SWNOVELS Chapter 22
Chapter 22
“Morning,” Rowan murmured, his head lowered as he concentrated on playing the piano.
Karla slapped his shoulder, “Who hunches over like that when they’re playing? Sit up straight, it’ll look much better. Lift your head.”
Startled by her touch, Rowan immediately straightened up. Out of the corner of her eye, Karla caught a glimpse of something amiss. Her expression darkened as she tried to get a better look, but Rowan turned away, trying to hide his face. Karla, in a domineering move, grabbed his chin and forced him to face her.
Seeing the swelling on one side of his face, Karla clenched her teeth in anger, “He hit you again!”
“It’s nothing,” Rowan muttered, looking down with a muffled voice.
“Nothing? You’re all bruised up and it’s nothing? Just wait, I’ll make him pay.” Karla fumed. Panicked at her words, Rowan blurted out, “What are you planning to do?”
“What do you think? I’m going to teach him a lesson-”
“No, you can’t!” Rowan’s interruption was fierce, almost a shout, taking Karla by surprise. This was the first time she’d ever heard him raise his voice.
Rowan clutched at the hem of her clothes, looking up at her with deep fear and pleading in his eyes, “Please don’t, don’t go. I don’t want you getting into trouble.”
“Alright, alright, I won’t go. Just calm down,” Karla reassured him, taken aback by his reaction.
Breathing heavily, Rowan realized he had overreacted and pushed her away, stepping outside to cool off.
Karla couldn’t help but wonder if his strong reaction was because something similar håd happened before. Had a past incident left such a deep psychological scar?
The letter Rowan had from Nicholas was handed over to Joana as soon as Landon had
left.
Joana was ecstatic upon seeing the letter, clutching it as if it were a lifeline, her hands trembling. It was the first time Joana had hugged Rowan.
Rowan froze in place, not daring to move. Joana hugged him, tears of joy streaming down her face as she thanked him. It was a stiff, formal thanks. Any warmth that had begun to bloom in Rowan’s heart vanished, and the smile that’s about to form faded.
As Rowan left her room, Joana suddenly called out, “Hey, wait a minute!”
18:19
He paused, thinking she probably didn’t even know his name.
“Is there a woman hiding in your room?” Joana asked.
Rowan simply replied, “No,” and walked away without looking back.
Karla noticed Rowan’s unhappy demeanor when he returned from delivering the letter and wisely chose not to ask any questions.
In truth, Karla had seen the contents of that letter. After speaking with Nicholas that night, Karla had pretended to leave with Rowan but soon doubled back to speak with Nicholas alone in the garden.
As she was leaving, Nicholas asked, “May I know your name?”
“Karla,” she answered without hesitation.
He nodded, “Ms. Karla, I won’t forget you. Including what you told me tonight. I’ll remember it always, until I’m old and gray.”
Nicholas‘ plan to escape with Joana was set for two days later when he knew Landon would be away for a short trip.
On the morning of the plan, Karla was having breakfast with Rowan when the door suddenly burst open. Startled, Karla choked on her toast, unable to swallow or spit it out, desperately pounding her chest in discomfort.
Rowan looked up with the delighted expression of a child, “Burk!”
Burk? Karla paused for a moment, then, catching on, her face lit up even more than Rowan’s. She turned and excitedly echoed, “Burk!”
The moment Burk pushed open the door and saw Rowan sitting with an unfamiliar woman for breakfast, he was stunned.
Caught off guard by their expressions of joy and excitement upon seeing him, Burk felt even more bewildered.
Who was this lady? Did he know her?