Chapter 7
In the car, he held my hand tightly as he looked at me with deep longing. For some reason, his expression was a mixture of grievance and jealousy. “I heard you did everything possible to win Rowan’s heart. Why didn’t you treat me like that when I was around?”
I laughed awkwardly, feeling diffident. “You knew what my situation was like, right? I would never have spared him a glance if I was myself! He goes around on that dumb motorcycle every day, looking like he thinks he’s the coolest.
“He thinks he’s a big deal just because he’s won a few races–look at how I kicked him back to reality! I want to vomit at the sight of him; why would I pursue him?”
I insulted Rowan to the best of my abilities just to pacify Gideon. When I saw his expression soften, I hurriedly vowed my loyalty to him. “Come on, Gid. I’m back now, aren’t I?”
The driver hurriedly raised the partition, afraid of hearing any more of our conversation. Gideon scoffed, unmoved by my pledge.
This wasn’t the time to be shy. I took the initiative and leaned closer. “Forgive me, Gid! It’s my other personality’s fault for having different beauty standards.”
Gideon’s expression had softened earlier, but it darkened again at my words. “Are you saying I don’t look as good as Rowan Moore?”
I hastily smacked my mouth. “Of course not! Rowan looks like a male escort–how can he compare to you? He’s no match for you!”
I had to admit I was stretching the truth with that. Rowan wasn’t as handsome as Gideon, but he could still enchant many women with a single smile. It was just that he and Gideon weren’t in the same league!
I was secretly relieved when I saw Gideon’s lips quirk into a tiny smile.
I couldn’t help thinking about the lengths I’d gone to to make him break up with me back then. At the time, I’d been caught in the torment of alternating between two personalities, and Gideon had searched the world for psychologists to cure me.
During the day, I was his girlfriend. At night, I would become Rowan’s doormat. Gideon got jealous so easily, yet he’d forced himself to beg me to go home with him with Rowan watching. He’d even cast his pride aside to beg Rowan to let me off the hook.
Rowan had smiled roguishly at the time and raised an eyebrow, pretending to be troubled. “She’s the one who won’t leave me alone…”
He’d turned to look at me. “I’ll agree to be your boyfriend if you can finish these ten bottles of liquor to my face.”
Gideon wanted to stop me because he knew I was allergic to alcohol. However, I’d shoved him away.
Ultimately, I didn’t drink anything–Gideon had punched Rowan, but I’d smacked him on the head with a liquor bottle. There’d been blood everywhere.
My secondary personality knew she’d gotten into trouble, so she’d let me out and allowed me to deal with the fallout. I’d been in so much heartache upon waking up and seeing the chaos before me that I’d felt like my heart had been gouged out of my chest.
I’d called an ambulance, tears streaming down my face as I tried to stop the bleeding. That was the day I decided to end things with Gideon. I knew it would’ve been too unfair to him if I’d allowed things to continue like that.
it was also then that I remembered something a psychologist had told me. “Don’t reject her. In a way, she and you are one and the same. She’s just a reflection of the deepest part of your soul. You have to try to accept her and make her willingly become one with you.”
I’d thought about that for a whole night while waiting outside Gideon’s hospital ward. Since my secondary personality was so in love with Rowan, I would allow her to take over my body. I would have her experience all the torment Rowan would bring her–that was the only chance I had of making her willingly become one with me.
Gideon had been vehemently against the plan after hearing it, but he’d ultimately given in to me. I’d announced our breakup after that.
He hadn’t wanted to see me act like a doormat, so he’d transferred all his businesses to Merania. That was when Rowan had orchestrated his accident.
1
My secondary personality had broken free of her restraints and taken over my body. I hadn’t struggled to get it back from her because I’d no longer had anything to worry about; I’d been happy hiding where I was.
Fortunately, Rowan had performed better than expected–he was a bigger scumbag than I’d thought. Per my plan, he would have five years to torment my secondary personality until she Lost hope in life. Unexpectedly, he’d achieved that in two years.
My secondary personality had willingly become one with me and melded into my soul. The feelings she’d harbored for Rowan had disappeared the moment I’d woken up. All I could feel was her final request –she wanted me to defeat Rowan. That was why I’d secretly signed up for the championship final.
The preliminaries were over, and latecomers weren’t allowed to sign up for the finals. However, the organizers had immediately agreed to let me join when they saw who I was.
I’d held the champion title for five consecutive years, after all. I was a legend in Jolline City! There was no chance of Rowan winning with me around.
I carefully caressed Gideon’s head, my eyes filled with sorrow and regret. “Does it still hurt?“.
The scar on his head had long since faded, but mental scars probably wouldn’t disappear so soon.
He placed a hand over mine and smiled slightly. “A kiss will make it all better.”
He pointed at his lips and lowered his gaze. Meanwhile, I blushed furiously. Still, I puckered up and shut my eyes, pressing my lips to his.
Gideon’s lips were cool and minty; his breath smelled great. I was thinking about that when he suddenly grabbed my head and took control.
What was meant to be a simple kiss turned into something deeper, more intense–a storm of possessiveness. His lips trailed from mine down to my neck, staking his claim.
It wasn’t until we’d been parked before the restaurant for over ten minutes that the driver interrupted us, his voice hesitant and timid “Mr. Stone, Ms. Rivers… we’re here.”
I snapped to my senses, feeling like I’d woken up from a dream. I pushed Gideon away from me and gave him an embarrassed glare.
He chuckled lowly, his deep voice sounding particularly alluring.
