Sweet Devil [BL]

Chapter 151. At The Hotel

When Jake opened the door, he met eyes with Masha, who was sitting on the bed cross-legged. They stared at each other for a moment, sparks about to fly. Then, Masha snorted and Jake closed the door, walking further inside.

Without paying the woman any heed, Jake took off his coat, carelessly hanging it on the chair before slumping on it. Next, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and tossed it on the night table; only then did he consent to lift his eye and look at Masha's grumpy face.

"Before I turn on the recorder," he said, "do you have something to say?"

"Honestly? I've got a shitload of things I'd like to shout at you."

"The room is soundproof," Jake smiled coldly, "so go ahead."

Masha's mouth twitched. "Can't believe I'm going to say this, but I'm missing your cocky ways! That passive attitude of yours is annoying as hell—it's like talking to a wall."

"Well, I'm afraid you're going to punch me if I dare say anything remotely wrong, and I don't exactly want to return home with a bruised eye. So, better watch my tongue."

Silence fell, and neither tried to break it for a while.

Masha mulled over how to dismember Jake and hide the body parts, whereas the man in question didn't lose his commercial-like smile and silently sized her up. When he acted like this, he reminded Masha of Gabriel. His emerald eyes shone with the same cold glint, and the kind look on his face was just as chilling. Now that Jake had dropped the act, only a fool wouldn't realize that he and Gabriel were blood-related.

Somehow, it was disconcerting; how could these two be so alike? And they both had that bad habit of taking everything upon themselves. It'd have been so much simpler if Jake was a jerk through and through. But alas, he wasn't.

"Anyway," Masha eventually said, "I do have a question for you. You don't seem to hold any animosity toward anyone else other than me—even Tristan. I'm not as dense as my brother, you know?"

Jake pinched his lips but didn't comment.

"What kind of fool was I in the first timeline?" Masha let out a self-mocking laugh. "For goodness' sake, I didn't even notice my father was beating up my little brother! And we were living under the same roof." Masha paused to scoff at herself. "Gabriel also gave up many things for my family and me, including his inheritance, yet I've never done anything for him except cause trouble. But I don't think that's what's bothering you."

Again, silence.

"Let me guess, then. Was I really stupid enough not tp realize something was wrong with Camille's family...? Well, I don't think so. I probably just turned a blind eye to whatever dark secrets I found. And who knows? Maybe I even helped her hide the evidence. That wench has always been good at manipulating people, and I was a brainless fool blinded by love. I was already being led by the nose in this timeline, and we had been dating for less than two years. I don't want to imagine how much deeper I'd have fallen into her honey trap after a few more years. It's scary just to think about it."

Masha smiled wryly. Considering how things turned out in the first timeline, she wouldn't be surprised if she clung to Camille like a starved beast. In her other self's mind, Camille had probably been the only person who would ever love her, and she'd do everything to keep her by her side. If she had to go against her conscience to reach that goal, so be it; she knew herself well enough.

"So, how about telling me what I did?"

"And what good would it do you?"

"I'd know why you hate my guts so much, for starters!"