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FREEDOM

작가: VEEWRITES
last update 최신 업데이트: 2025-03-22 16:57:31

Warm fingers touched mine.

A shiver ran up my spine as Creed’s grip tightened, pulling me up slowly, carefully, as if afraid I’d slip. His hand lingered, his thumb ghosting over my wrist before letting go.

The air between us felt charged, the darkness making everything more intense.

I took a cautious step back, only to bump into a table. His chuckle was quiet but there, curling in the air between us.

“You okay?” he asked.

"Peachy." My heart wasn't, but my voice was firm enough.

The room was smaller. The blackness dragged time out, each second lasting forever. I could hear him move, feel his movements in the air.

Then—his voice.

Lower this time.

"What's freedom to you?"

The question made me stumble. "What?"

"Freedom." Pause. "What does it mean to you?"

I furrowed my brow, the conversation more intense than I'd expected.

"I don't know…"

I dangled there. "Being able to do what I want, I suppose. Without fear."

He was quiet for a moment. When he spoke, his voice sounded reflective. "I use
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  • PRETEND PRINCESS   BACK TO REALITY

    Yuki’s POVIt was Sunday.Which meant—thank fucking God—the resort was over.No more Creed. No more Steve. No more running around trying to avoid my boss while simultaneously losing my mind over him.I should’ve felt relieved.I wasn’t.It was two days since I last saw him. Two days of acting like I didn't wait for the unfortunate coincidence of running into him. Two days of trying not to recall the taste of his lips, the way his hands wrapped around me, the way his voice softened when he said my name.I missed him.The realization curdled my stomach because—what was wrong with me?I was being put under some kind of spell. That was the only rational explanation. Because no rational human being would be pining for the presence of a man who was probably sleeping with his fiancée and playing with me simultaneously.I swept up my things and followed my teammates to the car we waited for, relieved for the distraction. Time to go back to the real world. Time to remember whatever stupidity h

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-23
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   BE BETTER

    Creed's POVI held onto Zara and dragged her into her house. She was obviously on something—I just had no idea what.The entire drive back, she had been acting off, like she was drunk. The answer was staring me in the face, hovering on the edge of my mind, but I didn't want to believe it. There was no way she hid something from Chicago to the resort.Someone had to have given it to her.And I was positive sure it was that stupid surfer guy, Steve. He was the type of guy who drank anything he could get.When we got to the door, I looked down the driveway. No car.Her mom wasn't home.I breathed a sigh of relief. I didn't want her to worry. Hell, I didn't even want her to know I was home.This was when I was going to inform Zara that I was calling off the wedding.But it seemed like that was not going to happen tonight.She clung to me, rambling incoherently—words tumbling together, spilling apart, not coherent.I had to grip her, because if I released her, she'd get herself killed or s

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-23
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   BIRTHDAY MELTDOWN

    Yuki’s POVI had never planned a party this hard before.Actually, scratch that—I had never planned anything this hard before.I sprinted across the community center's event hall, dodging a tray of drinks, repairing the banner that was slipping off the wall, and then rushing towards the old record player we'd borrowed to make sure it was working. The music had to be perfect. The food had to be perfect. The decorations had to be perfect.Because tonight wasn't just any night.Tonight was Grandpa Roman's birthday.And I was going to make sure it was going to be awesome.Lily was already on the job, floating around the room in the prettiest dress I'd ever seen her wear—a light lilac-colored thing that made her look forebodingly dateable. She had a tray of drinks in hand, smiling at the older visitors, making sure they were alright. An angel.And of course, because she looked like an angel, some dude had already started circling around her.I side-eyed the dude—a tall, broad-shouldered du

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-24
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   IT'S NOT OK

    Yuki's POV"It's okay, Grandpa! Everything will be okay," I pleaded, clutched his trembling hands as he struggled, his eyes desperate with something besides rage—despair.It wasn't.Roman's face twisted, veins bulging on his temples as he tugged on the tablecloth, plates shattering to the ground. Short, rasping gasps were his breathing. "Lori! Come home now! Come home!" His voice cracked, raw and pleading, as if he believed he could call my mother back from the dead by yelling her name."Grandpa, please!" My voice cracked too, but for an entirely different reason. Pain. The kind that wrapped around your ribcage and refused to let you catch your breath. He didn't recognize me. I wasn't his Yuki then. I was just another name in a cloud of remembered nothing.Lily hurried swiftly, herding the guests. "Everyone, outside." Her warm smile was never there tonight, instead being usurped by one of urgency as she ushered out the flabbergasted elderly guests.Gym Bro, or the guy who'd been flirt

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-24
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   EVERYTHING HURTS

    Zara's pov"Creed, no, it's not alright." I shook my head, gripping my fork a little more tightly. "I don't like it when everything feels so tight between us. The way we aren't close anymore like we used to be. I don't like it when you put me on this 'you might break' pedestal."He stiffened but said nothing.I breathed in deeply and cut my pancake, bringing the chunk to my mouth. As soon as it hit my tongue, I softly moaned, closing my eyes for an instant. "God, why are these so good?"Creed snorted a little laugh, but I knew it was fake.I opened my eyes and gazed into his. "I don't want you to worry about me that way, Creed. Not like I'm some delicate thing you have to tiptoe around. I know I screw up. I know I do crazy things sometimes, but I don't want it to be this—this burden between us."I put my fork down."We're going to get married soon."Creed's jaw tightened."And I don't enjoy the thought of us not being on the same page," I continued. "I don't want to be with someone wh

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-25
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   MEMORIES BOUND TO ME

    Creed's POVZara's lips trembled, her breath catching as she shook her head."You're a precious gem," I whispered. "And gems are supposed to be adored, not neglected by someone who doesn't know their value."For a second, I thought she'd break. That she'd cry. That she'd say she knew.Instead, she laughed. A cold, empty sound."It's you, isn't it?" she whispered, her voice biting and accusing.I frowned. "Zara—""Don't fucking lie to me, Creed," she spat, fists knotting at her sides. "It's him, isn't it?!"My brows furrowed. "No, this is about us—""It's him! Roman!" Her voice rose, shrill and cracking with emotion. "I knew that bitch was going to get in my way!""Zara, stop." I reached out to catch her, but she shoved me off, eyes blazing with hurt."All this time," she seethed. "You never loved me, did you? You never wanted this! After everything we've been through, I—" Her voice broke, and she swallowed. "We deserve to be together! You deserve to be with me!""Zara—"She slapped me

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-25
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   BREWING DISASTER

    Creed's POVI have no clue how I ended up here in this park, but it was… peaceful. I sat on a rock under a massive tree, its branches shielding me from the brunt of the rain. Cold drops still hit my skin, but it was better than wandering the streets blindly, drowning in my own thoughts.I had to think. I had to start over.And yet, the moment I closed my eyes, she was there in my head.Yu Yu Roman.That girl.I didn't know when or how, but something had changed. Something inside of me. I couldn't help it anymore. She wasn't just a passing thought—she was consuming me. The way she moved, the way she talked, the way she always seemed to be running from something, even when she was standing still.Was she the reason I called off the engagement? Was she the reason I couldn't move forward with Zara? Was she the reason I was so fucking frustrated, like my entire life had been a series of choices that led me straight to her?I exhaled a sigh, running a hand through my wet hair.This was a di

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-26
  • PRETEND PRINCESS   BOYFRIEND

    Creeds pov The words spilled out so fast, so quietly, that I nearly missed them.I frowned. "Why?"She was quiet for a very long time, and I thought maybe she wouldn't answer. But then her voice was there, even and soft."Because it feels like he's all I have."Her words fell into my chest, heavy and sharp.I sort of leaned in, my elbows on my knees. "Don't you have someone else?"She gave a hard, bittersweet laugh. "People around me? Sure. But it's different, isn't it?"Yes. I certainly understood that. The ability to be a crowd of people but still being the only person alone in the room. "Yuyu" I spoke softly.Her head jerked up a bit, and I could barely catch a glint of her eyes in the blackness."People tell you family is the people who are supposed to love you no matter what," I continued, softer. "But sometimes, they're just the ones who hurt you the most."She didn't say anything, but I could feel her looking at me.I swung around, running a hand through my dripping hair."M

    최신 업데이트 : 2025-03-28

최신 챕터

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   CHEERFUL WORKDAY?

    Yuki's PovThe scent was the first thing that hit me when I entered the building. Cool, lemon air freshener with a hint of cinnamon. The lighting was soft, not harsh, the floors clean but not sterile. If warmth had a form, it was here. My white fur coat billowed behind me as I moved, heels clicking on the tiles. I looked down at myself—black trousers, white boots, no wig, no disguise. It was strange, unreal. Almost as though I'd just stepped off a long, exhausting play. A six-month performance of someone who was never quite myself.The receptionist's chair was empty briefly before a round lady with puffy cheeks and bright blush waddled towards me like an overactive panda. Her eyes twinkled behind her spectacles, and her smile nearly reached her ears."Oh my God! My name is Sue!" she said, grasping both of my hands in hers. "You're Yuki, right? We're so happy you're here! Come, come, come, your desk is here."She didn't let go of my hand when she led me down the hallway, past some glas

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   I MISS YOU

    Creed's POVI stormed into the office.No. That wasn't it either.I walked in.Calm. Too level. The kind of level that came after a tsunami had destroyed a whole city. Nothing left to agitate. Nothing left to feel. Just ash and silence.The door slammed shut. The sound echoed like a gunshot inside my head. I didn't blink.I walked past the reception. My staff barely looked at me anymore. Some ran. Some whispered. Some stared with suspicious, questioning eyes. It didn't matter.I opened the door to my private office and entered the air-conditioned mausoleum of my kingdom. Neat. Quiet. Smelling of leather, citrus, and my last application of cologne. A fragrance I hadn't deemed worthy of wearing in four years.I dropped my briefcase. It landed on the floor with a thud that was louder than it should have been.I sat down. Carefully.There was no rush.There was no anything.My fingers wandered to the keyboard out of habit. Not intent. I stared at the screen for too long without registerin

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   NOT WHAT I WANTED

    Zara's POVZed was over at my place again.He made himself way too comfortable, sprawling on the couch in my room like he owned the place.Tonight, he brought over some weird Mexican something.I didn't even catch the name. He said it twice. Maybe three times. But it just sounded like sounds to me.He kept trying to feed it to me, holding a forkful in front of my mouth like I was some stubborn kid with medicine to swallow.I shook my head so hard."I don't want anything to do with that," I grumbled, folding my arms across my chest.Zed glared at me, still chewing.I could tell he didn't get it.Not the food.None of it."I don't know why you're upset," he said, setting the container down on the coffee table."You got what you wanted. The imposter was exposed. You should be dancing. Celebrating."Celebrating?Celebrating?I let out a panted laugh, a laugh that did not sound anything like a laugh."This wasn't what I wanted," I whispered.Zed blinked, confused."You wanted the truth—""

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   MY HEART HURTS

    Creed's PovIt was past midnight.The bottle that I held was almost empty, but I did not mind. I was not drinking to be joyful. I was not even drinking to forget. I was drinking because it was the only way I could make the silence that greeted me endurable.I reclined slumped on the couch in my living room, the sole item of furniture that was more like a cell than home. There were shadows everywhere. The clock chimed out so loudly it sounded like a hammer in my head.And still.Still, I couldn't stop thinking about Yuyu.Fucking Yuki.With that goddamn smirk and those fuckin' sparklin' bright eyes and the way he looked at me like I was something, anything when he had no idea who the fuck I even was.I hated him.I missed him.I hadn't the fuck idea what I was feelin' anymore.Was I gay now? Did I swing this way? Did I just FUCKIN' happen to be feelin' desperately for someone, anyone, to look at me like I weren't a damned monster?Jesus Christ, no.I tipped the bottle to my lips again,

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   NEW BEGINNINGS

    Yuki's pov The flying part wasn't scary.I wasn't terrified of airplanes.I wasn't terrified of turbulent flight or height or any of that.I was terrified of beginning again.Terrified of seeing myself.For three weeks — almost four — I had done nothing but rot. Fault myself. Cry. Break things. Apologize to specters.That was enough.I couldn't keep going on like that.Mom wouldn't have wanted me to go on like that.Grandpa wouldn't either, even if he didn't always recall me.I stared out the plane window, clouds streaking across the horizon like wet paint, my chest aching.Memories ripped at me — Creed's voice, his smile, then the shock in his eyes.Grandpa's laugh, the way he used to call me his "boy."Lily's hugs.Small shattered pieces of my life slipping further and further away from me as the plane flew east.I bit my lip hard enough to taste blood.No more tears.No more pity parties.I can do this.This is my new start.Mom would be proud.I hugged myself hard, wrapped the th

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   GOOD BYE

    Lily's POVThe ride to the airport was too short.I continued to sneak glances at Yuki beside me, soaking him in—his dark, messy hair, the nervous drum of his fingers against his jeans, the nervous bounce of his knee.As if if I stared long enough, I could burn the picture of him into my head and never forget.He caught me staring and smiled weakly. "What?""Nothing," I said quickly, attempting to smile. "Just. don't chicken out."He grinned, but it wasn't natural. "Too late to run now, huh?""Way too late," I taunted softly.The problem was, I wished he would run.I wanted to bang the car doors closed, drive us somewhere a thousand miles from here, and wish he wouldn't be going.But I couldn't.He had to go.He needed this new start.Even if it killed me.We pulled up to Departures. Yuki opened his backpack, fiddling with the straps like they were the most fascinating thing on earth.I pulled up and turned off the engine.We sat there, neither of us moving, for a moment.Then Yuki le

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   TAKE CARE OF HIM FOR ME

    Yuki's POV"You're leaving today."Lily's voice was gentle, but it hit me like a punch.I crouched at the foot of the bed, staring at the carpet. My fingers tapped on the frayed cuff of my jacket, pulling at loose threads as if I could somehow roll back time and stay here in this cramped safe room, stuck forever.I didn't look at her. I didn't move."Yuki," she said once more, coming to kneel beside me. Her hand lay lightly on my knee. "Then I think it's time you saw your grandfather."I shook my head."No, it's not," I grunted. "I'm not ready."She let out a tired, aching sigh, the kind you do when you don't want to cry. "You've been here for a month. You're better now. You're stronger, plus do you really plan on going halfway across the world and not seeing him before you go.""Stronger?" I laughed roughly. "I'm still a mess.""You're recovering," she amended. "And you have to — you'd just have to visit him before you go."Her words sliced through me more deeply than I cared to ackn

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   CURSED

    Creed's POVI slammed the office door shut so hard that the walls vibrated. The secretary outside yelped as if she thought the damn ceiling was going to come crashing down."Get me the quarterly reports," I barked. "Now."She rushed out of her seat, almost falling over her own feet. Pitiful.I paced in front of my office like a wild animal in a cage, blood pumping hotter each passing second. All of this was pissing me off every day now. The terrible coffee. The creeping elevators. The godforsaken interns' breathing out in the corridor.Five weeks. Five weeks since I let go of that imposter, yet my heart clenched at the thought of her…of him !Anger boiled in my veins over and over but today a particular anger took over me, one o couldn't explain but already had ties to That imposter I didn't need him and I wasn't gay!There was no going back for me. And I felt the whole office knew that from the very moment I resumed, a week ago Besides they couldn't blame me for their incompeten

  • PRETEND PRINCESS   NOT WHO I REMEMBER

    Lily's POVToday became tomorrow.Tomorrow became next week.Next week became three endless weeks.And somehow, despite all the promises I made to myself, I still hadn't met Yuki.I don't even know how it all tightened up like that — how every small detail became so hard. Between caring for Grandpa Roman, going back and forth to the hospital for meds, doctor appointments, dealing with his therapies — life had gotten tangled around my neck with no mercy. I didn't have space to catch my breath, didn't have time to think. And amidst all of this, something gnawed at me:Yuki trusted me.I had been entrusted with Grandpa Roman — with one of the only people he loved — and deep, way down deep inside me, I knew I didn't want to let him down.But today. today was different. Today was the day. I was really going to fix all of it.I was going to go see him, apologize for whatever stupidness drove us apart, tell him about what he'd seen that day with Dan, tell him everything.Dan.He officially m

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