Episode 6
Renee stood at the door, her hand still resting on the handle, staring at Vincent. His gaze was intense, almost as if he could see through her. His eyes were fixed on the bruise on her wrist, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. The concern in his voice had caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to react.
"What happened? " Vincent repeated, his voice more urgent now, a mix of anger and worry threading through his words.
Renee didn't know how to explain. The man who had pulled her from the crowd wasn't someone she could describe easily. How could she tell Vincent that someone, well...basically a stranger? Who wasn't supposed to care had saved her, and then casually walked away as if it meant nothing? It was maddening. She needed to think before answering, but in that moment, her mind went blank.
Vincent took a step forward, his eyes never leaving her wrist. "Renee..." His tone softened just a little, his voice now laced with concern. "Please tell me who did this. "
Renee's pulse quickened, and her instincts told her to lie, to brush it off. But the truth seemed more complicated than a simple excuse. She glanced down at the floor, taking a moment to steady herself before looking up again. She had never been good at letting people in, never liked being vulnerable, but something about Vincent's gaze made it harder to keep up the walls she had so carefully constructed.
'I… I'm fine, ' she gestures, her gestures quiet but firm. 'It's nothing serious. I… I was just caught in the crowd. A stranger grabbed me, but nothing happened. I'm fine. '
Vincent didn't look convinced. His eyes narrowed, as though trying to see through her words, but Renee held her ground. The last thing she wanted was for him to get more involved. Especially not now, when the entire situation felt so strange and disorienting. It was hard to reconcile the idea of Vincent—who lived a life of privilege and control—with someone who genuinely seemed to care about her, someone she barely knew. Why did he care?
"Renee, don't lie to me, " he said, his voice low, his eyes flicking to her wrist again. "You're not fine. Who was it? "
She shook her head, stepping back slightly, trying to distance herself from the conversation. But that only seemed to make him more insistent, his brow furrowing as he watched her.
Vincent's expression hardened, and for a moment, it seemed like he might push the issue further. But then, to her surprise, he sighed heavily and stepped closer, his gaze still firmly locked on her wrist.
"Fine, " he said, his voice quieter now. "But don't think for a second that I won't be watching out for you. I don't like the idea of you going out there alone, especially when there's so much danger lurking. " He paused before adding, "I don't trust anyone who isn't a part of this mansion. Not with you. "
Renee blinked at him, his words catching her off guard. He's worried about me? She wasn't sure how to process that. Part of her wanted to reject his concern outright, but another part—something deep inside her—found it strangely comforting. Was this the kind of protection he offered to everyone? Or was she different?
Before she could respond, there was a knock at the door. Startled, Renee turned, and the door swung open just enough for Marie to peek inside.
"My lady, " Marie said with a smile, though it faded when she saw Vincent standing near the door. "Is everything all right? "
Renee gave a small nod, though her mind was still reeling from the encounter. She looked at Vincent, who hadn't moved from his spot by the door. There was a brief, uncomfortable silence before Renee spoke.
'I'm fine, Marie. Vincent was just leaving.'
Vincent raised an eyebrow at her, as if caught off guard by her abruptness. He didn't seem offended, though. He simply nodded, his eyes lingering on Renee for a moment longer before he turned to leave.
'Like I already said... No one did this! ' Renee's expression hardened, her silence making it clear she didn't want to discuss it further.
However, Vincent turn around, stepping closer towards her. He remained rooted to the spot, his brow furrowed with concern. "I'll take care of this, " he said, his voice soft yet commanding.
Marie's eyes widened, but she didn't argue. "Of course, young master, " she said, handing him the medical kit she was carrying. She locked eyes with him for a moment before stepping back. "I will see you in my office, Marie..."
Vincent took the kit from her without another word, stepping past Marie and making his way toward Renee. His expression was more serious now.
"Sit down, " he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Renee blinked in surprise but did as instructed, moving to a nearby chair. She kept her wrist carefully cradled in her other hand, unsure of how to react to his sudden insistence. Was this an act of care? Or was he simply doing what he thought was expected of him?
As he knelt in front of her, unpacking the medical kit with meticulous care, Renee's mind spun with questions. She couldn't remember the last time someone had taken care of her like this—not since she was a child, does she even has a parents or someone who care for her?She can't remember. The memory was distant, a faded picture from a time long gone. In some ways, that feeling of being cared for felt almost foreign to her now.
"You know I can't just ignore this, right? " he said softly, not looking up from his task. "I'm not asking for an explanation...But I can see you're in pain. " His voice was softer now, but there was still an underlying urgency to it.
Vincent's hands were steady as he began to carefully clean the bruise on her wrist. His face was tight with concentration, his eyes never leaving the injury as he worked. There was something strangely intimate about the way he moved, so focused, so deliberate. It felt almost as if he was trying to heal more than just the physical damage.
"You know I can't just ignore this, right? " he said softly, not looking up from his task. "I'm not asking for an explanation...But I can see that you're in pain." His voice was softer now, but there was still an underlying urgency to it.
Renee couldn't find the words to respond, watching his hands work with an almost detached focus. His touch was gentle, though, as he applied ointment and bandaged the bruise. It was a moment of quiet care, the kind of care she had forgotten existed outside of family or close friendships. But the intimacy of the gesture felt almost overwhelming.
As he worked, his fingers brushed against her skin, and she felt a strange warmth spread from the point of contact, as if his touch was both soothing and somehow… protective. Why does this feel so strange?she wondered. She wasn't used to feeling this vulnerable, this exposed. Was it because of the bruise? Or because of what Vincent's actions were implying?
"There, " he said finally, tying the bandage with care. "It's done. You can rest now. "
Renee blinked, her wrist now wrapped in a clean bandage. Her thoughts were still scattered, and she wasn't sure how to process everything that had just happened. She had expected him to leave her to Marie, but Vincent had insisted on taking care of her himself. Why? What did this all mean?
"Like I said before, " he added softly, his eyes meeting hers. "I'm here. And I won't let anything happen to you. "
Renee didn't know how to respond. Part of her wanted to protest, to tell him to leave her alone, but another part of her couldn't deny the warmth in his gaze. For the first time, she felt like someone—someone she hadn't expected—cared for her in a way that felt real. It was confusing. She had spent so long shutting people out that she wasn't sure how to let them back in. Is this what caring for someone looks like? she wondered.
He stood, giving her one last look before heading for the door. "Rest, Renee, you need to " he said, his voice quiet but insistent. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. Isaac will call you for dinner "
As he was about to leave, Renee tugged on his shirt, her fingers trembling slightly. "What is it, Renee? " he asked softly, his gaze searching her face for the answer he needed.
'Don't be mad at Marie. It wasn't her fault ' She gestured with her hands, trying to convey the urgency of her words, her eyes pleading for understanding. 'It was just an accident. '
He sighed, running a hand through his hair, his gaze softening but still filled with frustration. "She was supposed to be there for you, Renee. That was the plan. You two were supposed to stick together. But instead, Marie—" He stopped himself, taking a slow breath, trying to calm the storm inside. "She let you get lost in that crowd. That's not something I can just overlook. "
Renee took a slow, calming breath, stepping closer to him. 'I know you're upset. I get it. But you're not seeing the bigger picture. It wasn't Marie's fault. The crowd was overwhelming. It happened so fast. None of us planned for that to happen. '
Vincent's eyes narrowed. "But she should've kept you with her! She let you get lost in all of that. She should've known better. "
There was a long pause. Vincent's face was torn, the battle between his anger and his desire to find peace evident in his eyes. Finally, he exhaled sharply, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know if I can just forget it. "
'Don't forget, just forgive...' she look at him searching for an understanding in his eyes.
He just give her a long sigh. "The next time you go for an outing, I will go with you "
Renee watched him leave, her thoughts swirling. For the first time in a long while, she felt uncertain about what the future held. What had just happened between them? Why did it feel like things were shifting in ways she couldn't control?
As the door closed softly behind him, Renee sat in the quiet room, her eyes lingering on the bandage around her wrist. Am I really fine? she thought. Or was there more to this than she was willing to admit?
The knock at the door still echoed in her mind. Something was changing—she could feel it—but the question remained: What was Vincent's role in all of this? And what would happen if she allowed him to get any closer?