CAPTIVATED BY YOU

CHAPTER FOUR 

CALLUM’S POV

The drive home was effortless, the car gliding along empty, deserted streets that felt entirely foreign compared to the world I came from.

My world was an avenue that breathed quiet wealth, where the silence was deliberate and heavily guarded. Smooth, jet-black asphalt rolled out beneath the tires without a single seam or bump, flanked by pristine stone curbing and wide sidewalks of polished slate.

Two hours ago, I was still nursing a drink in the dim heat of The Velvet Lounge, driven there purely to burn off my rage. Yet even through my anger, I couldn’t help but notice him—a gorgeous, clearly intoxicated guy whose face caught the light through the blinds separating the VIP section from the main floor.

Can't believe people like that still exist. I always thought of Kai, but the stranger's charm and radiance intoxicated me, making me forget about him entirely.

Was it the encounter by the poolside, or the CPR I performed on him? Oh my, his lips were succulent and sweet just like candy, making my anger vanish immediately.

He stood shivering beside the water, dripping wet from the icy evening air. Strands of soaked hair clung to his pale cheeks, while his dark eyes sparkled through the mist, wide and breathless.

 Teardrop-like beads of cold water spilled from his chin, tracing down his trembling neck as he pressed his arms tight against his chest to trap any faint remnant of warmth.

When I wrapped him in my jacket, it felt less like offering a garment and more like shielding him from the harsh air. 

I was completely captivated by the sheer sight of him, a quiet indulgence that instantly washed away the lingering rage, anger, and absolute fury consuming me.

There was something effortlessly striking about his presence, the kind of quiet magnetism that pulled you in before you even realized you were looking.

 He carried himself with an effortless grace, making the surrounding chaotic world fade into background noise.

 Standing there, I found myself captivated by the subtle sharpness of his features and the undeniable aura of intrigue that seemed to wrap around him like a second skin.

I can’t show him any weakness—not yet. He’s just a stranger. Stop daydreaming; nothing is going to happen. The guy literally barged into my thoughts.

“Thanks for saving me.”

I tried my best not to roll my eyes, mostly because that was supposed to be my line. But the truth was, he had saved me—from the anger and fury that were threatening to consume me whole. 

He brought a strange, sudden stillness to the noise in my head, whether I wanted it or not. And right now, that calm felt far more dangerous than the storm.

I was about to stoop low enough to ask for his contact info when he beat me to it. My heart actually skipped a beat when he spoke up.

"Can I get your number so I can repay you for your kindness? I'd really appreciate it if you could tell me your name, too," he said, his voice hesitant.

He had every right to feel intimidated. After all, I was practically a god at school—the one and only Callum De Witt. Walking up to me took nerve, so his hesitation made complete sense.

Hell no. Am I seriously thinking about the mystery cutie I met a little while ago? No, this is not me. I was meant to be a tough guy—why did I fall for him so easily? 

My chest tightened as his hesitant smile flashed in my mind, refusing to leave. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to force the image away before it completely unravelled me. 

But the memory of his quiet voice stayed anchored, pulling at something I didn't even know was there.

Up until today, my world was measured in the calm, pristine atmosphere of high-end living. The air always smelled crisp and clean, rich with damp soil, jasmine, and cedarwood—completely untouched by the harsh hum of city traffic or industrial grit. 

I traded that quiet bubble for the raw grit of these middle-class streets, propelled purely by the sheer fury of Kai’s sudden reappearance.

 Out here, life didn't hide behind wrought iron; it bled directly onto the pavement. The neighborhood vibrated with a stubborn, frantic energy—clattering dishes through open windows, children shouting over rusty engine revs, and the sharp, metallic tang of city smog. 

It was loud, frayed, and unapologetically real. I hated Kai for forcing my hand, but standing in the flicker of a buzzing streetlamp, surrounded by the rough-edged honesty of a world that actually had to fight to exist, the anger felt like the only real thing I had left.

I parked my car neatly beneath the tree facing what seemed to be the grandest house in the area—Nana must have been the wealthiest resident here in her prime. 

That was my only hideout: my maternal grandmother's place—the only safe haven in my family, and the only place I found peace.

I pushed the door open, only to be greeted by a cloud of stale dust settling over my face, with cobwebs draping every corner and white sheets covering the furniture like relics of a house deserted for years.

Shielding my nose against the grime, I made my way upstairs to the master bedroom, relieved to find it far less dusty, and quickly changed out of my clothes.

 I stepped over to the heavy mahogany wardrobe, pulling open its creaking doors to see if anything had been left behind. 

Tucked beneath a stack of faded linens sat a small, brass-bound wooden box, untarnished by the passage of time. I lifted it out, running a thumb over the intricate lock, and realized the keyhole matched the tiny silver pendant resting against my chest.

As I pulled off the pendant and tried to open the box, my eyes darted to a landline phone sitting on the table. I moved closer to it and pressed a few numbers, testing if it was still working.

“Hello?” I heard a voice say from the other end, and I almost fainted.

“Hello. Do you need help?” the voice repeated. I quickly whispered, “Yes,” and slammed the receiver down.

My heart hammered against my ribs in the dead silence that followed. I stared at the phone, waiting for it to ring back, but the line stayed eerily silent. Then, from the hallway just outside the door, came the quiet sound of approaching footsteps.

I grabbed a flashlight and followed the footsteps, only for them to fade away before I even made it halfway down the hall. He’s probably just passing by, I told myself, letting out a breath. I really can’t get used to this place.

I walked as discreetly and quietly as possible back to the room and shut the door behind me. Maybe it was just a security guard, and I was panicking over nothing.

I tried opening the box containing the pendant, but the lock wouldn't budge. Frustrated by the tension, I twisted the key once more—and this time, the latch clicked, the lid creeping open to reveal what was inside.

Before my brain could fully process what I was looking at, a cold hand clamped down over my mouth from behind.