My Princess Terror | 𝔍𝔢𝔫𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔞

Chapter 26

J

The longer my eyes are on Lisa's face, the more the ruthlessness fades until all I see is the woman I fell in love with.

I search for the anger inside me, but I'm not able to find it. All that's left is the hurt.

Suddenly Lisa nods, then she says, "I never meant to hurt you."

"But you did," I say, rising to my feet. "You could've told me the truth from the beginning."

"I didn't want you to leave," she admits.

Frowning, I ask, "Why? I can't figure that out. What do you want from me, Lisa?"

"Everything," she answers. The possessiveness lacing the word sends shivers rushing over my skin.

God, she still has the power to cloud my better judgment. Her presence makes it hard to focus on the fact that I should be spitting angry with her.

Lisa begins to move toward me. "I want you and everything you have to offer." She stops in front of me, and lifting her hands, she frames my face. Her eyes bore into mine as she says, "I just want you, Jennie."

I search her eyes for the truth, but doubt makes it impossible to read them. Something's holding me back, and I can't figure out what it is.

I pull her hands away from my face, and stepping around her, I walk out onto the balcony. With my back to Lisa, I say, "I have no idea what's the truth and what's a lie when it comes to you."

I feel Lisa as she comes to stand behind me and my eyes drift closed. I might be angry and hurt, but at the end of the day, Lisa still has the power because I can't stop loving her.

Just a couple of minutes alone with her, and even the heartache is starting to ease. I shake my head, wondering if I even stand a chance against her. Or has she already taken ownership of me, and I just need to come to terms with it?

Lisa places her hands on my shoulders, and then her breath fans over my skin right before she presses a kiss to the side of my neck. "When I brought you to the hospital, I just wanted time so you'd be open to an alliance between us."

I turn around, coming face to face with her. I'm so tired of putting up an act I don't think to wear a mask. Looking at Lisa, I don't think to hide what I feel. "If you only wanted an alliance, why did you make me fall for you?"

Emotion washes over her face, and then her features become predatory. "You fell?"

"That's not what's important," I argue. "Why did you do it? Why humiliate me in the process?"

Lisa shakes her head. "I didn't do it to humiliate you." She looks sincere as she says, "I did it because I love you."

My eyes searched for her, and then I asked, "Who are you, Lisa? I can't put the two versions of you together. All I've ever known of you is how calculating and ruthless you are. You're the devil, the only person my mother fears." I shake my head. "But during the two months I stayed here, you were caring and so attentive..." I shake my head again.

Lifting her hands, she places them on the sides of my neck, and then she moves closer until her cologne is all I breathe. "I'm both, Jennie. I don't show everyone the person I am when I'm home. That would be fucking stupid and suicidal."

"God, it's hard thinking Lisa Manoban is playful and caring," I mutter.

She lets out a chuckle. "I'm full of surprises."

"You can say that again."

Her expression turns tender, and it makes a wave of emotion wash through me. "If I didn't lose my memory, would I still be here now?"