1. Late!

|| Authors Pov ||

Rosa tossed in her sleep, her hands reaching for the warmth that wasn’t there. Only cold sheets met her fingers. The bed felt too big.

She sat up and scanned the quiet room. He wasn’t there.

Where did he go in the middle of the night?

Throat dry, she stepped into the hallway and froze. A metallic sound echoed through the silence. Her brows furrowed. The mansion was dim but lit, just as it always was.

The strange sound came again.

Was she dreaming?

The sound grew sharper, a groan, rough and pained, like something being torn apart. Unease curled in her stomach. Slowly, she descended the stairs, heart pounding louder with each step, her eyes darted toward the half-open door at the end of the hall.

That room. The one the maid had said was off-limits. Abandoned basement.

Then why was there light spilling out?

She crept closer. The groan turned into a choked cry. Her pulse raced. The light touched her toes as she leaned in, peeking through the narrow gap.

Her blood ran cold. Everything inside her went still. Goosebumps crawled over her skin as the sight before her shattered the air from her lungs in terror. And then... her world tilted.

───

|| A few months earlier ||

A soft pair of beautiful eyes peeked nervously down the corridor.

Rosalie Sinclair. A vision of delicate beauty. Twenty-one years old with a petite frame that seemed almost ethereal. Her rare lavender eyes shimmered like twilight mist, framed by long lashes, while her rosebud lips bloomed in soft pink innocence. She looked like a living doll, too exquisite to belong in the real world.

Orphaned at five after her parents’ tragic car accident, she was raised by her aunt Carolina, who had a son, Kevin. He was a few years older than Rosalie.

Though her ethereal drew stares, Rosalie stayed hidden like a secret shy muse. She worked at a cozy café to support herself, even though she didn’t need to.

She harbored one secret no one knew–an impossibly intense crush on her intimidating professor. That man terrified her with his sharp presence and cold demeanor, yet drew her in like gravity. He was rude to her at every turn... and still, she likes him beyond imagination.

Today, unfortunately, she was late for her classes, and that scared her because....

She knew he would scold her. Rosa slowly lifted her head, releasing a long, shaky breath. She couldn’t ignore his strict words. A lump rose in her throat as she swallowed hard. The familiar corridor echoed in pin-drop silence. Fear bloomed in her naive heart.

She didn’t want to go in… yet she desperately did. One glance from him could brighten her entire day.

Should I go inside? Her innocent mind whispered.

Shaking off her thoughts, Rosalie decided she couldn’t be any later. Her fingers nervously clutched the edge of her skirt as she approached with hesitant steps. At the door, her hands curled into fists. She lifted her eyes and her knees weakened at the sight of him inside.

Killian Salvatore.

The air left her lungs. He stood there in a perfectly tailored black tuxedo. The crisp white shirt beneath only sharpens the powerful lines of his figure. He was impossibly tall, easily twice her size. He looked every bit the beautiful monster her innocent eyes had always feared and craved.

Rosa's pulse stumbled. A strange ache bloomed inside her chest. How could someone look like that?

Her innocent eyes fixated on his towering figure. A warmth spread through her chest so fiercely it almost hurt.

One glance.

Just one glimpse and her thoughts scattered like fallen petals in the wind. He looked like something dangerous disguised as perfection. And she was hopelessly, painfully in love with him.

Her throat tightened. Every beat of her heart whispered the same desperate desire. No one could possibly know how badly she wanted to cross the room, press her face into the solid chest, and disappear into him. To be wrapped in those powerful arms and finally feel loved.

The love she had been quietly starving for.

Him.

Just him.

A soft breath escaped her lips as she stared at him, drinking in every detail she had already memorized a thousand times before.

“May I come in?” Her sweet, melodic voice instantly drew every eye toward her.

Everyone turned to the figure standing outside the door. Rosa’s head lowered and throat went dry.

The sharp click of black cap-toe boots echoed against the floor. Each measured step drew closer to her. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt.

The sound alone was enough to make her nervous. As his slow footsteps approached, Rosa felt her legs weaken beneath her.

She still remembers, just a few days ago, he had made her stand outside the classroom for the entire period. She didn’t want that punishment again.

The footsteps stopped right in front of her. His tall, monstrous shadow swallowed her petite body completely, blocking out the light.

“What time is it now?” His dark, commanding voice sent a shiver through her.

Rosa blinked rapidly before slowly lifting her head to meet his gaze. The moment her eyes met his, every bit of courage abandoned her. Those, cold, merciless dark blue eyes. It felt as though they were looking straight through her soul, exposing every secret hidden inside her heart.

She hated how much his gaze affected her. It terrifies her. The sight of his obvious displeasure made her lower her head immediately. Fear curled around her throat, stealing her voice.

Killian’s dark blue orbs drilled straight into her, piercing through every fragile layer of her soul.

Killian Salvatore was dominance incarnate. To the world, he was the cold professor, but there was a secret about him no one knew about. Behind that perfect facade, Killian was a ruthless mafia leader. The mafia king who ruled with no mercy, no remorse, and a heart carved from stone. He towered at 6’4”, with devastatingly masculine features and icy animalistic blue eyes that could freeze blood in veins and strip souls bare. There was something dark and dangerous about him. The air itself seemed to grow colder whenever he entered a room. He was a mystery to the people around him, impossible to read and even harder to approach. Rudeness was his signature personality, and intimidation came as naturally as breathing in his demeanor.

And right now, that chilling aura was focused entirely on her.

“I asked something.” His voice emerged rougher this time with a warning that made Rosa flinch. The answer sat somewhere in her mind, but fear had tangled every thought into a hopeless knot.

She couldn't speak.

The entire class watched in tense silence. They were only students in the presence of a predator.

A muscle ticked in Killian's jaw at her silence.

“Mannerless, aren't you?” he stated rudely.

The words struck harder than they should have. But the ache in her chest only grew heavier as she struggled to think of an answer. His question wasn't difficult but she couldn't think of anything in his presence.

So rude!

Why is he always like this with her? Doesn't he realize his words can hurt someone? Doesn't he understand she has feelings too? He looks at her like he hates her.

“Look up.” Rosa flinched at the harsh command.

Slowly, she lifted her head, and the moment her eyes met his, the world around her seemed to stop. Her breath caught and soft lavender eyes remain locked with his piercing blue ones, completely losing herself in them despite the fear coursing through her veins. She saw her entire world reflected in them, while to him, she was probably nothing more than another student standing in his way.

“I assume someone has passed away for you to be this late.” His rough voice carried a cruel mockery that made her lashes flutter. “Does your father count?”

The color drained from Rosa's face. Father. The word alone was enough to make something inside her break. Her fingers tightened around the fabric of her skirt. Was it really necessary to bring that up? How could he possibly understand the pain of growing up without a family? Without parents?

“Congratulations on being at the top of the bell curve.” The words left his lips coldly, sounding less like a remark and more like an insult. And somehow, that only made Rosa feel even guiltier for being late.

She can't tolerate such words from the people she loves. Especially him. The man who occupies every corner of her heart while not giving a single damn about hers.

“I-I'm sorry.” she apologised in her soft shaky tone.

“Next time, don’t come to my class if you’re late.” His voice was strict but calm.

Rosa gives a small nod immediately. Killian hummed low in his throat. Relief flooded her. She knew that hum meant she was allowed in.

‘He let me in. He didn’t punish me this time.’

Rosa releases a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. Gripping her skirt tightly, she steps inside the classroom. Every eye follows her, some curious, some worried, but she keeps her gaze lowered. A half-empty seat catches her attention.

She walks toward it and sits down carefully when a soft voice stops her.

“Good morning, Rosalie.” She turned to see Aria smiling warmly beside her.

“Good morning.” Rosa replies with a small smile, forcing warmth into her expression even though her chest still feels heavy.

“You look sad.” Aria’s eyes study her face.

Rosa blinks once, then quickly shakes her head. “No. I’m fine.”

“Students, collect your answer papers.” Killian’s authoritative voice rang out across the room.

Rosa’s heart freezes at the announcement. Her head jerked up and eyes widened as she watched him neatly stacking the thick pile of exam papers on his desk. The entire room stiffens.

“Shit. I forgot it’s result distribution day.” Aria groaned.

Rosa doesn’t react outwardly, but her palms begin to sweat as her gaze stays fixed on the front. Aria noticed the silence, and gently places a hand on Rosa’s shoulder. “Just go, Rosalie. Don’t overthink it.”

“Rosalie Sinclair,” Killian called in a dark resonant tone, “Collect your answer paper.”

The way he said her name made her stomach tighten.

Aria nudged her gently. “Go on.”

Rosa forced herself to move toward his desk. She stopped in front of his desk. A sharp masculine scent reached her, making her briefly close her eyes just to steady herself.

Then her paper was placed in front of her.

Killian simply released her paper onto the desk and straightened. His one hand slipped into his pocket as he looked down at her.

Rosa’s fingers trembled and she slowly picked it up. Everything inside her dropped at once, seeing the bad Mark she got. Failed.

She failed again!

Rosa swallowed hard. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her. Killian was watching her. Rosa pressed both lips together, trying her best to avoid meeting those cold eyes again.

“Meet me in my office after the classes.” She jolted in her place at his stern voice. The tone alone was enough to tell her he was pissed.

She was in big trouble.