DEVIOUS LOVE

Chapter 13 - Her Plan

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Jennie panicked. She sprinted out of her bedroom, barefoot and all.

The necklace was precious to her. It was the last gift her parents had given to her. She could still remember the gentle caress of her mother's hand when the jewelry was placed around her neck. When she excitedly showed it to her father, he warmly patted her on top of the head.

Jennie racked her brain for something to say, aside from begging her to stay. And suddenly, a name came to mind. She did tell her name. She had forgotten the bewitching name until it was forced out of her.

"Lisa, please!"

She halted.

Her heart soared. She hesitatingly smiled over the railing, hoping Lisa was not that cruel. Slowly, she turned around, taking her sweet time doing so, whilst continuously twirling the necklace on her long forefinger.

She gulped.

Lisa had touched intimate parts of her with that finger. Like her lower back when they waltzed, and her hand as Lisa guided her on the dancefloor.

"Please?" she repeated, lowering her voice this time.

Aunt Eleanor and Viscount Marden's room were on the other side of their large house. Unfortunately, they were light-sleepers and Jennie didn't want to take any chances. She could not afford to.

In the blink of an eye, Lisa was in front of her again. Her breath caught in her throat. She stepped backwards timidly, her hands pressed to her chest. Lisa was standing too close for comfort.

"You chased me away," she teased. "And now you want me to return?"

"I-it was only a natural reaction. What woman would invite a stranger into their room—"

"Ah, so now I am a stranger? Even though I am well acquainted with your body."

"Do you have to be so shameless?" Jennie exasperated.

Her smile became gentle. "It's not being shameless. It's being honest, my sweet."

Jennie receded even more. She was good with her words, nearly sounding manipulative. Lisa was a charming woman. Granted, she also possessed qualities of a psychopath in the making. Perhaps, she already was one.

When Jennie peered into her eyes, tinted like freshly spilt blood, her stomach flipped. Lisa was regarding her like a piece of flesh.

"My necklace," she whispered. "Please."

Lisa held up her hand beside her. "You mean this little thing?"

She rapidly nodded.

"It's mine now. "Lisa enclosed her fingers around it.

Lisa saw the hope flee from her face. Her bottom lip trembled. It was an endearing sight. Was she going to cry? Goodness, Jennie hoped not. Lisa did not deal with tears too well.

"Y-you're a big bully and, and—"

"Here, darling," she lifted her hand to Jennie.

Jennie instantly perked up. She reached forward. Within seconds, Lisa captured her wrist. She expected it to shatter upon impact. Surprisingly, Lisa touch was delicate. She treated her like glass.

"I didn't say you could have it."

"Please give it to me," she implored. "It was mine in the first place."

Lisa noted her unhappy glare. Her mood switched quickly. She must have been suppressing a lot of emotion in this moment.

"Like I said, what will you give me in return?" Lisa inquired.

"My gratitude?"

"And why do I need something so useless, darling Jennie?" she asked.

"It will come in handy in the future," she bluffed.

"Sounds like something a con woman would say."

Jennie wondered if she was sadistic. Lisa must've enjoyed tormenting her.

She couldn't stay out much longer. She was freezing cold. Her night dress did nothing to shelter her from the nightly breeze and the temperature had dropped further when Lisa suddenly appeared in front of her.

"I d-don't know what I did to warrant your bullying but I will apologize for it. So, please... won't you leave me alone?" she sullenly requested.

Lisa raised an amused brow and the tiny action bewitched her in a second. She was so handsome that she could not bring herself look away. No matter how much hatred festered in her heart, she was sucked in by Lisa. In the dusk of the night, she was absolutely breathtaking.

"My darling Jennie," she gently cooed. "I am merely toying with you."

"Well, it hurts."

"Really?"

Jennie nodded.

"Forgive me," she softly whispered.

Jennie thought she was jesting with her again. But Lisa's playful features had morphed into seriousness.

"You h-have a strange way of telling me you're sorry," she muttered. "Saying 'forgive me,' is too demanding of an apology."

Lisa chuckled. The deep, luxurious sound caused her toes to curl. Even her laughter was pleasant to the ears. Lisa was a dangerous concoction. Suave but sadistic.

Lisa could have anyone in the world if she wished. When a woman looked like that, it was natural for people to react to her.

"That's because I'm not apologizing."

Jennie immediately scowled. Did no one teach her manners? What happened to the etiquette of a gentlewoman?

"Didn't we go over this discussion before?" Lisa reminded her.

Jennie was tired of her charade. She fisted her dress and stepped back. "If you're going to continue teasing me like this, t-then good night."

" Jennie —"

"I said good night," she snipped.

Lisa's smile remained. So, her little prey had this side to her? She was impressed. Jennie was not as demure as she was portrayed to be.

Without waiting for Lisa's response, she spun on her heel. Her dress twirled with her action, fluttering in the wind when she stomped back to her room. Without missing a beat, she swiveled around and locked the windows.

Lisa could simply break them with a flick of her fingers. For Jennie's sake, she didn't. Lisa watched as she stormed towards her bed and climbed into the safety of her blankets. Like a sulking child, she faced her back to Lisa. Lovely ringlets of gold-spun hair cascaded down her small shoulders, a delectable scent following after her exit.

Lisa shook her head. Not from disappointment or anger, but pure amusement. Jennie was so endearingly cute, Lisa wanted to squeeze her to death. Since their conversation had come to an inevitable end, she decided to leave.

Now that she had been provoked, she would have no choice except to attend the second day of the ball.

It was Lisa's plan all along.

Once Jennie her set foot in her castle, she would never escape.