When A Villain Falls [Yandere Villain x Hero]

Chapter 41 - Comfort

I stood frozen, my mind reeling from the news. Betrayal twisted inside me, every face, every name, seared into my memory from the headlines that flashed on the TV. Yvie and Julius—people I had trusted.

My team.

How could they?

My chest tightened, and my breathing grew ragged. I couldn't understand how everything had gone so wrong so fast.

Then, Joey's arms were around me. Warm, strong, suffocating. His touch felt almost gentle as he pulled me against his chest, his breath tickling my ear.

"Shhh... My dear... they don't deserve you. You know that, don't you?"

"I trusted them," I muttered, voice trembling. "I thought they had my back. How could they sell me out like that?"

"They always envied you," he whispered, his voice smooth as silk, curling around my thoughts. "You were always too good for them. Too pure. But I saw you for what you truly are. I told you, didn't I? Only I can see how brilliant you are."

I wanted to pull away, but I couldn't.

My legs felt weak, my heart heavy. Instead, I let his words sink into me, filling the cracks of doubt with false comfort.

He shifted, leaning down so his lips hovered close to my ear. "They were jealous because they could never be like you. They knew you were the best of them, and that's why they tried to ruin you. But you have me. You always have me."

His hands slowly slid to my shoulders, fingers tracing soft lines down my arms. His touch was calming, almost hypnotic.

"You'll rise above this, my dear. You always do."

I clenched my jaw, feeling the heat of his body behind me.

"And you knew, didn't you? You've known all along." It wasn't a question. It was an accusation, but even as I said it, I felt the weight of his words settle over me like a blanket. There was a part of me that believed him, that wanted to believe he had been protecting me all along.

He chuckled softly, pressing his lips lightly to the side of my neck.

"Of course, I knew. I've been preparing for this moment, for you to see who they really are. And now..." His voice grew softer, almost tender, "Now you can see that I was right."

I shivered, caught between the twisted reality he spun and the bitter truth that gnawed at the edges of my mind. "I don't know what to think anymore, Joey."

"Then don't think," he murmured, his lips grazing my cheek. "Just feel."

Before I could react, he gently turned me around, his hands cradling my face. His eyes, dark and intense, bore into mine.

For a moment, I could see it—the madness lurking behind them, the obsession. But there was something else too, something warm and terrifying at the same time.

"You're mine, my love," he whispered. "You always have been."

He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine. It was soft at first, almost hesitant, but then it deepened, the pressure growing, his arms tightening around me as if he was afraid I might slip away.

And maybe, just maybe, I didn't want to.

When he pulled back, his eyes were wild with something I couldn't quite place. He smiled, his fingers tracing my lips. "You'll see, my dear. Everything I've done, it's all been for you. For us."

I blinked, the world around me spinning. "For us?"

"Yes," he said, a glint of excitement in his voice. "Everything—the plan, the betrayals, even the chaos... it's all leading to something greater. Something that will set us free. Don't you see?"

I shook my head, trying to make sense of his words. "Set us free? From what?"

"From them," he said with a sneer. "From the people who pretend to care about you, but who would throw you to the wolves the moment they got the chance. The ones who would tear you apart if it meant saving themselves."

His grip tightened slightly as he leaned in closer. "But I won't let that happen. I'll protect you. I'll always protect you."

I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach. "And what about you, Joey? Who protects me from you?"

His smile widened, and he pressed his forehead against mine, his breath warm on my skin.

"Oh, my love... you don't need protection from me. I'm the one who truly loves you. I'm the one who sees you, who understands you."

He pulled me closer, his voice dropping to a low, almost conspiratorial whisper. "In three days, you'll understand. Everything I've done will make sense. You'll see that I was right. You'll see that we belong together."

My pulse quickened. "What happens in three days?"

He kissed me again, harder this time, as if sealing a promise. "Something shocking, my dear. But I swear, no one will get hurt. Well... not physically, anyway."

A cold shiver ran down my spine, and for the first time since this nightmare began, I felt a deep, paralyzing fear.