Cold Hands Warm Heart (A Vampire Fan Fiction) - Harry Styles

Chapter 3• Unveil

Carolina's POV

He was seated upon a plush chair, and upon his lap, a young woman was perched, her face turned to his. Their lips were sealed in a kiss of such profound intimacy that my heart, already bruised by the rain and my frantic search, shattered. I felt a single tear trace a path down my cheek, soon followed by a torrent of hot, bitter drops. I had come to him a sodden, disheveled mess, prepared to apologize for a trivial slight, and in return, I was met with this devastating tableau.

The air in my lungs was stolen, leaving me to gasp for a breath that would not come. "I... I... this cannot be... Harry," I whispered, my voice caught in my throat. The words came out as a broken, meaningless jumble. I stood there, rooted to the spot, the reality of his betrayal settling over me with a cold finality. A flash of rage and indignity seized me. My mind raced with the impulse to scream, to tear the very room apart, to punish him for the depth of his cruelty.

But then, a cold, hard clarity settled over me. This was not the fairy tale I had imagined. This was not the man who would stand by my side, nor was this the future I had envisioned. I had hoped to marry the man who had vowed his devotion, to build a life of love and happiness. Alas, I had been a fool. He had used me, a mere plaything to be discarded when his interest waned.

I reached for the ring, the symbol of his false promise, and with a swift, deliberate motion, I cast it at his feet. "You are not worthy of this token of my affection. Keep your lies and your deceptions. You shall not see me again, nor shall you ever seek my forgiveness. I was so utterly foolish to have defied my parents and their sound judgment, but I see now they were right to have doubted you. I was a puppet in your grand design, and you have broken my heart. I do not wish to be a part of this charade any longer. Henceforth, we are done."

I turned, my back to him and to the girl who had now scrambled to her feet. I heard him call my name, his voice a frantic plea, but I did not turn back. The past was behind me, and I would not look upon it again. My face was a mask of cold resolve, and I felt nothing but a numbing emptiness. No more lies, no more secrets, no more empty promises, and no more heartbreaking moments.

Once I was outside, I ran as I had never run before, the rain washing away my tears. When I arrived home, I retreated to my bedchamber, taking a long, hot bath, and then slipping into the quiet embrace of sleep. I did not wish to be disturbed. My brief happiness had come to an end, and I was back to my old, solitary life. The love I had known was nothing more than a fiction, a painful illusion.

~

The morning brought with it a sudden clamor from downstairs. I rose from my bed, brushing my hair before slipping into my night slippers and making my way to the source of the commotion. As I descended the stairs, I heard a man's frantic pleas. "Mother, you do not understand! I must speak with Carolina!"

It was Harry.

"Do not call me mother, and it is Princess Carolina to you!" my mother's voice, sharp as a dagger, cut through his pleas. "You should be ashamed of yourself, you have ruined my daughter, and yet you have the audacity to come to this house and beg for her?"

I stopped on the stairs, my heart pounding against my ribs. How could she have known of our troubles? Perhaps Harry had told her.

"But please, it was not entirely my fault," Harry begged. "The... girl... she did something to me. I was not in control of my actions. I was about to leave to find Carolina when she saw us. It was not me!"

"No, there will be no more excuses from you," my mother stated with a cold resolve. "I was beginning to like you, Harry, for my daughter's sake, but you have crossed a line from which there is no return. She has never known such a painful affliction, and I will not allow you to cause her any more suffering."

I stepped down the final stairs, feigning ignorance of their conversation. "Mother, what is all this commotion?" I asked, my voice calm.

When they looked at me, I saw that Harry had brought his four "brothers" with him. My chin went up, and my shoulders went back. I looked at him with an icy disdain, the perfect image of a princess. "What are you doing here?" I demanded.

He looked shocked for a moment, but then his expression shifted to one of understanding. "Carolina, please let me explain."

"Hush," I cut him off. "We will speak inside. I thank you gentlemen for coming, perhaps a cup of tea might ease your troubles?" The four men behind him shook their heads. "Very well then. Now, Harry, you must hear me first. Do not interrupt me, or I shall have my men throw you from my house."

He nodded, looking ashamed.

"Why did you run away when we were in the garden?" I asked, my bewilderment resurfacing. "I did not mean for you to take my words in jest so seriously."

He sighed before speaking. "I am sorry. You are the only girl who has ever made me feel so... vulnerable. I wish to marry you, and I love you more than words can say."

"And do you believe I feel nothing for you? If you truly wish to marry me, you must show me your devotion. I am not a fool to be played with. You have broken my heart and my trust. I cannot simply forget what I have seen." His eyes were red from crying, and his face was pale with anguish. I wanted to feel sympathy, but I could not. I had to remain strong.

"Carolina, it is not what you think," he pleaded. "That girl... she had done something to me that I do not remember. I was not in control of my actions. It was as if she were controlling me, and I could not stop it. You know what I am. I am not the only one. We are many, and she is powerful. I could not stop her. When I saw you, my heart shattered. I regret everything."

"You are a mere boy, Harry," I said, my voice filled with a profound disappointment.

"Carolina, please, give me a second chance. I will fix this problem. I will fix us. Forgive me. I will not ever again allow anyone to control me like that. I will make sure of it." He begged, but I turned my face away. I could feel tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Harry, as much as I wish to be with you again, you must earn my trust once more. I will give you a chance, but you must promise not to hurt me again." He beamed with happiness, but I held up a hand to stop him before he could touch me. "I am not yet ready for your touch," I explained, and he nodded in understanding. I then embraced his brothers, and my father appeared, a pile of documents in his hands.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded. He stood in front of me, a protective shield against Harry.

"Father, I am alright. Harry is only here to apologize and to ask for a second chance," I said, soothing his anger.

"Why would you give him a second chance?" he asked, his voice filled with exasperation. "Did you not know that your grandmother, Queen Adelaide, is disappointed in the broken betrothal? The news of your misfortune has spread like wildfire."

Harry's head hung low. "Speaking of which, your grandmother is holding a ball to celebrate her return from Uzbekistan. You will all attend tomorrow evening at exactly 7:45," he announced. "And I have decided that your guests may accompany us, as well."

I sat back down in my chair. "I must ask you to leave now. I will see you tomorrow. Good day to you all." They stood, and I followed them to the front door.

"Is there something you wish to ask me?" I said to Harry, who was the last to leave.

He cupped my face and kissed me. It was a kiss of such profound passion that I had to respond, my heart betraying my desire to remain distant. He pulled away, too soon for my liking. "I know you said you were not ready for my touch, but I had to. I love you," he whispered.

I wanted to say the words back, but I could not allow myself to be so vulnerable. I wanted to be strong. "I... I... I..." I stuttered, unable to find the words. One of his brothers called his name, and Harry gave me a sheepish grin before pecking me one last time on the lips and running out into the street.