen his strength when he choked her?
It wasn't right. He shouldn't have been lenient with her.
Showing her mercy was unlike him. A miracle, he even thought, was impossible coming from him.
"Sir, where would you like to go?"
Romano's voice scattered his thoughts away.
There were still some things left unfinished. He had done a lot tonight. When ordinary people huddled inside their homes and had dinner with their families, Caesar was at an abandoned building, his men dragging a hapless person, and bloodying his hands again.
Next, he visited the house he seized from Dominik. Surprisingly, the reports told him Dominik's wife hasn't left yet. So, he came despite the busy schedule he had for the night.
"Let's go back to the company."
Romano nodded, intending to use the route leading to Caesar's company.
The closed window rolled down, letting biting cold wind crash down inside with an unforgiving force.
Romano's expression didn't change, but the hands on the wheel convulsed. He looked at the rearview mirror to look at his boss, but saw Caesar closing his eyes without even a change on his face or body.
For someone to face the cold winter wind in a speeding car without shivering, guts and bravery wouldn't be enough. A normal person would have their face frozen in an hour.
But Caesar was built differently. Coldness like this was nothing to him.
He looked serene enough that it was as if he were sleeping.
Romano took his gaze back to focus on the road before him, but his expression quickly changed as he looked in the rearview mirror carefully.
Suddenly, his phone rang beside him, and he saw who it was.
"Who is it?"
The phone rang so suddenly that it disturbed his rest. Caesar opened his bloodshot silver eyes in annoyance.
Romano answered, "It's Senda, Sir."
Caesar wondered why the man he left behind to watch over Aurora called so soon. He had already instructed him to report only when the matter is important.
Could it be that she finally made a move and ran away once he was not there?
He didn't think Senda would be able to handle her, but there could be some exceptions…
"Answer it."
Romano didn't hesitate and did as he was ordered to.
Soon, the call connected, and Senda's voice came through.
"Sir, there's a situation."
"What is it? Did she run away?"
A pause before Senda continued.
"No… but she collapsed."
Silence quickly blanketed the car, filling their ears with the harsh breeze of cold wind.
"Turn the car."
That was out of his expectations.
"Pardon?"
"Sir?"
Romano and Senda's voices overlapped. Neither understood what their boss planned to do.
Why turn the car? They both wondered.
But Romano didn't object to his order. He quickly turned the wheels and reversed. Then, he went back to the previous path that led them to Dominik's house.
Caesar was no longer sitting relaxed inside the car. His back was straightened, and his eyes were grim. He had just realized that he had given an order on reflex.
What was weirder was that he didn't take back his order after saying it.
Let's see if turning around would be worth it. Aurora, you better not disappoint me.
He wanted to see if she was acting. Perhaps this was a ploy from her to get his attention and pity. Too bad, once Caesar decided on something, he didn't change his mind easily.
"Sir?"
Romano turned his head to observe Caesar for a second.
Caesar's eyes were narrowed, and the bloodthirst oozing from him seemed palpable and thick, as if it were like fog covering everything.
As if he knew what Romano was wondering, Caesar didn't correct his order.
"Her dying would be a huge loss for me."
Accepting this reason, Romano sped up. It wasn't surprising that Caesar would personally ensure that Aurora didn't die. Dominik hasn't been found yet, and she was the only connection they had to him.
With this much at stake, it made sense to ensure she stayed alive so as not suffer any more losses.