Mine

Chapter 23

[A/N: Valentine's Special Update 3]

Song Recommendation: Renegade Remix

The trap, the golden trap

She was to walk away

But started to walk to it

Only to grab

Grab the knob to the door

The door that led her life to crap

Alas! The trapper was beautiful

Beautiful enough to put her to nap

Nap of Death and darkness to snap

Snap the light and rip the bright

Putting her corpse in the dark trap

The trap, the golden trap

She was to walk away

Yet she stayed and got stabbed

The crisp morning air kissed Cherry's bare arms as she stepped onto the porch, the silk night gown sinfully kissed her curves with every sway. She cradled her warm mug of coffee in both hands, inhaling the rich scent as her feet carried her toward the garden like they always did.

It was her favorite time of the day—the quiet before the world stirred, where she could simply exist without the weight of lingering gazes or heavy thoughts.

But then—

Her steps halted. For a few minutes, she just peered at it.

A box.

Sitting on the doorstep, elegant and dark, wrapped with an expensive black ribbon. Her breath caught in her throat.

It was stunning, the kind of box one would find in an exclusive store meant to hold something rare, something dangerous.

She set her mug down on the railing, a slow unease creeping up her spine. Her fingers hovered over the box before she finally picked it up, feeling the weight of it in her arms.

It was silent on the outside, there was no sender name inked to the top.

But she didn't need one to know who it was from. The box screamed his name. Her stomach twisted as she clutched the box to her chest, a war raging inside her. She should throw it away. She should leave it there and pretend she never saw it.

But instead—

"Cherry?"

Her father's voice jolted her, making her grip on the box tighten.

Shit.

She turned quickly, seeing him standing in the doorway, rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"How many times I have told you not to go out right after getting out of your bed honey, you'll catch a cold. Now come, breakfast is ready, your mom made egg rolls" he spoke. Then, his gaze flickered to the mysterious package in her arms. "What's that?"

"Nothing!" she blurted, too quickly.

His brows furrowed.

"I mean—it's, uh, a package. For Sophie. I was just bringing it in for her." She forced a smile, shifting the box behind her back.