Calista flattered her eyes open. A white ceiling welcomed her as soon as her vision slowly adapted to the light. She cracked her mouth to speak when her mother's voice broke the ice.
Her mother's sweet and caring tone made her feel at ease.
"Callie, my dear child. You're awake." Melissa rushed to her daughter lying on the bed and caressed her face.
"We were so worried when the young master carried you inside the mansion. Your father almost caused a scene seeing you unconscious in that boy's arms."
"That boy…" Calista's eyes widened as her face turned pale. Her body trembled when a certain someone crossed her mind. "No way. Mom, are you saying that the boy who brought me here was—"
Nodding her head as if she knew what her daughter was going to say, Melissa confirmed her thoughts. "Yes, dear. It was Damian Crown. He was kind despite the rumors surrounding him. I feel bad for the young child, if not for the scar on his face, people wouldn't talk behind his back."
Calista jolted from the bed like lightning upon hearing the familiar name that seemed to be engraved in her head. "We have to leave, Mom. I'm going to die if I stay any longer in this place." She jumped off, grabbed her veil neatly folded on the bedside table, and headed to the door.
"Callie, stop right there. I know you don't want to be seen by others after what happened but you have to thank Damian Crown for what he did." Melissa went over to the girl who flinched every time she mentioned the Crown's young master's name.
"Damian—" Melissa was surprised when Calista pursed her lips while balling her hands in fists again. "—is waiting in the room next door. It won't hurt if you say thank you for what he did for you. Your father also insisted you personally thank your savior."
Stomping her feet, Calista rolled her eyes. "Savior my ass. If he didn't show up unexpectedly, I wouldn't have to suffer like this."
"I don't know what you're talking about but it's clear as day that Damian Crown made an effort to carry you inside after you fainted in the garden," Melissa said, cupping her daughter's face.
"Go ahead. Meet with the young master to thank him and don't forget to apologize for messing his garden too."
Left with no other choice that could save her image, Calista followed her mother's instructions. She dragged her feet in front of the mirror to fix herself when Melissa snatched the veil from her grasp.
"Callie, the least you can do to thank and apologize to someone is to show your face. Come here, let me help with your hair."
After a quick fix, Calista left to meet Damian who was waiting in the other room. Her heart was beating fast the closer she got to the door. For whatever reason, Calista found Damian's existence scary and overwhelming.
"There must be a mistake. Dad would not allow me to marry that person, right?" Calista bit her lower lip as she lifted her hand to grab the knob. "I will marry the most handsome man in the world. That man is not Damian Crown."
"Are you talking about me?" A gentle and soft voice came from behind.
Calista's body shook involuntarily. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. Why was it that she could tell who the owner of the voice was even though it was the first time she heard it?
"I heard you say my name. Perhaps, are you looking for me?" The voice added and Calista continued to shake.
"Young Lady, are you alright?" A hand snaked from Calista's back and held her elbow. "Young Lady?"
It was too late for Calista to prevent the disaster from happening when a boy her age walked in front of her. "D-Damian…" She mumbled as warm liquid abruptly streamed down her legs.
"Stay away from me!" The frightened girl screamed before letting herself lose balance out of nowhere with her eyes closed.
A loud thud was heard when her body fell to the floor. Everyone would think she had fainted again but Calista was not the only one who knew the truth. She was so embarrassed to face Damian Crown after wetting her pants. Pretending to faint was her last resort in such a dire situation.
Unfortunately, Damian seemed not convinced by her act as he didn't try to catch her while falling.
The door next door opened and Dutchess La Forte stormed out in horror. "Calista! Goodness, why is this child always fainting?" She hurried to her daughter only to be stopped by Damian who extended his arm in front of her.
"What's with you? My Callie has fainted. She needs to— Oh my!"
Melissa covered her mouth when she caught a whiff of something unpleasant lingering on her nose. "What's that smell?" She asked.
"My apologies, Dutchess La Forte. It looks like the servants didn't do their job well. Please wait in the tea room while I call someone to help your precious daughter," Damian said in his gentle voice.
The boy conducted himself properly like a child of noble birth would, something that made the elder woman smile with fondness.
"Thank you for the kind offer. I would have to decline though. My daughter already caused you so much trouble," Melissa said.
"No, please. Don't worry about it. It's a rare occasion to have wonderful guests as you are in the mansion. I won't even mind if your daughter goes running around inside," Damian replied, whispering the last sentence as he bowed his head to check on the 'fainted' girl.
"I think your daughter wouldn't want you to worry about her either. Pardon me but I will have to carry her again this time," he added.
"What a sweet boy. Then please take care of my daughter," Melissa responded, hiding a playful smile behind her hand.
"I will try my best not to disappoint you," Damian mumbled and bent down to carry Calista who took her acting to the highest level.
Damian couldn't help but laugh quietly when the girl clenched her jaw as he held her. "Very well, Miss La Forte. You're doing a good job. Keep it up," he whispered to Calista whose face turned red.
"Is she heavy?" Melissa asked the boy who pursed his lips. She had no idea that he was just trying to hide his laughter.
"No, Mrs. La Forte. Your daughter is not heavy. She's as light as a feather. It's just that…" Damian stopped talking when he felt pain in his side. Calista, who could hear their conversation, pinched him so hard that he wanted to let out a groan.
"Hmm? Is something wrong?"
Damian knew he needed to be alone with the girl or he might ruin her effort. "Nothing. Please stay here, Dutchess. I'll bring your daughter back in a few minutes," he said and sprinted to his room with Calista in his arms.
"Goodness! Watch your steps. Oh my! How can he carry her while running like that?"
Damian kicked his bedroom door open and went inside. He trudged to his bathroom, stood in front of the bathtub, and spoke.
"You can stop it now. No one else is around. You can wash up here while I get someone to find you a change of clothes. It might take a long time since we rarely have guests in the mansion but stay here until I come back with your clothes. You hear me?"
Calista pouted with her eyebrows frowning. "Hmp! Do you expect me to trust you? It's your fault that I ended up like this in the first place," she said, still closing her eyes.
"How is it my fault? I'm not in control of your bladder," Damian replied. The gentle and soft voice was gone. He acted like a different person from the boy who was kind to offer help earlier.
"Lady La Forte, I know I told your mother that you're light but the truth is, you're very heavy. How long do you plan to stay comfortable in my arms?"
"Just put me down if you can no longer carry me— Ah!"
Calista rubbed her behind while slowly getting up from the floor. She glared at no one in particular, afraid that her frustration would be replaced by fear once she faced Damian.
"Don't look at me," she mumbled with her hand down, holding her skirt tight. "How dare you let go of me like that? My butt hurts like hell!" Calista yelled at his face with her eyes shut.
"You told me to put you down. I was just trying to please you." Damian shrugged.
"You like it when people around you do what you say, no?" He smirked. The scar across his face was the first thing Calista saw when she had the courage to look at him. "Scared? I get that always."
Moreover, it wasn't Damian's face that made Calista's stomach churn when looking at him. It was the invisible force that kept pushing her sanity to the edge the more she looked at his grinning face.
"I hate you!" Tears welled up in Calista's eyes while looking at the boy who was the reason behind the pain in her chest. She was up for a roller coaster ride of emotion swirling within her. She was wondering, why would he have had that effect on her. Ever since that day, she believed…
…meeting Damian was the worst thing that happened in her life. That's what she thought.