Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"I don't give a damn!" I grabbed my confidant's collar really tight. "I want whoever sent those bastards after me to be found immediately!" I gritted my teeth in anger. Knowing they were ordered by someone to hurt Mabel really made my blood boil. I thought they were one of my family's old enemies.

I almost got shot while shooting back at them. Moreover, the two sedans kept trying to reach my car to crash. I had to be so concentrated, because I was not alone. I had Mabel with me. And I wouldn't let her get hurt.

I knew Mabel was very worried, but I really couldn't calm her down. I was faced with two tough choices, and I chose to save her life first.

Luckily, after that, my men came and blew up the two sedans.

My men nodded, not daring to look me in the eye. I let go of my confidant then brushed off the dust that wasn't even on my shoulder.

After dropping Mabel off at her mansion and calling the doctor, I left to my base. And now I felt the need to see her condition. There was a feeling of worry in me. I forgot that Mabel is just an ordinary person, unlike me who had heard gunshots since childhood. In fact, I was forced to learn to use a gun since I was a teenager.

Our world is completely different.

I drove my other car towards the Castello Family mansion. Along the way, I thought of Selena. Fainting was the first reaction she showed me when she saw me holding a gun. And now Mabel...

Between Selena and Mabel, they are not the same...

Selena had a calm demeanor. She was not easily irritated, and mostly emotionally balanced even in the toughest of times. She knew what she was doing. And I was amazed by her.

Selena had lots of friends and loved to party. Our first meeting happened when I was visiting a relative's party. There, she became my only attraction. She's a lovely person.

And for Mabel, I was frustrated to see her couldn't even do anything right. She didn't want to be controlled when she didn't even know what was right for her. And last, but not really last, she asked too many questions which irritated me even more.

Arriving in front of the mansion, I wasted no time in rushing inside. I had just arrived in the living room, when Ashton suddenly threw a punch. But I had been taught to fend off surprise attacks since childhood. So I could easily hold his fist.

Ashton glared at me. He got carried away. "I told you that I wouldn't hesitate to kill you if Mabel got hurt, and now I think I really should."

"Ashton, enough!" Mr. Castillo tried to put an end to our conflict.

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"Somebody got a hitmen to hurt Mabel,"

"What?" Rainy was the first to respond. She covered her mouth in surprise. "But why... Mabel never did anything bad to anyone,"

Mr. Castillo could only look down in silence. And Ashton, he just shook his head. "Are you sure? You could be lying,"

"What's in it for me to lie about this?"

Ashton glared at me, but didn't argue with what I said.

"If you wish, Mr. Castillo, I can take care of Mabel if you let her be with me." I glanced at Ashton who immediately cut me off.

"What? You can't even guarantee her safety. Your family alone has many enemies and problems,"

"You seem very worried about Mabel, but you're not her father. You have no right to decide, Ashton." I replied calmly.

"Damn you!"

"Ashton!" Rainy restrained Ashton as he was about to come closer to me. He was too easily provoked by his emotions.

"Babe!" Sarah came down the stairs in a hurry. She called her soon-to-be-husband and was immediately answered by Mr. Castillo.

"Calm down, Sarah. What's wrong?"

"Mabel's condition is getting worse, now she is having nightmares and keeps calling Adrian," When Sarah saw me, she instantly walked towards me. "Adrian, Mabel needs you."

I meant to make Ashton even more jealous, but I didn't expect Mabel to call my name while she was still unconscious. "Take me to her,"

Ashton roared. "I'm going with him. I don't trust him to be alone with Mabel,"

"We've been together a lot, Ashton. Let me go alone," I retorted. It was out of my mission, but I really didn't want Ashton between me and Mabel. God, I had no idea why.

"No-"

Mr. Castillo immediately intervened. "Just let him go alone, Ashton. I trust him,"

Ashton stared at Mr. Castillo in disbelief. He cursed under his breath.

"Sarah, take Adrian to Mabel's room." added Mr. Castillo.

Mabel's room was very minimalist. There was only one king size bed, wardrobe, and also a dressing table. The paint was plain white, and nothing else of interest. Apart from the only photo in her room. It's a photo of Ashton and her when they were teenagers. They were at a sushi restaurant. Is sushi Mabel's favorite food?

Hmmm, I imagined if Rainy walked into Mabel's room and saw the photo. She must had been burning with jealousy.

My heart melted to the ground seeing Mabel lying helplessly on her bed. Her face showed nothing. I walked slowly toward her after Sarah left the room. I grabbed her cold hand. It reminded me of how her palm was cold from her anxiety.

"Adrian..."

I sat next to her, not letting go of my hand on her. "I'm here,"

"D-don't leave me," Mabel begged. She had a bad dream.

I rubbed her forehead, whispering the beautiful words I never knew I could say. Mabel looked calm for a moment. I had never seen Mabel's face so calm and close. Her eyes were closed, letting her eyelashes touch her lower lashline. I stared at her lips, wanting to trace my baby finger along the sweet outline where skin met mouth from the first time I saw her. Sometimes, when she parted her lips slightly, it made me waiting in anticipation to see her lips move. And when she didn’t say anything, I felt like a farmer waiting for rain.

Her lips were a reminder of how my cold and hard attitude could be softened by her. No, I wouldn't kiss her. I wasn't going to taste what wasn't even mine in the first place. No matter how hard I pressed myself not to kiss her plump, moist lips.

"Adrian?"

When those rosy pink lips parted and called my name, I was called back to reality.

Mabel smiled gently. "You're safe,"

I should have said that, not her.

I looked at her deeply. "I won't let anything hurt you," I knew I was wrong by saying that, because I was the only one who harmed her. But then Mabel returned my gaze with a thin, sweet smile. I had never seen her so weak. She was always cheerful and cranky, but today she just smiled. No more asking what really happened, and who the men were after us.

In that instant, I knew I couldn't get any closer to Mabel. Over time I forgot my mission. In my mind only contained how to make Mabel happy and feel safe.

This isn't right. I shook my head.

Mabel looked at me worriedly. "Adrian? Are you all right?"

I nodded then made Mabel lie back down. "I'm just tired,"

Again, Mabel smiled softly. "Lay down next to me,"

I shook my head, obviously I didn't want to cause any negative thoughts on her family's mind, especially if Sarah came in.

"Lay down," Mabel pulled me over, but I fell right on top of her. My hands hold on both sides, so that my body did not overlap her slender body.

Mabel's eyelids widened so I could see how curly her eyelashes were. Obviously she was shocked, just like me. She pulled me all of sudden without my preparation. I studied her entire face. She didn't wear makeup as usual. Her cheeks turned into a rosy blush. She was embarassed to be in this kind of position.

I smirked. "You pulled me... So can I still lie down beside you?"

Mabel seemed to have woken up from her daydream. She looked at me for a while and then beyond my expectations, she nodded. "Just lie down,"

Mabel wasn't the typical woman.

I gulped and laid down on my back next to her.

"Your mattress is not soft enough," I commented trying to irritated her, but Mabel didn't answer.

"Your bed is not comfortable at all,"

Again, no response from Mabel. I turned to check on her, and I was amazed to see her facing me with her eyes closed. Her arm was folded and she used it as a pillow for her side of head, although there was already a pillow under her arm.

"Don't disturb me, Adrian. I'm still tired,"

I followed her sleeping pose and used my time to memorize every shape of her face. Her jaw, her lips shape, her nose arch, and her slightly chubby cheeks.

"Mabel?"

"Hmmm?"

"You're still awake?"

"Yeah," replied Mabel curtly in a cracked voice.

"If one day, I disappoint you. What will you do?"

Mabel's eyes peeked sideways. "Shouldn't I be the one asking you a lot of questions?"

I urged her to just answer my question. "Just answer me,"

"Are you going to disappoint me?" Mabel asked me back. "The future depends on what we do in the past and present. And you asked me such a question. Are you intending to disappoint me?"

Smooth.

I knew my question raised questions for Mabel. So I quickly closed my eyes, not wanting to continue the conversation.

"Yeah, you won't let me down." Mabel said confidently. "I know you're a nice guy, and you won't let me down."

It was the first time since Selena, somebody called me a nice guy and even believed in me. I felt bad for Mabel. If only I could have let this grudge of mine go from the start, I should have known Mabel was this sweet. I shouldn't have used her as a weakness to break Ashton.

If only I wasn't born as Adrian Moretti...

"Now I have you too, Adrian." Mabel continued, sounding frail. "And I don't want you to leave me,"

Do I deserve Mabel's trust? I was just a sinner on his mission to destroy somebody's life. Mabel wasn't supposed to trust someone so quickly. I couldn't believe she gave her trust to me.

I opened my eyes, and now it was Mabel's turn to close her eyes. I sighed and left her room. I knew she was still awake, but she didn't stop me. So I guessed she did need some time alone to rest.

Heading to the stairs, I heard the conversation from Rainy and Ashton as well. There was no sound of Mr. Castillo and Sarah, so I knew they weren't downstairs.

"I'm here for you, Ashton."

"I know, Rainy. But I can't without Mabel. She's my best friend since childhood. We've always been together through the highs and lows of life," Ashton explained coldly. "I don't want to lose her. I only have her,"

Either Ashton, or Mabel. The two of them just didn't want to lose each other. If only they knew each other's feelings, I was sure their relationship would be strong. But unfortunately, they did not open up to each other even though they claimed to be best friends.

Hearing Ashton suffer, I felt the devil inside me laughing happily. That's what I wanted.

I came down the stairs with a smirk on my face as I passed them. Ashton didn't budge. He chose to remain silent, watching my every move. I was not in the mood to talk to him too.

I had business to deal with. I promised to punish anyone who intended to hurt Mabel that day.