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Normally, I would make use of this opportunity to gloat, to even tease him a bit for trying to act tough earlier, but I could not bring myself to.

Maybe it was the pained tone he used or the obvious embarrassment in his expression. 

Either way, I made my way back to his form on the bed, gazing down at him with an amused smile.

“You want me to… scratch your itch?”

His jaw ticked for a moment as he paused, but then he spoke, looking visibly pained to say the words:

“Yes.”

I nodded to myself before moving to the bedside table where I had prepared something for this exact situation. 

Of course, I had expected the cast to itch at one time or another, so I had been expecting this moment.

I grabbed the cool anti-itch spray before moving back to him, sitting in a comfortable position where I could easily access the cast.

But as soon as I touched it, he visibly flinched away from me. “What are you doing?” he spat in alarm.

I rolled my eyes at his reaction. 

“The cast is itchy, or is it not?” I asked with a knowing tone.

He gave a wordless nod in return.

“Then sit still and let me do my job,” I muttered before moving my hands to the cast again with the container in my grasp.

“This is going to be cold,” I wanted to say, but I held back my words, deciding that he was going to find out by himself, and he did, flinching again as I applied the spray.

“Flinch one more time, and I will leave,” I threatened in a half-serious tone.

He complied, and the room was filled with awkward silence as I applied the medication. I could see the visible relief on his face as I applied it, which, for some reason, made me even more amused, but I shook the feeling away.

I should only feel amused when I give him a tough time or taunt him, nothing more.

As soon as I was done, I quickly exited the room without waiting for his response—which I was not expecting either way.

I walked down the hallway and away from the room as fast as I could, but just as I reached the doorway of my room, my phone vibrated with a call.

My brows furrowed as I examined the unknown number on the caller ID.

After a moment of hesitation, I raised the device to my ear, accepting the call.

“You bitch! Is this how you repay me for giving you the grace of more time?” My eyebrows rose at the loud voice, which I recognized to be my landlord.

He did not sound pleased in the least.

“What are you going on about?” I asked with a nonplussed frown.

“You ran away from the apartment because I asked for my money, didn’t you? I’m telling you now that if you don’t pay all your debts, I’m going to report you to the police and ensure that you never get an apartment in this city again! I’m breaking all your locks and throwing out all your things tomorrow, just so you know!”

My eyes widened in shock. “Wai—”

But the beep of the call getting disconnected met my ears instead.

“What just happened?” I asked aloud with nobody to hear but myself.

A call from my landlord? 

This was not what I expected because Cassian had assured me that all my debts would be cleared the moment I stepped foot into the mansion.

Surely there must be a misunderstanding somewhere, I thought.

Still, there was something that rubbed me off with the whole issue, and I knew that I needed to address it immediately.

Just then, I heard a clearing of a throat behind me, startling me out of my thoughts.

I swivelled on my feet, turning my gaze to meet the maid who stood with a polite smile.

“The master is requesting your presence.”

My lips down turned into a frown at her words.

Did I not just return from his room? What did he need me for again that he could not ask the maids?

I said as much, relaying my thoughts to the woman.

 “I just left his room. What does he need me for?”

She shook her head at my words. “No, not the young master. Mr. Cassian.”

My lip curled. Just the man I needed to see.

“Why don’t you just call them by their names? It would make life easier for everybody.”

Personally, I thought ‘young master’ and ‘master’ were very unnecessary titles, as were a lot of things in this house.

She did not give a reply, only staring back at me with that polite smile, looking like a well-trained dog. It annoyed me.

Whatever.

“Where is he?” I asked shortly.

“Downstairs,” she replied, and I motioned for her to lead the way, following behind her.

The large stairway grated on my nerves even more as we climbed down. Another unnecessary thing.

She led me to the foyer, excusing herself as I spotted the said man, meeting his eyes with a deep frown.

He met my gaze with an amused smirk, giving me that look as though he knew something that I didn’t.

As soon as we were alone, I stormed over to him.

“What the fuck did you do?” I spat with my eyes blazing. “This was not a part of our agreement!”

“What you should have expected.” He knew exactly what I was talking about. 

Yet, I could not find an ounce of remorse in his demeanour.

He looked rather proud of himself, and the reason for which, I would find out soon.

“The issue here is that you have yet to meet your end of the contract, so I cannot do your bidding just yet.”

My frown deepened. “If it’s about the report, I will give you one tomorrow, even right now if you want—”

“Nu-uh, that’s not what I’m talking about.” He cut me off mid-sentence.

 “You see, there is something else I need you to do for me.”

My brows furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about? I have done everything you asked me to do.”

His expression changed then, to something more serious and less mischievous.

“I want you to marry my brother.”

“What!” My eyes widened and I heard the echo of a voice behind me.

I turned around, and there he was—Xander, with his fists tightened around the arm of his wheelchair.