The Monster at My Feet novel Chapter 6

His heart pounded violently against his ribs. The searing pain in his hand mixed with the icy memory of the dead bird.

A cold sweat broke out across his scalp.

It took a long time before the lights in his room finally flicked off.

In the inky darkness a short distance away, a figure blended seamlessly into the night, letting out an impossibly quiet, maliciously amused sound.

"Tsk."

-

Sylvie slept beautifully.

When she woke up and pulled back the curtains, the powder on the sill was completely undisturbed.

Yet, mysteriously, a single wild rose rested outside her window.

The petals were still dewy, trembling delicately in the morning breeze. It was the most vibrant bloom of the bunch.

Scattered leaves and torn vines littered the ledge around it, as if dragged up by the sheer force of a midnight gale.

The girl blinked, picked up the rose, and placed it in the vase beside her bed.

After getting dressed, she headed downstairs to leave for school.

Lawrence stopped her.

The middle-aged man had heavy dark circles under his eyes. He scanned her face analytically, as if appraising an antique.

Then he spoke in a tone that brokered no argument.

"Brush up on your etiquette over the next two days. You're coming with me to a banquet tomorrow night."

Sylvie blinked.

Was the schedule to sell off his daughter moving up?

The young girl nodded obediently.

Lawrence's tone softened slightly. "Don't be nervous. It's just a formal introduction to our social circle. Make sure you behave. Don't disappoint me."

While last night had been an absolute disaster, there had been a silver lining.

Just this morning, several business partners had texted him, raving about how stunning his newly returned daughter was.

He suddenly realized he had underestimated Sylvie's value.

Initially, he figured he'd let her finish college, get a decent degree to boost her resume, and marry her off.

But now it seemed a gorgeous, innocent girl barely out of high school had a much higher market demand.

Sylvie nodded sweetly. "I understand, Dad. I'll head to school now."

"Go on," Lawrence said, pleased. "Oh, and have the driver take you."

Sylvie headed to her dorm.

Elite private schools offered single rooms, and Sylvie actually loved the setup.

At least Lawrence was deeply concerned with appearances. Even though he didn't want to spend a dime on her, he still enrolled her in a top-tier school to boost the family's prestige.

She dropped off her things, grabbed a glass of water, and prepared for her first class.

Swinging her backpack over her shoulder, she stepped out.

Her slender figure quickly disappeared around the corner of the hallway.

Suddenly, the lock on her door let out a barely audible click.

A tall, shadowy figure stepped silently into the room.

He moved without making a sound.

His gaze swept across the small dorm before his pale fingers reached down, picking up a single strand of long hair by the doorframe. He carefully tucked it away.

Like a ghost, he drifted toward her bed.

He dropped to one knee. His fingers brushed against the water glass she had just used, hesitating before gently, almost reverently, tracing the faint imprint of her lips.

Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps echoed down the hall!

Sylvie threw the door wide open!