The Parasite [Yandere x Reader]

Chapter 22 - (The Stress)

The mansion felt unusually quiet after the tumultuous confrontation with my parents. I paced the grand foyer, replaying their accusations in my mind and grappling with the weight of their expectations. Damien's unexpected presence emerged from the shadows, his footsteps echoing softly as he approached with a gentle concern etched on his features.

How long has he been there?

Did he hear everything?

"Y/N," he murmured softly, his voice a soothing balm against the storm raging within me. "Are you okay?"

I turned to face him, grateful for his concern yet wary of the turmoil inside me. "Not really," I admitted with a shaky sigh, feeling the exhaustion settling in.

I shouldn't burden him with this.

But I need someone to talk to.

Damien stepped closer, his presence offering quiet reassurance. "I'm sorry you had to go through that," he said sincerely, his eyes searching mine.

"Yeah," I murmured, unsure how to navigate the conflicting emotions swirling inside me.

He seems genuinely concerned.

Maybe I can trust him with this.

Silence settled between us, broken only by the faint crackling of the fireplace. Damien hesitated, as if carefully choosing his words.

"You know," he began slowly, his expression thoughtful, "your parents... they seemed really upset about the mansion."

I froze, my heart skipping a beat as I processed his words. How did he know about the mansion? I hadn't told him anything about the inheritance, yet here he was, mentioning it as if he knew.

Wait, what?

How does he know about that?

"What do you mean?" I asked cautiously, trying to keep my voice steady despite the sudden surge of unease.

Damien's gaze held mine, his features tense with an unspoken revelation. "They mentioned something about fighting it in court," he explained carefully, his tone tinged with uncertainty.

He couldn't have heard that.

We were outside, and he was in the house.

Unless...

A chill ran down my spine, realization dawning on me. I had never mentioned the details of the inheritance to Damien. 

How could he know unless...?

"I... didn't realize they would go that far," I managed finally, my voice betraying the unease gnawing at me.

He's been listening.

He knows things he shouldn't.

But why?

The air between us crackled with unspoken tension, the weight of his revelation hanging heavily in the silence that followed. I struggled to find my voice, grappling with the unsettling realization that Damien had knowledge about my family's intentions that I hadn't shared with him.

I need to confront this.

I can't keep pretending everything's normal.

"I... appreciate your concern," I managed finally, my voice barely above a whisper. "But that was... private."

Damien nodded slowly, his expression remorseful. "I understand," he murmured, his gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before meeting mine again. "I didn't mean to overhear. I was just worried about you."

Is he telling the truth?

Or is there more to this?

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I needed to ask next. "Damien," I began, my voice steadier now, "how much did you hear? And... how long have you been listening?"

His eyes widened slightly, a flicker of something—guilt? fear?—passing across his face. "I... I didn't mean to pry," he said, his voice low and strained. "I just happened to be nearby when your parents arrived. I was concerned, and I... I stayed close in case you needed help."

That doesn't explain everything.

There's still so much he's not telling me.

"But you knew about the court," I pressed, unable to let it go. "You knew about the inheritance. I never told you about that."

Damien's expression tightened, a mix of emotions playing across his features. "Y/N, I..." he began, then stopped, seeming to struggle with what to say next.

The silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken truths and growing suspicion. I felt my heart racing, torn between the desire to trust him and the nagging feeling that there was so much more beneath the surface.

What are you hiding, Damien?

And why do I feel like I'm only scratching the surface of a much bigger mystery?

As we stood there in the dimly lit foyer, the shadows seemed to deepen around us, and I couldn't shake the feeling that everything I thought I knew about Damien—and perhaps even about the mansion itself—was about to change.

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(697 Words)